Survivor: Athletes In Action

As Survivor gets ready to wrap its 40th season, all-time lists are coming out to rank the greatest players, moments, etc., from the show's incredible 20 years on the air.  Nearly 600 people have played the game, a good number of them athletes.  Which got me thinking, what would the cast of an all athletes season look like?

I decided to go with 18 castaways, which has become the standard.  And it was actually pretty difficult to make some cuts.  One criterion was no winners, so Ethan Zohn (college soccer player) and Tyson Apostol (former pro cyclist), who are both on the current all-winners season, are out.  So is Jimmy Johnson, who was on my original list (and only dropped after much debate with Steve Misevic).  Also, pro wrestler Ashley Massaro definitely would've been selected had she not passed away last year.  And with that, let me present the cast of Survivor: Athletes In Action...

Teivovo Tribe

Brad Culpepper (Blood vs. Water/Game Changers): He played nine years in the NFL and played Survivor twice.  He was voted out early in Blood vs. Water (when his wife finished second), then took second himself in Game Changers.

Gary Hogeboom (Guatemala): The first semi-well-known former athlete to appear on Survivor, way back in season 11.  The former Cowboys quarterback lied about his identity, but was outed by eventual winner Danni (a sports radio host).  That was actually the first season with hidden immunity idols, and he was the first to find and play one.

John Morrison (David vs. Goliath): Or John Hennigan, I'm not sure what his actual last name is.  Anyway, the professional wrestler was blindsided right after the merge in the last really good Survivor season before this one.

Elizabeth Beisel (Island of the Idols): Easily the most recognizable female athlete to have been cast on Survivor.  Everyone kew she was a two-time Olympic medalist, so she didn't even try to hide it.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth became embroiled in controversy after some poor judgment and didn't attend the reunion as a result.

Mikayla Wingle (South Pacific): If I'm being honest, I don't really remember this girl at all.  Which could explain why she wasn't chosen in the fan vote for Second Chance.  Her Survivor bio listed her occupation as "lingerie football player," though, so she makes the cut here.

Crystal Cox (Gabon): When she played, she was credited as "Olympic gold medalist."  That is no longer the case, as her gold medal from the 4x400 relay in Athens has since been stripped.  Which could explain why, despite being an "Olympic gold medalist," she kinda sucked at challenges.  But, hey, she did finish sixth.

Kailao Tribe

Scot Pollard (Kaoh Rong): Scot Pollard deserves to be brought back the next time they do an All-Stars season.  Five other players from this season have already played a second time (and some a third).  He got screwed over at tribal council, was voted out with an idol in his pocket, and voted for Michele to win over Aubry out of spite.

J.P. Calderon (Cook Islands): You've gotta go all the way back to Season 13 to find this former pro volleyball player.  That was an excellent season with so many Survivor legends that it's easy for him to get lost in the mix.  He was also voted out fourth, so that might be a reason why, too.

Steve Wright (Redemption Island): Jimmy Johnson's replacement on the cast.  He played nine years in the NFL and another in the USFL.  Steve's Survivor claim to fame was his season-long feud with Secret Agent Phil, one of the craziest people ever to play the game.

Laurel Johnson (Ghost Island): Full disclosure: I know Laurel.  She played volleyball at Yale while I worked with the team in my first job out of grad school.  Laurel holds a special place in Survivor history.  After the final vote for the $1 million ended in a 5-5 tie, she had to cast the deciding vote as the third-place finisher.

Bi Nguyen (David vs. Goliath): Our second professional fighter from David vs. Goliath, Bi is an MMA competitor.  Unfortunately, she sprained her MCL during an immunity challenge and voluntarily left the game as a result.  Ordinarily, there would be no place for a quitter to be welcomed back, but in that situation, it's understandable, so I won't hold it against her.

Kelly Bruno (Nicaragua): There have been a lot of women named Kelly on Survivor, including my goddess Kelley Wentworth.  Anyway, Kelly Bruno holds the distinction as one of only two amputees ever to be cast.  She holds a bunch of amputee world records in track & field and triathlons.

Siva Tau Tribe

Jeff Kent (Philippines): It took about 11 seconds for the five-time All-Star second baseman to be outed during Survivor: Philippines.  He hasn't gotten anything close to his due in the Baseball Hall of Fame vote or in Survivor annals.  Jeff was on a very solid season and made it to the merge before he was blindsided.

Cliff Robinson (Cagayan): Much like Scot, he was recognized as a former NBA player almost immediately (I'd imagine somebody who's 6'10 probably stands out just a little).  He had the longest career of any pro-athlete Survivors, playing 18 years in the NBA and winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1993 with the Blazers.  On Survivor, he got voted out pretty early.

Tom Laidlaw (Island of the Idols): Yes, two players from last season, which was arguably the worst in Survivor history.  Tom made Survivor history of his own as the first Canadian and first former NHL player on the show.  He played 10 seasons for the Rangers and Kings in the 80s.  I added Tom at the expense of John Rocker, the former Braves closer who was on the second blood vs. water season, San Juan del Sur.

Stephenie LaGrossa (Palau/Guatemala/Heroes vs. Villains): This would make Steph a four-timer, so she'd either dominate the game and win or be an immediate target and voted out at the first opportunity.  Her Survivor resume is actually pretty cool.  She was the infamous "tribe of one" in Palau, then returned the next season and finished second before being voted out second the third time she played (in the all-time great Heroes vs. Villains season).  And, before you ask, she played college lacrosse, so she qualifies as an athlete.  She's also married to former Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick.

Katrina Radke (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers): As an 18-year-old, she finished fifth in the 200 butterfly at the Seoul Olympics.  Unfortunately, her turn on Survivor wasn't nearly as successful.  She was the oldest person in the game, which made her an easy first vote-off.

Julia Landauer (Caramoan): Finally, we've got race car driver Julia.  She currently competes in NASCAR's European series.  Her Survivor season was the second fans vs. favorites season, and, after the tribe swap, Julia ended up on a tribe with four favorites, who used their numbers to take her out just before the merge.  I've also got a soft-spot for her as a fellow New Yorker.