HEAD TO HEAD

Who is your choice in this match race to the ultimate finish line? In looking for a competitive matchup. Stretch rejected the most obvious candidate: Patrick Swayze, the Number One overall selection in the 2009 Dead Pool. "Unfortunately," Stretch said, "Swayze appears to be low hanging fruit. I know we all wish him well, but he's facing impossible odds."

Steve Jobs
The Apple CEO is looking more and more like low hanging fruit himself. After months of dissembling about his failing health -- blaming his rapid weight loss on a "hormone imbalance" -- Jobs has taken a leave of absence. He was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, but made a remarkable recovery. But now reports indicate he may have to have the pancreas removed and Jobs, at 53, seems poised to make a savant of listener Chris, who made Jobs the third overall selection in the Dead Pool.

Ted Kennedy
Kennedy, who might turn 77 in February, was Stretch's first pick in the Dead Pool and the sixth selection overall. Stretch acknowledges a conflict of interest in this selection, but insists that emotion has never entered into his picks. Stretch notes that Kennedy suffers from a rare form of brain cancer even more fatal than most. Kennedy was diagnosed in May of 2008. "Realistically," says Stretch, "I think Kennedy should be a 3-5 favorite over Jobs, but you can certainly make a strong case for either."