# The Amazing Race April 13: The Gladiators are Here! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059 "2014-04-14T00:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/21 "2014-04-14T16:29:03Z")
I thought I saw one of the Globetrotters, and possibly John, drop their backpacks during the sprint. Do you just trust the inherent honesty of the average Roman on the street not to make off with it, and how long do you have to chat with Amazing Phil before you can go back and get it? > [@Shoeless](#): > > Considering that the last two teams were within sight distance of the mat when Leo & Jamal hit it, I’d say they came pretty close to shooting themselves in the foot by giving the remaining teams the answer. I guess they thought the blondes were still behind everybody, but still… not a good strategy. I would have loved to see it backfire on them. I thought part of Leo & Jamal’s bargain in giving the other teams (the Globetrotters and John & Jessica) the answer was that those teams wouldn’t beat them to the Mat and wouldn’t U-Turn them. That’s a decent deal to make. Heck, even if the Globetrotters don’t keep their word, L&J got rid of the stronger of the two teams following them. John kinda botched the deal by not having a postcard ready before getting the answer. I don’t know if Leo would have waited for him to get one, though; he could have made the deal with Flight Time only and then hightailed it to the Amazing Mat. Similarly, I hope Leo & Jamal had good directions to the Pit Stop before giving away the answer. If they’d gotten just a little lost both of the following teams could have screwed them. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/22 "2014-04-14T17:17:40Z")
I’m surprised that they’re allowed not to have their belongings with them when they hit the mat. I think if you don’t check in with it, you shouldn’t be able to leave with it. Loved that the Cowboys when they read the clue said, “Hadrian’s Bridge. Hadrian was a Roman emperor, so it must be Rome!” and Rachel said, “The Eternal City - it must be Ethiopia!” 😃 StG ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/23 "2014-04-14T17:27:53Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Considering that the last two teams were within sight distance of the mat when Leo & Jamal hit it, I’d say they came pretty close to shooting themselves in the foot by giving the remaining teams the answer. I guess they thought the blondes were still behind everybody, but still… not a good strategy. I would have loved to see it backfire on them. Did they think the blondes were behind them? I thought I heard them ask if the cowboys were in last place. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/24 "2014-04-14T17:30:35Z")
Am I the only one who thought the “Audrey Hepburn” woman on the scooter looked more like Didi Conn? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/25 "2014-04-14T17:34:45Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I’m surprised that they’re allowed not to have their belongings with them when they hit the mat. I think if you don’t check in with it, you shouldn’t be able to leave with it. Not sure where I got it from, but I was under the impression you could drop your pack if you were within sight of the Pit stop. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/26 "2014-04-14T18:02:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I would have killed on that task. I would have lost count of the steps. But, assuming I got the number of steps right, the math part would have been easy. My favorite quote last night was “I watched all 4 seasons of Spartacus!” during the gladiator challenge. That looked like fun. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/27 "2014-04-14T18:40:32Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Did they think the blondes were behind them? I thought I heard them ask if the cowboys were in last place. I thought one of the Afghanimals said something like “The blondes haven’t been here yet” when giving the other two teams the answer on the Spanish Steps. I think they all thought they were safe from elimination. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/28 "2014-04-14T22:36:33Z")
Is there a system to add Roman Numerals w/o translating them to Regular Numerals adding them then translating back to Roman Numerals ```auto MDCCLXXXIX + CXXXV ========= MCMXXIV ``` ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/29 "2014-04-14T23:51:22Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Is there a system to add Roman Numerals w/o translating them to Regular Numerals adding them then translating back to Roman Numerals > > ```auto > > > MDCCLXXXIX > + CXXXV > ========= > MCMXXIV > > ``` Yes, but it’s [a pain in the fundamentum](http://turner.faculty.swau.edu/mathematics/materialslibrary/roman/) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/30 "2014-04-15T06:23:18Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I would have lost count of the steps. > But, assuming I got the number of steps right, the math part would have been easy. > > My favorite quote last night was “I watched all 4 seasons of Spartacus!” during the gladiator challenge. That looked like fun. It cracked me up when the gladiator threw the sword to either Leo or Jamal and he just stepped aside and said something about not wanting to die. It looked like they had a great time. They’ve grown on me this season. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/31 "2014-04-15T18:27:56Z")
I have always like the Leo and Jamal. They seldom complain. Did we not hear about the Achilles problem from Dave in this episode? We did get to hear that John and Jessica were eliminated in their last season with an express pass in their pocket. I had almost forgotten that. Until they reminded me for the 38th time this season. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/32 "2014-04-15T18:44:03Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Did we not hear about the Achilles problem from Dave in this episode? Connor told Dave to be careful on his Achilles when he was doing the steps. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/33 "2014-04-15T18:45:15Z")
Dave didn’t say anything about it, but when he started jogging up the steps, Connor yelled “Don’t pop your achilles!” or something similar. But thankfully, no confessionals. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/34 "2014-04-15T20:20:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Dave didn’t say anything about it, but when he started jogging up the steps, Connor yelled “Don’t pop your achilles!” or something similar. But thankfully, no confessionals. It’s not just the repetition that drives me nuts, it’s the phrasing. Most people, if they’re running somewhere and hurt their ankle, will yell something like “ow! I hurt my ankle!” Dave has to say “I popped my achilles!” Dude, you’re not a professional athlete, and it sounds douchey even when they say it. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/35 "2014-04-15T20:42:32Z")
Maybe I’m weird, if I was running and was pretty sure I’d just torn my achilles, I’d say some form of “I just tore my achilles.” Ankle sprains are in a different category. Is the mini-chariot racing a thing there or something they set up just for the show? Looked somewhat established but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there a few years ago when I was last in Rome (that was on the hill between the Coliseum and the Forum, right?). ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/36 "2014-04-15T20:45:52Z")
I’m with **ovfusciatrist**. I would say achilles, not ankle. They are different things. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/37 "2014-04-15T21:08:35Z")
After the fact, when you’re trying to diagnose things, fine. “Is it sprained? Can you walk on it?” “No, it’s the tendon at the back, the achilles.” No problem. But when his first reaction was “I popped my achilles!”, it just sounds like a jock affectation to me. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/38 "2014-04-15T21:33:34Z")
At least he pronounces Achilles right, unlike this recent [Wheel contestant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rqWXQsMR1k). ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/39 "2014-04-16T13:06:34Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Not sure where I got it from, but I was under the impression you could drop your pack if you were within sight of the Pit stop. In the first season of Amazing Race Canada (which uses the same rules set) a team was force to run back up a very tall sand dune because when they dropped their backpacks at the top they fell the wrong way and were not visible from the mat. Apparently that’s the shining line. If you can see if from the mat it counts as having them with you. > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > It cracked me up when the gladiator threw the sword to either Leo or Jamal and he just stepped aside and said something about not wanting to die. It looked like they had a great time. They’ve grown on me this season. So on the plus side they didn’t try and hug the gladiator:D As annoying as Leo and Jamal are to me sometimes I will concede that the locals almost always seem to find them amusing. I’m going to chalk up the difference to exposure. The first couple of times you see their shtick it’s entertaining, it’s only when it’s repeated week after week that it gets a little wearing. They seem to realize that this time around and have toned it down a little to be easier on the viewers;) ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059/40 "2014-04-16T13:28:12Z")
**Moonlitherial** - Can you tell me why everyone at the RFF seems to hate the Cowboys? StG [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-april-13-the-gladiators-are-here/686059.md?page=3)