ValleyDawgs' "A-List" Continues To Grow
April 19, 2006 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs News Release
LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA- Under the commission of new owner, Arthur S. Glover, the ValleyDawgs welcome Gervase Peterson, television celebrity and entertainer, aboard their mission of bringing a championship to the Lehigh Valley.
The Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs, members of the United States Basketball League (USBL), are thrilled to announce the addition of Gervase, who will contribute to the organization as an advisor. After years of studying the craft of acting in Pennsylvania, Gervase received his big break as one of the original castaways on the first-ever season of Survivor. The Philadelphia native was the first African-American on the reality series. He underwent ten tribal councils before he had to leave the island, making him one of seven finalists for the million dollar reward that triggered the explosion of the reality television take-over.
"We created the way that the game is played," Gervase, who became known simply by his first name after doing Survivor, said. "We created the idea of an alliance. We actually tried to be fair!
"To play now, you have to team up with other people. In the original show, no one had any idea what to expect. Nowadays, people study the game and try to create an entire strategy to win. None of us had that luxury."
Survivor brought about a revolution that placed reality television on every station on television. Gervase reflected upon when he realized how big that the show was going to become.
"For me the big day was when we ate rat," Gervase remembered. "We couldn't catch a fish, and we were starving. I just remember sitting there and thinking: When people at home watch this, they're going to completely flip! That's when I knew it was going to be big."
Gervase has built quite a portfolio in the entertainment industry since being sprung to Hollywood status on Pulau Tiga, the small Malaysian island where the original Survivor was filmed. Gervase has appeared and co-hosted with the likes of David Letterman, Jay Leno, Rosie O'Donnell, and Regis Feldman. He also played a recurring role on As the World Turns, as well as appearing on numerous TV shows, such Hollywood Squares, Nash Bridges, the Hughleys, and Howard Stern's Son of the Beach. He has also worked for MTV, CBS, and NBC, in addition to doing some modeling work.
Still, the level-minded and good-hearted Gervase is grateful for the opportunities that Survivor provided him.
"Survivor was my break in the business. After doing the show, I felt like âlet me take this ball and run with it'." Gervase continued, "After doing the show, I was running back and forth to L.A. for work, and my name was sitting on guests lists right beside Brad Pitt."
The humble Gervase joked about the life he worked so hard to create.
"Freedom-wise, I don't have a nine-to-five gig. It's a great feeling; everybody would love to be in this situation. Ever since I was a kid," he laughed, "I wanted to get a paper route. Maybe I will... just simply because I can!"
Gervase also expressed his excitement about the upcoming ValleyDawg season.
"I can't wait to help out the ValleyDawgs in any way, shape, or form. More so than anything, I'm a huge basketball fan," he said. "I'll be the one bringing signs to the game to get the crowd amped up!"
Don't be another face in the crowd at some other event. Come join the likes of Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins and Gervase and show the rest of the USBL how the Lehigh Valley represents themselves!!!
The Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs open their season in Brooklyn, New York, this Friday, squaring off against the Brooklyn Kings. The first home game for the ValleyDawgs is this Sunday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m. All of the ValleyDawgs' home games will be played at William Allen High School.
Fans interested in joining our email list can contact the ValleyDawgs' media relations department at valleydawgs_pr@yahoo.com. Jump aboard the ValleyDawg mission for a championship!
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United States Basketball League Stories from April 19, 2006
- ValleyDawgs' "A-List" Continues To Grow - Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
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