Jake Zweig of Top Shot
Hi everyone-
Former Navy SEAL Jake Zweig will be “live” and logged-in on Kit Up this Saturday from 5-6pmEST. You guys will have a chance to post questions and get answers in real time from Jake himself.
I’ll post your previous questions (I pulled these out of the comments) and have Jake’s answers up on the Saturday Interview/Post as discussion points. If you have anything else to ask, please turn in your questions before tomorrow so I can forward to Jake.
There’s a lot of opinions out there both bad and good but, let’s remember to be respectful during this forum and remember he’s giving up an hour of his personal time for us at Kit Up.
Thanks guys-
Brandon
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Jake,
Do you believe your behavior on Top Shot was what was expected of a former officer in the U.S. military?
(I think it's a very neutral way of airing the question everyone is thinking).
Funny thing,
I was in the only platoon Jake was ever in. He was the AOIC and should have been canned a long time ago. He as you know is black and SPECWAR held off due to racial tensions/reverse racism. But his incompetence caught up to him and he did not even make it through the whole deployment and was sent home. An investigation was initiated for the false racism card Jake played. The Navy assigned a Navy Captain for this piece and Jake was removed from ST-8. Where he went I do not know. I do recall there being an article in the Local paper stating "Are the SEAL Teams racist?" or something like that. I do know there were other issues that came out from the investigation that were unbecoming of an officer. Especially since he is an Annapolis graduate.
This would explain alot why he is that way. I hope the people of Rhode Island love him.
I was just thinking the same thing brandon. I really think it’s great that were doing this interview,but I also hope that people will still be respectful. let’s hope everyone understands that if we ask stupid questions we may not get much out of jake.
It will most likely be nothing but excuses and lies anyways.
A agree that we shouldn't just "bash" him but I am not sure if the truth will ever come out. Jake will most likely say that he was setup from the start or that his team mates were against him. Who knows…..I would be surprise Top Shot does what Survivor does and have a "Villian" season where the Villians come back. I wouldn't be surprise if George (Air Force Sniper) from Season 2 comes back as well. It's ashame this show has become like a Survivor reality show. I would have like the show focus on the different weapons systems than to see all this drama but it's what drives up the ratings. (The producers probably figured out on Season 2 when George keeps bashing on Jamey – Navy)
I know exactly why you don’t like George. But I gotta say, by the end of the show I had respect for George. Any way you look at it, a show about firearms competition is a good thing for us gun enthusiast. I think George was just immature, while Jake is more of a head case.
FormerSFMedic: When George "slipped up" the final challenge to give it to Chris last season so that Chris can send his daughters to college, I do have respect for him for that. I wish the show would focus more on the firearms more. More back ground into the history and uses. Maybe which military or law enforcement would use it. I do like this season that they have more modern weapons from the AK to Walther P38.
i agree with you gonavy, i would watch the show if it focused more on firarms, history, etc like you mentioned. the reason i do not watch the show, is because they make it like every other terrible reality show out there and focus on drama.
Mmmm yeah George's tension with Jamey was deeper than service rivalry. Off topic so I'll leave it alone but discussed elsewhere.
I'm reserving judgement on Jake himself since we're only shown the side that History channel's producers wanted us to see. It appeared to me he had a serious persecution complex and didn't handle adversity very well, but who really knows except the other competitors. Same with George from last season… he came off as a complete a$$ on the show, but people I know who've served with him have nothing bad to say about him.
Should be an interesting interview, to say the least.
Agree with you Jumper. Although my initial reaction was less than professional, I fell like we should at least take into consideration the fact that we were watching a TV show. Who knows what this guy is really like. He might be the same as we saw on the show, or he could be completely different (doubtful, but possible). We know for a fact that the show is rigged up to produce certain results, so maybe that had something to do with it. The point is, “we don’t know what we don’t know”.
I would agree. If you check out George on Facebook, from his comments, it doesn't look like the "bad" guy that the show made him out to be. Maybe George and Jamey had their scripts made before Season 2 by the producers. It's a shame that the producers have to stoop to this level to get ratings. We (Miltary, LEO and Civilian shooters) are professionals and don't need to see this type of "Survivior type drama". I know that I am interested in the competition itself, firearms used and the gear.
