Week Two Scores

Week 2
Adam 220
Tracy 310
Jess117 340
Linda 300
Tyboty 220
Kram83 270
Amy O 240
Roth Clan 250

The episode was pretty much Tammy and Victor, who seemed to have no problem at all. Steve and Linda, though...yikes.

How 'bout the flight attendants walking around with random pieces of wood - that's good television. Oh, that and Mike White trying to climb the gate at the pit stop instead of just pulling it open!

Week One Scores

I'm digging the new look TAR has this year. New logo, slightly different theme song, and looks like new font for the captions. Nice look. Let's get right to the goodies...

Tracy 300
Roth Clan 230
Jess117 210
Kram83 180
Amy O 170
Adam 140
Tyboty 140
Linda 90

You can check the rest of the score sheet here:

How funny were the rogue-cheeses rolling down the hill at mach-5?!

The couple from the sticks bugged me - he seemed pretty mean before the first night of sleep cuz his wife couldn't keep up with him.

I was kinda hoping the flight attendant team would get Philiminated, oh well...maybe the zip line will cause them to fall back next week....

Teams picked so far

grizzlyadam
Jennifer/Preston
LaKisha/Jennifer
Mark/Michael
Tammy/Victor

trace7
Amanda/Kris
LaKisha/Jennifer
Mark/Michael
Tammy/Victor

Jess117
Amanda/Kris
Brad/Victoria
Christie/Jodi
Tammy/Victor

Linda
Amanda/Kris
Jennifer/Preston
LaKisha/Jennifer
Tammy/Victor

Kram83
Amanda/Kris
Jennifer/Preston
Mark/Michael
Tammy/Victor

Pick your teams

You can pick your teams several different ways:

1: Fill in the form below
2: Email me at aemanoff@gmail.com
3: Leave your team names in the comments

I'll enter them into the spreadsheet first come, first served, so don't delay!

The Teams

Amanda and Kris



Biography
Amanda Blackledge (23); Kris Klicka (24)
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Occupation: Amanda (Student); Kris (Sales Representative)
Relationship: Dating

This young couple who met more than three years ago hopes to spend the rest of their lives together, but before taking their relationship to the next level they are looking forward to sharing this experience together. Their favorite shared memory is falling in love with each other over bonfires at the beach accompanied by wine and s’mores. They plan on creating many more memories together on the Race and are hoping to fall in love all over again.

Brad and Victoria

Biography
Brad Hunt (52); Victoria Hunt (47)
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Occupation: Brad (Distribution Dispatcher); Victoria (Tax Manager)
Relationship: Married

Married for nine years, Brad and Victoria may not always see eye-to-eye, but they do make a dynamic team. They both have children from previous marriages, this is Victoria’s third and Brad’s second. Both endearingly concede that they are “stuck with each other.”

Victoria was born with hip dysplasia and spent much of her childhood in hospitals, body casts and crutches. Following a recent major foot surgery, she was told that she could never run again. She is now out to prove that anything is possible. She claims that the biggest difference between her and Brad is that she is an optimist while he is cynical. However, she believes they share the same desires and like to be challenged both mentally and physically. Their motto is, "life is not a spectator sport and therefore you should always enjoy each moment that life gives you." Victoria works as a tax manager and Brad is a distribution dispatcher.

Brad describes himself as intelligent, straight forward and resourceful. One of his proudest achievements is overcoming drugs and alcohol addiction and remaining clean and sober for 25 years and counting. Brad enjoys pistol shooting, weightlifting and gardening.

This physically fit Team hopes to gain a lifetime of stories and a little bit of glue to reinforce their bond. Regardless of whether they win or lose, they already feel a sense of accomplishment by just being chosen to compete in the show.



Cara and Jaime

Biography
Christie Volkmer (37); Jodi Wincheski (40)
Hometown: Choctaw, Okla./ Houston, Texas
Occupation: Flight Attendants
Relationship: Flight Attendants


These two savvy flight attendants met while working on a Southwest Airlines flight six years ago where they made an instant connection. Both admit to being extremely competitive and determined to win.

