Where Are They Now: Melana Scantlin of Average Joe v. Life Love

Melana Scantlin: Then on Average Joe

A little over 10 years have past, and the craze of reality TV has ramped up a bit from the days of Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, Average Joe, and the "grand Puck" of the genre, The Real World. The Real Housewives, Jersey Shore, Survivor, and too many others have turned the genre into a whack-a-doodle, oh-no-she-didn't-uh integrity-less food fight for ratings and audacious behaviors. But back a decade, some limits and slight decorum existed. A social psychology experiment, if you will.

For instance, the premise of Average Joe was to get ordinary Joes dating and marrying "up" to extraordinary looking women. It pitted former beauty queens, Melanie Scantlin and Larissa Meek, versus a trove of ordinary guys that soon faced the ideal male: those that work on pecks and their tans well and guys who usually land these inherently, socially pretty women. 

In the inaugural season, Ms. Scantlin did not use her final selection wisely: if you were comparing the successes of Adam Mesh versus Jason Peoples. On one hand, Adam did not look the part of a successful trader and owner on The Street; whereas, Jason Peoples, looked awesome, but was not particularly well off, or successful in his life, then. Melana judged, or at least, picked a book by its cover. That cover selection turned out to never fulfilled her needs.

Meanwhile, Adam later published a book on trading, and still runs a website that is about investing.  Later, he got married in 2006. His turn on the show boded well enough.

Melana Scantlin has went on to be a host of the World Series of Blackjack, and works for E!TV/Hollywoodlife.com, as I found out just today in reviewing the Emmy Awards on Youtube. (This was why I wrote this post.)

In the world of 'Reality TV' this is the normal ending. The parties never stay together. If anything, its just a stepping stone to something else for them, or the 15 minutes of Warholian fame. The show too becomes part of the recycling bin of Hollywood where it will be revamped and hurled at the next generation. The where are they now? posts, like this one, usually end here.

But I am here to provide advice and a lesson demonstrated via the wits of academia and my own logic.

Scantlin is yet to tie the knot- and she's now in her mid-30s. While not a huge problem for her - she hosts exercise shows and blurbs and looks in good health - it seems ironic that the lead, is yet to find the right one. Scantlin, who according to Florida State professor and psychologist Roy F. Baumeister and Ohio State professor in psychology and communications Brad J. Bushman, "wanted to meet and marry a man with good inner qualities (324)," but has yet to do so. In their academic book on Social Psychology and Human Nature, the professors went into further detail on Melana's quirks of choosing:

"she had eliminated every man weighing over 200 pounds. Meanwhile, one man clearly regarded himself as better looking...and this narcissistic fellow engaged in a variety of bullying and putdowns that made most regard him as a jerk, but Melana went out of her way to convince herself that he was not a jerk...she was seen lying on the floor with the narcissistic fellow with arms around each other, kissing passionately."

The attraction of two people comes down to physical, emotional (or mood), and spiritual (philosophical) aspects. It is natural to find instant attraction with the eyes - many of us are visual-first creatures. Some though go further, and adapt better to those whose outward mood or spirit is lively or in sync with theirs, despite obvious physical disparities. Lastly, philosophical mirroring or acceptance takes a while to find out. Certainly longer and more in-depth than the Reality TV time frame. Additionally, social acceptance means people have come to like you, respect you, approve of you, and include them in their groups and relationships. While rejection means other(s) exclude you and will not form a social bond with you. Again, the reality show time frame make this a cruel game of excluding based on the lowest denominator of selection: that which we see through eyes only.

So what makes a person attractive for a mate?

As the professors intone, "Melana Scantlin may someday recognize, is that the traits that make someone attractive upon first meeting are not the same traits that make for a successful relationship."

Melana Scantlin may have learned this advice. But I suspect fear or inability to adapt towards a different trek may have taken place. (I don't know her; so she may be in a committed, if unannounced, relationship.)
But if she had, I suspect she would make it public enough. It did not stop her participation a decade ago in a very public display of both her and the men that sought an opportunity to date and build something with her.

Nevertheless, what we thought then is not necessarily what we think now, and so, it should be remembered: things change and we do change with them, if just in the march of time. And not all that glitters turns into gold.

Many times, it is pretty average.

Cubs 2014 Manager: Joe Girardi, if the PRICE is RIGHT

Note to Cubs MGMT Team:

Joe Girardi and his resume is EXACTLY what the Cubs need.

