Here's to overcoming the odds
Posted on: 05.09.2007
I was never supposed to be in this position. Three months ago, I was sitting on my living room floor as the first alternate to this seasons road rules, when I see Abram clock Adam in the head, and the rest as you know, is history.
The odds were never in my favor to win, and I'm truly blessed to even be in the position that I'm in now. I overcame the pressures of not being part of the alliance, made some amazing friendships along the way, and have made some serious bank in the process!!
I feel horrible for the circumstances that arose over the last 48 hours, but hope there are some people that will learn some valuable life les sons from it. The experience alone is a life lesson in itself! Thank you to everyone for believeing that I could do it from day one! I came out here, kicked butt and took names...and thank you for your encouragement along the way! I love you all like fat kids love cake! Cheers to all of you
-D-Rock
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That light at the end of the tunnel
Posted on: 05.02.2007
Lets just hope that light at the end of the tunnel isn?t a train heading back in my direction! I?m expecting a dramatic twist for our final week, and am ready for any circumstance or situation that may be thrown my way. First off, I need Tori and Adam to kick some serious ass in the pit and come rejoin us on the RV. A win just wouldn?t be a win if they don?t make it back on, so my heart and soul are with them until I see their faces standing on the side of the road, and ready to get back on the party bus!
Vegas was a sick place to have a mission. The lights, crowd, girls, gambling, and atmosphere of Vegas has left me wanting more?and I will be back! Unfortunately, we didn?t win our mission, I tore my bicep, we have to send two people into the pit, the RV broke down, and it was stifling hot? but this blog will not focus on the negative. Tori and Adam will be back, the RV will be back up and running, the air-conditioning will be prefect, my bicep will heal, and we will come together as a team and win this final mission. I will be driving down the beaches of Florida in my brand new car and a wad full of cash! Cheers to that, and cheers to each and every person out there who believed that I could do it from day one!
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6 victories = 1 loss
Posted on: 04.25.2007
It?s unfortunate when six people really pull together as a team and accomplish some amazing goals, and yet, still lose. You want to talk about a hard pill to swallow? David and Susie are attacked by dogs and are able to come together as a team and win. Tori and I faced the daunting task of crawling through hundreds of rats, overcoming tarantulas, and avoiding scorpion stings? and yet, we did! Kina and Adam are forced to do the unthinkable of eating 3 hissing cockroaches and a bowl full of maggots, and they do! The rest ,as you know, is history. To lose on such a ridiculous game is the pill that?s hard to swallow. We will take this loss in stride, and assure you, I will be fighting with an intense passion that has yet to be seen on any previous mission thus far. I?m here to win, I?m here for the five people surrounding me to win, and I?m here to kick butt and take names during that process. We cannot and will not lose again!
To those of you who want to think I?m a backstabber for voting with the majority and sending in David last week? you would not survive two weeks on this show. When push comes to shove, you need to remember that this is a game. Backstabbing is a very personal word that is being implied to a very strategic situation. I?m too smart to not understand how to play this game. I have embraced every pit I?ve been given with humility, and have won three times, so if I want to vote someone else in from a strategic stand point then I have earned that right! David knows I love him like a little brother, and I would never enjoy putting neither him, nor anybody else on that RV at risk! This is my family, and I care about them like family! These are the people I?ve fought tooth and nail with, the people I?ve shared victories and mourned defeats! I?ve seen these people overcome scenarios they never thought possible, and I have enjoyed helping one another every step of the way. I want each and every person who is currently on that RV to remain there in the end, and I will do everything in my power to see that happen this week! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we are all sprinting for it!
Here?s to seeing you at the end!
-D-Rock
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Back to the Glory Days.
Posted on: 04.18.2007
This week was definitely a productive one. While I was not happy about Susie and I having to go into the pit, the end result was more positive than I could have ever imagined. We dominated the pit as a team, and she truly pulled her weight against Veronica. Again, Dan was a tough opponent, and I was fortunate enough to come out with a win. Now, we really needed to focus on keeping the ball rolling and put an end to the losing streak for our missions!
For those of you who don't know, I'm one of the biggest football fans you'll ever meet. I live for painting my face and tailgating at every home Jacksonville Jaguars/Buffalo Bills game I can attend! With that being said, our mission this week was right up my alley! Walking on the football field in San Diego was truly a great experience, and having a couple of pro-bowl coaches in McNeil and Osgood really set the tone for what I was going to bring to the table for our mission vs. the Pit Crew.
Where better to play a flag football game then on the beaches of San Diego? (At least for the RV crew) =) In a dominating fashion, each and every person stepped up big time for the home team! David and Kina played some outstanding defense, Susie scored a touchdown, Adam ran perfect routes, and Tori simply dominated the girls on the opposing team! It was a real team effort, and I can say I was truly proud to be a part of it and contribute my piece!
