Area Baseball Wife And Former Detroit Lions Player To Compete On 'The Amazing Race'
Two of the cast members for this season's edition of "The Amazing Race" have connections to Detroit.
Baseball wife and Pilates instructor in training, Nicole Getz splits her time between Troy, Mich. and Kansas City. She is married to Kansas City Royals second baseman, Chris Getz who also hails from Michigan. Chris Getz was born in Southfield and attended Grosse Pointe South High School.
Ephraim Salaam is another local connection on the cast. He's currently an NFL free agent and offensive tackle. Salaam has played for many teams including the Detroit Lions in 2009. He's paired up with former Houston Texans teammate Chester Pitts II.
CBS announced Wednesday the 11 teams that will embark on a sprint around the globe for $1 million dollars on the new season of "The Amazing Race."
More info on the 11-team cast.
Name: Nicole "Nicky" Getz
Age: 27
Hometown: Splits time between Kansas City and Troy, Mich.
Current occupation: Baseball Wife/Training to be a Pilates Instructor
*Married to Chris Getz, who played for the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals (currently)
Name: Kim DeJesus
Age: 32
Hometown: Chicago
Current occupation: Baseball Wife
*Married to David DeJesus who played for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays (currently)
Connection: Baseball Wives
Name: Chester Pitts II
Age: 33
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas
Current occupation: Sports Analyst for "Texans Insider,"
Executive Consultant for ZT Wealth and Altus HMS.
*Played for Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks for more than 10 years in the NFL
Name: Ephraim Salaam
Age: 36
Hometown: Studio City, Calif.
Current occupation: Co-host of "Fox Sports Live."
*Played for Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons for 13 years in the NFL
Connection: Former NFL Teammates
Name: Hoskote Venkatesh
Age: 60
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Current occupation: ER Doctor
Name: Naina Venkatesh
Age: 27
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Current occupation: Fitness Instructor
Connection: Father/Daughter
Name: Jason Case
Age: 33
Hometown: Attleboro, Mass.
Current occupation: Owner of a Snowplow Company
Name: Amy Diaz
Age: 29
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Current occupation: Social Media Manager
Connection: Dating
Name: Leo Temory
Age: 26
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: Entrepreneur/Restaurateur
Name: Jamal Zadran
Age: 26
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: CEO/Owner of Z.I.G.
(Zadran Investment Group)
Connection: Cousins
Name: Tim Wiyninger
Age: 26
Hometown: Cordell, Okla.
Current occupation: Oilfield Plant Operator
Name: Daniel "Danny" Merkey
Age: 25
Hometown: Cordell, Okla.
Current occupation: Oil Field Operator
Connection: Best Friends
Name: Rowan Joseph
Age: 56
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Current occupation: Actor, Producer, Director and Voiceover Artist
Name: Shane Partlow
Age: 47
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Current occupation: Actor/ Producer
Connection: Theater Performers. They call themselves the "Queens of Bingo."
Name: Brandon Squyres
Age: 34
Hometown: Chico, Calif.
Current occupation: Contractor
Name: Adam Switzer
Age: 34
Hometown: Chico, Calif.
Current occupation: Eco-friendly farmer
Connection: Childhood Friends
Name: Allison "Ally" Mello
Age: 22
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: The NHL's LA Kings Ice Crew Girl
Name: Ashley Covert
Age: 25
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: The NHL's LA Kings Ice Crew Girl
Connection: LA Kings Ice Crew
Name: Nicole Jasper
Age: 39
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Current occupation: ER Physician
Name: Travis Jasper
Age: 43
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Current occupation: ER Physician
Connection: Married ER Doctors
Name: Timothy Sweeney
Age: 32
Hometown: Morristown, N.J.
Current occupation: Sports Marketing
Name: Marie "Reebs" Mazzocchi
Age: 29
Hometown: Morristown, N.J.
Current occupation: Fitness Trainer/Gym Owner
Connection: Exes
This season, which marks the 23rd race around the world for the series, will bring back the Double Express Pass twist that was introduced last season, in which the first Team to check in at the first pit stop will earn two "Express Passes" — one to keep for themselves and one that must be given to another Team by the end of the fifth leg of the Race.
As Teams travel through four continents and nine countries, spanning more than 35,000 miles, they will paraglide high above the skies of Iquique, Chile, subject themselves to a bone-chilling plunge in Norway and buckle up for Formula One Racing in Abu Dhabi.
Metro-Detroiters can watch the premiere of "The Amazing Race" on Sunday, September 29 at 8 p.m. on CBS 62.