John Rocker to compete on Survivor?

[NDJournalist]

Woah. Big John Rocker news this weekend. First, the former closer appears at Cooperstown, raffling off a night of drinking with the former Brave to 10 lucky winners. He's also selling copies of his book and T-shirts that say "Speak English."

Then, there's this: According to Yardbarker, Rocker will compete on the upcoming season of Survivor.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/john_rocker_shows_up_in_cooperstown_survivor_up_next/16916723?linksrc=story_article_yb_original_head_16916723

 

[Riptide]

Woah. Big John Rocker news this weekend. First, the former closer appears at Cooperstown, raffling off a night of drinking with the former Brave to 10 lucky winners. He's also selling copies of his book and T-shirts that say "Speak English."

Then, there's this: According to Yardbarker, Rocker will compete on the upcoming season of Survivor.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/john_rocker_shows_up_in_cooperstown_survivor_up_next/16916723?linksrc=story_article_yb_original_head_16916723

Whoa. There is no big John Rocker news anymore.

Or should I say Woah?

 

[NDJournalist]

Woah. Big John Rocker news this weekend. First, the former closer appears at Cooperstown, raffling off a night of drinking with the former Brave to 10 lucky winners. He's also selling copies of his book and T-shirts that say "Speak English."

Then, there's this: According to Yardbarker, Rocker will compete on the upcoming season of Survivor.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/john_rocker_shows_up_in_cooperstown_survivor_up_next/16916723?linksrc=story_article_yb_original_head_16916723

Whoa. There is no big John Rocker news anymore.

Or should I say Woah?

Any time you get chosen to compete on Survivor, it's major news.

 

[Vombatus]

I actually got to meet the diversity training instructor for the Atlanta Braves after the Rocker crap hit the fan. Funny stuff.

 

[Shelbyville Manhattan]

Any time you get chosen to compete on Survivor, it's major news.

 

[jr/shotglass]

I think I hope he doesn't Survive.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I think he should be forced to compete with Jeff Pearlman and 16 people randomly grabbed from a NYC subway at 3 a.m.

 

[Chef2]

Good Lord.

 

[terrier]

He'd be perfect for "Survivor: West Virginia."

 

[Paynendearse]

"I mean, here we are on an island and there's Chinese, spicks, Russians, druggies with tattoos, moms with five kids, gays..who invited them all here? Probst? What's his deal? Hell, we could have had Survivor: 7 Train."

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

It would be fun to have a "disgraced celebrity" version of Survivor.

 

[bigpern23]

Probst is on record saying he doesn't think they'll ever do a "Celebrity Survivor." They're OK having celebrities (mostly lesser-known former sports figures) on the show because they have to audition the way normal contestants do. He's against doing it the way one network did with "I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here" because those types of celebs aren't really in it for the game, they're in it for the exposure.

 

[Huggy]

I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here was so awful it was brilliant.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Probst is on record saying he doesn't think they'll ever do a "Celebrity Survivor." They're OK having celebrities (mostly lesser-known former sports figures) on the show because they have to audition the way normal contestants do. He's against doing it the way one network did with "I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here" because those types of celebs aren't really in it for the game, they're in it for the exposure.

Well, for the most part, they're almost all in it for the exposure. I remember him saying on Stern that the biggest concern was them quitting and then not having a show, especially if they had to pay certain guarantees to get them there in the first place. Hell, they've had that problem with Survivor players who came back for another appearance.

My issue with the "celebs" who have been on there is they're at such a huge disadvantage. I think Lisa Whelchel is the only "celeb" to do well. Jimmy Johnson and Cliff Robinson didn't last long. I don't remember how well Gary Hogeboom did.

Maybe if you shortened it two 2-3 weeks like they do with Celebrity Apprentice. But to some extent, why bother?

 

[bigpern23]

Probst is on record saying he doesn't think they'll ever do a "Celebrity Survivor." They're OK having celebrities (mostly lesser-known former sports figures) on the show because they have to audition the way normal contestants do. He's against doing it the way one network did with "I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here" because those types of celebs aren't really in it for the game, they're in it for the exposure.

Well, for the most part, they're almost all in it for the exposure. I remember him saying on Stern that the biggest concern was them quitting and then not having a show, especially if they had to pay certain guarantees to get them there in the first place. Hell, they've had that problem with Survivor players who came back for another appearance.

My issue with the "celebs" who have been on there is they're at such a huge disadvantage. I think Lisa Whelchel is the only "celeb" to do well. Jimmy Johnson and Cliff Robinson didn't last long. I don't remember how well Gary Hogeboom did.

Maybe if you shortened it two 2-3 weeks like they do with Celebrity Apprentice. But to some extent, why bother?

Disagree. Do you think Cliff Robinson or Lisa Whelchel really were looking for exposure? Neither used their Survivor stint as a springboard back into public life. Jimmy Johnson's Survivor fantasy was pretty well known and he certainly doesn't need anymore exposure than he gets on FOX. About the celebrity I can think of who has competed on Survivor that seemed to be there for the exposure was the Marlins owner.

I think the celebrities they've had have been pretty well vetted to show a dedication to playing the game. As Probst noted, too many celebs joining a stars edition would just up and quit because the game is damn hard.

I think a true celebrity edition would be a complete and utter failure.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Well, after working once in more than 20 years (Facts of Life reunion), Whelchel now has a workout video out, was in a Tyler Perry movie (remember Perry is a huge Survivor fan) and is in a Hallmark movie.

I agree that I don't think Jimmy Johnson did it for exposure. I don't know about Robinson.

I know with Dancing With the Stars, a lot of the athletes who have gone on there have used that as a springboard for television work.

 

[Riptide]

I'd like to see Mariah Carey on "Survivor."
The meltdown would be spectacular.

 

[Paynendearse]

Well, after working once in more than 20 years (Facts of Life reunion), Whelchel now has a workout video out, was in a Tyler Perry movie (remember Perry is a huge Survivor fan) and is in a Hallmark movie.

I agree that I don't think Jimmy Johnson did it for exposure. I don't know about Robinson.

I know with Dancing With the Stars, a lot of the athletes who have gone on there have used that as a springboard for television work.

Johnson did it as he did Extenze commercials. He wants to help people. :)

 

[MTM]

Who watched?

I loved how Rocker said his last name was Wetteland when the kid recognized him before fessing up.

Pretty good start, despite the forced drama of the husband vs wife challenge.

And nice stereotyping by the annoying "Amazing Race" twin, assuming that because Josh is gay, he's "one of the girls."

I was surprised that Josh expressed a bunch of angst about being the swing vote, then he voted for neither of the players targeted. That kind of indecision has hurt people in the past.

 

[JackReacher]

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/9/25/6842523/john-rocker-survivor-recap-episode-1