Deaths! Andrew V. McLaglen and Norman Gordon!

Andrew with father Victor (left, with the pomade)

The long Labor Day weekend rung the curtain down on a pair of venerable Death Pool figures! First up, famed TV and movie director Andrew V. McLaglen bid the men of Inisfree welcome home for the last time on Saturday, at the age of 94! Son of actor/boxer/Oscar winner Victor, Andrew got his first big break as assistant director on his father’s classic two-fisted comedy The Quiet Man, before transitioning to extensive TV (Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel) and motion picture (McLintock!, Hellfighters) directing. He basically made westerns, but mixed in a number of John Wayne non-westerns on his resume as well. Plus, his son Josh is an A.D. and daughter Mary is a producer! Hollywood family all the way!

Undaunted by wickets forever!

Then yesterday, the world’s oldest living test cricketer Norman Gordon rattled the wickets into immortality at the age of 103! Playing for Transvaal in South Africa during the 1930s and 40s, Gordon had a 2.00 Test batting average and a 40.35 bowling average during his career, to accompany his 20 wickets. Not too shabby! Honestly, I have no idea if any of that is good or bad, or what the difference in averages even means. Sorry, cricket fans! Go check out the Google, they can probably fill you in on the details of a good player. Gordon became famous in recent years as the first test cricketer to live past 100, and the only pre-WWII player still puttering around. So good on you, Norman!

The commissioner picked up the 16 spot on McLaglen, securing for me a 50th all time death – only trailing the Rusakiewicz’s career total of 52! This extends my lead here in 2014 to 105 points, giving me some breathing room ahead of the huge pack in the low/middle 100s. Not comfortable at all! And then Kosmala nabbed his second death in less than a month, getting seven points on Gordon! Every little bit helps, and oftentimes the fall has proven a momentum game here in the big contest, so look out! Well done, skip!