We here at Angry Romanian World Headquarters are pleased to announce the launch of our first annual Celebrity Death Pool. If you don’t know what a celebrity death pool is read on, you’ll get it by the end. Most death pools run from January 1 through December 31, but we have decided to be contrary and track ours from March 1, 2008 through February 28, 2009. The Angry Romanian death pool is similar to many of the death pools out there, but with some twists. Here are the basic guidelines:

Pick 12 celebrities - you can choose them anyway you like…celebrities you think will die - celebrities you hope will die (pick your 12 Yankees wisely) - or random celebrities. You earn points when one of your celebrities dies within the contest period.

There are several ways to earn points -

If a celebrity on your list dies during the contest you will earn points based on the following equation - (100-celebrities age). Example - If Mike Tyson were to die March 23rd at the age of 41 you will be awarded 59 points. So - picking the Pope might sound fun but remember he would only be worth 19 or 20 points. (Depending if he died before of after his birthday) However, picking Suri Cruise could be a jackpot as the toddler would earn 97 or 98 points.

Bonus points will be awarded for the following (in addition to the points you have earned for the death):

• 10pts. If your celebrity dies in any way other than under natural circumstances
• 25pts. If your celebrity is murdered
• 25pts. If your celebrity kills someone (25pts. per each)
• 50pts. If your celebrity is murdered by another celebrity
• 50pts. If your celebrity kills another celebrity
• 50pts. If your celebrity is African American and dies in February (irony, not racism folks)
• 50pts. If your celebrity is a sports figure that dies competing in their sport
• 50pts. If your celebrity pratices Scientology
• 50pts. If your celebrity dies on their birthday or wedding anniversary
• 100pts. If you celebrity is killed by O.J. Simpson. (does not count if O.J. is on your list and he commits suicide)
• All points are doubled if multiple celebrities on your list die in the same incident. (ex: Yankee’s charter plane erupts in ball of flame)

The player with the most points at the end of the year will win an Angry Romanian prize pack that will include a hooded sweatshirt, bumper stickers, and other nifty swag. Unlike most death pools out there, this one is free. (which actually makes the name death pool, as in pooling money to pay out prizes, somewhat inaccurate) An Angry Romanian T-shirt will also be awarded to the list we find to be the meanest/funniest. (this is totally subjective)

All you need to do is send an email with your name and a list of your 12 celebrities to deathpool[at]angryromanian[dot]com. I will assume the email address used to send your list is how I should contact you, unless otherwise stated in the email.

I will set up a special page tracking submissions, standings, etc… as soon as the lists start rolling in.

You have nothing to lose - so get your list in today. I will take submissions throughout the contest period, but common sense would suggest having your list in by March 1st.

Finally, there are some basic rules:
1. Celebrities on your list must be well known enough to have an obituary in a major newspaper, famous in their own right, and famous for something other than dying. The following would not meet the criteria: Death Row inmates, people who became famous by dying, and local “celebrities”. (don’t include your local weatherman, no matter how much you may want him to die)
2. It is entirely at the discretion of the staff at Angry Romanian to accept or deny submissions. No arguing or whining. There are a number of reasons a name may be rejected, and I don’t feel like trying to name them all here. Players will be notified of rejected names and why, and will be given an opportunity to choose a substitute at that time.