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Paul the Octopus

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Animal

The Resume

    (January 2008-October 25, 2010)
    Born in Weymouth, England, United Kingdom
    Sea Life Centre octopus hatched in England and transfered at an early age to Oberhausen, Germany
    Animal oracle used to predict outcomes of games in the 2010 World Cup, usually involving Germany (seven out of eight matches)
    Picked by way of choosing which one of two clear boxes to open to get at food (boxes had team flag emblems in them)
    Perfect 8 for 8 in each 50/50 chance of picking winner (odds: 1 in 256)
    Named after a poem by German children's author Boy Lornsen - 'Der Tintenfisch Paul Oktopus'

Why he might be annoying:

    Let's face it - he had no interest in the World Cup, he was just trying to get a bite to eat.
    He was NOT named after Paul McCartney for the Beatles song 'Octopus Garden' (that tune had Ringo as the lead vocalist).
    Of course the PeTA goons had to stick their noses into the whole affair, demanding that he be set free.
    After he predicted Germany over Argentina, chef Nicolas Bedorrou posted an octopus recipe on his Facebook page.
    When he predicted Spain over Germany, many Germans called him a traitor and he received death threats (his keeper Oliver Walenciak vowed to protect him).
    He is not infallible - in his UEFA Euro 2008 predictions, he was four for six.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Since he was raised in captivity ,he would not know how to catch food, so PeTA's suggestion of releasing him would amount to a death sentence.
    At just 2 ½ years of age, he became an international celebrity.
    He bested all other animal oracles in World Cup predictions, including Leon the Porcupine, Petty the Pygmy Hippopotamus, Anton the Tamarin and Singapore's Mani the Parakeet (who incorrectly picked the Netherlands over Spain in the final).
    He has championed the cause of cephalopod intelligence, a study of the advanced cognitive evolution in invertebrate sea creatures.
    For his accuracy, he was given a replica World Cup trophy for his aquarium.
    Spain as a nation has revered him, and a local businessman offered $38,000 to have him featured at the annual Fiesta del Pulpo festival - as a guest, not a menu item (his handlers politely declined).
    Since octopuses usually live for just three years, he has been retired from future predictions, and will live out the remainder of his life entertaining children at his Sea Life Centre home.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 12 Votes: 8.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 57 Votes: 38.60% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 59 Votes: 71.19% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 470 Votes: 51.70% Annoying