Christie and Jodi agree they have different personalities, but are confident these differences will be used as a strength on the Race. Christie claims that she is more analytical while Jodi is the reactive one. Her biggest pet peeve about Jodi is that she reacts too fast, while Jodi’s pet peeve with Christie is that she asks too many questions.


Jennifer and Preston

Biography
Jennifer Hopka (26); Preston McCamy (28)
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Occupation: Jennifer (Student); Preston (Software Engineer)
Relationship: Dating

Jennifer and Preston have been dating for nearly two years. In some ways, they have similar personalities but, for the most part, they couldn’t be more different. Preston is a laid back guy that is used to sticking to a routine, while Jennifer hates planning and enjoys spontaneity. One of the qualities they share is that they are both very strong minded individuals and, as a team, they hope to bring out the best in each other and solidify their relationship.


LaKisha and Jennifer

Biography
LaKisha Hoffman (28); Jennifer Hoffman (24)
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y. / Louisville, Ky.
Occupation: LaKisha (Program Coordinator); Jennifer (Marketing Assistant)
Relationship: Sisters


These two former Division 1 College athletes look forward to becoming the first ever all female Team to win the Race. Besides athleticism, these sisters have little in common.

LaKisha works as a youth program coordinator and basketball coach. She hopes the same strengths that make her a good coach – patience and a strong competitive nature - will ultimately make her the best Racer the game has seen. Meanwhile, she claims her sister is very impatient and blunt when it comes to dealing with others or speaking her mind.

Jennifer works as a marketing assistant and newsletter coordinator for an assisted living company. She claims that she is the creative one while LaKisha is the analytical one…two traits that will undoubtedly be tested on the Race. Jennifer is infectiously energetic and confident, played college volleyball at the University of Louisville. LaKisha played basketball for the same school. Both have a competitive drive and are eager to put it to the test against this season’s crop of Racers.

Linda and Steve

Biography
Linda Cole (52); Steve Cole (43)
Hometown: Martinsville, Va.
Occupation: Linda (Customer Service Supervisor); Steve (Carpenter)
Relationship: Married

This husband and wife team met when Steven went with a date to Linda’s house for a party. Linda asked her brother to keep his date occupied while she asked Steven out. They have been together ever since and married for 17 years. They both have children from previous marriages, but treat all of them as their very own.

Linda is nine years older than Steven. She describes herself as smart, hard working and adventurous. Steven loves traveling, making and posting videos online, recycling scrap metal and fishing. He is a Virginia Master Angler. He describes himself as a perfectionist and creative. His one setback is that he suffers from claustrophobia.

Margie and Luke

Biography
Margie Adams (50); Luke Adams (22)
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
Occupation: Margaret (Clinical Research Associate); Luke (College Graduate)
Relationship: Mother/Son

This mother/son team is determined to show the world that nothing can stop them from living out their dreams. They enjoy hiking and traveling together and share a strong bond. Luke has been deaf since birth and Margie became his link to the hearing world. He uses American Sign Language to communicate.

Luke and his mother have developed their own short hand sign language and the ability to almost read each other’s mind – an ability that will undoubtedly come in handy on the road. One of the most moving moments they shared was when Luke surprised his mother by delivering a valedictorian speech at his graduation ceremony from Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

Mark and Michael

Biography
Mark Munoz (48); Michael Munoz (51)
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif./Maui, Hawaii
Occupation: Mark (Stuntman/Jockey); Michael (Stuntman/Actor)
Relationship: Brothers/Stuntmen


This Team of brothers has been competing – against everyone else and each other – their entire life. Standing at 4’ 9” these married fathers are ready to prove they have what it takes to win one-million dollars.

Mark makes his living as a stuntman and occasionally works as a jockey. This father of two is looking forward to running the Race with his brother in order to continue building on their relationship. Mark believes that the biggest advantage he and his teammate have over their competition is their fitness level and ability to make split second decisions, a skill they have mastered after years of working in physically and mentally demanding fields. Mark enjoys skiing, biking and golfing and describes himself as short, athletic and creative.

Michael is looking forward to working on communication issues he and his brother have had with each other in the past. Michael, also a father of two, splits his time between Maui and Los Angeles. His favorite hobbies include playing music and surfing. He claims that the biggest difference between the two is that he is the surfer and Mark is the skier. Both have worked extensively in films and television including the feature films “Van Helsing,” “Spiderman” and “Seabiscuit.”

