Octopus oracle to pick again
Source: Agencies |
July 9, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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Prescient Paul, the 2-year-old octopus oracle who has correctly predicted the outcome of every World Cup match played by Germany, is branching out and will weigh in on the final between Spain and the Netherlands.
The Oberhausen Sea Life Aquarium confirmed yesterday that Paul will cast his suction-cupped arms wider in his next prognostication and for the first time pick a game in which his home country is not involved.
Aquarium spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said the floppy football fan will make his choice on the Germany-Uruguay match this morning, then pick the winner of Sunday's final in Johannesburg.
He had been Germany's media darling through the World Cup until he correctly picked Spain to defeat Germany on Wednesday night. Most Germans now envision him fried in garlic butter.
"Nothing beats grilled octopus," said Dolores Lusch, a German fan who works on a Berlin fish stall. "Cut him up in thin slices and grill him on all sides with a dash of lemon juice, olive oil and garlic on it. Delicious!"
Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans became believers in Paul's possible psychic powers.
The country was shocked and distraught when he picked Spain to win after tipping German wins over Argentina, England, Ghana and Australia.
Shock and dismay
German newspapers and websites were filled with suggestions of what to do with Paul ?? most involved cooking and eating him.
"Throw him in the frying pan," wrote the Berliner Kurier newspaper in a popular sentiment echoed by Die Welt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Hamburger Abendblatt and other newspapers.
Paul's picks have become news across Germany and around the world.
When Paul makes his picks today, networks in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands will cover the prognostications live.
The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, gets the choice of picking food from two different transparent containers lowered into his tank ?? one with a German flag on it and one with the opponent's flag.
The container Paul opens first is regarded as his pick.
Despite the antipathy towards Paul, Sea Life spokeswoman Munzig said Paul has a bright future at his home in Oberhausen.
"Nothing bad will happen to Paul," she said. "No one wishes him ill-will. Paul has had a great run."
Munzig added that Paul's career might go on.
"We've had some inquiries about his future," she said.
The Oberhausen Sea Life Aquarium confirmed yesterday that Paul will cast his suction-cupped arms wider in his next prognostication and for the first time pick a game in which his home country is not involved.
Aquarium spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said the floppy football fan will make his choice on the Germany-Uruguay match this morning, then pick the winner of Sunday's final in Johannesburg.
He had been Germany's media darling through the World Cup until he correctly picked Spain to defeat Germany on Wednesday night. Most Germans now envision him fried in garlic butter.
"Nothing beats grilled octopus," said Dolores Lusch, a German fan who works on a Berlin fish stall. "Cut him up in thin slices and grill him on all sides with a dash of lemon juice, olive oil and garlic on it. Delicious!"
Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans became believers in Paul's possible psychic powers.
The country was shocked and distraught when he picked Spain to win after tipping German wins over Argentina, England, Ghana and Australia.
Shock and dismay
German newspapers and websites were filled with suggestions of what to do with Paul ?? most involved cooking and eating him.
"Throw him in the frying pan," wrote the Berliner Kurier newspaper in a popular sentiment echoed by Die Welt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Hamburger Abendblatt and other newspapers.
Paul's picks have become news across Germany and around the world.
When Paul makes his picks today, networks in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands will cover the prognostications live.
The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, gets the choice of picking food from two different transparent containers lowered into his tank ?? one with a German flag on it and one with the opponent's flag.
The container Paul opens first is regarded as his pick.
Despite the antipathy towards Paul, Sea Life spokeswoman Munzig said Paul has a bright future at his home in Oberhausen.
"Nothing bad will happen to Paul," she said. "No one wishes him ill-will. Paul has had a great run."
Munzig added that Paul's career might go on.
"We've had some inquiries about his future," she said.
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