Meet Paul, the footballing Nostradamus

Never has a creature shot to such a pinnacle and instant fame as much as Paul, the octopus has. Paul became internationally famous for his 100 percent prediction in Germany’s seven matches at the 2010 World Cup as well as the fitting final. The World Cup and all the fanfare was all an excellent experience and this gullible marine octopus shot to fame from nowhere. He even was regarded as the greatest footballing pundit out there.

Paul, the octopus lives in Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany. Paul makes his predictions by choosing between one of the two transparent cubes which will bear a national football team’s flag on the outside and each of the cubes will contain his food, mussels. The container, into which Paul lowers himself first to gobble up his food, is interpreted to indicate his prediction for the game. His prediction skills have reached an unprecedented high with the latest correct prediction of Spain beating Germany in the second semi-final. But perhaps the strangest thing of all is that several zoos and aquariums in Germany seeing Paul predict winners, have been forcing their animals to give their prediction on the game. Unfair .. aint it ??

Paul’s prediction skills were regularly mocked by some of the leading analysts that it is just simple mathematical probability or chance at work and nothing beyond that. Even critics claim his predictions have been spoofed by various sections of the media around the world and had been blown out of proportion; Paul seems to be very famous on the web applications and websites and even on the leading social networking site, Facebook. Also the website called paulpredicts went online soon after the World Cup concluded.

Well.. now that’s not it all. Once Paul was done with all his predictions, the famed oracle creature was in demand from all quarters of the globe with his increase in popularity on account of his flawless predictions. And on the other side, supporters of Germany were disappointed as Paul picked Spain ahead of Germany in the semifinal clash. The much anguished fans of Germany called for Paul to be killed, cooked and eaten to take the revenge of the Germany’s loss in the much famous and grand sporting event. It goes with the cliché’, what goes up must come down!! As if all the above musings were not enough, the psychic octopus has also been made to forecast as to who will be Russia’s next president – Vladimir Putin or Dmitry Medvedev! The eight-legged creature has already cast his imminent vote, which has been sealed until the election year of 2012. So any guesses for this one ??

Though the marine creature has nothing to do with the realities of the outside world, the human community is more frenzied about its immaculate predictions. So much popularity in a very short period; gaining very many international fans all over. Only Paul can do it. No parrot, no camel, no crystal balls. Doff your hats, ladies and gentlemen, for Paul the Octopus, the living soccer seer !!