EduClaytion

Man Vs. Bear Grylls: Move Over Chuck Norris

Men of the world take notice: The bar has been raised.  You will never be better than second best.  EduClaytion’s Man of the Decade is officially Bear Grylls.  This guy might just challenge Billy Guerin as President of Awesomeness.  Perhaps you’ve never heard of Mr. Grylls.  Time to get acquainted. 

This guy makes Chuck Norris look like Betty Crocker.  Hey, I like Chuck Norris, but let’s see him bite the head off a live water snake for lunch before tackling a six foot alligator, “dispatching it humanely,” and lugging it through the swamp to make dinner.  By the way, you can use the gator’s leathery skin in thin strips as cord for preparing a jungle bed.  My schedule’s been tight and I have a hangnail, so I haven’t tried this yet but will report on how well it works at a later date.

For the uninitiated, Bear appears on the show of his creation, Man vs. Wild, on the Discovery Channel.  I’ve always been intrigued by nature shows but not to the point of fascination.  The Crocodile Hunter was okay, but Bear Grylls makes Steve Irwin look like H.R. Puff n Stuff.  Make it a point to watch Man vs. Wild one time.  I dare you not to be amazed.

***

Grylls picked up many of his survival skills in the British Special Forces.  While serving in the Special Air Service he broke his back during in a parachute accident.  The injury healed and in 1998, at age 23, Grylls became the youngest British climber to go up and down a little hill known as Mount Everest.  The lifelong explorer spent the next decade accomplishing feats no one had ever attempted.

Over a billion viewers in 150 different countries have been hooked by the incredible communication skills of the 35 year old speaker/writer/TV host.  He’s raised millions of dollars for a variety of charities as well.  Imagine the softer side of Rambo with a sense of humor. 

Grylls’ escapades often come at a cost.  He recently recovered from a broken shoulder suffered in Antarctica.  Earlier this summer, he severed part of a finger in Vietnam while chopping bamboo. 

Bear isn’t the only tough member of the Grylls family.  His wife Shara just gave birth to their third child (all boys).  She didn’t bother with a hospital but gave birth at home.  Oh yeah, she didn’t take pain killers either. 

***

My family’s watched this crazy Brit trudge through some of the most frightening terrain imaginable.  We’ve even started our own missions, braving the dangerous woods off the cul de sac at the end of our street.  Bear had prepared us for anything we might encounter–dangerous animals, freezing at night, thirst and hunger.  We saw a salamander.

Now some people say that it’s all fake.  These naysayers claim that none of these shows are real and Man vs. Wild is no different.  In 2007, the original shows came under fire against allegations that the TV experiences weren’t as real as they were presented.  Producers countered that the show was not a documentary and added the disclaimers that precede each episode.  I don’t care.  Anyone who hollows out the carcass of a camel and crawls inside to avoid sandstorms gets my attention. 

I look at this show the same way I view magicians.  They may use gimmicks and contrived contraptions to pull off major effects, but the reality is that they can perform amazing illusions right before our eyes.  Remember, even Chuck Norris used stunt doubles.

So go ahead and check out today’s Man of the Decade.  You can also feel free to nominate a new Man of the Decade as he can change as often as I get good ideas.  You may say this rapid turnover would diminish the singular distinction of such an honor.  To you I say, you’re right.

No time to worry about that now though.  Me and my boys have to prep for our next adventure.  We’ll be embarking within the hour.  Our provisions are slim.  Nothing more than a knife, walking stick, bottle of water, and our garage door opener.  With any luck, the neighbor’s dog will be on a leash today.

August 28, 2009 - Posted by educlaytion | Pop Culture