The first, actually second (thanks Maddog), episode aired tonight and it featured Bo Jackson (football, baseball), Muggsy Bogues (basketball), Jennie Finch (softball), and Dan O'Brien (Olympic gold medal decathlon athlete)

Any thoughts on the competitors? I hated Eric because of his stank attitude.

I loved how Dan O'Brien had no sympathy for Greg when he fell like a crying bitch on the grass. I fell out laughing.

Actually there was an episode last week with Jerry Rice, Goldberg, Dennis Rodman, Matt Williams and Jim McManhon. If Eric was the guy bitching at the Ump over the balls and strikes I'm with you on the hate.

Thanks for the info. And yes, Eric was the one who complained about the balls and strikes.

Heh. I was looking for this thread in the Game Shows forum.



Don't forget NFL Pro Bowler Bill Romanowski. I especially liked him making ground chuck out of Greg, the same wimp who came thru one of the walls, then turned around and ran back in, all the way to the other side.

So of course, when he came up lame in the 100m dash, I was giggling my fool head off. Was fun watching Dan eat 'em up, making their 10m and 20m leads vanish.

I thought they should have sent Eric home, instead of dreadlocked Larry. After all, Larry was the only one who laid a bat on Jennie Finch's pitches, and he didn't mouth off to the ump once.

But I liked the ep with Jerry Rice and Goldberg better, anyway.

The first episode was hilarious. Goldberg and Jerry should be regulars since it was obvious that Jerry was having fun making them all look like fools and both of them were hilarious with all of their trashtalking. I also loved Rodman beating all but one of them in a shooting drill then just embarrasing them in a rebounding drill. This show is a lot better than I thought it would be.

I missed it. One of you must give me a recap! ..Or do they re-air past episodes?

They just re-aired the first two episodes tonight.

I had heard about this show a while ago but finally gave it a chance tonight and I'm glad I did. I like the formula of having the Joe's talk as much trash as possible so that we really root for the pros to just kill 'em. Also, the subtle touch of having all the events happen at night is a nice one. I'm not sure why, but if it all took place under sunlight it would have an entirely different feel.

Night games look more dramatic than day games. Or rather, stadium lights are more dramatic than lens flare.

That noted, I wonder why they don't get active athletes. If I were contacted for this, I'd just go to my coach/manager/front office and explain it as a mini-practice.

Active players are probably more expensive then retirees and Olympic athletes.

Which reminds me... aren't Olympians amateurs and therefore not "Pros"?

And what's the story with Dan Obrien's one covered eye while skeet shooting? Is he half blind?

Well the only Olympian I've seen on so far was a softball player, so maybe there is pro-softball and I just don't know about it. Even if they are officially amateurs I'd consider them pros at what they do. They pretty much spend all of there time and energy on their sport.

I'd tend to agree. BTW, Dan Obrien was in one of the episode, the famous Decathlete. But maybe he's competed for money in those crazy Euro track meets that give a million dollars to the winner.

Well, there was Gary Hall Jr., a swimmer. I believe he showed up in Athens.

There is a pro softball league for what it's worth.

National Pro Fastpitch

I just realized the host of this show is Petros Papadakis, a very shady usc booster who has used his family's Greek restaurant to lure (read: pay/use sex) recruits to Fig Tech. Not good.

Last Monday's ep was a good one. I especially got a kick out of the pros nicknaming that short Joe (well, short compared to the pros, anyway) "Tattoo." He was the biggest trash talker, but I give him props for taking down Herschel Walker (the second time, not the first time he pulled a facemask), especially when that first Joe was scared to even touch Herschel.

I was almost afraid the short Joe would win, but he was just no match for Brandy Chastain in that last matchup.

Best part of the show was Justin Gatlin getting in the Joe's face, while taking a break in the middle of weightlifitng. I almost split a gut laughing at that.

Another good one. God I love episodes where a football player gets to slam into these Joes. Sweet, sweet carnage.

The sprint against Gatlin sort of sucked though because wasn't it only like 60 meters or something? And then on top of that, the most seconds any normally fit person would stand to gain or lose is 2 or 3, so it really wasn't relevant to the rest of the competition. Still, it was fun to see how fast Gatlin motored.

Of all of the athletes available, why would you challenge the one athlete who's still competing (Gatlin) to a weightlifting contest? Idiot. Gatlin's the reigning Olympic 100m champ, and as far as I know, he hasn't retired from world competition. Which means, of just about everyone who's been on the show, he's still in peak condition.

Also, regarding an earlier show, what idiot challenges a soccer player to distance running? Lalas probably could've gone harder than that.

Regarding Lalas, that Joe had the last pick of who to race and Lalas was the only guy left. Dude didn't have much of a choice.

Ah. Gotcha. I used my TiVo to fast-forward as much of Petros' inane commentary as possible, so I guess I missed that. Lalas did have the best time in that event, though, didn't he? Something around 5:45?

