Former NFL (National Football League) player Marcus Pollard and wife Amani finished first in the last leg of the Amazing Race in Thailand. The race continues Monday October 31 on the AXN Network in Southeast Asia - Sonja Flemming/CBS photo

Video Beat SUPER MAX - SOME NATIONS LOSE FACE ON THE AMAZING RACE

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Thailand lost the plot in hospitality in ripping off Amazing Racers. Thailand joins Cambodia, Russia and Sri Lanka of displaying the worst of consideration and hospitality - Former NFL player Marcus Pollard and wife Amani start their move to the top of the race - TRUE BLOOD returns - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday October 30, 2011

BEWARE… THEY'LL TAKE YOUR MONEY WITH PROBLEMS TO SPARE

Former NFL (National Football League) player Marcus Pollard and wife Amani finished first in the last leg of the Amazing Race in Thailand. Pollard had a solid 15 year career in the league by having playing stints with the Indianapolis Colts (1995-2004), Detroit Lions (2005-2006), Seattle Seahawks (2007), Atlanta Falcons (2008-2009) and one season on the pre season and practice squad of the New England Patriots in 2008. Pollard now 39-years-old retired after the 2009 season.

In his Amazing Race competition with his wife in the he likens their efforts as that of a pro football team that starts slow and builds momentum during the season to be ready for the playoffs. The playoffs in the Amazing Race are the final three teams that will compete for the US $1 million first prize in the final episode.

Pollards professional career mirrors his competitive philosophy. He had his best season as a professional football player in his sixth season in the league. Pollard was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He developed in one of the better pass-catching tight ends while with the Colts. His best season was in 2001 when he totaled 47 receptions and 8 touchdowns (6 point scores) including one for 86 yards (on a 100 yard field/pitch). He was eventually phased out of the Colts offense due to the emergence of Dallas Clark.

The Pollard team's progress in the Amazing Race is similar. During the first four legs of the race they finished 5th, 9th 6th and 6th. The leap to 1st place is indicative of their teamwork as each has taken on the challenge by doing 3 road blocks.

What the Amazing Race brings to the public is more than an entertaining TV show. It promotes tourists spots in a country. It also reveals the mentality of its people and their human behavior.

Over the years their have been several memorable moments of bad behavior particularly by those in the transportation business. Last weeks episode was indicative to the greed of Thailand and its transportation service workers.

In Phuket one of Thailand's most promoted tourist destinations Songthaew drivers intimidated and overcharged contestants. The astonishing thing about amazing Thailand is that these ignorant individuals were stupid enough to do it with Amazing Race cameras rolling to capture their behavior on tape to be stored in Thailand's tourist service history.

Fortunately Thailand was saved somewhat when in the last leg two female twins were without money after being ripped off by a songthaew driver in Phuket. When they arrived in Bangkok they had to walk to their next task which they found to be a 5 hour walk. On two occasions Thai taxi drivers gave them FREE rides to their destinations. Their kindnesses failed to help the girls as they were last to the pit stop and were eliminated.

The Amazing Race contacts a country they want to race in for permission. A part of their pitch is it will help tourism. There have been several incidents of rip-offs by taxi and other transport services on the race. The most memorable were in Cambodia when a team were first to the pit stop but were without lost their money and passport. The passport is needed to continue the race. When they did a task they were THE ONLY CONTESTANTS to leave their backpacks in the taxi while all others took there bags with them.

They called the driver of the Global taxi company and he said that didn't have their possessions. They were eliminated. Their possessions later turned up at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh MINUS MONEY but with their passports. Their backpacks were found at a Wat that they did a task in but during the task they were nowhere near where that bags were located.

Several seasons ago in Russia a mother and son had their possessions missing after they dismissed their taxi. On the Amazing race Asia in a leg in Sri Lanka two friends almost had a physical encounter with a tuk-tuk driver who insisted that they give him MORE MONEY. The driver actually assaulted them on camera. When it comes to losing face on the Amazing Race the list includes Cambodia, Thailand, Russia and Sri Lanka.

This ignorant behavior not only applies to those in the transportation industry but in the tourism ministry as well. This past January during a tourism forum an official with the Tourism Ministry of Cambodia felt it was okay for him to communicate by repeatedly pushing one of our staff in the chest as he was in his way of communicating. He stopped when our staffer informed him that if he continued to assault him that there would be a consequence. In a civilized country his actions are deemed an assault that incurs a punishment of a jail term.

The Amazing Race continues Monday October 31 on the AXN Network in Southeast Asia. A repeat of this rip-off episode is scheduled to air November 7th in a marathon of the series.

TRUE BLOOD

A new season of True Blood is scheduled to air in Southeast Asia this Thursday November 3rd at 8 PM Bangkok and Jakarta time zones on the HBO Network.

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