The Morgue 2007

SuchAFob · January 19, 2007, 5:53pm

Well, we can hope that his death will help the efforts to bring about the change he was working for. Often that is the case.

TainanCowboy · January 20, 2007, 3:28am

[quote]Bam Bam Bigelow passes away
Written: January 20, 2007

WWE.com has learned that former WWE Superstar Scott “Bam Bam” Bigelow has passed away in Florida.

Kevin Doll, the Public Information Director for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Bigelow was found dead early this morning in his home in Hudson, Fla.

“We can confirm that Scott Bigelow was found in his home this morning. At this time the cause of death is unknown,” Doll told WWE.com.

Doll also confirmed that the Pasco-Pinellas Counties medical examiner has taken the body and an autopsy will be performed.

Bigelow, 45, worked for WWE, ECW and WCW extensively throughout his 20-year sports-entertainment career. A former ECW Champion, ECW Television Champion and WCW Tag Team Champion, he is perhaps best known for his rivalry with Lawrence Taylor that culminated in the main event of WrestleMania XI in 1995.

Stay tuned to WWE.com as more on Bigelow’s passing becomes available.
wwe.com/inside/news/bambampasses[/quote]

Scott had a real bad motorcycle accident in 2005. He’s been recovering from it for quite a while. His girlfriend wad injured pretty badly in it also.
RIP Big Guy.

sptimes.com/2005/11/17/Flori … _Bam.shtml

kk · January 20, 2007, 3:45am

Mamas and Papas’ Doherty dies at 66

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (AP) – Denny Doherty, one-quarter of the 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the Papas, known for their soaring harmony on hits like "California Dreamin’ " and “Monday, Monday,” died Friday at 66.

cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/0 … index.html

Doherty, far left.

Doctor_Evil · January 21, 2007, 1:57am

Your’re surprised?!?!?!?

telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh … rkey20.xml

Jaboney · January 21, 2007, 3:40am

Odd thing to shout if the person who shot him were a Turkish nationalist.
Far odder still if he were an Armenian.

Surprised? Not really.
There are far too many too ready to resort to violence.

And too many kids just old enough to get it wrong, it seems.[quote=“BBC”]The main suspect in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink has been arrested, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

The governor of Istanbul said police captured Ogun Samast, aged 16 or 17, on a bus in the Black Sea city of Samsun.

Mr Samast was earlier named as the suspect pictured in security camera images near the scene of the killing.
[…]
The suspect was identified by his own father when he saw television images taken at the scene of Friday’s killing.[/quote]

kk · January 28, 2007, 6:20am

NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Gump Worsley (what a name…) has died, at 77.
Brave lad that he was, he didn’t wear a mask until the final season of his 21-year NHL career.

sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2745655

TainanCowboy · January 30, 2007, 1:02am

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro cools down after a morning workout in Fair Hill, Md., in this May 18, 2006 file photo. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, after complications from his breakdown at the Preakness last May. (AP Photo/Garry Jones, FILE)

Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro Euthanized
Barbaro and histrainers have went thru a lot of grief since his Preaknes injuries. It was a very hard decision to make. A beautiful horse.

At the Kentucky Derby

trapjaw · January 30, 2007, 4:36pm

[quote=The Natal Witness]

Rattray’s death shocks world
•Mon, 29 Jan 2007

By Stephen Coan

David Rattray at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge. The mountain of Isandlwana is visible behind him.

The news of David Rattray’s murder on Friday has reverberated around the world. The violent death of “the bard of the battlefields” was front page news from Britain to Brunei.

“Zulu’s champion gunned down” was the London Sunday Times’s headline, echoed by the Observer’s: “Murdered in Rorke’s Drift, the man they called the ‘white Zulu’ ”. The Brunei Times, serving a population of just 340 000, said simply: “South African war expert murdered”.

Reports of the killing were quick to make the link between Rattray’s murder and the high levels of crime in South Africa.

“Zulu historian’s murder reignites fears over violence in South Africa”, read the the Sunday Telegraph headline and the report noted that Rattray’s “murder is likely to renew international attention on the country’s high levels of violent crime. Mr Rattray’s death is particularly resonant because he was a successful promoter of South African tourism.”

Local tour guide and historian Ron Lock, a friend of Rattray’s, said he has several tours for overseas visitors scheduled and has already received one cancellation.

“I certainly expect 25% of people to cancel,” he said. “It’s understandable. People think we have a fantastic situation here, but there is an assassination like this and they’ve got to get their heads around that and think it over before they decide ‘let’s go’.”

