Reality Fan Forum - The Amazing Race Spoilers - Big Brother Live Feed Updates - Survivor Spoilers - Reality TV Spoilers - Big Brother Spoilers
The Amazing Race => The Racers => Topic started by: georgiapeach on January 25, 2012, 09:33:56 AM
-
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/ga--peach/TAR%2020/Cast%20Reveal/MarkandBopper.jpg)
Name: Mark Jackson
Age: 45
Hometown: Manchester, Ky.
Connection to your teammate: Best friends
Occupation: Former State Inspector
What skills do you have that will help you win The Race? Don’t know but my heart will pull me through.
Three words to describe you: Loyal, outspoken and friendly.
Favorite hobbies: Golf, basketball and four wheeling.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Michael Jordan and Denzel Washington
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Patrick Swayze
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? My kids
What scares you most about traveling? Flying
What excites you most about traveling? Seeing different things.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together? Listening to each other.
Pet peeve about your teammate: He acts up too much. He doesn’t know when to stop.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Scotland—to see some of the first golf courses ever built.
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? See the world.
Name: William “Bopper” Minton
Age: 41
Hometown: Manchester, Ky.
Connection to your teammate: Best friends
Current occupation: Motorcycle Mechanic
Describe what you do: I fix motorcycles and take care of my Mom and Dad.
How will these skills help you win The Race? I am good with my hands and it has made me a better person -- I think outside of the box.
Three words to describe you: Hyper, funny and exciting.
Favorite hobbies: Motorcycle riding, swimming and building bikes.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Jim Carey
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Tiger Woods
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? My child
What scares you most about traveling? Getting lost and high places.
What excites you most about traveling? I have not done much traveling so I am really excited about getting to do that.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together? For Mark to listen to me and realize that he is not always right.
Pet peeve about your teammate: He thinks he knows everything.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Germany, because I have friends there.
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? To better our friendship and to see the world together.
http://www.youtube.com/v/gFOjEacEf_c?version=3&hl
-
these is my favorite team these season
-
Uh oh, teams that you like are always eliminated early :lol:
-
I love these guys. Any parent dealing with an ill child has my vote!
-
I know he has an ill child and I respect his dream to be on the race to better his family's life. But this team may be a little too aggressive for my liking.
-
I love these guys. Any parent dealing with an ill child has my vote!
This definitely! One of the many reasons why Amani & Marcus are one of my favourite teams of all time! :hearts: And these guys seem great as well!
-
They look nice and tough. This is also my favorite, but I'm not sure they will create much dramas
-
^^^^That had better not be a spoiler.^^^^
Some people say these guys are retreads of Jet & Cord, but I disagree. If anything they're more like Ryan & Chuck, but they still aren't like them.
-
I get the "first boot" vibe from this team, just as I got from Ron & Bill, Ron & Tony, Avi & Joe... I don't know, that's just me...
-
I know he has an ill child and I respect his dream to be on the race to better his family's life. But this team may be a little too aggressive for my liking.
I think that's how I feel about this team. :duno:
-
I like them!!! <3333333 I think is my favorite.
-
I want these guys to win. Probably the most genuine team I've seen since the cowboys (Jet & Cord and the Aussie's from TARA1). But, I'm just not sure how worldly wise they are.
-
Mark & Bopper FTW :hrt:
-
But this team may be a little too aggressive for my liking.
True that . I have a feeling of f 6 for this team.
-
some writing from Kentucky media :
Clay Countians to compete on 'Amazing Race'
By Herald-Leader Staff Report
Posted: 12:00am on Jan 26, 2012
Two best friends from Manchester will be among the 11 teams competing on the next season of the sprint-around-the-world reality show The Amazing Race.
William "Bopper" Minton, 41, a motorcycle mechanic, and Mark Jackson, 45, a former inspector for the state agriculture department, are part of the 20th season of the eight-time Emmy-winning show, which premieres at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 on CBS.
For their official team photo, the men show off their Bluegrass State pride: Both are wearing University of Kentucky T-shirts.
Jackson made news earlier this year when he was among the people whom new state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer fired without cause.
Among the teams that Minton and Jackson will compete against are a pair of Border Patrol agents; federal agents; twins; divorced Texans; and last year's Big Brother winner, Rachel Reilly, and her fiancé and fellow houseguest, Brendon Villegas.
This season, teams will visit Paraguay and Azerbaijan while traveling through five continents and 22 cities and racking up nearly 40,000 miles.
Minton and Jackson come from a long line of Kentuckians competing on The Amazing Race. Previous seasons have featured former University of Louisville athletes Jen and Kisha Hoffman, who won their encore season last year; Gary and Mallory Ervin of Morganfield; David and Mary Conley of Pike County; and Dennis and Andrew Hyde of Richmond.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/25/2043064/clay-countians-to-compete-on-amazing.html#storylink=cpy
Related Stories
Ex-U of L stars win 'The Amazing Race'
'I'm tired,' says 'Amazing Race' winner
Kentucky duo get a second shot on 'Amazing Race'
Ex-Miss Ky. to compete on 'Amazing Race'
-
Mark and Bopper begin to reap the benefits of being a TAR celebrity. :lol:
From Facebook:
Hey everybody - just 1 more week left to get your donkey basketball tickets $6.00. The game is next Thursday, Feb 9 at CCMS gym. First game starts at 7:00. Mark and Bopper from The Amazing Race are going to be playing. At half time, we'll have free donkey rides for all kids accompanied by a paying adult. It will be lots of fun.
-
Oh yea, did I mention a Mike and Louie vibe?
I don't think they will make the F6. They seemed to be an early boot for me. (F7 - F8) :duno:
-
I like them better after the premiere, believe it or not :lol:
-
theyve been compared to all male teams from the past, i think their dynamic is almost identical to brook and claire, one overly enthusiastic, bopper, the other more reserved and seemingly along for the ride, mark. what really convinced me was when mark got the surprise sky dive in the roadblock, that is definitely something that would have happened to poor claire! haha she often had roadblock woes.
-
Q&A: What's Life like Just Yards from a Kentucky Coal Plant?
'Amazing Race' Contestant William 'Bopper' Minton Talks About His Family's Life Near the B & W Resources Plant
By Lana Bandoim
Can you imagine fighting an endless stream of coal dust that permeates the air and watching it destroy your child's lungs? This is a daily reality for William "Bopper" Minton, a contestant on the current season of the "Amazing Race."
I had the opportunity to interview Bopper about his experience on the show and his ongoing struggle with the neighboring coal processing plant. The motorcycle mechanic from Manchester, Ky., lives 150 yards away from the B & W Resources Inc. tipple and has been documenting multiple violations at the coal processing plant.
Can you explain how you ended up living next to a coal processing plant?
Bopper: This was my grandfather's land, and he handed it down to my dad. I moved here at 12 years old. When I moved here, the plant was shut down and torn down. We never expected it to reopen again. About 9 years ago, they reopened it and made it even bigger. They basically bust up coal and load it on a train. The coal dust is intense. I got to give them some credit. They have done some work, but we just can't keep the coal dust out. It's too close for comfort. I can look out my kitchen window and see the plant.
How has having a coal plant as a neighbor affected your daughter's health?
Bopper: Madison has severe respiratory problems, and I've got the proof from doctors that it's caused by the coal dust. She's only 8 years old, but they have her on 7 different medications for asthma and allergies. She's had problems since she was a baby. At 6.5 months, she had a severe asthma attack and was hospitalized.
You mentioned that you are surrounded by coal dust. Can you describe your neighborhood and the impact that coal has had on its residents?
Bopper: We got the highway on one side and the processing plant on the other side. We're basically in the middle of a horseshoe and catching coal dust at every angle. There are only a couple of families in my neighborhood, so we're easy to ignore. We're poor people and up against a big coal company. They win.
My neighbor's dad died from lung cancer shortly after they opened up the processing plant. He never smoked. My whole family has lost their gallbladders. I do have some asthma, but I was a grown man before I was exposed to the coal dust. It's especially hard on children. That's why Madison is so sick. My neighbors have COPD and cancer. They don't smoke. Every day, we see huge plumes of coal dust from the plant and the trucks on the highway carrying the coal. I go outside and just touch the siding on my house, and my whole hand is covered in black dust. You can't get rid of it. It's everywhere.
How have people reacted to your appearance on the "Amazing Race"?
Bopper: Manchester is a small town. Everyone knows me. The show definitely helped me get more attention. I'm grateful for the opportunity they gave me to tell my story, but the processing plant ignores me. They know Madison is sick. Right now, all I get from them is silence.
What has been the result of your efforts to fight the coal processing plant?
Bopper: I've tried to speak to several lawyers here. Their families make money from coal, so they won't do anything. The EPA has been here. They agreed with the situation, but no one would do anything. I don't use coal as heat. I don't work in the coal plant. I see coal dust on my house and in my house. It's dust leaving the permitted area of the plant. Nobody wants to hear it. People feel threatened.
Why have you not been able to relocate?
Bopper: Who is going to buy my place? Everyone knows about the coal dust. I'm stuck here. I can't afford to move, and I can't sell it. I want to move. I know what it's doing to us, but I just can't do it.
What would you like B&W Resources Inc. to do?
Bopper: It's fixable, but they won't fix it. The fix is just to relocate the plant or relocate the families who live next to it.
You have captured multiple videos of violations at the plant. What has been the response to this evidence?
Bopper: I have the videos and a Facebook page, but the biggest problem is the state inspectors doing nothing. The inspectors look at the violations but won't write it up. Everything is corrupted. I've seen them come out here, and they won't do anything.
What do you plan to do next?
Bopper: The plant's permit is up for renewal. We're going to protest and keep fighting.
http://news.yahoo.com/q-whats-life-just-yards-kentucky-coal-plant-235500018.html (http://news.yahoo.com/q-whats-life-just-yards-kentucky-coal-plant-235500018.html)
-
Even thought I found him a bit annoying, I would not mind one bit if they win. They are very deserving and even if they don't win I hope someone helps them relocate. Good luck to them!
-
My new a avatar tells it all,go Jet and Cord Kentucky version!
-
They are actually not that bad and cracked me up sometimes. :lol:
-
Ok I find them REALLY annoying. Worst than those cowboys. And they seem to be the producer's favourite :groan:
(sorry Declive :lol:)
-
I tried to like them the first episode ... now i have to agree 100% with Flamant.
-
Ok I find them REALLY annoying. Worst than those cowboys. And they seem to be the producer's favourite :groan:
(sorry Declive :lol:)
:lol3: :lol3:
Don't worry, nobody likes Jet and Cord either,i'm used to this!
-
I think it has to do with cultural differences, because I don't find either team to be annoying
-
Well they're not my favourites, but I do like them! :)
-
Ok I find them REALLY annoying. Worst than those cowboys. And they seem to be the producer's favourite :groan:
(sorry Declive :lol:)
:lol3: :lol3:
Don't worry, nobody likes Jet and Cord either,i'm used to this!