I agree. His time was 5:45, very nice already, but that was from a comfortable start speed. I'm positive an all out effort by Lalas could put him somewhere in the 4-minute range.

Also, I loved the air Lalas was getting on his headers. He was always about a 12-24 inches higher than the Joe.

I think my favorite event so far is when the basketball players (Rodman, McDaniel) manhandle the Joes in rebounding drills.

The reason that they don't get current atheletes in the major sports is because of liability. If A-Rod or someone tore a ligament going on this game show someone would be out millions of millions of dollars.

Does anyone have any idea how to apply for this show? I've been to the Spike web site and can't find anything. Thanks.

FYI - Justin Gatlin, who starred in a recent episode of Pros vs Joes, has just set a new world record in the 100m sprint today with a time of 9.76 seconds!

I caught a marathon for this on Spike yesterday afternoon. What a great show! I don't even like sports much, but the whole reality-TV angle/pros bringing down the smack and snark angle made this good viewing!

Well, just in case anyone caught the season finale on Spike last night...

I gotta say, I got mixed feelings about it. I don't know if I liked the format they chose, or the fact that they got back winning Joes, and their loser buddies. True, the 2-on-2 dynamic was a new approach, and kinda interesting to watch.

Why the heck did the shorter guy of each team post up against Xavier McDaniel? They all looked like Munchkins next to him. Did the teams decide who'd take which position, or was it decided by the show?

Part of the baseball challenge, they had to wrestle John Rocker off the mound? WTF? That's a sport? Okay, I know wrestling's a sport, but not in the game of baseball, it's not.

I do think they got a good selection of pros for the finale. X, Kevin Greene, and Goldberg, especially. And I thought it was cool how all the pros congratulated the winners at the end of the game, and even KG admitted he got scored on by Afro Boy at the end. The Joes may have earned a liiiiiitle bit of respect from the pros when all was said and done.

Will this show be back next season? I doubt it. But it was amusing while it lasted. And I gotta thank them for the marathon. I totally lost my shit again, laughing at that one Joe who kept falling on the ice during that Hockey challenge against Drexler. And when it was over, all the Joe could say was, "It was slippery." HEE! I'm laughing now as I type this!

Wow I had no idea there was a thread for this show. All I have to contribute is that a former co-worker of mine was a contestant on this show. He was Jorge the cop in episode eight and he won the competition that episode. Its really funny how cocky he came off on the show because he is notihng like that in normal life. Very humble and shy, even. Rather easily embarrassed. It was cool to see someone I actually know on tv.

There are going to be new episodes of this show starting this Thursday at 10pm. I caught the tail end of a marathon of last season tonight (and saw the finale for the first time, ouch).

It looks like they're having a someone from the UFC on the first episode and the previews look pretty painful. I'm programming my DVR.

Oh dang, that will be worse than the "take down Goldberg" challenge.

I love love love this show! I so much enjoy watching the Pros bring down the Joes. That little guy who clearly suffered form "Short Man Syndrome: who brought down Herschel Walker was SO annoying. He only got Herschel as he was so little he could dive for his legs! And the first time he got him was a facemask - what a joke.

LOVED Kevin Greene - "I like the violence." Loved Rebecca Lobo watching the audition tapes; "I am embarrassed for him."

I am a 42 yr old mom and I enjoy watching this show with my 9 year old son. Not too many shows like that. It helps that I like sports.

Also loving Mort Anderson and the fact that he is a bit older than his head coach! Mr. Automatic, indeed!

Loved the quote form one guy who said, "I am tired of these Joes getting a beer or two in them and thinking that they can do what we do. And they can't." Or something like that. It was so true! And he said it so matter of fact.

I love when the Joes snark on the women athletes and then get beat down. There was one episode with Brandi Chastain where one Joe said in the intro "I'm not losing to a girl." and she said something like "I'm a woman, and you're going down."

And the Joe who challenged Misty Mays to a swimming competition, umm, she's still a competing athlete who plays an aerobic sport. Idiot.

Per the Joe who challenged Misty May to a swimming competition: Reminds me of a young man from out church who joined the Army and came back for a visit a few months later, after boot camp: he said the women kicked ass in basic training. Maybe the men thought their ego could get them through basic? I dunno.

Love the Joes who are all: "I won the Little League Championship!" Uhh, hate to break it to you, but that had to have been what, 15 years and many many beers ago? You are a wee bit paunchy, there, dude.

I LOVED Brandi Chastain! She was having none of that trash talk: she was giving it back as good as they were dishing it. Personally, if I were a guy (and that is a leap) I would not trash talk a girl because 1) you would look like less than a gentleman. I know guys do it to each other, but really, trash talking a girl? And 2) on a show like that, she WILL kick your ass. Many many times.

Jerry Rice is still my favorite on the show. He just trashes the Joes so much. My favorite is still the challenge where they had to stop him from scoring after a catch. Not a single person could stop him and he was just having so much fun playing with them.

