Highlights of Lea "Sarge" Master's
Early Show Interview
11.12.04
Julie Chen: Sarge was once the leader of the all male Lopevi Tribe but last night on Survivor: Vanuatu he was the latest casualty on the female dominated game. His real name is Lea Masters but Survivor fans know him as "Sarge". Sarge, good morning.
Lea: Good morning, how are you doing?
Julie: I'm good. We're you surprised when your flame was snuffed out last night?
Lea: Overall, I wasn't, I had it coming. In the Immunity Challenge the week before I lapped everybody. When I finished, I shook my head and I said, "you just screwed up".
Julie: You mean you revealed to the rest how strong a player and a threat and that's why you got the boot?
Lea: I think it is because from the beginning I never gave 100% of my physical strength. I run 5 miles a day, I do 100 pushups I do 25 mile marches. I laid back but when the adrenaline started pumping on the Immunity Challenge last week, I just went balls to the walls. And just went. And when I turned around I said "oh my God, I got 3 and they got 2. I messed up.
Julie Chen: Watching at home it looks very much like it's the women vs the men but then last night at Tribal Council, you 3 men all voted differently. You wanted Eliza out, Chris voted you out, what was that all about. He actually said "this is not against you but for you.
Lea: I think with Chris, he knew there was no way he could change the vote... so he did not want to throw another name out there and have them looking around and see 3 people voting against women. He knew I was gone so he wanted to keep it on a level base, so he come behind maybe later on and stab them in the back for me, out of respect. You know, "hey I got 'em. They got you, I got them. We're a team. We won the war. We've got casualties but the war was won".
Julie: What about the fact that Chad voted for Julie? Didn't you guys try to strategize at all. You knew you were a lost cause?
Lea: I knew I was a lost cause in a way. I was asked by everyone, "why don't you do something?". Why don't you try to put some knives in some backs? I told them from day one, my word and my values are far stronger than any money. Money doesn't matter when it comes to your values because... my character... the people I train, The soldiers I train know, that Drill Sergeant Masters, Sarge, will not lie, will not give his word away, not for money, not for any amount of worth.
Julie: Why did you take part in Survivor? It wasn't about the money you say.
Lea: No, money had no ob... I mean I'm two years from retirement. I have a 20 year marriage with a beautiful woman, my wife Lupe. I did it because my son, every year kept saying "Dad come on that's you, that's you." I'd say "Chris I don't have time for that. I'm training soldiers, I don't have time for that." And then one day he said "look they're here, they're in Columbia. Go down there please, I dare you, you're chicken" So I went down there with my little get up for the casting call and I got a phone call. I was shocked.
Julie: Last night as we're watching Survivor at home, we see Leann and Julie go on this helicopter ride. They bring back chicken wings for all the women, you guys are off in the water in a boat and then they gave you guys just chicken bones. Was last night as you're watching this... the first time you're finding out that you guys got the bones and they got the meat?
Lea: Yeah, last night was the first time I realized, hey I got stuck with bones, they got meat but as life goes on, I'm grateful for what I can get. That's who they are. And I don't think it was Leann. I think it came straight from Julie.
Julie: But you're on the jury, so you have the last laugh. If it's any guess who do you think has what it takes to win?
Lea: I think Twila.
Julie: We'll see.
Lea: I think Twila.