Rupert Boneham, aka "Blackbeard," the 39-year-old troubled teens mentor from Indianapolis, became the ninth castaway voted out of Survivor: Pearl Islands. The decision was a shocker as the most colorful player of the season was sent packing by a hastily-contrived alliance of five improbable opponents. It's a move that will surely have negative ramifications on the remaining players, simply because none of them have had much success in getting food. When they start withering away, down to skin-and-bones, they'll start wondering why, why, why did we shoot ourselves in the foot by cutting off our meal ticket?

I walked down to the edge of the Tribal Council staircase, hoping to catch Rupert before he began the Long Walk of Shame™ out of the game, maybe forever. I expected to find him there, dejected and sullen. But when I arrived, he was nowhere to be found.

Big Ol' Rupert had simply vanished into the night.

Nowhere to be seen.

Without a trace.

Not even a whiff of his pungent aroma.

In the pirate legends, the reign of the real Blackbeard was rumored to have only lasted 27 brutal months. He was killed in a battle with the Royal Navy, eventually beheaded, and his skill was displayed as a trophy and a warning to other would-be pirates. It seems fitting that the tenure of Survivor's real pirate, Rupert, only lasted 27 brutal days, and that his departure will serve as notice to any other castaways who think they're untouchable because they feed the others.

His shocking departure will leave a big void in the game, but this is Survivor, and someone always has to go. It was Rupert's time to go, and that was that.

Who will be voted out next?

This is Being Jeff Probstovich.

Posted by Boycaught at November 25, 2003 06:12 PM | TrackBack