Wow, that looked like it hurt. I could have sworn my shoulder spontaniously dislocated out of sympathy pain.

I'm not sure if I like the change in format or not, because I did enjoy the old 3rd round compete in something weird thing. Over all a pretty good episode though, except the football part of OT. That shit was boring. They needed to make the target bigger so the Pro had to dive for the ball or something.

I miss them competing in the neutral sport also. I think the UFC guy was just a crossover thing and not really a true 'sport' that any of these guys had a chance and then was it just me or did the UFC guy let the guy who had given him a better fight win the very last wrestling challenge? It seemed like he let the guy that won throw him out pretty easy.

Anyway this show is pretty good for what it is. Going 3rd is probably the best advantage if you are taking on the pro 1 on 1 because it seems that they don't take much of a break in between the games. Of course in something like the home run derby it doesn't really matter.

What I'd like to see is let some of the other pro's try some of the other sports like see if Micheal Irvin can hit a baseball lol...of course this isn't going to happen but that would be cool.

I watched my first episode last night and evidently it was a rerun of the one y'all are talking about.

I thought it was just hilarious the way Randy Coture was manhandling them.

If all the shows are that funny with the way the pros were acting, I'll probably watch another one or two.

That is exactly why this show rocks. The overly cocky Joes get knocked around and mocked by the Pros.

When is this on anyway?

Maniac, it's on Thursdays at 10pm.

Tonight's show featured a guy (Paul, I think, the one who got eliminated) who was possibly the biggest douche I've seen on this show. Throwing the ball at your opponent after losing? Tacky. I cheered when he took a hockey stick to the face.

I loved loved loved it when Claude Lemieux checked that asshat who threw the ball after losing! He checked him but good.....the Joe had to know it was coming.

I am watching the rerun of Dennis Rodman, Jerry Rice, Jim McMahon, Matt Williams, and Goldberg the wrestling guy. These Joes are in for a smackdown!

That is one of my favorite episodes ever. Dennis and Jerry OWN the Joes.

Has Jose Canseco been on yet? If so, which one was he on?

I know he has been on, since I was just talking to my friend about the show yesterday and the last episode he saw had Jose. Don't know when it was though.

Canseco was on the season premier with Michael Irvin.

And Kevin Willis and Randy Couture.

I watched part of it last night when they were in the ring with Roy Jones Jr. I couldn't watch too much of it, it was just so sad.

I'm disappointed they haven't had any female pros this season, or any women at all besides the round card hoochies. I really enjoyed some of the women from last season, especially Brandi Chastain.

Wait, Rebecca Lobo and Brandi Chastain were on? I love those two! Can someone summarize their appearances?

I don't have a very clear memory of Rebecca Lobo, so hopefully someone else can help you out with her.

Brandi was great. She was on with Justin Gatlin (fastest man alive and excellent smack talker), Darren Dalton (baseball), Hershel Walker (football), and Dominique Wilkins (basketball). I'm probably mixing her two episodes together in my head, but my favorites from here were telling some Joe who claimed he'd never lose to a girl "I'm a woman, and you're going down", playing some sort of soccer version of Frisbee golf and embarrassing the Joes, and running a drill where the Joes had to kick a goal in the same area of a goal that had been divided into 6 as her. She was also involved in one of last season's 3rd round sports no one is good at that involved kicking, throwing, and punting a football, which she did fairly well in, but I think her Joe beat her.

I liked having the women on because the Joes were often so painfully misogynistic it was even more hilarious than usual to see them throw pouty fits after being beaten by a "girl."

Oh, and does anyone else think there have been an awful lot of poor sports this season?

Did they have a female Olympic swimmer on last season, or did they have Lobo swimming? I seem to recall a female athlete just destroying the Joes at a swimming challenge, but I could be completely wrong.

I think the Joes are more obnoxious this season. Where do they get the balls? Especially against the basketball players - the Joes always get totally demolished when they go up against the NBAers. And what kind of a moron do you have to be to smack talk Claude Lemieux? Those guys were lucky he didn't break some bones.

No doubt the producers encourage them, but still.

I kind of sensed that Roy Jones Jr. was holding back as to not seriously injure one of the Joes. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think a professional boxer would knock out someone without any boxing training in no time and yet in the finale the guy who did the worst against him in the ring was able to put 5 punches together in less than 20 seconds.

I really do think the producers tell the athletes to at least let one of the Joes win.

No female swimmer, but Lobo and Mays both did swimming challanges. Lobo I think was in the one where one of the Joes had lied about being able to swim, so he had to forfeit (HA!), and Mays completely destroyed her Joe at swimming either 100 or 200 meters.

I just sent a feedback form in on the Spike website telling them I wanted female athletes back, and also that I miss the old 3rd round weird sport challenge. I'll let you all know if they get back to me. Not holding my breath.