But the founder of our Deathwatch '95 prefers to think of his disciples as merely misunderstood . Or some such shit. Started two years ago, the 32-player contest is one of an untold number of similar underground betting pools operating in newsrooms, software company hallways, college dorms and government building lunchrooms. On Dec. 31, each player submits a list of 10 public figures whom he expects to die before the end of the next calendar year. All candidates must be sufficiently well-known that their deaths make national news, a rule that effectively prevents players from naming terminally ill relatives or using inside information on local celebrities.
Some games utilize a prorated scoring system that rewards players for predicting unexpected exits.
Under those rules, naming the 50ish Jerry Garcia would earn a player more points than picking the 80ish Ginger Rogers. Other games operate under a straight body-count system. In case of ties, the player with the youngest decedent wins. Both named Burt Lancaster, Cab Calloway and Joseph Cotten as future daisy propellant. And contrary to the unsportsmanlike conduct exhibited by the protagonist of The Dead Pool , a 1988 Clint Eastwood flick inspired by the game, rules prevent players from cheating by offing the celebs who appear on their list.