Rob Mariano
Rob Mariano | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | TV personality |
| Spouse | Amber Brkich |
| Parent(s) | Bob and Linda Mariano |
Rob Mariano (born December 25, 1975 in Canton, Massachusetts, better known as Boston Rob) is an American reality TV star. He was best known as a contestant on Survivor and The Amazing Race along with his wife, Amber Brkich.
Biography
Rob was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up, he was very involved in athletics, especially hockey, baseball and football. He attended Xaverian Brothers High School, where he played on the varsity hockey team and helped his golf team win the state championship in 1991-92. He then attended Boston University where he boxed and played rugby. In 1999, Mariano graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.
Before Survivor: All-Stars, he worked as a construction foreman and part-time bartender, while also serving as head coach for Boston University's Inline Hockey Team (which he has done since its inception in 1999). In 2001, he coached the team to victory at their first League Championship followed by another victory at their first National Tournament, where they proceeded to defeat the two-time defending national champion Michigan State Spartans in overtime. Always encouraging his team to give 110 percent, Rob has since coached the team to two additional National Tournament appearances and one League Championship. He aspires to one day become a doctor. His hobbies include hockey, fishing and playing cards. In 2000, he woke up the day of the Boston Marathon and decided to run it as an unofficial entry with absolutely no training. He stopped along the way to eat burgers and drink beer. He ended up walking the last 13 miles of the race and finished in 6 hours and 20 minutes. He couldn't walk for three days afterwards.
Since being voted off seventh on Survivor: Marquesas, Rob has appeared at many charity functions, enjoyed traveling all over the world and acted as a host for the Hawaiian Tropic Model Search Competition last summer in Boston. Two of his most memorable adventures were traveling to Italy last spring with his father and throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game last Labor Day when the team hosted the Yankees at Fenway Park. [1]
On April 16, 2005, Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich were married in a private ceremony at Atlantis Paradise Island, in the Bahamas. The U.S. television network CBS aired a 2 hour special about the wedding on May 24, 2005.
Rob lived in his hometown, Canton, Massachusetts, until his marriage. Afterwards, the couple moved to Pensacola, Florida. In 2006, they also took up residence in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He has one brother, Mike, one sister, Heather, and his parents are Bob and Linda. His birthdate is December 25.
Survivor
Marquesas
During the Marquesas season, he fronted a highly successful opening alliance in his initial Maraamu tribe. A tribal swap in the fourth episode effectively denied him the control he enjoyed in his old tribe, as he was switched to the "new" Rotu tribe in which he was outnumbered by former Rotu members 5-3. Ultimately he was the first person voted out of the game when the tribes merged in the seventh episode, due to causing drama in camp and his original Maraamu tribe was outnumbered by members of the origial Rotu tribe 7-3.
However, prior to his boot, Rob provided information to Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien about possible betrayal by former members of Rotu who were not switched during the tribal switch that may have later impacted Kathy's (along with Paschal English's and Neleh Dennis') decision to "turn" on their former tribemates, ultimately impacting the winner of the game.
All-Stars
During All-Stars he developed a romantic relationship with fellow contestant Amber Brkich. He was able to form a dominant long-term alliance with Rupert Boneham and Jenna Lewis, taking them all the way to the final four. Rob dominated this season physically and strategically. In the Survivor: All-Stars reunion, Jeff Probst called Survivor: All-Stars Rob's Season.
In the season finale several months later, the couple revealed they were still dating long after the show had ended, and Mariano proposed on live TV. Brkich accepted and moments later she was revealed as the million-dollar All-Stars winner.
The Amazing Race
Season 7
Template:The Amazing Race contestant As an engaged couple, Mariano and Brkich later participated in the seventh season of The Amazing Race and came in second place. The duo fell into disfavor with viewers when they drove by the car accident of their fellow racers, brothers Brian and Greg, without stopping. Their fellow competitors all checked in with the brothers prior to continuing on to the next stage of the race. Also, in South America Mariano pooled his money with some other racers to bribe the bus driver to let the teams that contributed off earlier. When he did bribe the driver, Mariano used none of his own money. Mariano was savaged by the show's fans as a "sore loser" when he suggested that the show was fixed to favor ultimate winners Uchenna and Joyce who were able to make their way onto the same plane as Mariano and Brkich when the pilot agreed to allow them board the flight. CBS representatives repeatedly stated in the following weeks that the decision to allow Uchenna and Joyce onto the plane was ultimately up to the pilot.
All-Stars
They have been confirmed as a team in the All-Stars season, to be aired in February 2007. Their racing status has changed to "newlyweds" for this season.
Rob and Amber: Against the Odds
Rob and Amber filmed a 10-episode show for the Fox Reality Channel, Rob and Amber: Against the Odds in 2006, which aired in 2007. Set in Las Vegas, the program follows Rob's attempt to become a professional poker player and features professional player Daniel Negreanu tutoring Rob.
Additional television appearances
On April 16 2005 Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich were married in a private ceremony in the Bahamas. The U.S. television network CBS aired Rob And Amber Get Married, a 2 hour special about the wedding, on May 24, 2005. [2]
Mariano appeared on Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker in 2006. He was eliminated in Episode 4, but came back to win the second-chance celebrity table. He was eliminated once again in the final episode.
Mariano was a co-host of the six-week Sci Fi series Sci Fi Investigates. The show investigates subjects such as Bigfoot, Mothman, Paranormal Hotspots, Roswell, The Afterlife and Voodoo. [3]
Mariano appeared on the October 8, 2006 episode of Poker Dome Challenge where he finished in second place. According to the commentators, he has relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada.
External links
- Official CBS Survivor: Marquesas Website
- Official CBS Survivor All Stars Website
- Official CBS Amazing Race 7 Website
- Official CBS Amazing Race 11 (All Stars) Website
- Offical Rob and Amber: Against the Odds Website