Bring Out Your Dead Pool 2014 -- They'll Be Stone Dead in a Moment. Or maybe not

As always, it's fun for the entire family! That's right, it's time for the 2014 Dead Pool. And to make up for the fact that he went 0-4 on his predictions today, we're bringing in noted prognosticator Benster for a chance at redemption.

One thing about the Dead Pool -- it's bad taste to unleash much HYYYYYPPPPPPE!

Yes, that would be bad form. First, let's review the results from 2013. We had three contestants last year. The first is Ace Commenter Gino, who proffered the following choices:

George H. W. Bush
Fidel Castro
Betty White
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Jesse Jackson Jr.

As of 1/1/14, all of these individuals have been able to beat room temperature. Sorry, Gino. Next up, the Benster, who made the following picks:

Vladimir Putin
Morley Safer
Luis Suarez
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Bashar Assad

Actually, these picks proved disastrous as well. In fact, Suarez, who has earned the Benster's ire because he is the top player for Liverpool FC, scored a goal today in his Premier League match. So I'm not sure we're doing the Benster many favors in giving him another opportunity.

Hold on. Anybody can play. And this time, I actually am playing with a full deck. And just remember, the only reason you won is because you jumped out to an early lead.

Oops. I think that's what we call foreshadowing. Yes, actually I did win last year, by offering the following choices:

Hugo Chavez (RIP)
Stan Musial (RIP)
Patty Andrews (RIP)
Theodore Hesburgh
Pete Seeger

Yes, I did pretty well, although Fr. Ted and the ol' commie folksinger were pretty stubborn in their will to live. But that was then. We're now on to 2014 and we have some new playas. So let's see what we have.

First up, Ace Commenter Brian, who suggests the following:

Dick Cheney
Billy Graham
Fidel Castro
The #3 guy in Al Qaida
The #2 guy in North Korea

A bold set of choices on a number of levels. First, Brian stole a match on Gino by swiping the ever-ailing Castro from his roster. As it has turned out, Castro is something of the opposite of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, who was always dead. Castro, it seems, is always alive. Still, an excellent set of picks, since Billy Graham has essentially announced his imminent demise by billing his most recent appearance his "last sermon." And by going with the non-specific choices of "the #3 guy in Al Qaida" and "the #2 guy in North Korea," Brian is making a couple of value picks, since they are open to interpretation and always under mortal threat. Nicely done, Brian!

So Benster, walk me through your picks.

First of all, I am retaining rights to two of my 2013 picks:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Bashar al-Assad

As it turned out, Justice Ginsburg is trying to tough it out on the Court, but she's been ill for a very long time. As for Assad, he's in the middle of a war zone. He might be winning the war right now, but it just takes one rocket and he's gone. So I like those two choices. Meanwhile, I offer the following:

Jimmy Carter
Ralph Wilson
Pope Benedict XVI

Here's my take on these choices. President Carter is getting up there and while he's been active and vocal for the last 30+ years, he's the best bet among ex-Presidents that other people haven't already chosen. That's more foreshadowing, by the way. As for Ralph Wilson, he's the owner of the Buffalo Bills and he's about 213 years old. Well, maybe a little younger than that, but he's old. And he can't be enjoying watching the Bills very much these days. I think these are solid picks, but my ace in the whole has to be Pope Benedict, who is not much seen these days and looked pretty frail the last time he was out in public view. I like these choices. And no, I'll spare you any (hyyyppe).

Okay, then. Next up, Ace Commenter Gino:

so here it is...
bringing back...
zsa zsa gabor and
betty white from last year...

adding...
Bob Dole.
George Bush.
George Zimmerman.

swinging for the fences...
Angelina Jolie.

We noticed that Gino actually made six picks. While that doesn't seem fair, we're going to let him get by with it, because why not? Benster, any analysis of Gino's picks?

Seriously, Gino, Angelina Jolie? She's not old, or sick, or even hated that much. Guess I can't figure that one out, but the others make sense. Dole and President Bush are very old and George Zimmerman is walking through life with a target on his back, so I get it. And let's face it, Zsa Zsa Gabor is really old.

Hard to argue with that. Next up, Ace Commenter and blogger extraordinaire First Ringer:

1) Jerry Lewis
2) Kirk Douglas
3) John McVie of Fleetwood Mac
4) Valerie Harper
5) Frankie Muniz

"Needless to say, I hope I'm 0-5 come this time next year..." Ringer adds.

This is a cagey group of picks. Valerie Harper reportedly has terminal cancer, and John McVie was reported near death last year. Kirk Douglas is very old and Jerry Lewis is getting up there, too. As for Frankie Muniz, he's apparently suffered two mini-strokes and also spends a lot of his time these days as a race car driver. That's not a promising career parlay. I think we can assume that Ringer is the leader on paper. Benster?

On paper, yes. But that's why you play the game.

Okay then, we're on to my picks, which are:

Eli Wallach
John Kundla
Theodore Hesburgh (carry-over from last year)
Al Molinaro
Harper Lee

I'll be honest -- I'm going for extreme age with this group. Wallach is 98, Kundla is 97, Hesburgh is 96, Molinaro is 94 and Lee, while younger at 87, is apparently in ill health. For those of you who aren't sure who Kundla is, he is the former coach of the Lakers. The Minneapolis Lakers, that is. Any thoughts, Benster?

Old age seems like the smart move, but never underestimate the importance of mortal danger. None of your picks are likely to be facing an assassin this year and medical care is still relatively available in this country. At least for now.

True that. Well, we'll see what happens. I'll post these on the sidebar in the next day or two and we'll monitor our progress. Thanks for playing!