With our moral high, we want to continue this feeling into the upcoming weeks. David will win his pit, and we will move on and conquer the next mission. It's coming down to the end for all of us and this wonderful experience, and we are not going anywhere!
As always, thank you to everyone for your support over the past month or so. I will continue to do my best, and try even harder to not let you down. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, a scary thought for anyone standing in my way! Take care!
-Derek
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In one day, out the next.
Posted on: 04.11.2007
This weekend was definitely a tough one. My body is still recuperating from a tough fought pit battle with Dan, and I already have to think about the next one. It?s an unfortunate situation, but one that I?m still ready for. David racked his nuts, and Adam isn?t going anywhere, so here Susie and I go.
This mission was badayss though. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be landing a front flip on roller blades off a 10 foot drop in.(Too bad I couldn?t do it when the pressure was on) Nor did I ever expect to see the rest of the RV crew accomplish some of their amazing stunts either. Susie and Tori accompanied me well on the blades, while Adam and Kina rode with style on the BMX bikes. David was there for our comic relief, taking some of the hardest spills I?ve ever seen. Still, he gave it a valiant effort! TJ and Richie were down right sick! Starting off our day like a bunch of lunatics, showing off their talents and making me feel like a pathetic individual. But hey, when you?re that good, it?s to be expected.
The moment I heard we were going to Woodward, I was totally stoked! I knew the arena had been featured in Tony Hawk, and I could only await the day with great anticipation as to what we might be doing.... and it definitely did not disappoint!
It?s hard to say what?s going to happen over the next few weeks. The game we are all apart of changes from week to week, and it can be overwhelming. The only thing you can do is play the hand you?ve been dealt to the best of your ability, a life lesson I have always learned to live by. While I may be thrown into a role on the RV that I?m not accustomed to, my fate is ultimately in my hands. If you want my spot on the RV, you?ll have to come and get it. I assure you, I am ready!
As always, thanks to everyone who has been there and supporting me from day one. Your comments are a true source of motivation, and my integrity will remain the same because of it. I will do everything in my power to win, and win, and when that?s over, win again! I?ll see you next week!
Derek
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My Response Blog
Posted on: 04.05.2007
Hey Derek! After reading this blog, I almost felt compelled to vote for you...which I have. I too currently live in Florida, but was originally from PA. So I gotta give my support so you better represent. I have been a little disappointed with Dan, he seems to fall a little short when everyone has had such high hopes for him. so you if you get voted in, and i really hope you do, you better beat his butt and represent on that RV!
Posted by: Jessica - Mar 26, 2007 12:00:03 AM
Hey Jessica,
I?ve got nothing but love for anybody else who has lived in my two states! =) And of course you felt compelled to vote for me, people always feel compelled to make the right decision! Haha I?ll do my best to represent on the RV, and thanks again!!
good luck derek... i think youve got this in the bag... i like dan but i wouldnt mind seeing some of you on that RV!!!
Posted by: Jess - Mar 26, 2007 12:52:18 PM
A paper or plastic bag? I?ve found that paper is a little more durable, so lets go with that! I?ve got an even better idea... how about you see A LOT of me on the RV! That sounds fantastical to me if it does the same for you?!! =)
just like to say, good luck in the pit even those its over ha. but ya so i was watching part of the pit in overdrive.mtv.com and u look smaller on tv. i expected some big buff football player. and seeing u next to dan and hearing u say u and dan are abotu the same size im like wow hes not as big of a guy as i pictured. to me dan look liek kind of a lil guy but ya u guys are close in size and i think will make for an awsoem pit. i wish both of u guys luck. who ever wins need to vote for david and get him off the rv so dan or u can coem back who ever doesnt make it on this time.
good luck to u
~Shelz~
Posted by: shelz - Mar 26, 2007 5:44:41 PM
Hi there Shelz,
I?m actually about 6?0? and around 215 lbs, so I?m not the smallest guy in the world. Dan is probably about 20 or 30 lbs lighter than I am, so he is descent sized as well. Remember, not all football players are big, dumb, muscle-head jocks! Lol It was definitely a tough battle in the pit between the two of us!
Derek!! good luck with everything!!!! your gonna rock this show somehow... you were always the crazy one!! Have a good time!! miss you babe! xoxo
Posted by: Tara Fletcher - Mar 27, 2007 1:30:16 AM
Thank you my little Tara! I miss you too!
Jacksonville Florida? Hell Yeah. :). Good Luck in the Pit. I love you and Dan so I didn't pick someone to win. either way I'm happy.
oh, what high school did you go to?
