While one must certainly make some good strategic moves to win Survivor, one must also be lucky. Tina may have won S2, but she was the first booted from S8. Different circumstances produce different results. I think some (e.g., Tood) don't see this. They think they won because of their own genius and discount luck as a factor. Which leads to the question - which are the most arrogant of the 15 survivor winners???

My votes:
1. Brian from S5 - the guy was competing against a bunch of losers and only beats Clay by one vote. But to hear him at the reunion show you would think he was the greatest genius since Einstein or at least since.....

2. ..Rich Hatch S1 - Rich was smart in that he recognized the power of alliance and voting out threat before the concept later became obvious. That being said, he just fell in love with himself for recognizing it.

3. Vecepia S4 - Vecepia bascically believed God chose her to win. It doesn't get much more arrogant than that.

4. Todd S15 - Probably believes his voting out of JR before James was some kind of genius on his part when in fact he just got away with a blunder by James making a bigger blunder later.

5. The S9 winner (name escapes me)

Least arrongant:
1. Ethan - basically no arrogance at all

2. Danni - almost as humble as Ethan

3. Tom - knew his physical skill, but didn't claim any mental superiority in reunion show

4. The S14 winner (name escapes me) - just a nice guy

5. Tina or Sandra or Yul - knew they did some things right, but also conceded that circumstances played a role

Thoughts from others???

• RE: Most arrongant winners,Colonel Zoidberg, 11:42 AM, 12-20-07
  • RE: Most arrongant winners,garcor, 09:39 PM, 12-20-07

The S9 winner was Chris, the guy in the wifebeater who outlasted six women at the end. He was also the first to drop an F-bomb as he was announced as the winner.

Yul was humble at the reunion, sure, but he came off sometimes as pretty arrogant during the show. I'm reminded of when he whipped out the immunity idol at the auction, and he seemed to play up, especially in confessionals, the "I have the immunity idol and you don't" angle. I think the time between the show and the reunion did him some good.

The S14 winner was Earl, and to cut $500,000 of his winnings to his mother is just a classy move. Bonus points for acknowledging that Yau-Man probably would have beaten him.

LAST EDITED ON 12-20-07 AT 09:42 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 12-20-07 AT 09:40 PM (EST)

Rich Hatch. Arrogant and personable. Was about the only reason to watch All-Stars.

Brian. Arrogant and not especially personable.

Yul. Did appear to sometimes talk down to teammates, but seemed a nice enough guy that I think most would not hold it against him.

Tom. Forced Ian to take himself out of the game to win back Tom's respect. Course this was largely strategy.

Don't know if Todd is all that arrogant. Think some of his claims (at least at final TC) were a part of his strategy.