Dead Pool 14th May 2017

Welcome all, not a lot has happened last week, so I’ll not drone on. Sad to see Robert Miles pass away without sharing that he had cancer with us, he could have been a high scorer!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Robert Miles, 47, Swiss-born Italian electronic dance musician and record producer (“Children“), cancer.
• Michael Parks, 77, American actor (Twin Peaks, From Dusk till Dawn, Kill Bill).
• Geoffrey Bayldon, 93, English actor (Catweazle, Worzel Gummidge, Casino Royale).

In Other News

Chris Froome, the British cyclist, has been rammed off the road in a hit-and-run attack. The three-time Tour de France winner and Olympic medallist’s bike was left badly damaged after he was struck “on purpose by an impatient driver”. Froome said he was “thankfully okay” after being deliberately hit by the driver, who is said to have followed him onto the pavement, while training in southern France. He has reported the incident to police in France, but it is unclear if officers will be able to trace the driver. The Telegraph understands that Froome tried to memorise the licence plate at the time, but was unable to recall it later. The incident took place on a quiet back road so there is unlikely to be any CCTV footage. Froome posted a picture on Twitter on Tuesday morning of his crumpled bike at the side of the road after it was “totaled” in the incident. Froome was unhurt and is understood to be already back out training as he prepares to try to win a fourth Tour de France title in five years this July.

In other sporting news, John McGuinness broke four vertebrae and three ribs in addition to the leg fracture that he sustained in his crash at the North West 200 on Thursday. Initial reports indicated McGuinness, 45, had sustained a  broken leg. The English rider’s Honda team said on Friday that McGuinness would remain in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for another week. “John will wear a cast for up to six weeks in treatment for the vertebrae,” said the Honda statement. McGuinness’ injuries mean he will miss the Isle of Man TT which starts in two weeks. “John has been diagnosed with a compound fracture to his right lower leg, while in theatre on Thursday night it was not possible to plate the leg as initially thought due to the extent of the injury, and tomorrow an external fixator will be fitted,” added the Honda statement. “In addition, John has also suffered four broken vertebrae and has three broken back ribs.” McGuinness also dislocated a thumb during a Honda team test at Castle Combe in early April.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is not asleep when he closes his eyes for long periods during meetings but is resting his eyes, his spokesman says. “The president cannot suffer bright lights,” George Charamba was quoted as saying by the state-run Herald newspaper. Mr Mugabe, 93, has been seen apparently sleeping at several events, leading to speculation about his fitness. He intends to stand in presidential elections next year. The president is currently receiving specialised medical treatment for his eyes in Singapore. Mr Mugabe most recently appeared to fall asleep during a discussion panel about “fragile states” at a World Economic Forum meeting in South Africa earlier this month. There he stated that Zimbabwe was ‘one of the most developed countries in Africa’.

On This Day

• 1787 – In Philadelphia, delegates convene a Constitutional Convention to write a new Constitution for the United States; George Washington presides.
• 1796 – Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox inoculation.
• 1878 – The last witchcraft trial held in the United States begins in Salem, Massachusetts, after Lucretia Brown, an adherent of Christian Science, accused Daniel Spofford of attempting to harm her through his mental powers.
• 1939 – Lina Medina becomes the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five.

Deaths

• 1987 – Rita Hayworth, American actress and dancer (b. 1918)
• 1998 – Frank Sinatra, American singer and actor (b. 1915)
• 2015 – B.B. King, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1925)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Samantha Morton (40), Robert Pattinson (31), Iwan Rheon (32), Harvey Keitel (78), Stephen Colbert (53), Zoë Wanamaker (68), Mark Heap (60), Malin Akerman (39), Emilio Estevez (55), Ving Rhames (58), Gabriel Byrne (67), Catherine Tate (49), Pam Ferris (69), Holly Valance (34), Rosario Dawson (38), Albert Finney (81), Billy Joel (68), Vicky McClure (34), David Attenborough (91), Enrique Iglesias (42) and Traci Lords (49).