Twisting By The Pool

While we wait to hear official word that Saddam Hussein has at last been executed, there is a bit of a controversy brewing regarding our Saddam Dead Pool. Back in December of 2003, we asked people to guess the date when Saddam would face his just reward. We received forty-one entries and most predicted, not unreasonably, that Saddam would be offed within eighteen months of his capture.

There were only a few souls cynical and jaded enough to assume that final justice would drag on for as long as it has. One of those was Atomizer's dad, whose personal experience with the legal system led him to believe that Saddam would never face the noose. Thankfully, his prediction has not come to pass, although there were certainly moments of doubt as to whether this day would ever come.

The other was our Northern Alliance brethren Mitch Berg, whose prognostication of January 1st, 2007 appears to be proving uncannily accurate. It looks like Mitch will only be two days off. Not bad considering that Saddam was dragged from his spider hole over three years ago.

But, and this is a big one, a question remains to be resolved. Are we going by "Price Is Right" rules? You know, closest to the actual price without going over. If so. Mitch's guess, although by far the most accurate, would be disqualified. In that case, Joe Carter, who went with April 24th, 2006, would be the winner.

At this moment, our team of crack lawyers is meeting in order to resolve the issue. They have assured us that they should have a final resolution within two, three years tops. Stay tuned for further developments.

UPDATE: The deed is done. In this case, I think a little celebratory gunfire is in order.