John Paul

[bugsme3]

Mike's girl you read my mine. I don't say much where he is concern because to me it looks like with a wife it wil lbe his way or the high way. Don't know him but just judging from afar.

[Google]

 

[Alanna]

Truly, I don't see Jen with an equal partner. Not that I think she should be submissive (of course not!) just that she needs someone to take care fo her. I just don't forsee Jen having any qualms about being married to someone that would take charge of a situation, know how to deal with her breakdown after breakdown all the freakin time, and just in general be there when she needs to cry and be "emotional" like she told her friends. I really see JP in that position, truthfully tho, I only think it will work if he will love her enough to be patient because I think Jen will only let him be the boss if he essentially does what she wants/needs and not what he wants. Anyone know what I mean??

[Beagle]

[Truly, I don't see Jen with an equal partner. Not that I think she should be submissive (of course not!) just that she needs someone to take care fo her. I just don't forsee Jen having any qualms about being married to someone that would take charge of a situation, know how to deal with her breakdown after breakdown all the freakin time, and just in general be there when she needs to cry and be "emotional" like she told her friends. I really see JP in that position, truthfully tho, I only think it will work if he will love her enough to be patient because I think Jen will only let him be the boss if he essentially does what she wants/needs and not what he wants. Anyone know what I mean?? ]
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Alanna, my sentiments exactly. I think JP is the perfect balance for Jen. As much as Jen wants to be independent, there seems to be a part of her that is looking for that "solid rock" to help settle her down when she becomes unsteady. I always thought she wasn't such a good match for Andrew because he was too unsteady and they weren't fullfilling each others needs. I think with JP it could be a different story.

[cake]

Originally Posted by Alanna

...truthfully tho, I only think it will work if he will love her enough to be patient because I think Jen will only let him be the boss if he essentially does what she wants/needs and not what he wants. Anyone know what I mean??

Yes. Yes I do. I think Jen has sort of a naive/idealistic image of her perfect mate as someone who will take all the responsibility while serving her needs, almost like a parent.

[Alanna]

ITA on the parent thing, someone that will cater to her and serve her while still loving her and being patient. Lol funny, how we're analyzing Jen without even knowing her in person, but I think we've pinned her personality down pretty well

[Secret]

I don't know if this article has already been posted, but I thought it was veeeery interesting:

http://www.newsok.com/article/141382...te=sports/main (have to register, to read, unfortunately)

By Jenni Carlson

He loved to compete and expected to win.

Still does.

Now, though, the game is quite a bit different.

Merritt is one of the bachelors vying for Jen Schefft's heart on "The Bachelorette." He has survived three rose ceremonies on ABC's hit show -- think cut day in high school basketball, just fancier and watched by millions of Americans -- and Merritt is among the six suitors remaining from the original group of 25.

Tonight's episode will trim the group even more.

Could Merritt, a starter on Bishop McGuinness' state championship basketball team in 1998, score another big victory?

"I'm hopin'," he said.

He smiled, then laughed. Merritt, who returned home to Oklahoma City after taping wrapped up in November, can't say any more about the outcome of the show. So says a contract prohibiting him from discussing it.

This we do know: Even though he is known in the reality TV world only as "John Paul, entrepreneur, 25," he is more than a pretty face, a wavy head of hair and a pearly set of teeth. He is a scrapper, a go-getter, a fighter.

"I'm so competitive with what I do," he said.

The firstborn of Paul and Suzy Merritt's five sons, Merritt spent hours shooting baskets and playing pick-up games in the driveway. He most often squared off against J. Robert, who is three years younger, and Joe Ross, six years younger.

"No one ever won," Merritt remembered. "We were always fighting."

Each was always looking for an edge, legal or otherwise. That included John Paul, even though he was the older, bigger brother.

"He'll do anything to win," said J. Robert, now playing basketball at Samford University along with Joe Ross. "He'll cheat or foul. Once he gets his mind set on something, he's determined to be successful.

"He still hates losing."

Those men on "The Bachelorette" might not have stood a chance.

Thing is, Merritt did not seek the opportunity to be on the show. Quite the opposite. A good friend decided she wanted to attend a casting call in Oklahoma City for "The Bachelor."

