Season 21: Episode 03: Glitter in Their Eyes

The tribe has spoken and John is asked to leave the pool immediately.At Tribal Council, Jimmy T. complains once again that Coach Jimmy J. did not allow him to play enough in the last challenge.   When asked about leadership, Jill admits to Jeff that Jimmy J. is the most accomplished leader in the tribe, so they often seek his advice.   Jimmy J. is quick to note that he is just an advisor, but is not the one making the decisions for the tribe.  Jimmy T. states that Jimmy J. has not really gotten to know him and suggests, “Maybe I’m a threat to his leadership role because I am a leader where I come from. And I am assertive, often speaking my mind.  Maybe he didn’t want to be bothered by that.”   Tyrone is amused that Jimmy T. would think he could be a threat to Jimmy J.  Jill admits that she is worried that they are losing tribe mates as they compete against the young, strong team.   Jeff then asks each tribe member if they are a weak player.   Jimmy J. is the only one to admit that he is one of the weakest on his tribe.   The Espada tribe casts their votes and with eight out of nine votes cast against him, Jimmy J. is voted out.  Jimmy Johnson, the 67 year-old former NFL coach from Islamorada, Fla., became the third person voted out of SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA.

Jeff's thoughts on Naonka:

 Okay let’s get to it – the thing that is really bothering me today. It’s you, Naonka. I am so torn over what I saw in last night’s episode.

You KNOCKED DOWN A WOMAN WITH AN ARTIFICIAL LEG! ON PURPOSE! SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT WOULD THROW HER OFF BALANCE SO YOU COULD STEAL A CLUE THAT SHE FOUND FIRST!

Whew. That felt good. I feel better already.

Here’s my dilemma. Naonka’s argument is simple: “It’s a game. I should use anything to my advantage and I did. Tough beans that Kelly B has an artificial leg. Not my problem.” I can’t argue against that. She’s right. Technically.

But man, my gut turned when I saw the scene. Keep in mind I do not watch tape on location so I had no idea this had gone down and how physical it got between Naonka and Kelly B.

Had I known, I’m not sure if I could have contained myself the next time I saw Naonka. Okay that’s a lie. Of course I could have contained myself, but I certainly would have looked at Naonka a bit differently.

And then to offer an apology to the tribe for “smushing the bananas…” That was the line that hung in the air for me. She made a conscious decision to apologize for the bananas but no mention of Kelly B. (And for the record, those bananas are the equivalent of gold bars on Survivor. She ruined a big chunk of the reward they just won.)

Naonka: “I got hood. Not ghetto.” I don’t even know what that line means, but the inference is that she knows what she did was rough and that makes it even worse.

For me it just comes down to fairness in life. Yes, you can argue that Survivor is a game and anything goes and if you say that I will nod and agree with you. This is just my own point of view. For me, there is a “fairness in life” philosophy that would prohibit me from taking that kind of advantage from someone like Kelly B. I know Kelly can take care of herself but an artificial leg is not a real leg. It does not and cannot do every single thing a real leg can and when it comes to balance Kelly B is at a disadvantage.

I really found it distasteful.

I will offer this, Naonka you should be writing for a television show. You would have to write alone, because nobody would last with you in the same room, but you spit out some of the most honest and compelling comments I’ve ever heard a person say. They’re not always pleasant but they are revealing of your character and that makes them on some level worth exploring.

Make no mistake, you are a villain. I don’t think anybody watching this season would disagree. Doesn’t mean you can’t get to the end, but I would bet my house and everything in my bank account you can’t win. Then again, I thought Sash would be first off. So what do I really know.

This is Survivor folks. Bringing together a cross-section of America. Forcing them to live together, while battling against each other. It can be a nasty game.

Best quotes of the week:

Fabio:“My strategy goes deeper than ‘oh ha ha, let’s keep him around cause he’s funny.’ Ha ha, there’s a hermit crab on my foot.”

Marty:“There are people out here who are smart … actually, there aren’t that many.”

Jimmy J: “You didn’t realize I could talk to the animals did you? Now if I had Bradshaw with me we’d really get these animals to talk.”

		ESPADA TRIBE
Eric	~	Jill Behm	43	ER Doctor
Brandon	~	Jane Bright	56	Dog Trainer
Cheryl	~	Tyrone Davis	42	Fire Captain
Erin	~	Wendy DeSmidt-Kohohoff	48	Goat Rancher/Retired Army Officer
Christi	~	Holly Hoffman	44	Swim Coach
John	~	Jimmy Johnson	67	TV Sports Broadcaster/Former Football Coach
Colin	~	Dan Lembo	63	Real Estate Executive
Pat	~	Marty Piombo	48	Technology Executive
Dick	~	Yve Rojas	41	Homemaker
Linda	~	Jimmy Tarantino	48	Commercial Fisherman
		LA FLOR TRIBE
Brendan	~	Judson Birza	21	Student
Karen R.	~	Kelly Bruno	26	Medical Student
Lauren	~	Shannon Elkins	30	Pest Control Co. Owner
Karen D.	~	Ben "Benry" Henry	24	Club Promoter
Sandy	~	Matthew "Sash" Lenaham	30	Real Estate Broker
Cara	~	Brenda Lowe	27	Paddleboard Co. Owner/Ex-NFL Cheerleader
Steve	~	NaOnka Mixon	27	Physical Education Teacher
Kim	~	Chase Rice	24	Pro Race Car Jackman/Singer
Warren	~	Kelly Shinn	20	Nursing Student
Tonya	~	Alina Wilson	23	Art Student