Phil talks about Jake and his attitude in the house here. http://www.examiner.com/firearms-in-detroit/phil-…
Phil says from his experience in video production he knew Jake would be portrayed badly in the show, but that what they cut was even worse than what they showed.
Any experience with the 300 Blackout cartridge? What do you think about it? I could care less about top shot drama.
To Jake:
As the first Navy Seal on top shot you represent every frogman out there. Navy Seals are known to be extremely team orientated why were you unable to build that relationship with your teammates? Did you feel overqualified?
Question @ Jake,
Looking back on your whole military career, is there anything significant that you would go back and change or do differently?
Thank you
My question would be; "Sir, why did you demean yourself by agreeing to be on a show such as this?"
There is nothing wrong with being on a show like Top Shot.
$?
It is often the case that kids will want to quit when they are confronted with tough challenges within the realm of athletics. As a coach, how are you able to still motivate players to stick it out during the tough times versus giving up after you decided to leave top shot?
Why did you quit? Plain and simple…
For a Naval graduate and U.S. Navy SEAL, I expected you to act like a polished, seasoned, steely-eyed professional who would be cool, calm and collected under pressure. Instead, you acted like a whiny, arrogant spoiled brat. As a man of color, you could have taken your role to the next level. As a man of color myself, I was disappointed in your attitude and performance. Yes, we've all heard it dozens of times, you don't care what others think. But now that it's over, what do you think and what would you have done differently? .
@Brandon, I'm assuming you'll be editing down the number of douchebag questions people think they're the first guy to ask Jake about. Because, yeah we get it, Jake quit Top Shot… etc etc.
All over it Morgan-B
A different question, one of sheer curiosity, instead of all the questions about him quitting(however I 100% disagree with his morals, ethics, and how he played the game. I'd understand the "psy ops" crap he pulled in a war when it's to survive, but when it's a game for 100 K I find it disgraceful), I digress.
But my question is "What do you guys carry, in general, in the packs you bring to the range?" The packs seem fairly big for what I'd think they'd bring like food for lunch, regular range kit like ear and eye pro, possibly a blow out kit/1st Aid, but I'm curious as to what else.
Totally agree with you. Psy Ops is for war and against insurrgents. Not a group of marksmen professionals and competitors. It's not good sportsmanship. But unfortunately, this season has gone down hills with all the drama on the show. Again, wouldn't be surprise if Jakes comes back with George on a "Villian" season. The producers should focus on firearms/weapons and the gear that goes along with it. The producers should request more from the firearm manufacturers to promote their product.
Yes, it definitely has, at least last season with George, he was shown as a bad guy, but he got my respect when he threw the challenge at the end, where Jake just quit.
The show is really based around the house and not the range. The way I describe the show, is Real World with a bit of shooting.
Jake, there's absolutely zero chance that you quit on your own accord and that's ridiculously obvious to anyone who watched the show. I'd just like to know how the conversation went when you were asked to leave the show 'voluntarily'.
I hope you were financially compensated in some way for being asked to leave. GL
Jake, you're about to be a father for the first time. Who cares about what the military, fellow contestants and random people think about your actions on the show.
Your child will soon become the most important aspect of your life. How will you defend your behavior when your child see's Top Shot season 3 for the first time?
Did they make you ring a bell? – BUD/S class 191 honor man
Thanks gunslinger6. Top Shot had some cool weapons on this season. For example, M&P Pistol (.40 or .45) on the show. It would be nice to go into how S&W came up with the M&P series. Which LE agency currently uses and what makes M&P different from the other pistols out there. S&W should be all over this….heck it may make me want to go out to store to get one. I would rather have 15 mins of info on the firearms than to hear Jake complain / rant at his team mates.
that is true you would think the manufactures of the firearms would be all over wanting to get more info on their products out there. but if they did this it would turn into a more interesting show, and not focus on characters like Jake complaining to his team mates like you said. instead they will unfortunately continue to put the focus on stupidity and drama