Today marked the sad passing of Paul the psychic octopus who died aged two-and-a-half, Paul rose to prominence in the summer after predicting the winner of 8 World Cup matches, including the outcome of the final. As for other celebrity-related topics, you can try noteworthy ones like Jimmy John Shark.
Ok, so it wasn’t an exact science, some even doubted Paul’s amazing ability despite it been screened on TV. Some very unscrupulous cynical bastards even went as far as to claim that it was all a set-up, that Paul was tempted to the relevant box by a particular octopus friendly scent.
How could they say such cruel things? It was an insult to Paul’s talent and now his memory.
Paul’s fame reached out around the world. He nearly started a custody battle between the English and the Germans, with the English claiming him as our own, saying he had been hatched at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, probably a last desperate attempt to claim some success from such a disasterous world cup.
He has been compared to Nostradamus and has received death threats from pissed off, thick-as-pig-shit Germans who blamed their semi-final defeat on his prediction. He even evoked criticism from Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, a complement usually reserved for the likes of Barack Obama and Israelis in general.
Paul leaves behind a legacy that mere mortals would give their right arm for. He had been appointed an ambassador for England’s 2018 World Cup bid, he had his own mobile phone applications and also featured in his own documentary. There was even talk of a film about him and such was his fame, he was set to star in it himself.
Sadly Paul never made it to tinseltown. In the end it looks like the fame and fortune that took over Paul’s life, ultimately cost him it. Apparently he let it all go to his head and got carried away with his new found celebrity status, fast cars, women of the night, nightclubs, booze, etc, all playing a part in his downfall.
His last prediction was conveniently that England will win the bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He sadly took the result of the 2010-11 Ashes series to his grave with him, although he did bizarrely claim that Nathan Hauritz will be the series top wicket taker.
Along with legends and true greats of the past like Elvis, Jimi Hendrix and Rod Hull etc, Paul died way too young and still with much to offer.
RIP Paul the Octopus