How could someone not like Jet and Cord? They were the nicest team ever on the amazing race!
-
This is Mark and Bopper's thread. :tup:
-
How could someone not like Jet and Cord? They were the nicest team ever on the amazing race!
:duno:
-
These guys are awesome! :jam: They are my favorites! :wohoo:
-
These guys are awesome! :jam: They are my favorites! :wohoo:
-
Is it just me or I hardly understand what Bopper said? :( But, maybe it is because I'm not a native English speaker
-
Is it just me or I hardly understand what Bopper said? :( But, maybe it is because I'm not a native English speaker
Me too, but it sounds funny :)
-
English is my native tongue, but I have trouble understanding them, too. They have pretty heavy Southern accents, and, since I am fron the Midwest (basically north), I don't really understand it, either.
-
Their accents are pretty unique. :lol: There is probably only a concentrated group of people who talk exactly like that.
-
I really haven't heard too many accents, since the only place south of Ohio I have been to is Disney World, which basically has it's own accent since people from all over the world go there. :lol:
-
They speak mid-South in Kentucky. I lived in Lousiana for 6 years and the southern accent there is different but equally thick.
-
I love the way they say "airport". :lol3:
-
I like these two a lot! Fun and enjoying the race, and there for a moving reason. <3!
<3 when Art & JJ came to the Pitstop to tell them some money of their prize would be for them if necessary. <333333333
-
They are really strong team, I guess. They didn't have to struggle much on the tasks.
They.should.win.this.race!!! :hearts:
-
Back to Jamie and Nary please.
And Jamie is engaged. :tup:
Oh poor Bopper :'(
I do have to wonder if Bopper is married because he never mentions anyone but his daughter in the bios. :duno:
-
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH WE DON'T GIVE UP FOR KENTUCKY BABY!!! :lol:
-
Back to Jamie and Nary please.
And Jamie is engaged. :tup:
Oh poor Bopper :'(
I do have to wonder if Bopper is married because he never mentions anyone but his daughter in the bios. :duno:
I think the odds are high that Bopper is divorced. Otherwise, there should be some mentions of his wife.
-
Back to Jamie and Nary please.
And Jamie is engaged. :tup:
Oh poor Bopper :'(
I do have to wonder if Bopper is married because he never mentions anyone but his daughter in the bios. :duno:
I think the odds are high that Bopper is divorced. Otherwise, there should be some mentions of his wife.
But at the beginning episode they showed Bopper with many folks and such. Mainly white. Woudn't one of them be related? ??? Maybe they're just pals or something.
-
"White men can jump!"
lol :lol:
-
"White men can jump!"
lol :lol:
:lol: :lol: They are funny!
-
'Bop don't you dare fart now!' :lol3:
They have such wonderful dry comments every time! :lol:
Definitely rooting for Team Kentucky as one of the few teams on the race, and they're doing quite well now too!
Keep it up guys! :tup:
-
Mark has a funny pronunciation of the word "beautiful"
boot-i-full
-
"It's like a bunch of school children" <333333333
-
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb454/kevint2011/woobaby.jpg)
I loved this part
-
Kentucky Boys:
http://www.youtube.com/v/3p2l72By0oQ?version=3&hl
-
I just can't describe how happy I am to see them winning one leg! :hoot: :hoot:
-
Me too! :hearts:
-
WOO! BABY! finally, took long enough for them to win a leg! :hearts:
I am really really afraid next leg though, there is a 50% chance it's an NEL anyway (or who knows, maybe a TBC)
-
I get the "first boot" vibe from this team, just as I got from Ron & Bill, Ron & Tony, Avi & Joe... I don't know, that's just me...
I love being wrong sometimes! :-[
Definitely, the best team IMHO in the F5... Hope they win!
-
They are quite the underdogs. I keep thinking they will be eliminated each week but they keep on goin!
-
I know that RFF is full of members who believe that this is the greatest team since sliced bread. I never have and do not share those sentiments, although I do consider them competent racers. Pain while walking was evident with Bopper and it looks like Mark may have some other type of physical constraint. They are being worn down by AR20, which happens to many good teams. You just cannot stay in an amazing race with those type of issues.
Also, I find Mark's complaints that he just has to get the million to raise his kids. He and Bopper started with a statistically even chance for a payoff (basically cross-multiplying various outcomes times their probabilities). Depending on what the values of 2nd through 6th place are, they now have a $200,000 (before taxes) payoff from 1st place and a summation of perhaps $50,000 for 20% chances at places 2 through 5. In real money, it's either the million or relatively small amounts. I doubt that Mark/Bopper will win the big money.
My ultimate advice to Mark is that if you need big money to raise your children, then get the qualifications for a high-income job.
-
My ultimate advice to Mark is that if you need big money to raise your children, then get the qualifications for a high-income job.
I don't think this is something you can recommend. Definitely.
-
Sure , that was a super worthy commentary.
-
Haters gonna hate, apskip. :lol:
-
The thing is, although Mark and Bopper are probably not the top team in some respects, they are the only team left that is worth rooting for.
Art and J.J. are WAY too over-the-top competitive and arrogant.
Dave and Rachel, although perhaps improved, continue to bicker every single leg.
Ralph and Vanessa, particularly Ralph, always look on the pessimistic side of every little trouble (oh, now we have lost...)
Brendon and Rachel - OMG - is there anything at all in her whole LIFE that doesn't make her whine and cry????
-
Rachel BB is way better than Vanessa, it's just that the editors focus on every single problem that arises. Even when she had that wound they didn't concentrate on what made her upset they just edited a brief bit of her being upset.
Anyway Mark and Bopper have done well, I didn't realise there were cash prizes for other places than just first but I'm happy if they have got more than just the experience out of this. They haven't been featured too much in the edit of the last two programs so that makes me wonder if they are going soon.
-
So glad Bopper and Mark finally won a leg. :hearts:
-
I was sad when Bopper was saying "I'm sorry bud...I'm sorry" as if he was letting down Mark, but he wasn't! :hrt:
-
Booper seemed too ready to give up in this episode and Mark whined on about his children (just like one of the cousins did earlier in the season). I liked their first non-elimination more as it was more surprising, this one seemed like they knew at the pitstop that they would be safe and that's why they continued with the roadblock.
-
by far one of the most intense non-elimination fake-outs ever.
This is mostly due to how awesome they are.
Imo, they are the only team that's extremely rootable. Army Rachel is great and Brendon/Rachel come close. Vanessa/Ralph is a team I just love to hate.
Art and JJ, they are the worst :eww
but yeah, glad they're still it in. To be honest, I doubt they will be able to recover, here's to a miracle of sorts
-
I bet everyone (including the producers) were disappointed that Bopper with his massive energy couldn't do the bollywood dance due to his knee injury.
That would have been an awesome spectacle
-
Rewatching the episode, I really like the Indian guy who constantly tries to persuade Mark to finish the roadblock, awesome guy.
"You're a good man"
"Come on, come on"
(Three Mopper posts in a row, these two are awesome)
-
Bopper - "To hell with the money, I just want my buddy"
Missed that line the first time I watched this episode, thats real friendship right there. Bet Art and JJ wouldn't say that about each other.
I realize that this is my fourth consecutive post, but these guys are the best. By far, the greatest Male/Male team imo.
I've never wanted a team to win so bad.
-
kevin2012,
I guess the question is whether you mean "the greatest male/male team" ever in all Amazing Races or just in AR20. I am going to assume that you mean the former.
Here are some male/male teams that are superior in my opinion:
1. Rob/Brennan
2. BJ/Tyler
3. Eric/Jeremy
4. Andy/Tommy (even though they did not make the F3 they were truly a great team)
I feel that from after AR4 a bias to tilt the casting in favor of strong female teams and couples took over, so there have been only 3 teams I rate as great since then. There were some male/male teams that won (Tyler/James, Dan/Jordan) but I don't rate as great.
-
It hasn't been a season of great physical challenges so I think that has benefited them. And I do like teams that aren't just atheletes but that can be entertaining characters as well. But teams that win by the end normally have a decent level of fitness, even in a season like this day after day of running around will take their toll on those who have some physical problems.
-
kevin2012,
I guess the question is whether you mean "the greatest male/male team" ever in all Amazing Races or just in AR20. I am going to assume that you mean the former.
Here are some male/male teams that are superior in my opinion:
1. Rob/Brennan
2. BJ/Tyler
3. Eric/Jeremy
4. Andy/Tommy (even though they did not make the F3 they were truly a great team)
I feel that from after AR4 a bias to tilt the casting in favor of strong female teams and couples took over, so there have been only 3 teams I rate as great since then. There were some male/male teams that won (Tyler/James, Dan/Jordan) but I don't rate as great.
I'm pretty sure he meant greatest in terms of likability, not racing ability. As in, Bopper & Mark are his favorite Male/Male team, or at least near the top of his list.
-
I like Mark's pronounciation of "air".
"The arr... the smog in the arr.." :lol:
-
kevin2012,
I guess the question is whether you mean "the greatest male/male team" ever in all Amazing Races or just in AR20. I am going to assume that you mean the former.
Here are some male/male teams that are superior in my opinion:
1. Rob/Brennan
2. BJ/Tyler
3. Eric/Jeremy
4. Andy/Tommy (even though they did not make the F3 they were truly a great team)
I feel that from after AR4 a bias to tilt the casting in favor of strong female teams and couples took over, so there have been only 3 teams I rate as great since then. There were some male/male teams that won (Tyler/James, Dan/Jordan) but I don't rate as great.
Well, I did say "imo" (In My Opinion) so that's totally my opinion, I think they're the best.
only my opinion
Also imo, three of the male/male teams you mentioned I don't like at all. The only one that is decent in my opinion is Rob and Brennan.
-
UPCOMING GUESTS ON "THE TALK" ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK, 4/30-5/4
Monday through Friday (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT)
(*Denotes changes and/or additions to previous schedule, (n) Denotes new)
Thursday, May 3
Actress Shannen Doherty guest co-hosts; actor Jim Caviezel (CBS’s “Person of Interest”); reality stars Mark Jackson and William “Bopper” Minton (CBS’s “The Amazing Race”); “Redo You” money tips: credit vs. debit with Lynnette Khalfani-Cox (n)
NOTE please: discussion of this should continue in existing discussion in the Speculation thread here:
http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,26411.msg744834.html#msg744834 (http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,26411.msg744834.html#msg744834)
NOT IN THIS THREAD!!
-
I wonder if the other teams were getting a bit paranoid now that this team has had 2 NELs lol, they must have thought they were the producer's favourites. :D
-
All NELs are predetermined. :tup:
-
Though they no longer say 'predetermined non-elimination legs' like they used to, it's just 'non-elimination legs' now.
-
Leafsfan,
May I ask how we knew that and how you knew that? I didn't know that. I considered the Tanzania one a no-brainer but have not come around to believing that India has one too until yesterday?
