Paul the Octopus, who captivated the civilized world this summer with his astoundingly accurate World Cup predictions, passed away earlier this week from natural causes at the age of 2½. He leaves behind no known kin.
From his comfy confines at the Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, the British-born Paul dared to put his tentacles on the line time after time this summer in the name of his soccer-centric powers of prediction.
And even when death threats were made against him for picking Spain to defeat Germany in the World Cup semifinals, Paul stood firm on his hunch.
The topper came a few days later when Paul picked Spain to defeat Netherlands in the finals and bring home its first-ever World Cup. (Of course, España prevailed 1-0 in extra time.)
In all, Paul had a perfect record in predicting all seven of Germany's World Cup contests, and after Spain claimed victory over the Netherlands, Paul retired from the prognostication business, choosing instead to concentrate on "making children laugh," according to an aquarium spokesperson.
Paul 2.0, who purportedly hails from the south of France, will be formally unveiled to the public next week. Until then, we mourn the psychic cephalopod who managed to even raise the ire of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for being too awesome.
He will be missed.
Image: apn Photo/Roberto Pfeil
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