Lock described Rattray as a “charismatic character”. “Let’s hope things can keep going until someone else like him comes along who can create the sort of magic that people travelled from all over the world to enjoy.”

Dundee tour guide Johnny Hamman said that Rattray’s murder was “catastrophic” for the local tourism industry. “I’ve already had e-mails from people expressing reservations about coming here.”

Rattray was killed on Friday evening at his home at the world-famous Fugitives’ Drift Lodge, which he ran with his wife Nicky. The lodge overlooks the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) River area where, in 1879, British troops fleeing the battlefield of Isandlwana tried to make their escape following the crushing defeat inflicted by Zulu warriors on the British force. The distinctive silhouette of the mountain that shadows the battlefield is visible from the lodge grounds.

According to police Senior Superintendent Phindile Radebe, six men armed with pistols and rifles first accosted Rattray’s receptionist and demanded money. They then asked for Rattray by name. Another source said the receptionist was then taken at gunpoint to the Rattrays’ house. Rattray was with his wife in their bedroom where they were getting ready to go out. There was a struggle, during which Rattray pushed his wife to the ground to protect her. Then one of the men fired three shots at Rattray, one of which proved fatal. The men fled without taking anything.

Fugitives’ Drift Lodge is a magnet to international tourists and the Rattrays have hosted many distinguished guests, including Prince Charles and his sons, the princes William and Harry. A spokesperson for the prince, who was informed of the killing on Friday while in the U.S., said the prince was “shocked and deeply saddened by the news”.

The prince wrote the foreword to Rattray’s latest book, A Soldier Artist in Zululand: William Whitelock Lloyd and the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

“It is first and foremost a terrible personal tragedy,” said Anglo-Zulu War historian Ian Knight, speaking from Britain “and my heart goes out to Nicky and the boys.”

Knight said that Rattray’s role in championing heritage tourism to KwaZulu-Natal was “immense” and that there was a real danger his death could devastate the local tourism industry.

“The UK papers are full of the story today, and frankly it is the worst press I can remember for South Africa in recent years,” Knight said.

“A number of people have already phoned asking my advice about the safety of visiting the battlefields; while I can be reassuring on specific points, there is a very real sense of unease here.”

Knight said that Rattray brought history alive “for literally thousands of people”.

“His annual lectures at the Royal Geographical Society in London were always sold out, and he regularly packed other venues around the country.

“I sometimes feel people in South Africa aren’t aware of the true extent of his international profile. The interest he created all over the world was intense, and the benefits, in terms of interest in South African history and heritage, went far beyond the narrow advantages to his own lodge.”

Another British Anglo-Zulu War historian, John Young, said that KZN owed much to Rattray for putting it on the international map. “He was a unique driving force. A world’s ambassador for South Africa. Someone asked me yesterday what other man I know that has done more to promote South Africa’s image abroad? I answered ‘only one: Nelson Mandela’.”

Young said: “David’s wife Nicky and their children are in our thoughts and prayers”, and that news of the murder had an immense effect in his own household: “We have cancelled a trip we were planning [to South Africa] for September. Although we hadn’t booked anything yet, part of the trip was to include Fugitives’ Drift Lodge. My wife Lorraine’s reaction is that she will not accompany me if I still want to go. I have discussed that with others and they share her opinion.”

Also speaking from Britain, Anglo-Zulu War historian Adrian Greaves, who collaborated with Rattray on David Rattray’s Guidebook to the Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields, said he heard of his friend’s death with “absolute horror”. He said he thought his death would be a “savage blow” on battlefield tourism in KZN. “His welcoming lodge has long been the centre of the industry. For the immediate moment, I suspect that some prospective visitors to the battlefield will re-think their itinerary …

“Travel to the battlefields is a serious undertaking for British and European tourists. The battlefields are all isolated and your dirt roads are daunting to the unwary holidaymaker. And we are all becoming aware, from the press, of attacks directed at tourists. Add to this the murder of the highest profile figure in the business and the result will probably be felt for a long time,” he said.

Overseas reaction was not restricted to newspapers. On the website www.rorkesdriftvc.com, devoted to the Anglo-Zulu War, which attracts postings from historians as well as enthusiasts around the world, there were nearly 1 500 hits on the three pages of postings devoted to Rattray’s murder.

