Greco one step closer to love or money

Journal Staff WriterAlthough he hit unlucky 13 in a high-stakes Blackjack hand, it appears Placer County playboy Victor Greco beat the house as he moved forward in the latest installment of NBC TV?s ?For Love or Money 2.?The Auburn native and 1996 graduate of Colfax High School made the cut as one of the remaining five bachelors on the reality dating show, which is shown locally at 9 p.m. Monday on KCRA Channel 3. In the July 14 series premiere, 15 contestants began competing for the affections of bachelorette Erin Brodie, daughter of former 49er quarterback John Brodie. The man who wins Brodie?s heart can choose to date the San Francisco native ? or say goodbye and walk away with $1 million. In turn, if her chosen suitor picks love over money, Brodie will receive a check for $2 million.In Monday?s episode, the seven remaining men in the household played a game of high-stakes Blackjack for a one-on-one date with Brodie. As contestants were eliminated, Greco stayed in the running with fellow bachelor, ?Wade.? In the final hand, Greco held with 13, Wade stayed at 19 and the dealer had 18, giving Wade the upper hand ? and the single date.After his loss, Greco joined two other bachelors for a date on an adventure ropes course. During the episode, Brodie said she felt like she bonded with the 25-year-old as the two helped each other across.?I?d never been on a ropes course before,? he said Wednesday. ?It was actually more challenging than it looked on TV.?His familiarity with athletic competition could have given him an edge on the ropes. Greco was captain of his Colfax High basketball team as well as varsity quarterback during football season. After high school, he went on to play football for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.?I love all sports,? he said. ?I play all the time. It?s weird not to have to do football stuff any more. I ate, drank and slept football 100 percent for nine years. I love playing basketball still though. I can throw down some pretty good dunks.?Although he traded his home in Auburn for one in Los Angeles, Greco said he remains faithful to local teams.?I love the Giants, the 49ers and the Kings,? he said. ?I hate the Lakers. I?m the Northern California rep down there for the Sacramento Kings.? Although nervous about the outcome of Monday?s elimination ceremony, Greco will remain as the final five bachelors compete. However, there was little joy as he watched two friends and fellow contestants, Thomas and Chad F., leave the show. Their last names are not publicized.?When Chad and Thomas got cut, they didn?t show any celebrations after the ceremony because we were done,? Greco said. ?We were emotionally drained from watching those guys get the boot.?Approximately 60,000 households in the Stockton, Modesto and Sacramento areas were tuned into ?For Love or Money 2? on Monday, said Ron Comer, research director with KCRA, the NBC affiliate in Sacramento.?It happened to be the third rated program that night,? he said. ?CSI was No. 1, the movie ?Nutty Professor 2? was No. 2, but just for the record, the ?Nutty Professor? basically almost tied ?For Love or Money.?? In next week?s episode, one contestant will eliminate himself, taking a cash prize in lieu of further competition. To see if Greco succumbed to greed over romance, watch ?For Love or Money 2? at 9 p.m. Monday on NBC.