"I was thinking about going to this just for fun," she said, "but I'm not going by myself."

Merritt told her, "You've got to go."

She persisted.

"No," she said, "I'm not going by myself."

Merritt and a few of his buddies decided to tag along. Worst case scenario, they would have dinner and mingle with dozens of available girls, but while they were there, a producer approached Merritt and asked if he'd be interested in doing "The Bachelorette." He gave the producer his contact info but thought little would come of it.

Then in August, ABC called and Merritt decided to go for it.

"It's taking a risk," he said. "You put yourself out there. You put your emotions out there. You put your life out there."

Every move is scrutinized by a national television audience. Merritt has become fodder for morning radio, gossip columns, even internet chat boards. Strings about him include, "John Paul ... Hot or Not!!!" and "Let's call him The Pope."

He understands the critiques because he does it, too.

"It's weird to see myself on television," Merritt said. "I'll think, 'Did I really look like that? Did I really sound like that? Why didn't I wear socks?'"

He knew that the cameras wouldn't lie but that hours of film would be left on the cutting room floor, so he proceeded with caution. He watched what he said. He measured what he did.

"You're totally out of your element," he said. "You can't control anything."

An uncomfortable feeling for any athlete.

So, Merritt controlled what he could, starting with his interaction with the other bachelors. When they asked how his dates went, he always told them things had gone wrong and he just didn't think it was going to work.

The reality: the dates were great.

"They didn't think I had a chance," Merritt said of the bachelors. "By the end of the show, I thought ... I had all these guys' cards in my hand. I knew exactly all of their feelings. They had no clue about mine."

Talk about playing the field.

He is more player than playa. During the last episode, while on a coveted one-on-one date -- that every date isn't one-on-one tells you something about reality TV -- Merritt didn't try to kiss the girl.

"I knew a bunch of the guys would kiss her," Merritt said, "and I just didn't want to kiss her because it was one thing on the show I could control."

These days, Merritt has to worry most about controlling his tongue. He has told none of his family or friends what happened, and in doing an increasingly steady stream of interviews, he must be careful not to slip.

"I don't know how he's doing it," his father, Paul, said.

Merritt is recognized almost anywhere he goes now. He's been followed to the bathroom at restaurants. He's been asked to pose for pictures by twenty-something men. He's held babies and signed autographs.

Going to watch his two youngest brothers, Jake and Jeffrey, play for McGuinness created something of a mob scene last week at Putnam City North.

"He couldn't even watch the game," Paul Merritt said. "It's just crazy."

Merritt does know a thing or two about handling pressure. Almost seven years have passed since his senior season at McGuinness. The Irish had great talent but inexperienced players that spring. Terrence Crawford, Jonathan Bluitt and Junior Amous would all play college basketball, but Merritt, the only senior in the starting lineup, had to be the glue.

He wanted nothing more than to win a state championship. And when McGuinness capped the season with that title, Merritt walked around the court at State Fair Arena, hugging the gold ball tightly to his chest.

"It was an amazing feeling because it was something you work so hard at your whole life," Merritt said. "Walking around with that gold ball, I was crying. I never cry. Ever."

Who knows what happens if he wins the prize on "The Bachelorette."

Stay tuned.

[BlondieGal]

Thank you for posting the article Secret! Interesting that he did not tell his parents the outcome, which I suspect that a few of the others have not either. Poor guy getting a lesson about wearing socks with his shoes!

[eny]

No wonder he smoked everyone else on the court

[savannah jane]

Originally Posted by Secret

I don't know if this article has already been posted, but I thought it was veeeery interesting:

http://www.newsok.com/article/141382...te=sports/main (have to register, to read, unfortunately)

I've been dying to hear news out of OKC!

[cake]

Why didn't I wear socks?'"

Hee hee. Aw.

"I knew a bunch of the guys would kiss her," Merritt said, "and I just didn't want to kiss her because it was one thing on the show I could control."

Goodness. Quite calcuting, isn't he?

"They didn't think I had a chance," Merritt said of the bachelors. "By the end of the show, I thought ... I had all these guys' cards in my hand. I knew exactly all of their feelings. They had no clue about mine."

I dunno. This is just kinda stupid. I'm starting to lose my JP like.