Final Tribal Council

[Host]

Everything will remain in this thread. Please do not make any other threads, because its annoying as hell. This is going to be the only thread. I'll import the other two Opening Statements, and once Michelle makes hers, Jurors can start asking questions.

[Host]

Matty's Opening Statement:

Hi All. Its been a long jury to get to this point.

Im going to start off Pre-Merge.
Well I wa son teh dominate tribe. Before the swap, i believe we only lost one IC and we were saved by the tribe that won. I really did not have to do any strategic thinking since we never went to tribal. My main thing was being active and doing good in challenges. I believe I did that.

At the tribal swap, I still ended up on a good tribe and we continuously won so there wasnt much strategic thinking there.

MERGE HITS!!!!!!

Thats when my serious gameplay started. I started going to the people I talked to least, and seeing how they were voting. This way, they might assume i was voting with them when I wasnt. Well the first merge week, i won IMMUNITY so i wasnt woried. The first merge vote out was for Alex. I did not vote him out due to the fact that i liked him and he had done nothing to me. We sorta made an alliance adn iw anted to stick to it. the next two vote outs, i voted out Brian. I did not talk to him, so i thought that that would be the best move for my game. At this point, we are at final 7. I have Ace, Michelle and Erica who i am really close with. Then Erica quits. i go :-O. I was so sad and ughh...Then Ace goes.......:-\ That gets me really kinda mad and i have to figure out how to make final 3 with 5 people left and im only aligned with one of them...

At Fianl 5, I make a deal with Jed not to vote each other out. I am a man of my word and DID NOT LIE and votedd out Kim, as I told him I would. But he betrays me when him and Darrah vote me out. Luckily, Kim self votes herself out of the game and I live to see another day.

Final 4, I know its me and michelle vs Darrah And Jed. I realize that there would be antoher tie, and i had to make sur it wasnt me caught in the middle. I tell Darrah that i wont vote her out if she doesnt vote me. That is the ONLY LIE i told this ENTIRE game. So the vote comes around, its 2 michelle and 2 Darrah. The Revote is still 1 for darrah and 1 for Michelle. That gets me into the final 3 due to Darrah and Michelle having ot battle it out to stay.

I think i played a really good social game. I also think i played good strategy wise. I DID NOT have to win many immunities. I won the first one (with Michelle's help) to prove to peopel i am a threat and that I deserve to be in this game.

Also, just think. I made final 3 and I only had 2 votes against me THE ENTIRE game. That shows how well i was underestimated.

So as you can see, i was not a floater, i was a strategist. I palyed this game with heart, desire, and the will to win. I was also very active.

Thanks for reading that and I believe i deserve to the title of SOLE SURVIVOR!

[Host]

Jed's Opening Statement:

Hey everybody,

I am extremely proud to be sitting here in this final 3, it's been a really long crazy road to get here and I feel I've accomplish a lot along the way. I came into this game just knowing a few people since I play very few games and I didn't play any of the previous seasons in this series. I felt like a lot of people knew each other from other games or from previous seasons and that made me work a lot harder to try and blend in and getting to know people. I tried playing a complete game from being social, being a good strategist, and working hard of the challenges and I feel I've executed that. I did have to tell a few lies here and there to keep people off balanced, but that's just the nature of the game and all my lies are justified.


Starting the game out on the Gizo tribe gave me a extremely huge disadvantage in the game since there were more inactives in the tribe then active players. I still did my best to try and pull the tribe together and win some challenges and we did that. I made alliances on Gizo that I planned to stick with to the end with Dave, Darrah, and Brian. Ultimately Dave was removed for his incident but I still wanted to work with Darrah and Brian until the end since I felt like we were the true underdogs in the game as we would enter the merge without the numbers and I trusted them both fully.

When the merge occurred, I knew that I needed to really step up the social game and talk with as many former Aitu members as possible. They held the power at this point and I needed to try and make them think I would do whatever they wanted to do. I started talking with Michelle, Erica, Ace, and Matty and build some much needed connections there. This is also the time I decided to concoct my plans for the fake idol and have it ready to be played if I ever felt I was ever in danger of going. I felt if anything else, I could throw a scare into everybody and they could avoid voting me for a round thus buying myself more time. I played the fake idol at the Final 5 even knowing I wasn't in any danger, I simply went to all the trouble making it so I thought heck may as well use it.

The real merge strategy revolved around the final 6. Darrah and Myself discussed voting with Kim to make the vote a tie at the final 6 to give ourselves a chance. I knew if we voted Kim out this round how some people originally wanted then Ace/Michelle/Matty would stick together and Darrah and Myself would be on the outs the following round. Everything came down to fate and the purple rock, I was comfortable taking that chance and Ace left which I believe was a huge turning point in the game for me. At the Final 5, Kim and Matty were the targets, I had trust in Kim at this point since she voted with Darrah and Me the previous round, I was extremely surprised she self voted considering she was on the board that day. I knew I wanted to win the final immunity challenge to ensure my final 3 spot which I did. The plan was voting Michelle over Matty this round, I knew the vote would turn out 2-2 either way we voted and I wanted to make sure Darrah had a chance at least of getting to the final 3 with me.