Posted by: Kyan - Mar 27, 2007 7:38:59 PM
Hey Kyan,
I didn?t actually go to high school in Florida. I?m originally from a small town outside of Erie, PA? and I went to high school at Corry Area High. Jacksonville is sick though, and it?s a good change of pace from the cold winters of Pennsylvania.
Derek, you are so dang CUTE!!! I'm married but I still think you're adorable! You have the cutest dimples and such a fun-loving attitude. YOU ARE MY NEW CRUSH :)
Posted by: Jessie - Mar 28, 2007 10:39:30 PM
Jessie,
Thank you for the compliments. However, I?ve learned that you have to be careful around those married women, they?ll get you in trouble! Haha I am a happy go lucky guy, so thanks for hitting the nail on the head!
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Quite possibly, the best day of my life!
Posted on: 04.04.2007
It?s hard to put into word the emotions felt on this last mission. No one likes to lose, and we lost, yet there was a sense of extreme accomplishment by the entire RV crew. We faced what seemed to be an impossible challenge, and really took the bull by the horns. Although we did not win, it truly seemed to bring everyone a bit closer because it was obvious that everyone stepped it up big time, and there wasn?t a weak player on the team.
The mission itself rocked! Flying across the desert at 100 mph, maneuvering through endless woops, and imitating the dukes of hazard and flying close to 70 feet through the air. It was an unbelievable ride, and anyone should be so lucky to experience what we were able to enjoy!
It was good to have David back on the RV. My heart goes out to Shane as I know he was anticipating a quick return to the RV, but David is a beast, and I had to root for him to come back. He is a definite asset to the RV, and is one of the toughest competitors to have on your team when it comes to the missions.
Words can?t describe how proud I am of everyone on the RV, and how they performed in this weeks mission. Adam simply rocked the mission, and proved his worth in flying through the final leg of our 6 miles course. Kina and David both overcame their minor struggles with a stick shift, and showed us what they were made of. Tori never stalled the car once, a feat even I couldn?t accomplish! But hands down, the most impressive person to me was Susie. She had no fear behind the wheel of this animal. She was calm, cool and collected. Her confidence truly rubbed off on the rest of us!
The relationships I?ve developed with each and every person on the team are surprising. Two weeks ago, I had no idea what to expect, whether I would be accepted into the group, or have to fight for everything. Acceptance would be an understatement, as these guys and girls are more than just my partners, they truly are friends, and I have come to respect them all.
It is because of this respect that I have decided to volunteer myself into the pit for this week. They have fought tooth and nail over the past 10 weeks for what is theirs, and I?m going to battle my way through another pit to prove what is mine! Ultimately, I am gaining the respect that I deserve in the process. So here goes nothing, wish me luck, and I hope to see you again next week!
With love as always,
D-Rock aka Derek
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I Answer your Comments
Posted on: 03.30.2007
Hey Derek! After reading this blog, I almost felt compelled to vote for you...which I have. I too currently live in Florida, but was originally from PA. So I gotta give my support so you better represent. I have been a little disappointed with Dan, he seems to fall a little short when everyone has had such high hopes for him. so you if you get voted in, and i really hope you do, you better beat his butt and represent on that RV!
Posted by: Jessica - Mar 26, 2007 12:00:03 AM
Hey Jessica,
I?ve got nothing but love for anybody else who has lived in my two states! =) And of course you felt compelled to vote for me, people always feel compelled to make the right decision! Haha, I?ll do my best to represent on the RV, and thanks again!!
good luck derek... i think youve got this in the bag... i like dan but i wouldnt mind seeing some of you on that RV!!!
Posted by: Jess - Mar 26, 2007 12:52:18 PM
A paper or plastic bag? I?ve found that paper is a little more durable, so lets go with that! I?ve got an even better idea... how about you see A LOT of me on the RV! That sounds fantastical to me if it does the same for you?!! =)
just like to say, good luck in the pit even those its over ha. but ya so i was watching part of the pit in overdrive.mtv.com and u look smaller on tv. i expected some big buff football player. and seeing u next to dan and hearing u say u and dan are abotu the same size im like wow hes not as big of a guy as i pictured. to me dan look liek kind of a lil guy but ya u guys are close in size and i think will make for an awsoem pit. i wish both of u guys luck. who ever wins need to vote for david and get him off the rv so dan or u can coem back who ever doesnt make it on this time.
good luck to u
~Shelz~
Posted by: shelz - Mar 26, 2007 5:44:41 PM
Hi there Shelz,
I?m actually about 6?0? and around 215 lbs, so I?m not the smallest guy in the world. Dan is probably about 20 or 30 lbs lighter than I am, so he is descent sized as well. Remember, not all football players are big, dumb, muscle-head jocks! Lol. It was definitely a tough battle in the pit between the two of us!