As Ken Rosenthal quipped in this report:

You met Kim when you both were at Northwestern. You were the Cubs’ fifth round-pick in 1986 and then made your major league debut in ’89. You made five stops during your 15-year playing career, including the Cubs twice, and you’ve managed the Marlins and the Yankees.

And now you have to wonder:

Are the Yankees your best long-term option?

My Argument picks up where Rosenthal's reporting leaves off

First, Girardi's IE degree from Northwestern means he thoroughly understands statistical applications and motivating people and how and when to use both. IEs are the engineers usually promoted to run operations – plant managers – and so, I think it fair to say Joe has been an excellent plant manager in baseball. Being a catcher, a position well known to turn out excellent baseball minds – from Connie Mack to Branch Rickey on up to the present day in Joe Maddon, Jim Leyland, Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia, Bob Brenly, and Bruce Bochy – leads one to think we should be interested in this Chicago Catching Joe.

Second, his most recent time in New York reflects an ability to deal with a whole array of issues. He has managed the oldest team in baseball (31.8), the A-Rod circus, the Jeter decline, and now, a Yankee record 56 players in 2013. Oh, and they are above .500 with their biggest mid-season acquisition being Alfonso Soriano, who got religion, and put up better stats in NYC. (Maybe Girardi, maybe not….)

Third, he’s dealt with dip shit owners (Loria & Steinbrenner); and can manage pretty well with a massive payroll (2009 WS Champs) or the lowest ($15 mil) in Florida. He can handled the youngsters (Florida had the youngest by age in 2006); instills rules, and seems able to get good results. So, by and large, he’s:

1) Successful with a wide array of circumstances
2) Can handle cranky owners (so imagine what happens when they are on the same page)
3) Has the educational background and baseball pedigree to go with on-field successes to support a hire

Maybe Theo & Jed are happy and content with Sveum. But if Girardi is interested in talking, and they are interested in him at all, it is a no brainer to me. The salary he may want is negotiation – and that comes when it comes.

Managers may not win you more games, some argue, but at the margins, anyone in Girardi's position has direct influence on the lineups, pitching changes, and in-game stuff I hear plenty bitch about at BleacherNation.

Girardi is a very complete manager, and has the overall records and the intellectual horsepower from a prestigious university to support his worthiness as the Cubs manager. As the Cubs farm system has the list of talents (below) ready (hopefully) to blossom in 2014-2015, I think having a flexible, intelligent, effective and successful manager is as important as the talent you put on the field.

A Few Cubs Prospects arrival date/notes:

1. Javier Baez SS: Mid 2014 seems possible, depending on Castro and slotting on the field.
2. Jorge Soler OF: Start of 2015. His salary drives his development path; if AA/AAA works out in 2014, 2015 starts off in MLB.
3. Mike Olt 3B: Trade bait. His recent struggles make him an option out. However, he could surprise and land on the MLB team in 2014.
4. Kris Bryant 3B: Late-2014. His arrival is dependent on success at AA next season. Else, 2015 is reasonable for the 2nd overall 2013 pick.
5. Albert Almora OF: Mid-2015. Injuries and youth are two good reasons to leave Almora until mid-2015 at best. He'll be only 21 in April 2015.
6. Justin Grimm RHP: Bullpen in 2014. He hasn't quite developed a good 3rd pitch. But youth and experience early in the MLB could get him quite a look.
7. Pierce Johnson RHP: 2016. Another 200-250 minor league innings will develop him.
8. Dan Vogelbach 1B: Possible trade or hope the NL goes DH. But he's 2 years away - from that decision for the Cubs.
9. Christian Villanueva 3B: Early 2015 or a trade candidate. Villanueva has AAA to accomplish in 2014; how the Olt, Bryant, Villanueva scenario works out is about probabilities.
10. Rob Zastryzny LHP: 2016.  Just drafted, he threw only 24 innings. But could accelerate, since he is 21 right now.
11. Arismendy Alcantara SS: Mid-2014. The Darwin Barney era has run its course. Alcantara is younger, cheaper, and has potentially more tools aside from his glove.
12. CJ Edwards RHP: 2015.  His 2014 season at AA will decide how fast he comes. So far, the Garza centerpiece has not disappointed.
13. Kyle Hendricks RHP: Mid-late 2014. 2013 Minor league pitcher of the year is not flashy or fastball gifted, just gets outs. That's always a plus. Strikeouts are nice; but outs are what we are hoping accrues in games.