I have mixed feelings about Neil. This is a life changing game, yes winning the money would be nice, but it changes the lives of all the contestants, especially those who are really working the program the hardest. What he did hurt someone who was trying to change their life, more than just by winning money.
That said, I believe he realized afterwards that even though it was a smart move, it was actually a mean move. Really, why hate the black team? Yes, they weren't expecting them, but what made the 12 on the red and blue teams more deserving of staying and changing their lives than the black team, a school yard pick? A lot of people in life have been hurt by school yard picks, especially the heaviest and the scrawniest. I would think many of those contestants had been it that position at sometime in their younger life.
Besides having the black team meant: having more competition around to motivate, more to vote off- so a longer season (at least I think it was), therefore even more rewards, less chance of being voted off yourself, and a longer average stay for all. Win, win as I see it.
Anyways enough of the ranting.
I liked Neil for everything else. From my perspective, he started out as a very large clown, like the person who is extremely friendly, but a bit shallow, to be accepted even though they don't fit societal norms. As he lost weight, he began to get more intraspective, well still maintaining his charm. Often times while listening to him, I would forget that he was the one who instigated the water trick, but looks like it came back to bite him in the butt and that's very sad. Had he not pissed off the black team soooo bad, would all the last vote outs been so cut and dried?
That said, Bill is just to smug now to like, I liked him better heavy and that sucks.
As for the non finalist winner I'm still hoping for Mary Kate (I think that was it). Remember it is based on percentage of weight lost, not how many pounds, and she lost a huge percentage of her starting weight, I believe she if the first female who actually stands a change at winning money on this show.
