Note to “Survivor” casting: One of the guys on your Villains tribe brushed off a bout of Samoan flu to lead his tribe to victory while one of the guys on your Heroes tribe yelled at a woman half his size.
Unfortunately for “Survivor” favorite Stephenie LaGrossa, she was that woman. And to add insult to her dislocated shoulder injury, her tribe mates thought that James Clement’s angry rants and curses weren’t enough of a reason to send him packing. So instead she gets to spend her Friday morning talking to me about why “Survivor” Heroes Rupert and James aren’t as nice as they seem, which player she thinks is “Hot,” and her picks for the 2010 World Series.
Gordon Holmes: I’m going to try something a little different than you might be used to. I’m not going to yell at you, or curse at you, and I actually want to hear what you have to say.
Stephenie LaGrossa: OK?
Gordon: Because I heard there was a situation recently where that happened to you.
Stephenie: Oh yeah, you’re right! He might have been a very large, muscular man.
Gordon: So tell me, this large, muscular man. He seemed to lose it a bit. Was that a shock to you? Because he always struck me as very mild mannered.
Stephenie: You know what? I loved James the gravedigger. He was a fan favorite at one point and I loved to watch him. He was a gentle giant, a really nice guy. And then I meet him and he’s just not what he’s cracked up to be. It was really disappointing. And that large breakdown that we saw after we lost the challenge, he mainly took it out on me, but he was screaming at everyone.
Gordon: Do you think James has issues with strong women?
Stephenie: A lot of people have been saying that. He likes a girl like Amanda who depends on him, sort of. And she plays that up, “I need you, you’re a big strong man.” Where I’m an independent woman.
Gordon: What did it mean to you when Colby and Tom had your back?
Stephenie: It was amazing, I didn’t expect that. We’re already down in the numbers. We’re already targeted, and then to put themselves on the line even further. These guys truly are heroes, and they’re honorable, and they’re gentlemen, and they’re respectful. And them standing up for me and putting their necks on the line for me, I can’t even explain what that means. It was unbelievable.
Gordon: It was like something out of an action film where Colby had your back, and Tom stepped in and said, “Make that three!”
Stephenie: Even if you want to support someone you keep your mouth shut because you don’t want to be the next one on the chopping block. These are guys that are like “Yeah, vote me out. I’ll do my best, I’m not quitting.” But to play the game with a bunch of (expletive deleted), is it worth it?
Gordon: After your torch was snuffed, you and James had one last exchange where you told James he should watch his language and he said “Keep your mouth shut.” Did you expect that reaction?
Stephenie: My game was over, so I was getting my last word in regardless. You’re going to lose again, try not to flip out on your team mates cause that’s not going to help. And it just goes to show what kind of person James is. Because first of all, who talks to a woman like that? And even if you do, you do it the privacy of your own home. Not that that’s OK, but don’t do it on national television. It just proves my point of what a beast and bully he truly is. Russell is the most evil person out there, but even when Rob passed out he was concerned.
Gordon: How’s your shoulder doing?
Stephenie: The shoulder is doing well. My shoulder was a chronic injury that I’ve had since I was young. I definitely need surgery, but I’m trying not to have surgery because I’m getting married and I don’t want to have a scar.
Gordon: I’m sure that would look lovely with your dress.
Stephenie: (Laughs) I know, it would just match perfect.
Gordon: It seemed like there was some tension between you and Rupert. And from what we’ve seen Rupert isn’t the jovial giant we’ve come to know. What’s going on there?
Stephenie: On day one we get out there and Rupert said, “I’m the best Survivor, and I camp for a living, and we go on vacation and we don’t go to hotels, we go to campgrounds.” Which is great, right? But then we get out there and he’s taking 45 minutes trying to make a fire. He’s shaving all of our magnesium off of our flint and we’re all looking at each other. And nobody would say anything because when you’d say something he’d get so offended. He was not the Rupert that people saw before. People were getting very annoyed by him.
Gordon: OK, word association time. Let’s start with Parvati.
Stephenie: Giggly.
Gordon: Tom?
Stephenie: Hero.
Gordon: Colby?
Stephenie: Hot. (Laughs)
Gordon: Rupert?
Stephenie: Annoying.
Gordon: Cirie?
Stephenie: Intelligent.
Gordon: Russell?
Stephenie: Conniving.
Gordon: Amanda?
Stephenie: Dependent.
Gordon: James?
Stephenie: Bully.
Fun Fact: Stephenie is engaged to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick and Heidi Strobel Hamels from “Survivor: The Amazon” is married to Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels.
Gordon: Now, I’m a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan who lives in Philadelphia. All of my friends have been trying to get me to root for the Phillies, but I’m a St. Louis boy. The argument they always use is, “C’mon, there are more ‘Survivor’ wives on the Phillies.”
Stephenie: (Laughs) You’re from Philly? I have a restaurant in Philly.
Gordon: Oh really?
Stephenie: It’s called Gigi.
Gordon: Is there a Web site?
Stephenie: Yeah, gigiphilly.com. It’s in Old City, it’s actually where I met Kyle.
Gordon: Now if I go there do I get the “Survivor” discount?
Stephenie: Sure!
Gordon: Now, my question was, is it going to stay just you and Heidi, or are you going to try to set up the rest of the Phillies with former contestants like Parvati and Amanda?
Stephenie: No, well Parvati has asked me, “Doesn’t Kyle have any single friends?” But I think there’s like one guy on the team that isn’t married and he’s such a nice guy I wouldn’t set him up with either of them.
Gordon: Well, I hope the Phillies do well this season, until they face the Cardinals in the NLCS, and then I hope they lose.
Stephenie: (Laughs) We’re getting another World Series, get ready.
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