Excerpts from his CBS.com Survivor: Philippines bio page:
"Occupation: Retired Major League Baseball Player. I played for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Personal Claim to Fame: Being a husband and a father to four kids with the ability to provide them with every opportunity to be successful.
Inspiration in Life: My dad is my hero for instilling in me the desire to be the best you can in all that you do, and setting a great example for a happy family.
Hobbies: Hunting, motocross and golf.
Pet Peeves: Stupid people and people who talk too much.
3 Words to Describe You: Competitive, resilient and hard-headed.
If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why?
1) A lounge chair to lounge in and sleep in.
2) My iPod to motivate me and tune things out.
3) A pillow to put my most valuable body part on a soft spot.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: Colby Donaldson - for our athletic ability, southern charm and gamesmanship.
Reason for Being on Survivor: To challenge my talents and survival skills under isolated circumstances, and to prove to my family that being resilient pays off.
Why You Think You’ll 'Survive' Survivor: I enjoy hunting and fishing. I know how to cook outdoors, and I’m good at improvising.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: With my survival skills and instincts, living on an island for 39 days will be easy. Utilizing the other survivors in alliances and/or challenges will take skills that I’ve mastered throughout my baseball career. Motivating and manipulating people is what I did best in the locker room and on the field."
From his EW.com pre-game interview, by Dalton Ross:
"'I will win Survivor because I'm the best competitor out here,' says Jeff, and considering that he's a former National League MVP, the baseball star may just have a point. The longtime Survivor fan plans to take his intensity from the baseball diamond to the island. 'I've been competing my whole life. That's what I do. I'm not here for any TV stardom. Not here to look good on TV.' His biggest obstacle, however, may be his fame. How will Jeff handle it if another player recognizes him?"