-
:gaah:
-
jmo, this is the second consecutive season where the only awesome team in the final 5 was eliminated in 5th place
-
They had a long wait befor they started off and Art and JJ didn't really seem to struggle with their detour so I wasn't surprised when they were eliminated. The bigger suspense was who would finish first with the ferry.
-
Oh yea, did I mention a Mike and Louie vibe?
I don't think they will make the F6. They seemed to be an early boot for me. (F7 - F8) :duno:
The only time in a long long time I am wrong about a team. I sincerely apologize and guess what, they are my favourite team this ENTIRE season. :ghug:
We know that if there's an unfinished business 2, they will be back! :ghug:
-
They ran an awesome race and should be proud of their work ethic :hearts:
-
They ran an awesome race and should be proud of their work ethic :hearts:
Yeah they were truly great. A shoo-in for the next all-stars, imo the best male/male team ever.
-
http://www.tvguide.com/news/amazing-race-bopper-mark-1046755.aspx
Amazing Race's Bopper and Mark: Our Friendship Is Deeper Than Any Situation
Joyce Eng
Apr 30, 2012 04:30 PM ET
by Joyce Eng
Despite winning the head-shaving Fast Forward on The Amazing Race, best friends William "Bopper" Minton and Mark Jackson became the second team in franchise history to get eliminated despite completing the Fast Forward. "We were too far back. We started three hours behind everyone else, so it was tough to make up even with the Fast Forward," Bopper tells TVGuide.com. "The Fast Forward just helped us finish the leg quicker." The self-professed ol' country boys from Kentucky fell so far behind last week after Mark toiled for hours and suffered heat stroke in the Indian sun while learning a Bollywood dance. But he says he would do it all over again for his best buddy. See what else the fan favorites have to say about their tight bond, being threatened by Art and JJ and more.
How close were you to Art and JJ?
Bopper: I don't know, but looking at the shadow on the mat, we'd come in pretty late after them. We were three hours behind from the beginning. We did our best, but I think we were beat before we left that morning. [Laughs]
Mark: We put everything we had into that leg —
Bopper: Including my hair!
Mark: We knew no matter what, we gotta try. The Fast Forward was good. It was the only lifeline we had and we went for it. ... We didn't know for sure we would be eliminated, but we thought we might.
Bopper: Yeah, we still had our fingers crossed that we'd still be in it, but we knew we would have fun that day regardless and run as hard as we could.
Was it worth it to shave your head to get eliminated?
Bopper: Oh yeah! Just for the opportunity — I shaved my head for the chance to win the money for my child and my family, so I could give my family a better life and I could relocate us to a healthier environment. I would shave it again right now!
Mark: My head was already shaved, so I didn't have a problem with it.
Bopper: Mark was concerned about them gapping him up and stuff.
Last week really did you guys in. What about the dance was so hard, Mark? Were you just tired and feeling sick from the bus ride?
Mark: Well, on the show, when I got sick, my buddy Bopper here did whatever he had to do while I got healthy. But in that instance, I got sick and when we got there, it was a dance and he couldn't dance because of his leg, so I had to do it. When I started doing it, there were so many steps that after the first two steps, I was like, "Are we ready now?" The teacher said, "No." I looked at him, like, "Man, I don't know if I can do it. I'm weak and getting dizzy." I gave it everything I had.
Bopper, you told him to quit. Did you mean quit the task and take the penalty or quit the whole Race?
Bopper: I had gotten really concerned about Mark. He had quit sweating. I could tell by the look in his eyes that something was wrong and I didn't want to see my buddy risk his life or his health. As bad as we needed the money, I needed my buddy over the money. I had a cracked femur and I knew that I couldn't do the dance, but when I looked in Mark's eyes, there was nobody home. I just told him, "Let's just take the penalty. I have to take you back to Kentucky walking and not in a body bag."
Mark: The reason I stopped was because when I blacked out, I just saw my kids. I've got three kids and I just couldn't imagine their life without me. Money ain't everything in life. I wish a lot of people will understand that. Your family is what life's about. I'd rather come back to Manchester broke as I left and take care of my kids than risk dying and no one taking care of my kids.
How did you change your mind? You had your shirt off and it seemed like you were done. Did Bopper and the instructor talk you out of it?
Mark: I just sat down, drank a lot of water, poured a lot of water over me. I had to cool off. That was it. When I cooled off, I said to Bopper, "I think I can do it." He said, "Listen, if you think you can, let's do this for our kids and just show them what we'd do for them." When he said that, it was all it took. When someone stands beside you and says, "I don't want you to die. Let's take the penalty," the least I could do was get back out there for him. I'd do it again.
You guys are great friends and were so supportive of each other. Did you ever fight on the Race?
Bopper: We're of the pact that friends have differences, but true friends will get their arguments over quick because we have to race the next day. That's what it was like on the Race and that's what it's like for us today. We have disagreements, but we know our friendship is deeper than any situation that we're gonna run across. That's the bottom line: Have your little spit-spat and get over it because you're friends.
Mark: You gotta be man enough to humble yourself when you know you're wrong and when you're right. When you're wrong and your partner's right, don't be too proud to say it. It doesn't matter if you argue. You're gonna be friends in the end if you really are friends. If you argue and it causes you to break up your friendship, you never were friends to begin with!
Bopper: That's exactly right. I told Mark before we left, when we were jogging and getting in shape, "We've been friends all our lives. We're gonna leave [for the show] as friends and regardless of what happens, we're gonna come back as friends." And we both agreed to that.
You seem to have gotten along with every team. Art and JJ gave you money in Italy, but then in the airport in Africa, they almost threatened to U-Turn you if you didn't switch sides. What happened there?
Mark: The reason Art and JJ gave us the money was because they thought we were out of the Race. But then I think out of that, like you said, when they threatened us, they didn't come to me. They went to Bopper. They gave him that money and I guess they thought Bopper was gonna be willing to do whatever they wanted him to because they gave him the money. The money was a nice gesture from them, but we didn't ask for nothing. But we're two ol' country boys and we're not gonna change — money can't buy us. I told Bopper, "Man, they're not gonna threaten us. They're not gonna tell us what to do." We got along with everybody. If they don't like us, that's their loss. We're friendly to everybody. We talked to all the teams. We didn't just sit in this little group or that little group like some other teams. We mingled with everybody.
Bopper: We talked to all the teams: "Let's help each other along. The last leg is what counts. If I can do something to help you, I will. But we all agree: If we make it to the final three, it's dog-eat-dog." We all agreed. I was not gonna U-Turn anyone unless it came down to keeping me in the game. That's the only way I would've U-turned anyone, including Art and JJ, even after they made that comment.
You called them babies for ignoring Dave and Rachel when they didn't U-Turn Brendon and Rachel.
Bopper: Right. I told Art and JJ, "Look, I don't know how you guys were raised or your beliefs or whatever, but there are two things you don't do to a country boy: You don't kick his dog and you don't threaten him." [Laughs] He didn't kick my dog, but I kinda felt threatened, so I didn't like it! I still do appreciate them giving my child that money. I have respect for every single person that ran that Race with us. I keep in touch with them, I talk with them. I've grown to love everybody, not just as friends. I think of them as brothers and sisters now.
You were definitely the fan favorites this season and a lot of people want to see you on the next All-Stars. Are you up for it?
Bopper: Absolutely! If they called me right now, I'd say, "Sweetie, I have to get off this phone because I gotta get on an airplane because I'm about to do the Race again."
Mark: Do it in a minute!
What are you up to now? How's your daughter doing?
Bopper: My daughter is doing well. She's got a lot of respiratory problems. Like I said in the beginning, that's why I spilled my guts on that Race. Every time I was down and out, I would picture my child on that breathing machine and I would dig deep and keep going. When we were making our way up Sleeping Beauty's castle and I was having chest pains and out of wind, I dropped to my knees and asked God if he gave me a second wind, I would give my heart and soul into this Race like I have been. And He gave me that second wind.
Mark: I'm just sitting here listening to Bopper. [Laughs] When we went on the show to better the lives of our families, I had a pretty good job and the guy told me I would keep it, but as soon as I got back from the Race, I lost my job. I ain't gonna lie: It's been real tough for us. Me and my family are really struggling. But I don't worry about it because I've got Bopper and my friends. Everyone talks about how close our friendship is. Yes, we're close, but if you come to Manchester, Ky., you can ask anyone around here about Mark and Bopper, and if they're a friend of ours, we'd do anything for them and they would for us. My friends and my family have helped me keep my head up high. God gave me a breath to wake up every morning. Every morning you wake up, you ought to thank God because nobody is promised the next day.
Bopper: We got to travel the world and we've seen what true hard times are. We've seen true poverty. We're blessed every day as Americans. I just keep that in my mind all the time.
-
http://www.thedeadbolt.com/1003026166-the-amazing-race-heat-and-hear-with-bopper-and-mark.html
The Amazing Race: Heat and Heart with Bopper and Mark
by Reg Seeton
This week on The Amazing Race, friends William “Bopper” Minton and Mark Jackson of Kentucky were eliminated after surviving the sweltering heat in India.
Although Bopper and Mark gave it their best shot this week on The Amazing Race, the two Kentucky friends couldn’t make up time on the rest of the pack. Only a week earlier on The Amazing Race, Bopper and Mark hit the mat in last place for a non-elimination leg that nearly knocked the guys out of competition under the sun in India.
When Mark was forced to replicate an Indian dance in the blistering heat last week, Bopper watched as his friend suffered from heat exhaustion. Despite the setback, Mark finished the task and the two friends continued their journey on The Amazing Race. This week, however, Bopper and Mark made up huge ground on the other teams but were ultimately eliminated from The Amazing Race after a stellar comeback.
The following day, The Deadbolt caught up with Bopper and Mark to learn more about their time in India, how they braved the heat, why they decided to stick it out, and how The Amazing Race gave them a new appreciation of what’s important.
THE DEADBOLT: How glad were you guys to finish the race?
WILLIAM BOPPER MINTON: We were tickled pink to finish the race. I’ll tell you what: we had the honor of circling the globe. But the best thing was the two miles to Manchester, Kentucky, before you get into Manchester. That sign was the most beautiful sign I’ve ever seen in my life.
MARK JACKSON: Me too! That’s where I live and that sign let me know my kids were only a few miles away.
THE DEADBOLT: So, Mark, what happened between Africa and India? Was it just the difference in the heat?
MARK: Well, the heat and the smell. Let me tell you, man, the smell isn’t that good in India. You know how you stick your head out the window to get fresh air? You didn’t do that in India. You stick your head in your shirt if you want fresh air. You saw how I got sick all of the time, that just made it worse with all of the heat. It was 120 degrees in the shade. You blow into your hand and hope it comes back into your face. It was just brutal.
Bopper was going to do the task but his knee was blown out. He couldn’t do the dance so it took me to do it. I was already only about 60 percent. And at 60 percent, I went down quick.
THE DEADBOLT: Bopper, during the dance task, how long did it take to realize Mark was in trouble?