Derek!! good luck with everything!!!! your gonna rock this show somehow... you were always the crazy one!! Have a good time!! miss you babe! Xoxo
Posted by: Tara Fletcher - Mar 27, 2007 1:30:16 AM
Thank you my little Tara! I miss you too!
Jacksonville Florida? Hell Yeah. :). Good Luck in the Pit. I love you and Dan so I didn't pick someone to win. either way I'm happy. Oh, what high school did you go to?
Posted by: Kyan - Mar 27, 2007 7:38:59 PM
Hey Kyan,
I didn?t actually go to high school in Florida. I?m originally from a small town outside of Erie, PA? and I went to high school at Corry Area High. Jacksonville is sick though, and it?s a good change of pace from the cold winters of Pennsylvania.
Derek, you are so dang CUTE!!! I'm married but I still think you're adorable! You have the cutest dimples and such a fun-loving attitude. YOU ARE MY NEW CRUSH :)
Posted by: Jessie - Mar 28, 2007 10:39:30 PM
Jessie,
Thank you for the compliments. However, I?ve learned that you have to be careful around those married women, they?ll get you in trouble! Haha. I am a happy go lucky guy, so thanks for hitting the nail on the head!
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One down, many to go
Posted on: 03.28.2007
This has definitely been one crazy week, but then again, what do you expect
when you?re on an RV with a group of crazy cats! You?ve got Adam cracking jokes
in the driver seat, David peeing in the bathroom sink at all hours of the night,
Tori going nuts over the Miss USA pageant, Susie becoming vocal after a couple
margaritas, and Kina nearly taking out my kneecaps with her phenomenal tractor
skills. All in all, it was definitely a great opening week!
The mission was definitely right up our alley! The mud, goop, slop, and
manure all created a down right awesome scenario to bring out the best in all of
us. The girls did a sick job driving the tractors, (yes you?re forgiven
Kina),and us guys got down and dirty with no respect to our cleanliness! We
kicked ass and took names, and knew without a doubt that we had banked another
$10,000.
I respect the amount of time that my fellow Roadies have been on the RV. I
now understand the commitment and dedication it takes to make it through this
ordeal known as Road Rules. David and I have decided to sacrifice ourselves to
the clutches of the pit over the next two weeks to show the rest of the RV crew
that we belong and respect the amount of work they have put in over the last
couple months. I will treat anybody and everybody with the respect that is in
turn showed to me. We have the strongest crew that the RV has seen yet, and we
have no intentions of losing another mission from this point on. We will win, no
matter what the cost!
I wish David the best of luck this week, he is a true asset to the team and
we all want him back. He enjoys this experience too much to throw it away, and I
know he?s going to give someone hell in the pit, and he?s not going anywhere!
Thank you to everyone who gave me the chance to go into the pit. I was
clearly called out by Dan, and because of you, I was given the chance to go in
there, defend myself, and show you what I am truly made of. Dan was a good
competitor, and I respect his boldness. I?m sure he will have another chance at
the pit. Thanks again guys and gals, until next time!
-Derek
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Did I just get called out?...Sweet!!!
Posted on: 03.22.2007
So here we go again, everyone thinks they have the whole show figured out. Somebody wins the pit, they get on the RV, everybody hugs and they're on their way...that is until you throw David into the mix. What a classy dude!! This man was butt-bootie naked, and we all know the only reason the bookbag was covering the goods was so the parents at home didn't have to hide their kids eyes! Hands down, the best moment yet for the RV crew. Way to go David! haha
But seriously, congratulations again to my fellow Road Rulers on the RV! Keep stacking that bankroll, I love the smell of money! Everybody stepped it up and did a fantastic job. Adam was definitely pulling his weight getting to the trapped "victim", and David handled it nicely on the way back. As for Susie, come on girl!!! We're from Pennsylvania, we're used to the cold weather and snow, you should have been the first one up that mountain! Still, everyone kicked butt.
I must say, I had no envy from the comfort of my warm living room, watching the team have to jump into 35 degree water. Tori definitely rocked this section though, she turned her nervousness into determination and came through in the clutch.
Now to the fun part! I was definitely called out by Dan, which I think is awesome! He's a very competitive individual, and I welcome the challenge. Hopefully, with your help, this will be my chance to shine! I will do everything in my power to get on that RV, and I have no intentions of falling short! Thank you so much again for all your support, and I hope to be making a stop in your living rooms soon.... via the television of course!
Until next time,
Derek
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