William Safire dies at 79

ROMAD says this guy should go up so he does. William Safire died at the age of 79. He was a columnist with the New York Times and speechwriter for Nixon. He also wrote novels. He was also awarded the Presidential medal of freedom

Story Here

Myles Brand, Mary Travers, and Henry Gibson all dead

By their powers combined, we can beat Greinke and do some damage against the Twins in the Baggy Dome.

Myles Brand--Died at 67 after losing a fight with cancer. Things he was known for: firing Bob Knight at Indiana, created the academic success rate, and made college sports worth about a gazillion dollars. Story here.

Mary Travers-- Died at 72 also after losing a battle with cancer. She was a member of Peter, Paul and Mary with hits like "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "This land is your land." Story here

Henry Gibson -- Died at 73, sweet jesus after losing a battle with cancer (how wack is that?!). He was a regular on laugh-in during the late 60s/early 70s. Also appeared in guest roles on "Newhart," "Malcolm in the Middle," and "Magnum, P.I." Story Here.

UPDATE: Tiger lose to Twins 3-0

Patrick Swayze dies at 57

Patrick Swayze - Chippendale
Uploaded by tressage. -

Patrick Swayze lost his battle with cancer on Monday night and died at 57. He was most known for his roles in various movies including "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost." 

Story Here

UPDATE: Tigers get beat down by Royals 11-1

Ted Kennedy dies

He had been sick with a brain tumor....cue Kindergarden Cop jokes.....for a while. On August 25, he lost his battle and died. He was 77.

Kennedy was the last real member of the camelot family. Known as the Liberal Lion he grew to become one of the most powerful and influential Senators of our time. Too many bills he helped create to list them all.

Story Here

UPDATE: TIGERS WIN 5-3 beating the Angels. Winning 2 against a first place team, always good.

60 Minutes creator Don Hewitt dies

Then man behind "60 Minutes" and the head in a box shot has died. He was 96 years old. He worked with many of the big names in the new businesses and created one of the best/most famous newsmagazine programs. 

He was also known for his control over the program. He was hand on in every part of the process and approved every story before it went on the air. 

Story Here

UPDATE: Tigers lose 3-1 to Seattle. Bats please wake up.

Robert Novak

Conservative Political Corespondent and columnist Robert Novak has died on August 18. He was suffering from Cancer. Recently he had become known for "outing" CIA operative Valerie Plame in one of his columns.  

He was also a frequent contributor on CNN and Meet the Press.

Story here

UPDATE: Tigers win 5-3, beating Seattle. 

{removes glasses} Walter Cronkite died at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, some 14 hours ago

Walter Cronkite, the titan of TV news, died at 92 on Friday night. He was a longtime TV anchor for CBS news and brought the world into countless living rooms every night. He was often considered the "most trusted man in America."


KeepLeyland2 has a special connection here meeting Mr. Cronkite more than once and even having brunch with the man. Was an absoulte gentleman. He will be missed.

Story here

His most famous Moment

UPDATE: Tigers lose 2-1 to Yankees

Robert McNamara passes

Former Secretary of Defense for two presidents has died. He was 93.

McNamara is widely known for being the architect of the Vietnam War. He also wrote extensively on the dangers of WMDs. Didn't know that he also served as President of the World Bank for 12 years.

Story Here

UPDATE: Tigers lose to Royals 4-3

Karl Malden dies

He was 97 years old. Old Dude.

Malden is most known for his role in a couple of Marlon Brando films including A Streetcar Named Desire and On The Waterfront (a personal favorite of KeepLeyland2). In the 1980s he became spokesperson for American Express and reminded everyone "Don't leave home without it."

Good News for the Tigers as the head into an important series against the Twins.

Story Here

UPDATE: Tigers win a wild won. Up a ton then blow the lead then  win it in 16.  Tigers beat Twins 11-9

Billy Mays now pitching products in Heaven

Legendary pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home. He was 50 years old. 