BOPPER: Well, he was pretty tough. It was about an hour and a half in the heat. It got to a point where he tried the dance several times and I was trying to get him to focus on me. I tried to smile at him and let him know I was there for him. But it got to a point that he couldn’t even focus on looking at me, so I knew that he was getting hot and he was done.
We want everyone to know that we wouldn’t quit on the race. I was concerned for my buddy’s health. He was that hot. I went and told Mark, I said, “Look, man, you’ve got nothing else to give these people. Let’s take the penalty and hope for the best. I’d rather you walk back to Kentucky instead of me taking you home in a body bag.” It was that bad and he got that hot.
THE DEADBOLT: There were a couple of times you could have quit. How tough was the decision to stay in the race?
MARK: It wasn’t tough at all! When you’ve got kids that you’re there for, and that’s the only reason you’re there, quitting is not an option. There’s no option in it. We would never have the chance to do this again to change our family’s lives, so there was no way we could quit.
THE DEADBOLT: In the end, how far behind the rest of the teams were you?
BOPPER: I’m guessing probably anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour maybe. It’s hard to tell.
MARK: When we started, we were three hours behind them. Whenever we got finished, I would say we were probably 30 to 40 minutes behind them.
THE DEADBOLT: How did the race change your perspective of what’s important in life?
MARK: It made me realize what is important in life – and what everyone in America should realize – that family is the most important thing in life. No amount of money in this world is worth your family. That’s just the bottom line. There’s no price that you could put on your family. If you love them enough, you’re going to be there for them.
BOPPER: I feel the same way. The most important thing was our families. That’s the bottom line.
THE DEADBOLT: Bopper, how did you feel when Art and J.J. gave you their prize money after coming in first earlier in the race?
BOPPER: That was truly from the heart of those guys. They’re big-hearted guys. Honestly, I don’t think they’re the type of guys that everyone’s making them to be. That was heart-touching for me. They know why I was there. I was there to try and win the money so I could relocate my child to a cleaner and healthier environment because she has so many respiratory problems. They knew that and it was out of their hearts to want to help my child. I still think highly of them for that.
THE DEADBOLT: Was there anything on the race that you wish we saw that wasn’t aired on TV?
BOPPER: No, not really. What you saw on TV, that’s how it was.
THE DEADBOLT: Well, at least you got free haircuts out of the deal.
BOPPER: Exactly right, bro!
MARK: I didn’t get one [hair was already shaved]. I should’ve gotten him to shave me. I just let him pretend he was cutting. But it was worth every bit of it to look at my buddy’s big moon dog!
-
http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-bopper-minton-and-mark-jackson-talk-the-amazing-race-13419.php
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/30/2012
William "Bopper" Minton and Mark Jackson were eliminated from The Amazing Race's twentieth season during Sunday night's penultimate broadcast of the CBS reality competition.
The "Friends" team became the seventh team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's tenth Pit Stop at Cheena Vala Fishing Nets in Cochin, India, in last place due to the fact they had started the leg more than three hours behind the other teams and also encountered a Speed Bump which they were required to complete before continuing on to the next task.
On Monday, Bopper and Mark talked to Reality TV World about their The Amazing Race experience -- including how long it took them to actually finish their Speed Bump and Fast Forward tasks, whether the traffic Art Velez and J.J. Carrell got stuck in on the way to the Pit Stop allowed Bopper and Mark to finish closely behind them or made no difference at all, what Bopper's little girl has been struggling with at home and why Mark was also selflessly desperate to win the grand prize, and whom they believed was really at fault in the Rachel Reilly versus Vanessa Macias smackdown.
Reality TV World: How far behind Art and J.J. do you think you guys finally arrived at the Pit Stop? The show made it look you guys were actually not too far behind them considering Art and J.J. hit traffic on the way to the Pit Stop and it seemed like a quick process to shave your heads.
William "Bopper" Minton: It's hard to say, you know? Like I said, I was trying to pay attention to the shadow that was on the mat -- you know, the sun shining on the mat -- so it's something Mark pointed out earlier.
There could have been a cloud or I don't know what, but there was no shadow when we got to the mat. So, I'm thinking we were probably at least 30-45 minutes -- maybe an hour -- behind them. I'm not for sure about that.
Reality TV World: How long would you say the Speed Bump task of painting the lion took you guys? And how about for the Fast Forward task?
William "Bopper" Minton: Me and Mark painted that belly like nobody else. I think we went through the Speed Bump probably what, Mark? Thirty minutes?
Mark Jackson: I would say probably 30-40 minutes, yeah.
Reality TV World: Okay and how long do you think the Fast Forward took you guys?
William "Bopper" Minton: It took no time to shave my head, honey. Listen, he had a sharp pair of clippers and it didn't take too long. But the fact of the matter is, sometimes if you get a slow-riding taxi driver, that can make all the difference. (Laughs)
Mark Jackson: And my head was already shaved. So we didn't have to worry about that.
William "Bopper" Minton: Yeah, all they had to do was slap him once or twice on the head and that was it.
Reality TV World: So did they just pretend to shave Mark's head then?
Mark Jackson: Yeah, they acted like they took the clippers to it and it bit me a little bit. I was like, "Man, I'm alright. Let me have them."
Reality TV World: So it sounds like your ultimate downfall then was just the fact you guys started the leg about three hours behind the other teams, right?
William "Bopper" Minton: Right. That's exactly right.
Reality TV World: You guys seemed unsure whether to take advantage of the Fast Forward or not when you received that clue. How close did you come to not using the Fast Forward? What would your explanation had been if you chose not to try the Fast Forward task?
Mark Jackson: We didn't have no intentions. We didn't have no intentions. That was the only way. We thought about it for a minute and wondered if anybody did it, and we just realized that was the only way that we had a chance of being in the Race. We didn't have no choice but to do the Fast Forward.
William "Bopper" Minton: Right, so we looked at it like, "Listen, let's go out and go big or go home and let's just take a chance on the Fast Forward." We got there, we didn't see anybody laying around nowhere, so I knew that we had a fighting chance. So I didn't hesitate of having my head shaved.
It's like I told that guy when he was shaving my head, I said, "Brother, to keep me in this Race and still give me a chance at winning life-changing money for my family, I'll give you that leg in the process if you need it."
Reality TV World: Because you guys had finished in last place twice during the legs that happened to be non-elimination legs, if you had won The Amazing Race in the end, do you think that would've cheapened your win a little bit?
Mark Jackson: No way. I'm going to tell you I got this... there's no way it would've cheapened our win. If you would have seen the effort -- when other people got Fast Forwards -- I mean a non-elimination, and they didn't make it through the Speed Bumps. We barely got through the Speed Bump, the first Speed Bump, so that just gave us another chance.
In fact on one [season], the guys from Indianapolis -- Marcus Pollard -- and his woman [Amani Pollard], they got the Fast Forward and they got through the Speed Bump and they made it to the Final 3. It is hard to do this stuff and if anyone made it look cheap for nothing, because we absolutely -- everybody that was watching the show saw that we gave it everything that we had and it wouldn't have mattered.
It wouldn't have mattered how they felt about it because we needed it. We needed the money and we just got lucky to get the non-elimination. If somebody else came in last during that leg, they would've gotten that non-elimination. See what I'm saying?
Reality TV World: Yes, so did any of the other teams give you a hard time about those last-place finishes at all?
Mark Jackson: No.
William "Bopper" Minton: No, every time we survived a non-elimination, the other teams were [happy] for us to still be there, because we were friends with everybody there and they knew why we needed that money.
So, of course everybody was there to win the money, but they knew that me and Mark -- our determination behind it too. So, they still respected us being in the Race with them because they knew that we were going to give them laughs, and they knew we were going to have fun. So, no, I don't think any of them was mad because we got non-eliminations.
Reality TV World: Speaking of you guys needing the money, Bopper, you talked a little bit about it on the show, but would you mind giving a little more detail on what your daughter's situation is?
William "Bopper" Minton: Well, my daughter, she has chronic and severe asthma and respiratory problems and sinus and allergies, and I live about 150-170 yards downwind from a coal-processing plant, which I am not against coal.
But you know, I think these processing plants need to protect us better than what they do, but that's why running the Race, to me, was so important, because I need to relocate my child to a healthier environment, you know? She's on seven different respiratory medicines twice a day, you know? So, that's what the Race meant to me. It was life-changing money for my family, so that's why I ran it so hard.
Reality TV World: And Mark, during last week's episode when you were trying to complete that Bollywood dance, you mentioned you didn't want to quit because you had three children at home and you would've loved to win the money for them. Were there any specific issues at home behind why you needed the prize money or were you just hoping to better your children's upbringing in general?
Mark Jackson: You just said everything. I was hoping to change the lives of my family because it's something that would have made a big difference for my kids -- I'm all my kids have got now. I'm divorced, I have three children, and that was all it was.
And then after the show, and I got back, I didn't know I was going to lose my job and I lost my job. It was just -- that's what the big shock was. But we was just trying to change our families' lives and that was just the bottom line. So anything we had to do to do it...
William "Bopper" Minton: And when I asked Mark to quit that challenge, I did that because I was concerned about my friend's health. He was extremely hot. He gave 150% percent in that dance, and you know, he was just exhausted. And when I looked in his eyes, he was so dizzy and he was so sick, I told him, I said, "Look Mark, you've given them everything you've got to give, brother."
I said, "Let's take the penalty. Let's take our chances. I would rather you walk back to Kentucky instead of me taking you home in a body bag." I said, "You cannot give them anymore."
So we just went off to the side and we were willing to take the penalty, and we got over and I told Mark, I said, "Let's think about this. Let's get some water in you. Take your time. Let's get you settled down, and let's talk about this." Because my main concern was Mark's health. He was, like I said, he was...
Mark Jackson: I was hot!
William "Bopper" Minton: So we got over to the shade and sat down for a few minutes, and we really thought it out. I said, "You know, you want to give it another shot, Mark?" And he said, "Absolutely." So he went up there and aced it.
Mark Jackson: I didn't ace it but I went up there and did all that I could do.
William "Bopper" Minton: Well, I think you done well, but we just wanted to let everybody know that me and Mark, we don't quit nothing. We do not quit nothing, but when it comes to your friend's health, you have to re-evaluate stuff, you know? So, I was willing to take the pill for Mark's health.
Reality TV World: This week's episode showed Mark in bed prior to starting the leg. Mark, were you actually medically cleared to compete but you were worried you still might not be able to last or be strong enough to compete? Or was it the case where you were not medically cleared to compete and you guys were just waiting for the "Okay."
Mark Jackson: No, I was medically cleared. I just -- just like with Bopper's knee -- there was nothing in this world that would've stopped me from competing for that money.
William "Bopper" Minton: No.
Mark Jackson: I mean, you saw how I was on the show. I was still wobbly, still confused a little bit and everything.
Reality TV World: Mark, would you mind elaborating on what your condition really was? Was it a heat stroke, dehydration or a combination of things?
