A pirate's due.

One last entry before I leave the Desk this evening: to anyone who's ever said "nice guys finish last", I present one Rupert Boneham, who last night was awarded a million dollars by fans of the T.V. show Survivor for being one hell of a nice guy. A veteran of back-to-back seasons - first the Pearl Islands, where he left a lasting impression with the fans although being voted out relatively early in the game; then the All-Stars, where he made the Final Four, only to lose out to the Rob/Amber alliance that no one took seriously until it was way too late (I told you!) - Rupert was a rarity in the genre of reality television, a person who played from the heart and, win or lose, thoroughly enjoyed himself every minute he was in the game.

Though he took a more strategic tack among the All-Stars, he was characteristically up front about the alliances he had made, and strove for honesty and integrity in his dealings with his fellow Survivors. This was in stark contrast to the Machiavellian machinations of ultimate runner-up Boston Rob, who played not only upon tribal alliances but his friendship with various Survivor alums in order to wheel and deal his way to the Final Two. The outburts of righteous indignation that this strategy provoked from the "Robfather"'s former friends notwithstanding (as if they wouldn't have done exactly the same thing, or hadn't done so already!), Rob Mariano should at the very least get credit for playing the game to win, but it was just as gratifying to see someone at long last be recognized for playing to play.