Mays is widely known for his various infomercials. Products include OxiClean, Orange Glo, Mighty Putty, ESPN360, Kaboom, and Zorbeez.

Story here

UPDATE: Thanks to Brandon Inge (or is that thanks to Billy Mays) Tigers win 4-3. Inge makes Astros look bad with a 2-out, 9th inning homer as the Tigers steal one.

Michael Jackson moonwalks into the afterlife

After three week of nothing, we get three big ones this week.

Michael Jackson, the king of pop, has died. He was 50 years old. He suffered a heart attack and died in LA.

He was famous for a plethora of things. He, of course, had some legal issue with little boys. But, he also has the #1 selling album of all-time, inventing the moonwalk and revolutionizing the music video. 

Oh yeah he was a Motown recording artist

Story here

Fitting music video and of course thriller.

And post wouldn't be complete without South Park clip.

UPDATE: Tigers lose 4-5 to Astros, raising the question why did MJ kill himself.

Farrah "Everybody's favorite poster" Fawcett dies

Charlie's angel Farrah Fawcett has died. She hit the spotlight being one of the members of Charlie's angels and became an american darling. She was 62 when she died. She had a battle with cancer and recently had an NBC special about her fight. 

But what she will always  be known for, as one mliver put it, for being a founding member of the "spank bank." 

Story here

UPDATE: Tigers win, sweeping the Cubbies with a 6-5 win. Heck, even Maggs hit a homer.

G-O-O-D-B-Y-E-E-E-E-E-E-E ED!

Tonight Show sidekick Ed McMahon has died at the age of 86. No cause of death was given, but he had been fighting numerous health issues over the past few years. McMahon is best known for being a sidekick to Johnny Carson, but he hosted Star Search. 

McMahon was born in Detroit.

"It's like a pitcher who has a favorite catcher," McMahon said. "The pitcher gets a little help from the catcher, but the pitcher's got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw the ball, but I could give him a little help."

Story Here and Here

UPDATE: RABURN WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. Raburn hits walk off homer after Zoom throws 104 and then loses EJax's lead. Tigers win 5-4 and remind everyone why games are played till the 27th out.

Tigers win another beating the Cubs 5-3.

David Carradine R.I.P.

Kung Fu legend David Carradine died in his Bankok hotel room. Carradine was also Bill in the "Kill Bill movies. He was filiming a movie when he died in his hotel room. No cause of death was given.

Death story right here.

UPDATE: Tiger lost to Boston 6-3, stupid Boston.

NHL player Peter Zezel dies

Peter Zezel dies at 44. I guess he had a blood condition and died from complications from it. Though never playing for the winged wheel, he had a solid NHL career.

(A side note, KeepLeyland2 reminds people of the strict standard the blog should adhere to. We can not go searching for deaths just cause we want a win on a given day. Not necessarily the case today, just a reminder)

Story here

UPDATE: Tigers get the win, and series win, over the Royals. Procello is the youngest pitcher since Doc Gooden to win 5 games in a row. Tigers win 8-3

Roh Moo-Hyun kills himself

Former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun killed him self by jumping off a hill. I guess he was way in debt.

The whole story seems fishy. Jumped off hill, under investigation. Seems like something the conspericy therorists would love.

story here

UPDATE: Tigers lost to Rockies, but I blame this on RP for his international rant the other day.

Wayne Allwine dies

M-I-C-K-E-Y

M-O-U-S-E

The voice of Micky Mouse, Wayne Allwine died. He was 62 years old and died from complications from diabities. Strange fact his wife was the voice of Minnie Mouse.

Story: here

UPDATE: Tigers win yet again, beating the Rangers 4-3 . Winning Ways continue with a 4-3 over the Rockies

Wayman Tisdale dies

Wayman Tisdale was an Oklahoma sooner basketball star. He was elected to the College basketball hall of fame. He had a long fight with cancer and lost on Friday morning. He was also an accomplished blues musician. 