Mark Jackson: Well, it was the heat stroke, I got sick throwing up, and then the heat -- I just started sweating and everything and I just had a heat stroke. I got dizzy and blacked out a little bit. It was basically just a heat stroke.
Reality TV World: Is that why you struggled so much with the dance moves then or was the choreography just really difficult?
Mark Jackson: Well I was sick going over there. I was sick as a dog and the heat didn't make it no better. And when I got up there, I was doing the dance and got about 50% percent of the steps of the dance.
So I started on the first one and I was like, "Yeah, I got this. Let's go." And he said, "No, more." Then we started doing it again and by the second step, I was like, "Okay I got this. Let's go." And he said, "No, More," I said, "Listen man, I don't know if I got anything more, man."
I said, "I'm getting dizzy. I'm seeing double. I mean, I don't know if I got anymore." And then I stood over in that sun for probably two hours to where I was just stumbling back in to people. It was just ugly. I mean, that's when my partner said, "Mark it's over for you."
And I didn't want to believe him, but whenever he looked at me that last time, and he said, "Man you gotta quit," and I know Bopper has no quit in him and he knows I have no quit in me, but when he looked at me and said that, I know it must have been bad. I said, "You don't care?" And he was like, "No, I don't care, man. I'd rather you be healthy with your kids." And I was like, "Okay man, I'm done then."
Reality TV World: There has clearly been a lot of tension between Rachel R. and Brendon Villegas and Vanessa and Ralph Kelley. How much of that were you two aware of while you were racing with them? Did you think one team was more at fault for starting arguments than the other or would you say they both were equally responsible for causing drama?
Mark Jackson: It was nonsense. Everybody just wanted to pick on poor Rachel. And Vanessa, she picked on everybody -- not just Rachel. She picked on everybody.
William "Bopper" Minton: I can honestly say that Rachel, she's a good person. She literally is a good person. They may have had some stuff happen that we didn't see, you know, but as far as what we did see, Vanessa just did not like Rachel.
So we just stayed out of all the drama, we did. (Laughs) My kids are in school, so me and Mark wouldn't want to have our children watching us participate in any kind of drama on TV because we teach them not to do that stuff.
Reality TV World: How were you cast on The Amazing Race? Was it your first time applying for the show and would you ever consider doing an all-stars edition if you were given the opportunity?
William "Bopper" Minton: Well, we first applied for Season 12 and we had no phone calls then, so I guess we just didn't fit into that cast. So, four years later -- out of the blue -- they called us up and asked if we were still interested in doing the Race, and it took me about a half a second to say, "Yes."
-
Reading these interviews makes me love them even more. :hearts:
-
Reading these interviews makes me love them even more. :hearts:
-
Reading these interviews makes me love them even more. :hearts:
Me too. :hearts:
and it makes me dislike Art and JJ even more. I did not know that was possible. :gaah:
-
Wow. I didn't know these teams applied for older seasons. :wohoo:
I like it when people who watch the Race are casted. :hrt:
-
There are some things that annoy me about them.
All this stuff about setting an example for their children, same stuff we heard from the cousins I think, please shut up about it. You are on an entertainment show which is supposed to reflect what you think and feel and it isn't about who wants to appear the nicest. Forget about projecting an image, just be yourselves.
And finally they speak out about Vanessa. Why couldn't they have done this on the show? Oh because they just wanted to get along with everyone, in other words appear as the good guys who love everybody. Well I suppose they never had a chance of winning (physically they couldn't compete) so being the 'nice guys' was their role (could even get them on All Stars). Even now they are trying to be nice about Art and JJ.
-
I like it when people who watch the Race are casted. :hrt:
-
Sorry to read Mark lost his job.
-
There are some things that annoy me about them.
All this stuff about setting an example for their children, same stuff we heard from the cousins I think, please shut up about it. You are on an entertainment show which is supposed to reflect what you think and feel and it isn't about who wants to appear the nicest. Forget about projecting an image, just be yourselves.
And finally they speak out about Vanessa. Why couldn't they have done this on the show? Oh because they just wanted to get along with everyone, in other words appear as the good guys who love everybody. Well I suppose they never had a chance of winning (physically they couldn't compete) so being the 'nice guys' was their role (could even get them on All Stars). Even now they are trying to be nice about Art and JJ.
Or maybe their children mean all the world to them and being proud of them is being theirselves. And maybe they know that the race can bring out the worst of people and think Art & JJ are still good guys. And perhaps being the nice guys who try to get along with everyone isn't a shtick and they really are nice guys who try to get along with everyone.
-
Nobody gets along with everyone all the time, and I'm sure on that basis other people on the race are good guys too just that they don't keep their heads down and ignore things which they should confront while on the race. They represent themselves and not their children or anyone else on the race, and I say that for all the others as well. And how come in one of these interviews they say Art and JJ are really ok, and yet in another they are willing to bring up the intimidation aspect?
They are the easy option for those who want to think there was only one nice team towards the end because that pretty much was the role they ended up having. And looking back on it that's what they were telling us through the race, that they were great because they loved everyone and were the good guys. Actually this team were one of my favourites in a way, but I don't think they are nearly as perfect as they are made out to be. I found them funny at times when they toned down the God stuff and weren't acting hyper country hillbillys too much. They would likely be in my top 5 of the season still.
-
http://social.entertainment.msn.com/tv/blogs/reality-tv-blogpost.aspx?post=79e183a2-ce61-4dd7-ac0d-1b6deaf4b0e5
'The Amazing Race' Exit Interview: Mark and Bopper
Proud Kentuckians talk unemployment, helping kids back home and naked promises
By Diane Vadino
Special to MSN TV
Best buddies Mark Jackson and William "Bopper" Minton made up one of "The Amazing Race"'s most engaging teams in memory. They were funny, kind, devoted to each other, and resolute even in the face of the most challenging Bollywood dance. Despite powering through this week's tasks, the pair couldn't make up time lost during the previous episode -- and exited the race in fifth place. We spoke to the team -- a shoo-in for an All-Stars edition if ever there was one -- about going back to Kentucky, battling unemployment, and whether Art and J.J. will make good on that Pitstop promise to share their winnings.
MSN TV: What's it been like, coming home to this reception?
Bopper: It's meant the world to us. It's been absolutely overwhelming. Our county is so proud of us. We can't tell you how much we appreciate it.
I found it really affecting, Bopper, when you said that being on the race had opened up your eyes to the world around you.
Bopper: The place where we live is one of the poorest counties in the nation. We're just poor, simple folk. But I got to see first-hand what true poverty really is, and it made me appreciate everything I do have. We were just going down the road in India, and we walked past this man who had to walk on his knees. His feet were curled up behind his back, and this man was still working. His knees looked like elephants' feet. For us Americans, we're kind of spoiled here. He was severely disabled, and he was still working. I cried when I saw that, that was so touching.
I know you first applied for season 12, but were just cast this season. Do you have any idea why you made the cut this time around?
Bopper: I have no idea. I was just sitting here with my daughter, feeding her turtle, and there was a message from the race telling me to call them back. I called Mark, and he scurried over here, and we called them.
You guys talked candidly about living in poverty on the show.
Mark: We speak the truth. We don't bite our tongues. I lost my job when I got back. We did see poverty all over the world. The only difference between them and us is we live in the USA, and it shouldn't be like that here.
Did you get a big welcome-home party when you got back to Clay County?
Bopper: Nothing yet. We've just been going around to the schools, thanking the kids for their support. We talk about bullying with them. We just want everybody to know that our kids are the future no matter what. We have a terrible drug problem here. If you're 25, and you're doing drugs, you're an adult. But we've got to start with the kids. Me and Mark were saying that what we'd like to do is see if CBS can help us with the trip we won [for winning a leg]. We'd like to auction that trip off, to help some needy children here in Manchester [Ky.]. Me and Mark would take that trip, and it'd be over in five days.
Mark: Me and Bopper have been around each other enough. It's not fair for Bopper to go with his wife, or Mark to go with his girlfriend. Why not get rid of that trip?
Bopper: These kids really need shoes and shirts. They should go to school feeling proud, like other kids aren't going to make fun of them this year. We'd give 100 percent of the money to those kids.
J.J. and Art said they'd give part of their winnings to a fund for your daughter's health problems, Bopper. Did that actually happen?
Bopper: I'm not going to hold them to that, but they insist that when payday comes, they're definitely going to give my child a third of their winnings.
Mark, you said you lost your job when you returned from the race. How are you doing now?
Mark: It's a struggle. It was a shock. I never thought it would happen. I lost my job. I didn't lose all my bills.
Bopper: The job opportunities here are slim to none. You either have the coal mine or McDonald's. That's why we put our heart and soul into the race. CBS gave us the opportunity of a lifetime
Mark: We enjoyed it. We weren't running a hectic, scatterbrained race. We could never afford to do something like that, no matter how long we saved up.
When will we see you guys in All-Stars?
Mark: I'll tell you what, if they call us right now, and they're on call waiting, I'd hang up on you right now.
Bopper: I wouldn't even stop to pack a backpack. I'd just go naked.
"The Amazing Race" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
-
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s66/the-amazing-race/news/a379287/amazing-races-bopper-mark-qa-we-gave-everything-we-had.html
'Amazing Race's Bopper, Mark Q&A: 'We gave everything we had'
By Catriona Wightman
They might have been saved by two non-elimination legs, but Bopper Minton and Mark Jackson's luck came to an end on this week's episode of The Amazing Race and they were sent home. That's right - no more Team Kentucky or Mark's car sickness!
Digital Spy spoke with the duo after their exit, so read on to find out whether Bopper regrets shaving his head, why they could have won the show if it wasn't for illness and injury, and who they want to win now...
I was so sorry to see you go! But obviously you started the leg so far behind - did you think you could make up the time or did you know you'd be going?
Mark: "We gave everything. Listen, we didn't know if we were going to make up the time or not but we gave everything we had to try to make up the time. My buddy was bald-headed, I was already bald-headed! We just wanted to do anything we could to stay in the Race because we had a lot riding on it, but once we'd seen that we didn't - I mean, there's nothing in this world that we can do to change it so there ain't no use being sad. That's what I tell my kids when I coach basketball - you give everything you've got, 110%, and you can live with the outcome. I mean, no matter win, lose or draw, you can live with the outcome, and that's what we did. We gave everything we had, everything that was in our power to stay in the Race and it didn't happen, so we can live with that."
Bopper: "We knew when we started the leg that morning we were three hours behind, and we knew we were going to have to do everything possible to try to catch up some time, and we did. We rode as hard as we could and when it came to the Fast Forward, we didn't hesitate. Shaving my head, if that gave me just half a chance at staying in that Race to win half a million dollars to better the life of my family and for us to be able to relocate to a healthier environment, you know, listen - I would cut my leg off for them. I'm glad they didn't ask for my leg! But I would have given my leg - the hair was no problem."
Do you have any regrets about shaving your hair since you were still eliminated?
Bopper: "Absolutely not. You know, I would do it again in a minute."
Mark: "I have one regret that he shaved his head - he looked absolutely terrible!"
