Most Overdue Death of the Year:
Steve Irwin

For someone who made a career of poking, prodding, pestering and capturing deadly animals, it is somewhat surprising that the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, 44, did not meet his fate earlier.  Irwin was killed on September 4th while diving and filming around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia when a stingray stabbed him in the heart.  I imagine Irwin's last words were, "Look at the beauty!!"



Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Bolden (116 years old, world's oldest living person)

Most Surprising Death of the Year:
Kirby Puckett

On March 6th, this Hall of Famer who played 12 years with the Minnesota Twins died suddenly from a hemorrhagic stroke he suffered a day earlier.  The 10-time all star retired from baseball in 1996 when glaucoma took away the vision in his right eye.  After baseball, Puckett ballooned to over 300 pounds and in 2002, was arrested for groping a girl in a public restroom.  Puckett's premature and sudden death makes it Flumesday's Most Surprising Death of 2006.

 

Most Unusual Death of the Year:
Cory Lidle

I used to think carbon monoxide poisoning was a weird way to die.  But compared to Corey Lidle's October 11th death, this doesn't seem so unusual anymore.  The 34-year-old Yankee pitcher flew a plane into a Manhattan apartment building.  I repeat, he flew a plane into a building.  A pitcher.  For the Yankees.  Might be the most unusual death ever.




Honorable Mention: Steve Irwin

Death of the Year in Politics:
Gerald Ford

The "accidental president" died December 26th at the ripe old age of 93.  Ford, the 38th U.S. president, maybe be the luckiest politician in history.  After serving 13 terms as a Michigan congressman, Ford was appointed vice president in 1973 when Spiro Agnew vacated the position amid scandal.  Then, he became president when then president Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time.  Ford could also be eligible for the Death of the Year in Sports award as he was a standout football player for the University of Michigan in the 1930s.

Honorable Mention: Ann Richards, Lloyd Bentsen, Jeane Kirkpatrick

Death of the Year in Music:
James Brown

The Godfather of Soul died of heart failure Christmas morning at the age of 73.  One of the most influential singers and dancers of the 20th century, Brown pioneered the funk and soul genres of the 1960s and 70s.  In a year that didn't take many influential musicians, Brown is an easy pick for the music award.  James Brown forever changed the progression of American music and will be forever remembered as a musical pioneer. 


Honorable Mention: Wilson Pickett, Lou Rawls, Desmond Dekker, Billy Preston

Death of the Year in Television:
Aaron Spelling

The television award goes to television mogul Aaron Spelling.  Spelling's longevity and his ability to churn out classic shows spanning 6 decades makes him the easy choice. Spelling created "Charlie's Angels," "Dynasty," "Beverly Hills 90210," and "Melrose Place," and during his career contributed to over 200 television shows.  Aaron also fathered the ugliest member of the cast of "90210."  He died on June 23 at the age of 83.


Honorable Mention: Joe Barbera, Don Knotts, Al Lewis, Ed Bradley

Death of the Year in Sports:
Bo Schembechler

The were many fine candidates for the 2006 Death of the Year in Sports Award.  This past year saw the deaths of golfer Byron Nelson, baseball great Buck O'Neil, Boston Celtics' coach Red Auerbach and the inventor of the slap shot, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion.  But at the end of the day, it's my award ceremony and I'll do as I please.  Bo was to Michigan football what Mao is to China.  He is the face that goes with the greatest college football program ever.  Bo collapsed while taping a TV program on November 17th and died hours later.  He was 77.


Honorable Mention: Red Auerbach, Buck O'Neil, Floyd Patterson, Joe Niekro