Now I'll look forward to answering your questions and seeing what you all have to say.

[Michelle Tesauro]

gets up from my chair and stands before the jury

Hello jury! I would like to first congratulate all of you for making the jury. All of us worked hard to get here. And I believe all of you did have something to do with my game. I'm not a fan of big speeches but I think I should show what I've done to get here. And in advance I would like to apologize for my grammar. English is not my main language.

Anyways I've played before in this series. And I was a Prediction Writer last season. Hawaii was pretty TOUGH. But I was determined to come here and definitely stick it out. This game started with 24 people. My first tribe being Auki. I immediately identified people from previous seasons by their grammar/ages/and other factors. Therefore those who I found not trustworthy I never payed attention to. I had an alliance before this game started with Erica. Erica and I go well back to 2 years if I'm not mistaken. So no matter what happened Erica would be there with me. I made an alliance early on with BB. I wasn't so confident in the Auki Tribe. And there was tons of scheeming going around. When it came to challenges we always managed to unite and pull through which I think I was lucky because I think I was a target. We had a switch up. And I INSTANTLY knew who I wanted to work with. Erica & BB were with me so we could vote out whoever we wanted. However that was not meant to be as I was abducted. When I came to that tribe while the time was short a LOT of plan went on. I was a target apparently and Matty fed me information and I got some from others. Apparently it seemed like Brian was going for me. So I quickly got Matty to bring someone in. And fool the others like if he was with them. Had we lost it would have been some good blindsides those rounds....

Merge FINALLY comes. And I was a bit skeptical about it. I felt like I was just a vote for Alex who was at the moment the leader. And I like to be a leader. Not a follower. I never believe in riding coattails. It's not my gameplay and you will never see me play that way. So Alex apparently had this whole game sealed to my knowledge. And I decided to turn it out around for him. I took Darrah, Jed & Erica and voted out Alex. I promised them my allegiance however I didn't plan on keeping it. Next round was an easy one. I told almost everyone to vote off Lindsey and they all did. The round after that. I knew Ace, Matty & Erica most likely didn't have a clue of what was going on so I thought that I should let them know what was going on and so I did, in the end Brian was voted out because I didn't trust him and I think he was a threat. Now getting rid of Brian would get me closer to Jed & Darrah. From there I thought my game would be easy considering Ace/myself/Erica/Matty would have a majority. But Erica decided to quit. I found myself not safe. So I told Matty who had bonds with Kim to tell her to vote off Darrah. It was unsuccesful. And Ace left due to a purple rock....I knew this was not good. So I focused from there on to win immunities. Kim left due to a self-vote. And I was more determined than ever to win immunity. Unfortunately that day I wasn't online on time so Jed won. I knew it would be between me and someone else. So I told Darrah if she votes Matty off I would as well. LIE. But whatever. Darrah did whatever Jed did so it was a tie. I felt SUPER uneasy as I thought Darrah is a good player and could take me out. I won and here I am. I strategized, won immunities & played this game with a lot of heart. I wish you all of luck deciding your vote and I am open for any questions. I hope you all see the effort I put into this. I never count All-Stars & Arabia since I was inactive. So let's call this my comeback since the first season.

I hope everything is pretty clear! You can aks anything you want jury! And thanks for making this game fierce.

-Michelle AKA Meesh(thanks Kim )

[Erica Durousseau]

Hello Final 3.

I was playing really hard in this game but I had to pull out due to a death in my family. My first question relates to this.

1) Had I not had pulled myself out of this game, how would the game differ? What would happen. This takes a bit of extrapolating but I don't think it would be too hard to predict.

2) Name 3 of the 7 Jurors (or final 3) who didn't deserve to make the jury at the beginning of the merge and explain why. Don't say that everyone deserved to make it here because I remember some of the conversations being said.

3) What is my first name. It's starts with an A. I've told all of you it.

Thank you and good luck.

[Brian Heidik]

I have a brief statement just to clear something up. Michelle, I was never gunning for you. Whoever told you that lied which was a good move since you fell for it and it created doubt in your mind about me.

Anyway, congrats to the Final 3! It sounds like you all worked hard to get there and I have to say I have no idea who I will vote for. I'd like each of you to tell me why the other two doesn't deserve to win. And let me just tell you right now that if you say they do deserve to win and don't answer my question, I will not vote for you. Whoever makes the most convincing argument gets my vote.