Bopper: "It's good now, though!"
Have you kept it shaved?
Mark: "He grew it back! I thought he wore a wig a couple of times!"
Bopper: "I got home, the first thing I done was got me some Miracle Grow and started rubbing it in my head and now I've got a head full of hair again! I'm joking with you about the Miracle Grow but listen honey, I've got so much hair I can have one shave - it doesn't matter!"
Do you know how close you were to Art and JJ at the end? Did you almost catch them up?
Bopper: "Well, you know, we definitely made up some time. But as the show was ending last night, I was curious about that myself. So I was watching the shadows and stuff at the final mat. When me and Mark finally made it to the mat there was no shadow, so I don't think we - we might have gained maybe an hour or something back on them, but I don't think we gained enough to stay in the Race. All I know is we gave everything we had - including my hair!"
Mark: "There could have been clouds blocking the sun - that's why there might not have been no shade."
Bopper: "That's true, I was just going by looking at the shadow of the trees on the mat and stuff and how far or close we was behind. So all I know is when me and Mark got to the mat, there weren't no shadow!"
On the previous leg, you came so close to quitting - what made you decide to carry on?
Mark: "It wasn't like we was quitting. When your friend's like that... listen, money can't buy you a life. What good is that money if you're dead or what good is that money if you can't use it? If you see your friend is in harm's way you don't want them doing whatever it is. If you do want them to keep doing it and take the chance on it, they're not your friend. He knows that I've got three kids - just like when he hurt his leg, I didn't want him to go any further because it's just crazy. I mean, we'd love to have the money and everything but money can't buy you friendship and money can't buy you happiness. It wasn't like we was quitting, it was just that I was unable to continue. And as I got water and cooled off and did all that, I was able to continue just like you said. But it was for our kids now."
Bopper: "Mark got so hot - I was really concerned about him and I knew he was giving everything he had for his family and me and it was just so hard for me to sit and watch him. He was literally taking the heatstroke and I knew it. And I told Mark, 'Mark, you have given everything you got, man - listen, I would rather you walk back home with me instead of me taking you home in a body bag'. I said, 'Let's take the penalty'. We were far from wanting to quit the Race. I was just wanting him to give up on that challenge and let's just take a penalty, because I was really concerned about my friend's health and I could not stand there in good conscience and watch Mark take a heatstroke when I could talk him out of doing that. Mark was more important to me than that money because money can't replace Mark. So we want the world to know we was by far not quitting, but I had to look out for the safety of my friend's health. Mark even asked me when I finally talked him into, 'Man, just take the penalty', he looked at me and said, 'Are you sure about this?' and I said, 'Absolutely positive, brother - I love you that much'. So that's what that was about. We've never quit anything in our lives and we'll never quit anything in our life but when it comes to the health and the safety of your friend, you need to step back and take a look at the situation and look out for what's best, and that's a human life."
You had some problems in the Race - Bopper, you hurt your knee...
Bopper: "I cracked my femur."
Yeah! And Mark, you had the heatstroke. Did you ever expect all those problems?
Mark: "No! No, I'm going to tell you something. This is just a disaster. If we hadn't had the heatstroke and he hadn't hurt his knee we would have won that Race. There's not a doubt in my mind. The only reason we didn't come in first more times is because we'd be riding down the road and we'd looked at each other - 'Where are we going?' 'I don't know! I guess we should pull over and wait on somebody'."
Bopper: "That was pretty funny. When we finished putting the solar kitchen together in Argentina, me and Mark were the first ones to leave there. This was kind of funny - me and Mark looked at the clue and we said, 'Where are we going to?' Mark said, 'I don't know!' I said, 'I'll tell you what to do - just slow up, let's slow down, enjoy this beautiful scenery, let one of the teams pass us and we'll follow them to the bus stop!' So that's how that worked out."
Mark: "We did that a few times. We was worried about the big prize - the big prize is what we was worried about, and we had everyone believing we were just two dumb country boys. And we loved them and they saw how friendly we were. That's just the way we are, that's what we told them. We helped everybody - we would rather give than receive and we would help everybody with tasks. That's why they would get mad at us - some of the teams were saying, 'Why are you telling them this?' It ain't no big deal as long as we just get through the Race, everything will be fine. Everybody made it such a big deal. But me and Bopper, we're two country boys who've never had the opportunity to do nothing, so we got on it and we enjoyed every bit of the Race. Every bit of it."
Bopper: "When Art and JJ were speaking to us about the U-Turn - the only way we would have U-Turned any team on there, including them, the only way we would use the U-Turn is if we had to to stay in that game."
Mark: "We could have U-Turned Dave and Rachel and crawled to the first place line!"
Bopper: "But we didn't play the game that way. We agreed with every team there, 'Look, y'all have helped us, we've helped you, but when it gets to the final leg if we're lucky enough to make it to the final three, we all agree that it's dog eat dog. We're here to win a million dollars but let's do it respectful and let's be loyal to one another to that last leg. And if we get to that last leg, all bets are off - we have to do what we have to do'. That's the agreement we had with everybody there."
Mark: "We was the only ones that was loyal all the way through."
Bopper: "True."
Mark: "A lot of people weren't loyal to us."
Bopper: "Jamie and Nary was loyal to us the whole time."
Mark: "The whole time. The rest of them were looking out for themselves the whole time and we didn't care about that. That's how people is. That's the difference between people from where we're from and people from the big cities. We care about people - people from the big cities care about themselves."
Bopper: "Listen - our word and honor is all that we got."
So who did you want to win when you left the show?
Mark: "We was torn. Bopper, you answer that!"
Bopper: "Listen, we love all the teams there. We loved Brendon and Rachel - we didn't have no conflict with any of them. But just to watch Dave represent himself and the way he represents our military, you know, I hope Dave and Rachel win because like I said, he ran the Race hard. What else could you expect of a man that's a Blackhawk pilot and representing our military? And his wife is made of stone!"
Mark: "I wanna tell you something else, too - out of the four teams that's left there's two teams - Brendon and Rachel and Dave and Rachel. It wouldn't bother me to see either one of them win, but I'd like to see Dave and Rachel because towards the end they really got close to us and they didn't try to stab us in the back, they didn't try to do nothing wrong to us. Neither did Brendon and Rachel."
Bopper: "If any one of those two teams win, we're happy with it."
Mark: "We're happy with it, exactly."
A lot of people would love to see you on the show again - would you return to The Amazing Race if you could?
Bopper: "In half a second."
Mark: "If it took that long!"
Bopper: "Right. Absolutely we would."
Mark: "If there was ever the opportunity then we would love to do anything CBS wants us to. CBS has made two country boys happier than a lark!"
The finale of The Amazing Race airs Sunday on CBS.
-
http://shows.ctv.ca/TheAmazingRace/article/Mark-and-Bopper-overwhelmed-by-outpouring-of-support-since-e28098The-Amazing-Racee28099
Bopper and Mark overwhelmed by outpouring of support since ‘The Amazing Race’
by: Sheri Block
Date: 5/1/2012 5:04:00 PM
Despite Mark suffering from heat stroke and he and his partner Bopper being more than three and a half hours behind all the other teams, the two friends from Kentucky gave everything they had to stay in “The Amazing Race” – something that endeared them even more to their many fans.
The morning after their elimination episode aired, Mark had 750 comments on his Facebook page and 250 friend requests, and Bopper says the people in their hometown of Clay County have been ecstatic.
“(Everyone) in the state of Kentucky is so proud of us. The feedback I’ve got from reading the blogs and stuff, the world, their hearts went out to me and Mark,” Bopper tells CTV.ca over the phone.
“You have little children running up to you like you’re some big movie star or something and saying, ‘I’m your biggest fan’ . . . when you get to see a child’s eyes light up, when they look at you, you can’t put money on something like that.”
The team ran into trouble on the previous leg in India when Mark was faced with learning a Bollywood dance as part of a Roadblock challenge.
Already feeling ill when they arrived at the challenge, learning the difficult steps in the blazing sun was almost too much for him to bear.
“It was as difficult as it looked. It was just unbelievable how hard it was,” says Mark, a former state inspector.
Noticing that his partner was struggling, Bopper, a motorcycle mechanic, tried to convince him to take a time penalty and not do the challenge.
“It was my idea because I was truly concerned about Mark’s well-being and it was just so hard for me to sit and watch him onstage struggle. He had gotten so hot and I knew at that time there was nothing else in him to give,” says Bopper.
“That’s when I went and told him I loved him and let’s just take the penalty.”
But Mark soldiered on and after 12 tries and more than three and a half hours, he finally completed the challenge. When they finally arrived at the Pit Stop hours after the other teams, they were relieved to hear it was a non-elimination leg and they were still in the “Race.”
After checking in, Mark was immediately attended to by medical staff and put on an I.V.
He did not feel much better the next morning but the two decided to continue with the “Race” anyway.
“Mark was still slurring (his words). He was still not 100 per cent but he was willing to do what we had to do,” says Bopper.
“We knew we were three hours behind and we had our work cut out for us so the most we could do was have fun, enjoy it and when we saw that Fast Forward, we said, ‘Man, we’ve got a shot at staying in this Race.’”
Even though they willingly shaved their heads at the Fast Forward in order to bypass all the other challenges, they still finished the leg behind all the other teams and this time, were eliminated.
It was disappointing news for the two friends, who were hoping to win the $1 million prize to help out their families.
Bopper explains that he lives right beside a coal processing plant and his eight-year-old daughter has suffered from respiratory problems since she’s been six months old.
“My main goal in winning the money was to relocate my family to a cleaner, healthier environment so every time I thought I was down and out and I couldn’t go any further, I would just picture my child on a breathing machine and I would just dig deep and keep going.”
Mark also needed the money to take care of his family and says the situation went from bad to worse when he returned home from the “Race” to find out he had been let go from his job.
“I’ve always said you’ve got to play the cards of the hand you’re dealt in life and I guess things happen for a reason,” he says.
“You never know what the good Lord holds for you tomorrow . . . I know something good will come out of something bad,” adds Bopper, even though he admits jobs like the one Mark had in the department of agriculture are hard to come by.
“You’ve got very few options. You’ve either got the coal mines to work in or you (can) flip burgers at a fast food restaurant, and that’s it. There are no jobs where we live.”
But the two friends say they are open to whatever opportunities come their way and are just grateful for the chance to run the “Race” together and see the world.
“It just changed our whole perspective on life. We ain’t got nothing and we saw people that really ain’t got nothing,” says Mark. “We’ve got a roof over our head and lights and water. Some people didn’t even have that so we appreciated (what we do have).”
-
Mark: "We was the only ones that was loyal all the way through."
Bopper: "True."
Mark: "A lot of people weren't loyal to us."
Bopper: "Jamie and Nary was loyal to us the whole time."
Mark: "The whole time. The rest of them were looking out for themselves the whole time and we didn't care about that. That's how people is. That's the difference between people from where we're from and people from the big cities. We care about people - people from the big cities care about themselves."
