It is not that the German psychic octopus has been turned into a recipe, or that he has met some other tragic fate.
No, according to the New York Times, the famous cephalopod who correctly predicted “the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs — all seven of Germany’s games plus the Spain-Netherlands final — is going to retire.”
According to a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, where clairvoyant Paul held his aquatic court, Paul will ”step back from the official oracle business.”
”He won’t give any more oracle predictions — either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy,” she said. ”Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh.”
As recognition for his services to the World Cup community, Paul was presented with an appropriate facsimile of the World Cup trophy, encrusted with three live mussels.
We wish Paul luck getting back into his former job.
I have no idea how long octopuses live, but perhaps Paul is young enough to make a comeback in 2014.