[Michelle Tesauro]

Dec 27, 2008 18:08:59 GMT -5 Erica Durousseau said:

Hello Final 3.

I was playing really hard in this game but I had to pull out due to a death in my family. My first question relates to this.

1) Had I not had pulled myself out of this game, how would the game differ? What would happen. This takes a bit of extrapolating but I don't think it would be too hard to predict.

2) Name 3 of the 7 Jurors (or final 3) who didn't deserve to make the jury at the beginning of the merge and explain why. Don't say that everyone deserved to make it here because I remember some of the conversations being said.

3) What is my first name. It's starts with an A. I've told all of you it.

Thank you and good luck.

1) You know you & me would have gone all the way to the end. This was definitely our game to go all the way and it sucks that you quit...I think yelled at you over AIM . Most likely you & me in the Final 3. And either Ace or Matty would have been here. Tough choice because I love both of them.

2) Lindsey- She was inactive big part of the game. Which was irritating when all of us here where pretty active.

Ace- He didn't show a strategy at all. I know Ace for quiet some time and I DO believe he is much more capable of that shitty strategy he used this game. *no personal attack to you Ace ILY*.

Kim- I was a Prediction Writer last season. And Kim was one fierce bitch. Plus I've heard what others said about her gameplay in Andes & All-Stars was also pretty good. PLUS I am in another game with her. (Second Chances ) And she's always active and does her stuff. And I believe she definitely lacked motivation and interest in this game.

3) Alicia.

I hope you understand everything.

[Michelle Tesauro]

Dec 27, 2008 18:35:42 GMT -5 Brian Heidik said:

I have a brief statement just to clear something up. Michelle, I was never gunning for you. Whoever told you that lied which was a good move since you fell for it and it created doubt in your mind about me.

Anyway, congrats to the Final 3! It sounds like you all worked hard to get there and I have to say I have no idea who I will vote for. I'd like each of you to tell me why the other two doesn't deserve to win. And let me just tell you right now that if you say they do deserve to win and don't answer my question, I will not vote for you. Whoever makes the most convincing argument gets my vote.

Aww that sucks Brian...Unfortunately the only word I had to rely on was my previous tribemates.

I will talk about Jed first. Jed's life in the game was definitely my gift to him. I could have easily stuck with Ace/Matty/Erica/Alex/Kim and ganged up on Lindsey/Darrah/Brian/Jed. However I wasn't feeling my previous tribemates as there was no real bond so I went to them to seek their vote and have things go my way. So besides him making moves at F6 like swaying Kim. And playing a fake idol I don't see much strategy from him DURING merge. Maybe he was a good player in pre-merge.

Now about Matty. Matty only had a good social game. He was relying on Alex IMO. Which is why I had to blindside Alex to have Matty closer to me. I always felt he was closer to Alex. And I love Matty cuz he is a cool kid.

In the end I think I was more out there. I took more risks than them. I strategized more. And I took control of the game various times. And I think I Outwitted, Outplayed, Outlasted everyone so therefore I deserve your vote.

Hope no bitter feelings towards what I did. And if anything sounded cocky I am sorry. I just said what I believe. In no way I meant that I am superior to everyone 'cuz I am not.

[Matty Whitmore]

1) Had I not had pulled myself out of this game, how would the game differ? What would happen. This takes a bit of extrapolating but I don't think it would be too hard to predict.

2) Name 3 of the 7 Jurors (or final 3) who didn't deserve to make the jury at the beginning of the merge and explain why. Don't say that everyone deserved to make it here because I remember some of the conversations being said.

3) What is my first name. It's starts with an A. I've told all of you it.

1) Well at final 7, it woul dhave been the 4 Auki's + Kim, Darrah, and Jed. I firmly believe, that if you stayed in the game, that we would be the 4 people left. At final 4, i think it would be a 2-2 tie because me and Ace would have voted together and you and Michelle would haev voted together. So Idk what would have happened after that.

2) Lindsey - she was not active at all and i dont think she should have been able to re-enter the game. She, IMO, did not put any heart into this game.

Kim - you were also not very active (due to you self-voting out) so i dont think you deserved Jury.

Another person who i think didint deserve jury, is Darrah. She was a robot to whatever Jed said. If he said vote this person out, she would. So basically, she did no strategic thinking whatsoever.

3) it is, for sure, alicia.

Now about Matty. Matty only had a good social game. He was relying on Alex IMO. Which is why I had to blindside Alex to have Matty closer to me. I always felt he was closer to Alex. And I love Matty cuz he is a cool kid.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT THIS OUT:

I was never closer to Alex. I always thought my top 2 allies were Michelle and Ace. And i never onced relied on Alex. He offered me an alliance iwth him and Kim and of course i said yes. But My ture alliegience was to Ace, Erica, and Michelle.

