yougottabereave

Nope…. didn’t say Cheney or Van Dyke… this is an obit for Dick Van Patten, the fine and goofy dad of the great show, “Eight is Enough”.

This sad, sad passing puts Team The Stiffs, led by Mark, on the board with 19 points, 14 for Dick’s 86 years and 5 for having the single shot.

Van Patten was your basic 80’s icon as dad of the family we wanted to join (why did we want to live in Sacramento, CA with 8 awful teens?).  He was also on every other show on TV like “I Dream of Jeanie”, “Love Boat”, “Love American Style”… and let’s not forget his exceptional role in “Spaceballs”.

Congrats to Mark for hitting the board. The points and picks pages are up to date so check out the latest standings.

Insincerely, Commissioners Satan and Missy

Today’s sad, sad passing of B.B. King (did you know B.B. was short for Beale Street Blues Boy?), puts two teams on the board for the first time, removing the goose egg for them. Teams Heisenberg, led by John and Dead Man Guessing, led by Joan/Jerome both pick up 11 points for B.B.’s 89 years.

King was a giant of the blues, who shaped every generation of guitarists who came after him. He was ranked #6 on the Rolling Stone list of all time best guitarists, earned 15 Grammy’s and countinued touring well into his 80s with his guitar named Lucille.

King was born on a cotton plantation and began playing guitar for spare change as a child. He said once that his music was meant for all races, colors and creeds: “Red, white, black, brown or yellow, rich or poor, we all have the blues.”

Congrats to the point grabbers, the scores page is up to date.
Insincerely, Commissioners Satan and Missy

Today’s sad, sad passing of Steve Byrnes, NASCAR sportscaster, gives team Killer Chill, led by Dan a firm hold on first place by adding 49 points, that’s 43 for Steve’s 56 years and an extra 5 for having the single shot.

Byrnes, who was a NASCAR TV reporter for over 30 years, died just 2 days after a race at the Bristol Motor Speedway was named in his honor. He was known for his genuine love of the sport and was loved in return inside and outside of the track.

Congratulations to Team Killer Chill.
Insincerely, Commissioners Satan and Missy

We’re having quite a busy March. Today’s sad, sad passing of Chuck Bednarik means it’s time again to award some points.

Team SuccumbOnOver, led by Jack, picks up 16 points; 11 for Chuck’s 89 years and another 5 for having the single shot. (If you haven’t noticed, Jack is working a list of all retired football players).

Chuck Bednarik played for 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, from 1949 to 1962. He was known as “Concrete Charlie” because he worked as a concrete salesman in the off season and also because of his hard and tough style. He was said to be opinionated and perpetually angry and will always be remembered for his legendary tackles of Frank Gifford and Jim Taylor.

Points page is updated, congratulations SuccumbOnOver.

Insincerely, Commissioners Satan and Missy

Today’s sad, sad passing of British author Sir Terry Pratchett means it’s time to award some points.  Team Rick A. Mortis moves into first place after picking up 39 points… 34 for Pratchett’s 66 years and another 5 for having the single shot.

Pratchett wrote more than 70 books and Satan says you’ve probably never heard of one because you don’t know how to read.  Or because they are British or because they are fantasy type or because he wears that hat. You decide.

That’s all we really know, if you want a better obit, read the BBC.

This is a good example of how you all need to keep an eye on your own lists and keep the commissioners up to date.

Congratulations to Rick A. Mortis!  Points pages has been updated.

Insincerely yours, Commissioners Satan and Missy

And so it begins, only 9 days into the game we have some points to award. Today’s sad, sad passing of Sam Simon at age 59 puts these 8 teams on the board with 41 points each:

• Killer Chill – Dan
• That’s All Folks – Big Don
• Digger O’Dell – Kathy
• Doobe Doom Death Wish – Kent
• 10-Zero – Lori/Johnny
• Pushing Daisy – Missy
• Rick A. Mortis – Rox/Ed
• Death B Coming For You – Turner

Sam Simon was a NINE time Emmy winner who wrote episodes of ‘Barney Miller’, ‘Taxi’, ‘Cheers’, ‘Garry Shandling’, and ‘Drew Cary Show’. But Simon was best known as the co-creator of ‘The Simpsons’. Even though he left the show in 1993, he retained executive producer credit as the show continued, raking in some righteous bank for two decades. Even Statan doesn’t know how one gets a job where the do nothing for 2 decades and get paid a fortune.

So then Simon spent Homer’s money. He became a professional poker player and a philanthropist, giving over $100M to charities, primarily those for children and animals. In the last few years, he was known to buy zoos and circuses just to free the animals.

That will get us started. The scores page has been updated, congratulations to the point winners.

Insincerely, Commissioners Satan and Missy

Let the Games Begin!