Chances are pretty good that you've filled out an NCAA tournament bracket, played in a fantasy football or baseball league or know somebody that has done either or all of the above.
Some of my friends participate in a variation of those pastimes known as "the celebrity death pool."
It's just like it sounds.
Once a year, they have a draft. They pick celebrities you think are going to kick the bucket and you get points if they shuffle off this mortal coil. Every time somebody in "the league" dies, they race to text or call each other with the news and update the standings.
It's morbid, I know.
That's why I can't bring myself to participate. When I hear about celebrity deaths in the sports or entertainment world, I usually think about whether I've interviewed the person of if I'd liked to have interviewed that person.
I've spoken with some notable people in my time, but my "want" list remains voluminous.
A name fell off today.
Famous rock photographer Jim Marshall, whose images of Johnny Cash (flipping the bird), Jimi Hendrix (burning his guitar) NS the Beatles' final show at Shea Stadium rank among my favorite works of art, died at the age of 74.
The cause of death was immediately unknown but he apparently died in his sleep in a New York City hotel room.
I doubt if he was "famous" enough to register in my friends' pools, but I would love to have interviewed Marshall about his life and career, but never got the opportunity.
Now, I'll have to focus on getting Hugh Hefner to consent to an OnMilwaukee.com sit-down.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