[Jed Hildebrand]

Hello Final 3.

I was playing really hard in this game but I had to pull out due to a death in my family. My first question relates to this.

1) Had I not had pulled myself out of this game, how would the game differ? What would happen. This takes a bit of extrapolating but I don't think it would be too hard to predict.

2) Name 3 of the 7 Jurors (or final 3) who didn't deserve to make the jury at the beginning of the merge and explain why. Don't say that everyone deserved to make it here because I remember some of the conversations being said.

3) What is my first name. It's starts with an A. I've told all of you it.

Thank you and good luck.

Hey Erica,

1) I think you were playing a very solid game up to the time you ended up having to quit and pull yourself out. You were very social, good in challenges, and seemed to be in a pretty good position. I would expect that you would try and get to the final 3 with Michelle and Matty since you were both together most the game, which would have made my work even tougher then it was. I think your and Matty’s positions would have been reversed in this final 3 and that would be the only change. I think Kim and Darrah would have both left 1 round sooner, my position would have been threatened at the end of the game but my ability to win challenges and play the fake idol would have been enough to extend my game and get into the final 3.

2) I’ll first say Lindsey doesn’t deserve her jury spot, she was inactive most of this game and I don’t think just showing up at the merge to play the game all of a sudden is a good enough reason to be part of the jury. I don’t see anything she did the entire game.

The next person that doesn’t deserve to make jury would be Kim. She racked up 3 self votes over the course of the game which ironically ended up being her downfall of getting voted out. Submitting a vote only takes about 2 minutes tops and I saw her on the board often enough to where this shouldn’t have been a problem. So, casting so many self votes makes someone not deserving of a jury spot in my opinion.

I am having a hard time coming up with a third person but the question does say 3 people so I would say Alex also doesn’t deserve his jury spot. He was the first person voted out at the merge coming from a tribe that had the numbers coming into the merge, he should have made better connections with his old tribe members to make sure he lasted longer. Since he left first in the merge, makes me believe he would have left much earlier had his tribes lost pre merge immunity challenges.

3) I recall in the first PM you sent me you told me you were Alicia, 22 years old from Canada.

[Matty Whitmore]

I'd like each of you to tell me why the other two doesn't deserve to win. And let me just tell you right now that if you say they do deserve to win and don't answer my question, I will not vote for you. Whoever makes the most convincing argument gets my vote.

Jed - I dont believe he should win because i dont believe he had a strategic gameplay at all. From what i saw and gathered, he just voted with majority to save his own ass each round. He tried to pull "game-changing" moves, but they failed. For example, the Hidden immuniy idol....we never had a chance to get one, so that obviously wasnt real.

Michelle - I dont think Michelle should win because I didnt see as much strategic gameplay as I had. Michelle relied a lot on alliances and trsut to get far. Of course, it worked. But i believe to play a GOOD game worth winning, you need to make moves yourself and control things.

I believe i did this. An example of this was the first 3 merge tribal councils. Everyone told me to vote this person, or to vote this person. But i voted out you, Brian, until you finally left. I voted you out due to the fact that i felt threatened by you. I thought that the longer you remained in the game, the less chance i had at winning. You were a definite threat in this game.



Btw, thanks for your questions Brian and Erica (ewven though we all know you are voting for Michelle )

[Jed Hildebrand]

Anyway, congrats to the Final 3! It sounds like you all worked hard to get there and I have to say I have no idea who I will vote for. I'd like each of you to tell me why the other two doesn't deserve to win. And let me just tell you right now that if you say they do deserve to win and don't answer my question, I will not vote for you. Whoever makes the most convincing argument gets my vote.

Hey Brian,

As you know Brian we were down in numbers coming into the merger. Michelle and Matty had power, control of the game, numbers but they suddenly lost all of that by over strategizing and over thinking situations. For example, Alex and Lindsey should have never left before You or Me since we were obviously bigger threats then Alex and Lindsey. My argument why they don’t deserve to win is they didn’t handle their power well and instead eventually lost that power to Darrah, Kim, and Myself in the game. Had Kim not self voted at the Final 5 then Matty wouldn’t have been spared and instead would have been voted out that round and then obviously Michelle would have gone the next round at the final 4. They blew their power in my opinion and needed to rely on Kim’s self vote which was a lucky fortunate break, I don’t think they strategically played the game well as they could have which nearly cost both of them the game.

[Erica Durousseau]

Thank you final three for being honest. Just to let you know I am not voting against anyone to lose. Good luck!

[Brian Heidik]

Thank you for some very good answers. You are all worthy. I just have to decide who I think is most worthy! It won't be an easy choice.

[Alex Bell]

I don't have a question for any of you.

Jed, as far as I can tell you won't get my vote. It's between Michelle and Matty. We'll see.