Meanwhile, Fugitives’ Drift Lodge is continuing to operate tours but will close on Thursday, the day of Rattray’s funeral, which will take place at Michaelhouse School where plans are in place to accommodate 1 000 people. The school chaplain, Alan Smedley, said that the chapel could seat 500 people. “Screens will be erected outside for more people to be able to watch the service,” he said.

Two of Rattray’s sons are currently at Michaelhouse and the eldest completed his schooling there. Rattray frequently spoke at the school. “He was amazing the way he could have the attention of 500 school kids,” said Smedley. “That was an indication of his brilliance.”

Published: 29 January 2007

Another victim of the casual disregard for life which characterises the general nature of crime here… So sad.

flike · February 1, 2007, 2:52am

Molly Ivins, of cancer.
Her heart was so big, it’s a great loss. :America:

SuchAFob · February 1, 2007, 7:49am

NO!!! No! NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOooooOOOOoooOO!!!
That’s ALMOST as bad as when Douglas Adams died.
I HATE it when good writers die.

smell_the_glove · February 8, 2007, 9:06pm

Anna Nicole Smith, dead at age 39.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/08/anna.nicole.collapses/index.html

Mother_Theresa · February 8, 2007, 10:24pm

j99l88e77 · February 8, 2007, 11:15pm

Sounds like she was offed.

canucktyuktuk · February 9, 2007, 1:53am

From what I saw of her, she had some serious problems with substances and emotions and stuff, and no room, capacity, or help to deal with it whatsoever. I guess we shall learn more after the autopsy. I kina feel sorry for her. 39.

Mother_Theresa · February 9, 2007, 2:38am

She had more problems than any of us could’ve handled. Parents divorced; married and gave birth as a teen, divorced shortly after, shot to superstardom but had major yo-yo weight problems, married 80 yr-old billionaire and inherited huge fortune when he died year later, inheritance overturned on appeal then dragged all the way to USSupCt, just gave birth as single mother, 20 yr old son OD’d shortly thereafter, plus various other lawsuits, patrimony suits, etc. I feel sorry for her too. This end seemed somewhat inevitable.

Dragonbones · February 9, 2007, 4:24am

The name vaguely rings a bell.

Toe_Save · February 9, 2007, 4:37am

[quote=“Mer”]NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Gump Worsley (what a name…) has died, at 77.
Brave lad that he was, he didn’t wear a mask until the final season of his 21-year NHL career.

sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2745655
[/quote]

Wow…I hadn’t heard this. He and Rogetien Vachon were the Habs tandem during my hockey awakening. I even named an early smurf of Toe Save’s after him. Anyone remember The Gumper? Well, here ya go. I even had his handsome mug up as an avatar for awhile.

Well, now he’s back to doing what he loved to do. He’s probably up in that big crease in the sky, seeing more rubber than an East Hastings Ho on a Welfare Wednesday.

FTR, I think Eddie Giacoman was the last to don a mask, but The Gumper was right up there with him.

Keep on keepin’ 'em out Gumper. This is your paint.

Funk500 · February 9, 2007, 3:32pm

Ian Richardson, top actor from classic TV series House Of Cards
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm

Damn he was good in that series… any UK folk remember that? Love to see that one again…

Infidel · February 9, 2007, 4:19pm

[quote=“Funk500”]Ian Richardson, top actor from classic TV series House Of Cards
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm

Damn he was good in that series… any UK folk remember that? Love to see that one again…[/quote]

I fondly remember that series. It was shown in NZ in the mid-90s.

“You may very well think that, but I couldn’t possibly comment.”

Classic.

anon38216271 · February 9, 2007, 6:34pm

She had more problems than any of us could’ve handled. Parents divorced; married and gave birth as a teen, divorced shortly after, shot to superstardom but had major yo-yo weight problems, married 80 yr-old billionaire and inherited huge fortune when he died year later, inheritance overturned on appeal then dragged all the way to USSupCt, just gave birth as single mother, 20 yr old son OD’d shortly thereafter, plus various other lawsuits, patrimony suits, etc. I feel sorry for her too. This end seemed somewhat inevitable.[/quote]

Don’t feel too sorry for her. America is going to imortalize her in some form or fashion. People are already drawing the Marylin Monroe comparison. All her “friends” are coming out to speak on her behalf and bash her current ‘husband’ . I saw her last interview, and her speech was slurred and she looked out of it. But her son had died, so I just wrote it off as heavy sedation. She also looked like she had just gotten some Restylane done also.
Hollywood loves tragic deaths. Sick