APPRENTICE----NOT

Actually in last night's final Apprentice, Rebecca looked more like Jaclyn Smith than Brook Shields (pictured here), but what an ending.

For those who have a life rather than watch the Donald's show, Rebecca and Randall came down to the wire in the battle to be Trump's apprentice. Rebecca was aewsome. At 23, she had chultzpah, brass, intestinal fortitude of someone much more experienced, although as a 15-year old she raised $750,000 for a non-profit cause. She was practically flawless for 13-weeks in the competition,even overcoming a broken ankle while participating in a prize winning segment of the show. She was playing hockey with some of the New York Rangers when it happened. Anyway(s) she was top of the line.

Then there was Randall, a Rhodes scholar with 5 colleege degrees including a PhD from MIT. Quality, oh yeah. Everyone loved Randall and wanted him on their team. At age 30, he had already headed million dollar corporation(s) he started with his college buds. An African-American, he would be a good edition to the multi-faceted Trump Org. Then he blew it.

Oh, he won. He will be the apprentice. But Mr. Trump gave him a chance to select Rebecca as an additional apprentice. One would work on a huge casino in Atlantic City--Randall's choice, while Rebecca would work on a New Jersey site on the Hudson. And Randall said no because "The show was called The Apprentice, not The Apprenti." And so Rebecca was shut out. The same woman he had worked closely and well with, the same one he had eaten many meals with, seemingly a bud. Then BOOM!

I have never seen anyone quite so selfish and competitive. I really lost a lot of respect for him. He made her look terrible. But she was tough, and earned even more of my respect.

Granted I had logged a few Thursday evening hours watching this show. But I chose to write about it because it made me examine my lack of competiveness. I could never had done that. It reminded me of a friend of mine who had two young boys. He loved playing ball with them. But even when they were 4 or 5, he'd never let them win against him. "When they're good enough to beat me, then they will." He moved away so I don't know how they turned out. Maybe that's what happened to Randall growing. (no misprint: I just couldn't add up to growing, because he hasn't.)