After managing just one first place finish -- and that with the assistance of a Fast Forward -- brothers Dan and Jordan edged the cowboys to take home the million dollar first place prize.
Without a doubt, Dan and Jordan were the long shots to win the race, but for the first time in the entire race, the brothers demonstrated consistent competitive spirit through the entire leg.
I'll Have a Diet Coke and First Class Seat, Please
It started in the airport. Dan and Jordan arrived hours after second place team, Jet and Cord, but a strategically placed backpack enabled them to jump in front of the cowboys at the ticket counter. Fair or not, it's all part of the game. The cowboys were understandably upset, but it was not that move alone that made the brothers contenders. It was what happened on board the airplane that resulted in a decisive lead for Dan and Jordan. While the other teams slept, Dan talked the flight attendant into moving them to first class. A lot of people have cried foul to this move but it technically is not against the rules to move up to first class once the flight is in progress. Look for a rule change for next season, or everyone will be making the move to first class.
Once the plane landed, the pair ran down the bridge connecting the airplane to the airport. Now, I don't mean to be a downer, but in this day and age, is it smart to be running off a plane carrying backpacks?
The teams left the airport with Dan and Jordan in first, followed by Brent and Caite and finally the cowboys. The move to first class was huge in giving the brothers an edge off the starting line.
No Habla Ingles!
Brent and Caite found themselves at the mercy of a taxi driver who was unsure where to go. As a result, they were still looking for the first location while the other teams had already completed the first task. Tough break for the dating couple.
The teams had to solve a riddle in order to get to Coit Tower. Once there, they used a rope and pulley system to make their way up the outside of the tower. Dan was nearing the top when the cowboys arrived. Before Cord was even outfitted for the task, Dan was already on his way down.
Virtual Showdown!
The brothers set off for the Detour at Lucas Arts, developer of interactive entertainment software, founded by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. Once there, the teams became part of an interactive video game in which one team member was part of the game while the other directed the action.
Dan directed Jordan through the virtual maze and were doing well until the cowboys arrived. For the first time in the game, Cord employed some dirty tricks by calling out confusing directions for turns, twists and backflips within earshot of brothers Dan and Jordan. His attempts were at least partly successful in aggravating the brothers.
Once suited and on the game board, Jet eventually found himself blocked by Jordan who had finished the game and was waiting for Dan to decipher the end message. Jet would not push past Jordan, so valuable time was spent waiting for Dan and Jordan to finish reading the clue.
By the time Jet and Cord reached the end of the game, Brent and Caite had arrived and were on the course quickly making up time. The key to reading the clue at the end was having the person on the course turn slowly in a circle which would slow down the text on the screen. Ingenious!
Jack Be Nimble!
The final task was to carry a trunk by foot to a destination about 10-15 minutes away, then assemble the enclosed photos in the right order indicating who was eliminated during which leg of the race. Jordan, a true fan of the show, had written down the order of elimination and they made quick work of the task. The final clue asked them to fill in the blank with "Candlestick Park."
Outside, the two had a difficult time locating a taxi while Jet and Cord were inside finishing up the final task. Eventually, they located a taxi but editing made it into more of a nail biter than it really was.
Racing into the stadium, Dan and Jordan were the first to arrive to the cheering eliminated teams. Jordan was grateful to his brother for helping him obtain his dream of being on "The Amazing Race." Jet and Cord place second, not too far behind the winners. They expressed gratitude for the experience. Coming in first four times resulted in some very nice gifts for the team that had seemed to have a lock on winning the whole race.
Sour Grapes!
Finally, Brent and Caite bounded in to a less than enthusiastic greeting from Carol and Brandy. Jordan called out, "Peach" a number of times, having apparently nicknamed Caite, Peach during the race. Phil asked a few questions and Caite reiterated her desire to change the perception of people regarding her intelligence.
Not surprisingly, Brandy and Carol rolled their eyes. Then Phil addressed the U-Turn that Brent and Caite used on Brandy and Carol. Caite, to her credit, attempted to apologize but Brandy was not having it. Still fuming, in spite of the fact their elimination was several days prior.
Brandy said the U-Turn would have been better used against the cowboys. That argument would have been more effective if the cowboys won but they hardly seemed the strongest team having come in second.
Overall, a good season. During the opening, though, I wondered if the strongest teams had survived or if it was pure luck that lead to the final three. Brent and Caite made mistakes from the beginning, and their lack of emotional control probably got the better of them right up until the end. None of the final three ran consistently from one week to the next.
Ultimately, I have to admit, though, that it was an entertaining season!
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