Bopper: "Listen - our word and honor is all that we got."
I just get a bit annoyed with all this 'we are the good guys stuff'. It's a game and they know it is and they are playing it as well. All this righteousness may have worked for them with how the show was done but it detracts from them a bit for me. And the funny thing is they say they wanted Dave and Rachel to win even though Brendon and Rachel were actually people who helped them at some points in the race and were on their side. So where is the loyalty there?
Thanks for the interviews slayton.
-
if they got on Season 12, there wouldn't have been such a loveable team on TAR20, every thing happens for a reason :hearts:
-
if they got on Season 12, there wouldn't have been such a loveable team on TAR20, every thing happens for a reason :hearts:
But maybe they might have returned in Season 18 if they didn't win Season 12. :hearts:
-
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/interview-mark-bopper-talk-the-amazing-race
Interview: Mark & Bopper talk 'The Amazing Race'
Team Kentucky talks about their reception back home and more
By Daniel Fienberg
In an "Amazing Race" season that has sometimes struggled to find teams worth rooting for, self-described Kentucky boys Mark Jackson and William "Bopper" Minton never had any trouble endearing themselves to viewers.
Mark & Bopper were so immediately relatable and sympathetic and their enthusiasm for the experience of "The Amazing Race" was so contagious that at one point during the season, Art & JJ offered a chunk of a first place reward to Bopper, to assist his daughter. "The Amazing Race" isn't a show in which teams routinely give away their prizes, so that's not a gesture to take lightly.
That was the first time Mark & Bopper finished last, but it turned out to be a Non-Elimination Leg and they recovered in the next Leg to continue their journey.
A few episodes later, difficulties mastering choreography for a Bollywood dance number, coupled by health issues for both Mark & Bopper, led to their second time in last. Fortunately for them, it was a second Non-Elimination Leg.
It was like "The Amazing Race" couldn't stand to see them go.
Of course, when Mark & Bopper finished last for the third time on this past Sunday's episode, there was nothing to be done and Team Kentucky was sent back to Clay County, hoping they'd done right by their community.
In our exit interview, Mark & Bopper talked about how they've been received back home, how they maintained their spirits on the Race and about that offer from Art & JJ. [As viewers of the show know, they're pretty passionate guys, especially Mark, and there were a bunch of questions I didn't get to ask... ]
Click through for the full interview...
HitFix: One thing you mentioned a couple times was your desire to do right by Clay County, Kentucky. How have people back home responded to you?
William "Bopper" Minton: They love us. They're absolutely proud of their Clay County boys.
Mark Jackson: Yes. We feel like we might've let 'em down a little bit because we can't make a difference, but I think we're gonna make a difference now by just telling everybody that they can do anything they set their mind to in life, because we did. We were troubled children when we were growing up and we changed our lives around and it's made all them believe the same thing and that's more than winning the money and donating money to the kids in the county, to just realize that they care that much about us.
Bopper: We've had a big honor in going to a lot of the elementary schools here in Clay County and just telling the kids to do their best at whatever they do and as long as they do their best, they have something to be proud of and hold your head up high. They have welcomed us with open arms.
HitFix: In a perfect world, if you'd won, what were you hoping to do with the money and for the area?
Bopper: For one, my first priority was to relocate my family to a healthier environment. Where I live is a very dust-polluted area and my child is very sick with asthma and she's on seven different respiratory medicines. As a father, that would have to be my first priority, was to get my child into a safer location. And then whatever else I could do for a needy family or a needy child, I would give 'em the shirt off my back.
Mark: I would have loved to have been able to get the money and relocate and give my kids more of what they deserve and turn around a bunch of families around here, kids who don't have shoes to wear to school and stuff, and just put the money toward that. Money is good, but if you can do good with the money, that's what what makes the money that much better. That was our main goal: We need something to change the outlook of kids in this town, because our town is just overwhelmed with drugs. We have an overdose probably every two weeks or something. In a little small town like this, it's just ridiculous. What we've gotta do is get people to recognize that the kids are the future. If I had that money, I could get it out there. I could do good for kids. I could make kids realize that there's something else in life besides drugs, they don't have their parents and... There was a whole lotta stuff I coulda done with the money to make a big difference in my county. Don't get me wrong, I hope and pray that people hear us talking about this and wants to step up and maybe come in and say, "Listen Mark, what can we do to help you in the county?" These people like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey just donate money everywhere. How'd you like to donate enough money to this county that we might be able to change 20,000 people's lives and change a whole county around and even surrounding counties. That was our main goal, is to get relocation and our family a better life and change the lives of some people in our county.
Bopper: Even though we didn't win the Race, we still changed our county, heart-wise, because our whole county has went out to us and they're overwhelmed at how well we done on the Race and respected and respresented our county. Of course we didn't win the Race, but we still made a small difference in our community.
HitFix: At some point, Bopper said that doing "The Amazing Race" was more Mark's dream than his. Mark, what made you want to go on "The Amazing Race"?
Mark: I watched the show my whole life. The thing about it is I love to see places like that. And then I just started thinking: I have a brother who's hooked on drugs and all that stuff and that would be such a nice thing to win the million dollars to let him see [muffled], get away from that stuff, don't do it and let everybody see that no matter life throws at you, you can change your life around and be good. You can ask Bopper, if you do good, good is going to happen to you. That's the reason I think we got on the Race, because I watched the Race, couldn't get nobody to do it with me. But I just called Bopper up and I said, "Bopper, listen. I need this show, man and I want you to do this show with me." He's like, "What are you talking about?" And I said, "You can win a million dollars." He said, "Well where's the application at?" He didn't ask when it was and didn't care what it was. He realized this was a chance to change his daughter's life and get rid of all the atmosphere that he was in and he went for it.
HitFix: No real hesitation for you, Bopper?
Bopper: Absolutely not, brother. Listen, for a chance to relocate my child into a healthier environment son, I would walk through any fire that you can build. There was absolutely no hesitation whatsoever.
Mark: He didn't know what it was. He didn't care what it was. It was just a chance that he could change his life for his daughter and it was a no-brainer. He was all over it.
HitFix: What was it like watching and reliving the episode from last week with the Bollywood number?
Bopper: For me, my whole house was in tears, including myself. I was there and seen it happen live, but to sit back at home with my family and watch it again, it was heart-touching. I seen that Mark was in trouble, you know? I knew that he was in trouble, so that's why I asked him, "Let's take the penalty." I said, "Because I'd rather you walk back to Kentucky with me, Mark, instead of me packing you back in a body bag, man." I said, "I've got nothing left to give them on this stage." I said, "You're going to take a heat stroke. So let's just take the penalty and see what goes from there." So we decided to do that and we got over in the shade and Mark set down for a few minutes and we got to talking again, just getting him calmed down and cooled down and you know and then we kinda looked at it again and I said, "How 'bout one more shot, brother? You think you're up for doing it one more shot?" And he said, "No. I'm not up to it. But I'm gonna do it." It was just heart-touching for us.
Mark: Yeah I was sitting and watching it with my family. Like I said, I'm raising three kids by myself and I was trying to be strong, trying to be tough and not let 'em see weakness and I when I looked over and seen my family are bawling their eyes out, I just didn't know what to do, but I didn't wanna let 'em see me cry, so I just told 'em, I said, "I need to go outside and smoke a cigarette." I went outside and I cleaned myself up. I let it all out and then I dried it up before I come back in. I didn't really know how bad it was until I did see it on TV. I knew it was bad, because I was falling and stuff, but I didn't know how bad it really was. Even last night's show, I was watching it and I could still see where I was drained and I was nowhere near 100 percent. But like me and Bopper said, "Man, this is our only chance in this world that we're going to have a chance to change our lives for our kids and our county and man... we've got to do it, no matter if it puts us wherever it puts us," we've got to do it.
HitFix: You guys seemed to get along so well out there. Is that just your natural dynamic? Did you worry you were going to fight on the Race?
Mark: We argued a little bit on the Race. Listen, we don't want our kids to see us acting crazy on national TV, doing something stupid, arguing. We don't want them to argue with people. Friends are gonna have differences. We had difference of opinions and sooner or later we realized that one of us was right and one of us was wrong and it didn't matter if it was me or Bopper. Whichever one was wrong was man enough to say, "You're right." I'd say, "You're right, Bopper. That's the way we need to do it." And Bopper would do it. He'd said, "Mark. You're right. That's the way we need to do it." We had differences, but friendships is friendships, man. Everybody's gonna have differences, but you cannot let it come between your friendship. There ain't nothing in the world that bad. We were racing for a million dollars, but what people don't realize is that we wanted to enjoy ourselves we were doing it, because we would never get an opportunity to do this again. We're traveling around the world. Let's absorb it in and see. Because couldn't keep up with us on the task. We couldn't find our way around, but they couldn't keep up with us on the task. When it comes to a task, we killed 'em. That's the sad part of what happened in Bollywood. If I hadn't have gotten sick and my partner's leg wasn't hurt. If my partner's leg wasn't hurt, he'd have done that dance, but he couldn't do that dance and I was so sick, to tell you the truth, I shouldn't have been doing the dance. But it left me to do it, so I wasn't gonna let my partner down. I went out there and gave it everything that I had and that's what I tell my kids, "No matter what happens to you in life, you give everything you've got." We give everything that we've got 110 percent every day that we had. If you do that, you can live with the outcome of what happens, win, lose or draw.
Bopper: We knew where each other stood before we left here, you know. We've been friends our whole life. I told Mark, when me and him was running and jogging and trying to get in shape for this Race, I told him, I said, "Look. We're life-long friends. We're gonna leave here as friends. And we're coming back as friends, regardless. Win, lose or draw, we're all each other's got." You're friendship and your family are all that matters in life. We had our little differences of opinion, like Mark said, but when push come to shove, we met in the middle and we had to do what we had to do. Was our friendship in jeopardy? Never was an issue.
Mark: I know Bopper was giving it everything he had and Bopper knows I was giving it everything I had. So if one of us didn't succeed, we knew were giving it all we got, so that was just gonna be it.
HitFix: And what's the story, you guys, on the money that Art and JJ promised you?
Mark: That was to Bopper and he promised it for his daughter and that was a great gesture and everything like that. We told him we took him to heart and we appreciated it. Bopper, his daughter, that would give her... that was a great gesture and the reason they did that was because they know what kind of people we are. They know what we stood for and they know what we were there for.
Bopper: That's true. We had no idea that they wuz gonna do that. I don't know as far as what CBS allows you to say or state, but nobody gets anything until it's all over with, but I spoke with Art & JJ since then I told them that I wasn't gonna hold them to that promise, but they said, "No. We never welch on anything that we say." So they said, "Just as soon as we get our money, we're sending your child a third of that money." I really do appreciate that.
-
Hope this team returns for all stars along with Nary and Jamie and Joey and Danny! :jam:
-
Nary and Jamie are terrible racers , Joey and Danny are terrible caracters.
