Tampa's Tina Greene and husband Ken make the finals of The Amazing Race

By the time I met Ken Greene Sunday night -- jammed next to him in a booth at a St. Petersburg barbecue joint watching he and wife Tina compete on CBS's unscripted travel contest The Amazing Race -- my biggest question already seemed to have an answer.

I'd already written a story about how Tina said they'd entered the competition to save their marriage. The former NFL player and college football coach couldn't say much on that score Sunday, fearing he might give away something important in the show's finale, scheduled next week.

But it seemed obvious from the way he looked at Tina, leading a fundraiser for a new church their son is establishing in St. Petersburg, that things seem to be clicking between the two. The fact that he was in town -- officially, he still lives in San Diego and Tina lives in Tampa -- was a signal that their plan may have worked out as expected.

"All the other teams in the race, there were very few dealing with the issues we were tackling," said Ken, who comes off as affable and relaxed in person as he often appears on camera. "It put additional stress and strain on Tina and I. But I saw things in her that I didn't realize were there and she saw the same with me. It's been an incredible experience -- the hardest thing I've ever done, including NFL training camp."

Sunday's episode revealed that Tina and Ken would be among three pairs of contestants vying for a $1-million grand prize in the contest's finale Sunday, Dec. 7. Working together, the couple have scooted past eight other teams to land in the show's finale, standing out as the oldest pair left standing (according to CBS, Ken is 51 and Tina is 48).

On Sunday, Tina and Ken appeared at the Butler Barbecue Restaurant to help raise funds for son John's Focal Point Church, a ministry he's organizing in St. Petersburg. Watching the show sitting next to the couple was surprisingly suspenseful -- even their son didn't know how the episode would end, and the pair seemed in danger of expulsion right up to the final minutes.

And the pair dished some behind-the-scenes info about the night's episode and past events, including:

-- Like many reality TV contestants, Tina believes the show's producers have moved around her quotes and edited scenes to make her look more critical of Ken than she is. Sunday's episode featured Tina batting Ken's hand away as he attempted to point something out; later, Ken noted ruefully "Tina feels like she's always right."

  -- Sometimes, the race action is affected by issues that aren't shown on camera. In Sunday's episode, the teams must gather their first clue from an actor on a Russian submarine. But Tina noted, that when she and Ken arrived at the boat, the tourist attraction wasn't yet open. When it was opened three hours later, all the other teams had caught up to them, eliminating their advantage.

--- The difference between winning and elimination in the race is often a good cab driver. In Sunday's episode, Tina and Ken lucked out early by getting a Russian cab driver who had a GPS system, making it easy to find the obscure landmarks where clues were hidden. Tina didn't realize until she saw a preview of tonight's episode last week, but they lost that cab driver when another team noticed the GPS system and jumped in the cab while heading to another clue.

--- Cabs aren't so easy to catch in foreign countries. Though editing makes it seems as if the racers run out of one area and grab a cab in minutes, it can take a half hour or longer to flag down a ride, even in areas that seem to be filled with tourists and travelers.

--- Even the other teams competing in the race didn't know Ken and Tina were starting with their marriage under strain; the couple didn't tell anyone, to keep their rivals from using the issue to their advantage. "A lot of my family and lot of my friends, people who work for me, didn't know I was separated," she told the crowd. "Each week, it's tough to watch."

"To me, it was not a lot of fun," Ken told the crowd before the show started, noting that he got worried when the race started at the Los Angeles Coliseum, because he'd never won a game as a player or a coach there. "It was an incredible experience, but it was work . . . you were on the go all the time."

"It takes over your life," Tina said, just after Ken joked that she had dreams about being in the thick of the competition weeks after the race had ended. "It was the first time in our lives that we have been away from family and friends and work. No computers. No e-mail. no outside contact. It just . . . it takes over your being and it's all about the race and your relationship with your partners. It's intense." 

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Comments

[Annia]

I've wanted three teams to compete; Toni & Dallas, Nick & Starr, and Ken & Tina. The frat boys were a waste of time. It's unfortunate that Dallas lost the passport & money. Otherwise, it would have been an exciting finale.

I do hope that Ken & Tina's relationship works out this time around, though I noticed that Tina was always wanted to be in charge, and when thing turned out badly, she just brushed it off. If Ken was the one that makes mistake, I suppose we would never hear the end of it from Tina. All and all , I admire their courageous effort to give their all. Good luck to them. They didn't win million, but they won quite a few nice prices. Nothing to be sorry about.

[Paula]

I have never watched the Amazing Race before this season. I met Tina and Ken's son John while visting my nephew Brian Pflieger's church, Focal Point. He is how I found out that they were on the show. The way he talked about his parents amazed me. I could tell that he came from a loving home. I just had to watch it to see if they were really like he said they were. They were. I watch every week now, cry with them and I laugh with them, I route for them all the way. I can see they really love each other. I see Tina as a strong woman with drive and determination, I see Ken as a strong man and that they really do love each other. I have been told by my family that have met them both that they are just themselves. They are sweet and loving. (My sister was amazed that Ken liked her cookies! lol)
I pray that they are the ones that have won the race. But most of all I am so glad that they made it through the rough time and came out winners in thier marriage. WTG Tina and Ken!!!!!
I will be watching to see you win!!!

[RagsTTIger]

The Amazing Race is clearly the best of the reality shows. The show provides not just the human interaction, but is very educational. Viewers see different parts of the world, various lifestyles and history too.

This type of show is clearing above the trashing, embarrassment and humiliation that defines the reality fill programs on TV.

[Malissa]

I had the pleasure of meeting Ken and Tina last night at this party and I must say that I have never met two nicer people in my life. They are warm and real. I can say that Tina is NOTHING like they portrayed her on TV. I am a Amazing Race junkie and they were my favorite couple from day one on this season. My nephew is the pastor of the new church and I have heard so many wonderful things about them and their son that I feel it was a honor to meet them and I wish them nothing but the best of luck in their personal endevors and I can't wait for the finale. I wish I could be right next to them in NY next week! God bless you both and I hope that this has brought the two of you closer than ever before. We must climb the hills to get to the mountains ! Go Ken and Tina,,,

[snook]

Typical that this woman blames editing for her rotten behavior. I feel sorry for the guy.