He was 44.

Story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4168852

UPDATE: Tigers destroy the A's 14-1. On saturday the Tigers kept the winning ways going with a 9-1 victory. Tigers win again 11-7 on Sunday.

Sunday's death

Now that the blog is live. If we have a significant death we will get it up here as quick as possible. We will then update on how the Tigers did that following day and see if the trend continues.

Today we lost great TV writer John Furia Jr. He wrote on many shows including "The Twilight Zone," "Hawaii Five-O," and "Bonzana."

Story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090510/ap_en_ot/us_obit_john_furia_jr

UPDATE: Tigers win 5-3 against Indians.

Another Detroit Legend

On May 9th, Detroit lost another great one in Chuck Daly. Daly was the long-serving Pistons Head Coach and was also the Head Coach of the 1992 Dream Team. Daly brought the Bad Boys Pistons together and made them the enemy of every team in the league. He would lead the Pistons to two titles.

"Daddy Rich" will be missed.

The Tigers, as a result of his death, won that night 4-0 behind a gem from Edwin Jackson.

A couple Stories: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/090509&sportCat=nba

http://www.freep.com/article/20090510/SPORTS03/905100520/1051/SPORTS/Class+and+Chuck+Daly+always+went+together+

Dom DiMaggio

Dom DiMaggio longtime Red Sox and brother of Joe DiMaggio left us on May 8. Nicknamed the "Little Professor," Dom never was able to reach his brother hitting streak, maxing out at 27.

The Tigers would win that night 1-0 in a game featuring Verlander at his best and the play of the year by Granderson. "IT'S GONE.  no it's not." Still gets me.

story: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/05/former_red_sox_1.html

Fifth: Jack Kemp

On May 2, we lost longtime congressman and Vice Presidental candidate Jack Kemp. Many remember Jack Kemp for his playing days as QB for the Buffalo Bills. Kemp was beloved by many on both sides of the aisle and will be missed.

But, because of his death the Tigers went on to win the next two games against the Indians.

Story: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/09/Kemp-remembered-by-family-friends/UPI-47311241892966/

Batting Cleanup: Danny Gans

Vegas Entertainer Danny Gans died early on May 1. The Tigers would actually lose that day to the Indians. Providing us the exception that proves the rule.

Danny Gans: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/04/AR2009050403475.html

Third: Bea Arthur

On April 25 we got word that Maude, Bea Arthur, had left us. She was 86 when she left us. The Tigers would beat the Royals that night 9-1 and then win the next two games as well.

Obit: http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/405555_tvgif25.html

Second: Mark "The Bird" Fidrych

On April 13, the Tigers lost a legend, Mark "The Bird Fidrych. He was found dead around 2:30 in the afternoon at his home. He died from suffocation while working on his truck.

We got word of his death after the Tiger's game. The team's next game on April 15, they won 9-0.

Story (or two) about the bird:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090420/SPORTS02/904200363/1050/SPORTS/Fidrych+memories+(and+there+are+a+few)+keep+on+coming

http://www.freep.com/article/20090419/SPORTS02/90418059/1050/Bicentennial+summer+belonged+to+The+Bird+-+and+Kimm+

First: Nick Adenhart

Angels Pitcher Nick Adenhart died late April 9th. He died after the Tigers game had ended. The Tigers would go on to sweep the Rangers in their next three

Story about Adenhart can be found here: 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-angels-adenhart10-2009apr10,0,118557.story

How it began

So us who use the mlive Detroit Tigers forum, http://www.mlive.com/forums/tigers/,  began noticing a bit of a trend. Every time a celebrity would die the Tigers would win that night and usually rattle of a few more wins. This blog was created to keep an accurate record of "death watch" for the 2009 season. 

Who knows it could be this year "gum time" -- thanks to ROMAD1 for that.