Mark and Bopper are good racers and good caracters
-
Nary and Jamie are terrible racers , Joey and Danny are terrible caracters.
Mark and Bopper are good racers and good caracters
They'd be better compared to the team on season 18. :res:
-
Nary and Jamie are terrible racers , Joey and Danny are terrible caracters.
Mark and Bopper are good racers and good caracters
YES.
-
Why are Joey and Danny terrible characters?
-
Why are Joey and Danny terrible characters?
I don't know them irl but they portrayed themselves as no account clubbers. Mark and Bopper seem to be much more like real people and real fans of TAR.
-
How exactly does Joey & Danny are bad characters? :lol: Did they attacked other teams? No. They were just minding their own business the whole time.
No account clubbers? Really? I think the way they portrayed themselves was just averagely normal. You are saying they are unaccomplished jerks because? Your minds are all so clouded by stereotypes. /gags
-
All they ever talked about was girls, hair gel, partying, and how pretty they looked. :lol:
-
They are in The Talk in CBS right now. They gave Mark & Bopper $10,000. :hrt:
-
Video clip (http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/video/2230368522/the-talk-mrs-o-s-the-amazing-race-message)
-
I can't believe nobody asked where Bopper's nickname came from in any of the interviews.
-
Usually when all these exit interviews get posted, I read the first one or two and them skip the rest, since all the interviewers ask pretty much the same questions. This time, I read all of the interviews that slayton posted. I didn't get to watch the episode until yesterday, so I'm not quite used to Bopper & Mark being eliminated, but dang, I'm gonna miss them on the race. They are great guys. A shoo-in for the next returning racers season.
-
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/interview-mark-bopper-talk-the-amazing-race
Interview: Mark & Bopper talk 'The Amazing Race'
Team Kentucky talks about their reception back home and more
By Daniel Fienberg
In an "Amazing Race" season that has sometimes struggled to find teams worth rooting for, self-described Kentucky boys Mark Jackson and William "Bopper" Minton never had any trouble endearing themselves to viewers.
Money is good, but if you can do good with the money, that's what what makes the money that much better.
Bopper: Even though we didn't win the Race, we still changed our county, heart-wise,
trying to be tough and not let 'em see weakness and I when I looked over and seen my family are bawling their eyes out, I just didn't know what to do, but I didn't wanna let 'em see me cry,
Mark: We argued a little bit on the Race. Listen, we don't want our kids to see us acting crazy on national TV, doing something stupid, arguing. We don't want them to argue with people.
We were racing for a million dollars, but what people don't realize is that we wanted to enjoy ourselves we were doing it, because we would never get an opportunity to do this again. We're traveling around the world. Let's absorb it in and see. Because couldn't keep up with us on the task. We couldn't find our way around, but they couldn't keep up with us on the task. When it comes to a task, we killed 'em. That's the sad part of what happened in Bollywood. If I hadn't have gotten sick and my partner's leg wasn't hurt.
First people are saying they were great racers, I don't completely agree with that. They weren't terrible but there were deep seated health problems which I am not willing to make excuses for. Even in Germany running up the stairs at the castle you could see both of them were completely out of breath. To say that they could kill all tasks I don't think is strictly true and this race has not really been that physical either. Climbing, swimming, paddling for instance have not been featured.
Also whatever someone does with the prize money is their business, and outside factors like that are not part of my own judgement of racers. It's more about how people are on the race and not external factors for me.
And they admitted they did argue it just wasn't shown I guess. And there's nothing wrong with sometimes standing up for what you think against other people anyway, certainly better than keeping quiet when something wrong is being done. They had to be prodded hard by Art and JJ to speak against them, and they never did against Vanessa till after the show.
Trying to look tough and not seen crying, sound a bit like Art and JJ there. :D
And I don't agree with the journalist that this race has been hard to find people to root for, I think there have been several others who may not have had as good an edit but have been very rootable for. I'm still saying they are among my top 5 this season, but I don't think they are as perfect as some would have us think.
Also to think you can change a country just by being on the race I really don't think is very realistic. It's making too big a claim. Most people will be happy to see them as individuals profit from being on it, but that's it. And don't think I am unsympathetic to Bopper's daughter, I have asthma myself and have suffered over the last decade and still do. People tend to be ignorant and arrogant to you over it, even doctors. They just give you an inhaler and tell you to go away however bad your condition is. Nothing on an entertainment show will change anything in any country.
A bit more Jamie love :-[ in these interviews would have been nice too since Bopper is an admirer, but the journalists don't bring it up. :D
-
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/interview-mark-bopper-talk-the-amazing-race
Interview: Mark & Bopper talk 'The Amazing Race'
Team Kentucky talks about their reception back home and more
By Daniel Fienberg
In an "Amazing Race" season that has sometimes struggled to find teams worth rooting for, self-described Kentucky boys Mark Jackson and William "Bopper" Minton never had any trouble endearing themselves to viewers.
Money is good, but if you can do good with the money, that's what what makes the money that much better.
Bopper: Even though we didn't win the Race, we still changed our county, heart-wise,
trying to be tough and not let 'em see weakness and I when I looked over and seen my family are bawling their eyes out, I just didn't know what to do, but I didn't wanna let 'em see me cry,
Mark: We argued a little bit on the Race. Listen, we don't want our kids to see us acting crazy on national TV, doing something stupid, arguing. We don't want them to argue with people.
We were racing for a million dollars, but what people don't realize is that we wanted to enjoy ourselves we were doing it, because we would never get an opportunity to do this again. We're traveling around the world. Let's absorb it in and see. Because couldn't keep up with us on the task. We couldn't find our way around, but they couldn't keep up with us on the task. When it comes to a task, we killed 'em. That's the sad part of what happened in Bollywood. If I hadn't have gotten sick and my partner's leg wasn't hurt.
First people are saying they were great racers, I don't completely agree with that. They weren't terrible but there were deep seated health problems which I am not willing to make excuses for. Even in Germany running up the stairs at the castle you could see both of them were completely out of breath. To say that they could kill all tasks I don't think is strictly true and this race has not really been that physical either. Climbing, swimming, paddling for instance have not been featured.
Also whatever someone does with the prize money is their business, and outside factors like that are not part of my own judgement of racers. It's more about how people are on the race and not external factors for me.
And they admitted they did argue it just wasn't shown I guess. And there's nothing wrong with sometimes standing up for what you think against other people anyway, certainly better than keeping quiet when something wrong is being done. They had to be prodded hard by Art and JJ to speak against them, and they never did against Vanessa till after the show.
Trying to look tough and not seen crying, sound a bit like Art and JJ there. :D
And I don't agree with the journalist that this race has been hard to find people to root for, I think there have been several others who may not have had as good an edit but have been very rootable for. I'm still saying they are among my top 5 this season, but I don't think they are as perfect as some would have us think.
Also to think you can change a country just by being on the race I really don't think is very realistic. It's making too big a claim. Most people will be happy to see them as individuals profit from being on it, but that's it. And don't think I am unsympathetic to Bopper's daughter, I have asthma myself and have suffered over the last decade and still do. People tend to be ignorant and arrogant to you over it, even doctors. They just give you an inhaler and tell you to go away however bad your condition is. Nothing on an entertainment show will change anything in any country.
A bit more Jamie love :-[ in these interviews would have been nice too since Bopper is an admirer, but the journalists don't bring it up. :D
Let me guess, you got banned from Sucks after you complained the guys made fun of Nary & Jamie?
I'm sure they fought and argue, heck, bet even Mother Teresa couldn't get along with her nuns 24/7, but heck, the editors needed a good team what with Brenchel, Dave/Rachel and Art/JJ creating controversy and Vanessa behaving like a 3-year-old (was going to say 4-year-old but that would flatter her.
It's easy to find people to root for, problem is, all of them were eliminated earlier, and Misa/Maiya were basically roadkill.
-
No, I don't mind Sucks at all and never complained about Nary and Jamie being made fun of anywhere. Looks like your guess wasn't too good.
I think there have been others worth rooting for, such as in the later stages Brendon and Rachel, Dave and Rachel, Nary and Jamie. In the earler stages you could probably add the clowns, not sure about Misa/Maiya as hardly saw anything of them. It's often difficult to judge the first team that gets eliminated.
-
Bopper: Even though we didn't win the Race, we still changed our county, heart-wise,
Also to think you can change a country just by being on the race I really don't think is very realistic. It's making too big a claim. Most people will be happy to see them as individuals profit from being on it, but that's it. And don't think I am unsympathetic to Bopper's daughter, I have asthma myself and have suffered over the last decade and still do. People tend to be ignorant and arrogant to you over it, even doctors. They just give you an inhaler and tell you to go away however bad your condition is. Nothing on an entertainment show will change anything in any country.
He said "county", not "country". Other than that, I don't really care if you like them or not.
-
I'm not sure you even change a county by being on this program really. Maybe they can get more attention on their fight against the people who have polluted the environment in their locality. Certainly they will get help individually (already have) and I think people will be more interested in them as individuals than on larger issues, as that's what I think the show is really about.
-
Can someone upload the video so Canadians can watch it? :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah:
I have a link where u can watch it
http://www.etonline.com/tv/121457_Amazing_Race_William_Bopper_Minton_and_Mark_Jackson/index.html
-
Can someone upload the video so Canadians can watch it? :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: :gaah:
I have a link where u can watch it
http://www.etonline.com/tv/121457_Amazing_Race_William_Bopper_Minton_and_Mark_Jackson/index.html
Thanks for the link! I can't watch this show here so it was interesting to see! :)
Sorry to hear about Mark losing his job though. :(
Glad they got a personal check out if it good for them. :tup:
I do think that 'because you were so entertaining' was a little bit offensive to say to them, because sure they were joking around a bit but mostly pretty serious too. But I guess it wasn't intended badly, and glad to hear they got something out of the race except for the experience.
Think they'll be back on the next AllStars TAR in a few years time, probably. :)
-
They were alright but I'm not sure why they got another word at the end.
-
They were alright but I'm not sure why they got another word at the end.
Gary & Mallory had a final word at the end of TAR17, and then they were on Unfinished Business. It's possible that the producers/editors realized that Bopper & Mark were going to be a popular team with the audience or that they might be invited back for the next returning racers season, but this is all speculation, obviously.
-
These guys are the best :hearts:
-
These guys are the best :hearts:
-
Can't wait to see them in the next Allstars! :wohoo: :lol:
-
Nobody mentioned this, but they got US$10,000 from The Talk
http://www.etonline.com/tv/121457_Amazing_Race_William_Bopper_Minton_and_Mark_Jackson/index.html
oops sorry.
-
My favorites team ever
-
OMG Mopper love! :hearts: :hearts: :hearts:
-
Mark and Bopper were brought to NY to film a new Life of Pi promo!
http://www.youtube.com/v/_JEMF6M4Q_o
-
I missed this Life of Pi promo because I went to the bathroom right before it cut to commercials. :groan: Why does everything good happen when I go to the restroom? :duno:
I'm loving Bopper's newly growing hair! :hearts: