Many thanks to Chlim01 for posting a link to this article--here it is in full. It answers some interesting questions about Clay's view of Ted and Helen.
Living News
No. 2 'Survivor'
'I know I got robbed,' says Louisiana's Clay Jordan, who nearly bagged the $1 million prize on the reality show's Thailand installment, missing by a single vote. 'I played by the rules of the game.'
By Dave Walker
Staff writer/The Times-Picayune
Monroe restaurateur Clay Jordan just missed the $1 million first prize Thursday night, as the "Survivor: Thailand" jury of losers picked southern California used-car salesman Brian Heidik to win by a 4-3 vote.
Two players who'd been coldly betrayed by Heidik -- Navy swim instructor Helen Glover and software developer Ted Rogers Jr. -- inexplicably voted for their betrayer. Almost immediately, Glover expressed regret over her deciding vote. Jordan wuz robbed, in other words. Friday morning, Jordan, who won a $100,000 second-place prize, called from Hollywood to chat about his "Survivor" experience.
Here's our Q&A:
Is Helen psycho or what?
A: Yeah. She is a very stressed woman. She stays stressed all the time. I tried to get her to laugh. After we won a challenge one time, I said, 'We won. It's OK to smile.' She's OK. That's her. I'll accept her that way.
Helen basically admitted on-air that she regretted voting for Brian. Wuz you robbed?
I know I got robbed. The thing that really blew me away was the Ted deal. (Based on hearsay from Helen, Ted accused Jordan at the final Tribal Council of making racist statements behind Ted's back.) I'm really angry about that. I asked him what I'd said at the Tribal Council that night, over and over again, and he couldn't tell me. I asked him last night after the live show, 'Ted, whatever you took, you took wrong.' He couldn't tell me then. I'd rather be a hillbilly redneck (Ted called Clay an "ignorant, Southern, redneck hillbilly" at the final Tribal Council) than an ignorant person like him.
Do you regret not being more diplomatic during the final Tribal Council, at least with Ted, Helen and Jake Billingsley?
Jake, I couldn't. Three days before that deal he came up and we rode around in the boat and all kinds of stuff, and he told me he understood. I guess he didn't want to say I beat him. Helen, I answered the best I could. Ted, I told him I'd answer his question as soon as he could tell me what I said.
What would you do differently if you could do the season over again?
I can't say I'd do anything different. You have to go with what you believe. I played by the rules of the game. I don't live my life that way. I played by the rules of the game. I didn't say anything racist. I'm not a racist guy. You get me wired up when you accuse me of something I didn't do, especially being a racist.
Are you and Ted homies now?
Oh, no. We did an awesome thing together. But I can put it real easy: How many times have you dreamed of your wife and started grinding on another woman? (This is a reference to a "Survivor" incident during which fellow contestant Ghandia Johnson accused Rogers of inappropriate nocturnal activity.)
Was it hard keeping "Survivor" secrets for so long?
Sure. I did come in second. I am proud of myself. Sure, you want to tell people how well you did. That's part of the experience. Believe it or not, you do sign a contract (to keep quiet).
Did you tell anybody anything?
Nope.
Many "reality" TV stars move to Hollywood to pursue a career in show business. Is that in your plans?
Uh, no. I can never say never to anything. I have no idea what might happen. I don't see myself moving to Los Angeles. If something comes my way and it's good for Clay, I can see taking a few airplane trips this way. But I'm from the South. I'm one of y'all. This is not my part of the world.
Are you going to auction off that hat on eBay?
I can't see me auctioning off any of the actual clothes. I have duplicates of things like that, and I'd love to help out the kids. ("Survivor" stuff is being auctioned on eBay to benefit a pediatric AIDS foundation.). They look up to me as I did to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and Rex Allen. They look at me the same way, so I always stop to take care of kids. I'm dyslexic. My wife does all the reading and writing for me.
So you might do some awareness work for that cause?
Yeah, and let people understand. If I want an autograph, I want them to spell Clay right. If people ask me for a (personalized) autograph, I have to say, 'Please slow down. Don't say, "D-A-V-E." Give me a D and an A. If you give me three, I want to switch 'em. Man, just be patient.'
Which golf iron did you take as your luxury item?
A wedge.
What's your handicap?
About an 11.
Was your reply to the previous question truthful?
Yep. Actually, I think it's a 9.5 on the books. I haven't played in a long time. I shot an 82 the last time out.
During the final Tribal Council, you mentioned some kind of financial difficulty in your life. What were you talking about?
I wasn't sandbagging. It is a fact that I filed bankruptcy about a year before the show. That's come out. (Here, Jordan launched into some details of his bankruptcy that are probably not relevant to today's proceedings, though he concluded his bankruptcy tale by saying, "I felt royally screwed by the courts of Louisiana.")
Does your $100,000 second prize mean that you'll be lowering the price on pancakes at your Monroe restaurant, Jordan's?
Never were high to start with. The $100,000 isn't a life-changing reward. It's very rewarding, though.
Will you buy a new car with your winnings, or an elephant?
Depends on what the elephant's butt looks like. I can see my wife getting a new car.
Will you be adding any Thai dishes to the menu at your restaurant?
I've thought about that. Maybe. Thai food has a very unique taste. We may try it out.
Are soft-drink refills free there?
Yes.
What's your favorite New Orleans restaurant?
I always go to a different place. I'm not a go-to-one-place guy.
What's it like to watch yourself on national television?
That is a weird feeling. You see yourself on video all the time nowadays, so it's not odd to see yourself on TV. But people come by from Greece. 'My mom lives in Greece and she loves you.' Calls from every state in the nation. People come through Monroe from all states and ask for Clay and want his autograph. I tell you, I've heard it a million times from people in the South. 'We're proud of you. You're one of us. We speak our mind. We don't hold any grudges. We're proud of you.'
What's it like to watch your kids watch you on national television?
That's what's fun. Of course, they're getting comments out in the community, too. They're proud of me.
What did your wife say about your vocal enthusiasm over Erin's sweet boo-tay?
Well my wife's is better than that. You've got to understand, this is where editing comes in. There were four guys standing there, and they chose me. She took no offense at all.
Have you seen any of Brian's (Playboy channel adult) movies?
Yes, I have. He didn't give them to me, but we looked for them in the paper and watched when they came on. I was a little shocked. No, I was a whole lot shocked.
Have you seen any of Brian's wife's movies?
What an advertisement, if you want someone to see your wife. 'Come and get it.'
Was your experience on the island accurately portrayed?
They portrayed me as Clay. That's me.
You and Brian mentioned that you first conspired to oust Slidell pastor John Raymond in the very first episode. Did you and Brian form an alliance from the beginning?
Yes. Believe it or not, we made a few comments that first day on the boat while we were paddling in. I liked him. I thought, 'This guy is pretty cool.' It takes two to get to the top. I figured that if we stayed true to each other and didn't play outside the game's rules, we'd make it. The rules of the game are, 'Outwit.' I stayed within those rules.
Do you fear going to hell for your complicity in Pastor John's shame?
No. Hell, no.
What's the strangest thing that's happened to you related to your "Survivor" experience?
Everywhere you go, everybody knows you. And, your name has changed from Clay to Clay Jordan. 'There's Clay Jordan.'
Your wife told the Monroe News-Star that you're not lazy. Would she say the same thing after a couple of margaritas?
I'm not lazy. You notice on the show that only two people were saying that -- Ted and Helen. They weren't a lot of fun to be around. I didn't hang around 'em. I did other things. One of the most amazing things about Ted is, you'd get out there so long and people would be talking about their families and it'd bring a tear to your eye. Ted would laugh at you if you got a tear in your eye if you were talking about family.
Jeff Probst is stuck on this question, but here I go anyway. "What did you learn about yourself on 'Survivor'?"
Fifteen minutes isn't a long time, but go sit down and think about family or friends for 15 minutes. It takes a long time to sit there. Now, me and my wife get up, instead of getting up and getting ready for work, we get up and sit on the edge of the bed and watch 'The Early Show' and drink coffee for 15 minutes before we start getting ready. I can't tell you until you go do ("Survivor") how bad it is, how hard it is and how you want to cherish your family and friends. Nobody takes time anymore.
. . . . . . .
TV writer Dave Walker can be reached at dwalker@timespicayune.com or at (504) 826-3429.
12/23/02
© The Times-Picayune. Used with permission.
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