The Amazing Race: The Teams We Love

Rob and Brennan. Remember them? Nah, neither do I. Chris and Alex. I mean, sure they won, but so what? Time has passed, and they've become just names to us. When I think back to this collective group of men, I think of good racers, but there's no real reaction. They don't excite me.

Nancy and Emily. Those two names make me grin from ear to ear. I remember praying against all odds that they'd be able to stick it out. Watching week after week to see if they could keep it up. Sighing in disappointment as they lost the fast forward to Joe and Bill (whom they still beat to the pitstop, but then there was that stupid time penalty. WHY, NANCY, WHY?)

As we watch The Amazing Race, we find teams that we love. Sure we care about who's winning, who's coming out on top, but what we really are looking for is to see if OUR team comes out on top. And usually, as sad as this is to say, our favorites fall by the wayside. Remember when the Gutsy Grannies just couldn't keep up anymore? A tear was in my eye that night as I said goodbye to the underdogs.

And maybe that's why OUR teams never win. We all love underdogs. Of course you're gonna root for the frail old ladies, although you know they could never outrace two 20-something muscle jocks. We would love for the underestimated people to come from behind and show they can do it. It's only natural.

Of course the Grannies and Nancy and Emily are sentimental favorites, but who else makes this esteemed list? I think we'd all have to agree that we were pulling for Kevin and Drew. America loved them. The were like the funny older brothers that few of us actually have.

What about John Vito and Jill? The were sassy. They were fun. And you could always tell that they really loved each other. It's that kind of close-knit team that pulls on our emotions and makes us love them. Sure there are the teams we love to hate (Team Guido, can you hear me?), but they in time fade too.

To me, The Amazing Race means the Gutsy Grannies thinking they've been eliminated, only to rejoice when they weren't. It means Nancy and Emily overcoming the odds, even through the laughter and tears. It's Kevin yelling to Drew, "Swing, you fat bastard! Swing!"

As a new season of The Amazing Race begins tonight, we'll find new teams to root for. Will it be Debra and Steve, the older underdogs, that we hope can make it through? Or will it be Millie and Chuck, the virgins, that will be the sentimental favorites? Only the premiere will tell.

Brad Stevens is an aspiring actor in Edwards, CA. He loves to hear from you, so email him with your thoughts. He can be reached at bradstevens_22@hotmail.com.

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