They chose similar paths in their lives and, after years of surfing big waves and racing horses around a track, they’re eager to run the Race of a lifetime with one another for a shot at a million dollars.

Mel and Mike

Biography
Mel White (68); Mike White (38)
Hometown: Lynchburg, Va / Santa Monica, Calif..
Occupation: Mel (Writer, Clergyman); Mike (Writer, Producer, Actor);
Relationship: Father/Son

Mike and Mel had a pretty typical family life until Mike was 11 years old, which is when Mel told the family that he was gay. Mel and Mike’s mother remained married until Mike and his sister, Erinn, went to college. Mel is now married to his life partner of 27 years, Gary Nixon.

Mike works as a writer, director and actor in Los Angeles. His writing credits include the feature films "Nacho Libre" and "School of Rock," in which he also starred opposite Jack Black and Sarah Silverman, as well as the television series "Pasadena." Mike and Mel are eager to spend some quality time racing around the globe. Mike describes himself as entertaining, thoughtful and “ridiculously pale.” These two might not be the most physical team on the Race, but they’ll surely compensate with their wit and communication skills.

Mel, a gay-rights activist, has worked as a writer, professor, filmmaker and a pastor and is eager to have a once in a lifetime experience with his youngest child. He’s confident that his people skills will give him an advantage over some of the other Racers. He describes himself as energetic, caring and passionate and enjoys scuba diving and racquetball. When asked who he would model his style of game play after, he pointed to Season 7 winners Uchenna and Joyce, while Mike will model his game play after the "never say die" attitude of Charla and Mirna.

Mike and Mel are well-traveled, opinionated and huge fans of the Race.

Tammy and Victor

Biography
Tammy Jih (26); Victor Jih (35)
Hometown: San Francisco, Calif./Los Angeles, Calif.
Occupation: Lawyers
Relationship: Siblings/Lawyers


If they can manage to work together, this smart and sassy brother/sister duo – both with Harvard Law degrees – might have just what it takes to outsmart the competition and cross the finish line first.

Tammy is a litigator who believes that her ability to keep a cool head under pressure, especially with little or no sleep, will lead to success on the Race. Her biggest pet peeve with her brother is that he’s a bit of a control freak. This was never more evident than when they recently traveled with friends to China and Victor mapped out the entire trip down to the minute.

Victor is a partner at his law firm and works as a corporate litigator. He is running the Race to see if he and his sister can co-exist in a hyper-competitive situation without driving each other crazy. Victor thinks that his teammate can be immature and selfish and he’s hoping the Race will remedy that.

Welcome and Rules

Hello and welcome to the Amazing Race 14 Pool.
This is a no fee, no prize way of tracking 4 of your favorite teams as they criss-cross the globe (can you criss-cross something that's round??).

Here's how it works:
Each player picks four teams. You must make certain that your picks are not the same as another players. This will help eliminate the chance of a tie. As you make submissions, I'll let you know if your team is okay.

Points will be based upon what happens in each episode and here's how they'll be assigned:

1. Place at the Pit Stop
First Place: 100 points
Second Place: 90 points
Third Place: 80 points
Fourth Place: 70 points
Fifth Place: 60 points
Sixth Place: 50 points
Seventh Place: 40 points
Eigth Place: 30 points
Ninth Place: 20 points
Tenth Place: 10 points
LAST (ALL ELIMINATIONS): -100 points

2. Team uses Fast Forward: 100 points

3. Team uses their Yield: 50 points

4. Team Gets Yileded: -50 points

5. Screen shows the team "Currently in first place": 10 points

6. Screen shows the team "Currently in last place": -10 points

7. Only team to complete a detour option: 20 points

8. Team gives up on Detour option: -10 points

9. MONKEY points: a team says monkey, 10 points. They show a monkey onscreen, 5 points to all teams.

10. Team says the quote that is the episode title: 10 points

I'll keep tabs of scores and post them here on the blog "reasonably quick" and in a Google Spreadsheet after the episode.