Former MLB player John Rocker is one of the more familiar faces joining the upcoming season of the hit reality shown "Survivor." The former baseball player is paired with his girlfriend, businesswoman Julie McGee.
Rocker made news many years ago after his controversial response in an interview for Sports Illustrated. The then-football player was asked if he would be willing to live in New York to join the Yankees. He answered he would not, describing New York as "most hectic, nerve-racking city."
He also said he hated the city for being filled with foreign people speaking non-English languages saying, "You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?" he continued.
Meanwhile, before taping for "Survivor" began this summer, Entertainment Weekly asked him what he would do if someone recognizes him on the island.
"I would like to live in a fantasy world and think it's not going to happen," Rocker said. "When you play on TBS for five years, about 180 games a year when you consider the playoffs, and you did that for five or six years, it's going to be very tough, especially when you played on World Series stages and Yankee Stadium."
However, he said that if it would happen, he might take the person as a target or as an ally.
"It may take them a few days to put their finger on it, but I think somebody's gonna put their finger on it," Rocker continued.
"And I've already thought that if that happens, maybe that person becomes my target before they can spread throughout 'This guy's a major league baseball player. A retired guy. He's got plenty of money. Let's just get him out of the way.' So that person may become my target or that person may become my biggest ally I don't know."
The article by Entertainment Weekly noted that, castaway pair Val and Jeremy Collins already recognize the athlete. What makes it more interesting is that Val is set to be on the same tribe as Rocker.
Meanwhile, here are the tribe designations of the castaways, according to Wetpaint:
Coyopa: Nadiya Anderson, Josh Canfield, Alec Christy, Val Collins, Wes Nale, John Rocker, Jaclyn Schultz, Dale Wentworth, and Baylor Wilson.
Hunahpu: Natalie Anderson, Drew Christy, Jeremy Collins, Reed Kelly, Julie McGee, Jon Misch, Keith Nale, Missy Payne, and Kelley Wentworth.
"Survivor: San Juan del Sur" is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
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