Miami Marlins president David Samson made his much anticipated 'Survivor' debut during the reality show's season opening episode on Wednesday night.
It didn't go well. At all.
In fact, much like the Marlins are expected to do in the standings this season, Samson left the island before he ever had a chance to settle in, becoming the first participant voted off this season.
The Sun Sentinel has more details:
The game started well enough for Samson, who was designated group leader. Told he needed to pick a tribe member for immediate dismissal, Samson targeted Garrett, a high-stakes poker playing adonis. Samson figured Garrett's combination of brains and brawn represented the biggest threat to himself.
That put Samson in Garrett's crosshairs, and in the end the buffed gambler got his way. Samson was voted off four votes to two.
Apparently Samson didn't get the memo that keeping around bigger threats/targets is often better for your game, while targeting them almost guarantees a quick ending. Especially when you yourself are viewed as a target. It was that misguided game play that led to his demise and also led to host Jeff Probst calling Samson's performance "one of the worst performances out of the gate in the history of 'Survivor."
Ouch.
And we're guessing this attire didn't do him any favors either.
Miami #Marlins' president #DavidSamson wears blazer, ascot & khakis on 1st episode of "Survivor." #CBS pic.twitter.com/8zRdLf8tuz
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) February 27, 2014
As you might expect, once Samson's departure from the show was finalized, baseball writers and fans alike took their turn giving Samson a parting shot on Twitter.
David Samson was the first person voted off Survivor. If only Major League Baseball worked like Survivor.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 27, 2014
They're going by height this year, or disingenuousness? RT @JeffPassan David Samson was the first person voted off Survivor.
— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) February 27, 2014
David Samson was the 1st person voted off the new season of Survivor. Crazy, right? Who would've guessed there was a new season of Survivor?
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) February 27, 2014
LOL David Samson is the FIRST ONE voted off island on Survivor
— Gabriel Morency (@sportsrage) February 27, 2014
David Samson may have just accomplished the first reality TV #TOOTBLAN
— Jay Hashop (@Jay_PrincetonSA) February 27, 2014
Which means: 'Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop,' but could be adjusted to 'Thrown Off The Island Like A Nincompoop.'
#Survivor bye bye David Samson too bad you are the first to leave. I would have liked you to suffer more. I hate you #montrealexposfan

— Alain Bergeron (@qcalber) February 27, 2014
David Samson was voted off Survivor first? Who was in his tribe, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and 10 Miamians? #hatedman
— Sean O'Neill (@Sean__ONeill) February 27, 2014
#Survivor contestants have done something in 1 episode that the @Marlins have failed to do in a decade, they've gotten rid of David Samson.
— Brian 'BC' Castaldo (@BC_Castaldo) February 27, 2014
Had David Samson won #Survivor, he would have likely replaced himself with some guy nobody's heard of the following season.
— Frank Friedlander (@Frankieaaron) February 27, 2014
You almost get the sense David Samson is not very well liked in baseball circles and the job he does with the Marlins isn't taken seriously. But hey, the good news is he's had a lot of extra time to think about his every day job after being bumped from the island before he got his feet wet.
Or maybe that's the worst news possible?
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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