He's figuring on, at the very least, an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor. He'll be deflated if it doesn't happen.
And if they make a new category? Say, golfer who can't act, but can play himself?
He should win that hands down, he says. Or is it toes up?Buy CSI: Las Vegas DVD Set
Of course Rocco Mediate is kidding.CSI: Las Vegas Seasons 1-9 DVD Boxset
Isn't he always when it comes to most of his roll-on-the-floor-laughing ramblings? The man can even turn his part in a murder scene into a run-on chuckle.CSI: Las Vegas DVD Set
We can't give away all the details, but Roc does make his prime-time dramatic debut Thursday night in the "Long Ball" episode on "CSI: Las Vegas DVD." The plot centers on the death of a golf legend on a golf course and, well, Rocco happens to find the body. And steals the opening scene.
"It was," he chuckled, "an absolute blast."
And, yes, he was a pro. A couple of different takes, a couple of different angles, a few word retakes and it was a wrap.
"They did it right," Rocco said. "They wanted it to look real. I told them a few things I would do with my caddie and movements. There were a few things I'd never say; things that I would say. If I'm playing myself, I have to play myself."
So, he'd offer suggestions to the directors and they'd say, "OK, try that."
Rocco shares the screen with series regular Marg Helgenberger -- CSI Catherine Willows in the show --- and has a couple of lines with her. He said she was "an absolute sweetheart" and the scene? "Dang, it was hilarious."
Natalie Gulbis, Duffy Waldorf, Kevin Na and CBS funnyman-announcers David Feherty and Gary McCord are also in the show, but it's Rocco who has generated all the buzz.
And you're surprised?
The most eye-catching part of his scene might be his girth. They shot the episode the Monday after Thanksgiving when Rocco was 35 pounds heavier. No one had to remind him. He knew it.
And he had a plan. Doesn't he always?
Eat better food. Eat smaller portions. And hit the old VersaClimber -- it's been his "bad ass" go-to weight loss miracle since 1993 -- an hour a day, six days a week.
"Not the first time I've dropped 30 pounds," he chuckled. "Done that four, five, six times."
It's always an uphill climb -- no pun intended -- and this time was no different. And while he was climbing 4,000-5,000 feet each night, he was also working to get into events. The 47-year-old finished 145th on the money list in 2009, which meant he wasn't exempt. Had a plan for that too.
A batch of phone calls and some waiting time later, Rocco found himself with sponsor's exemptions to nine of the next 10 events. All the way through the Florida Swing.
The leaner --- and meaner-looking, at least --- Rocco opens his 2010 season Wednesday at the Bob Hope Classic and, despite not winning since 2002, he's ready for his West Coast close-up Mr. DeMille.
"I expect nothing but greatness from myself," he said. "I've prepared more than I have ever prepared physically. Mentally, it doesn't really matter. I've always been psycho, so deal with that. It's get it from point A to point B. That's all this is."
That's all it was two summers ago, too, when he lost that iconic U.S. Open playoff to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines. He came out of nowhere that week and, if he's done it once ...
He's convinced the 20-10 Rocco can do it again. He had just one top-10 last season (a tie for ninth at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open), but he'll play three of his favorite courses in the next few weeks -- Torrey Pines, Riviera (Northern Trust Open) and TPC Scottsdale (Waste Management Phoenix Open). And if he can find some magic on the greens after some spiff-up time with Team Stockton, he believes he'll make his way into the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship field.
"I might be ranked a millionth in the world right now --- I don't know -- but in a month, I could be 70th," he said. "That's the beauty of my job. I love my job."
For the record, Roc's 201st. He was 200, but Michael Jonzon jumped four spots over the weekend to push him back a spot. No big deal.
He's a bit surprised he's gotten so many exemptions, but, at the same time, he's flattered. To him, it means he's done his job right -- for the last 25 years. He plays pro-ams, does clinics and attends parties because he loves people and, well, when he was coming up, it was the right thing to do.
"I enjoy it," he said. "It's not a burden to me. Play, have a few drinks with the boys and have a blast. That's what it's all about. It's not about sports psychology, gyms and going to sleep at 9 o'clock. It's old school. There's still some old school golf out there."
Make no mistake. Rocco's thankful for another chance. His back has been acting up on-and-off since 1994 and he's happy if he has just a couple of bad-back weeks a year. He thinks, too, he's got four or five more years left on TOUR, which means he could follow Jay Haas and Fred Funk and postpone his Champions Tour career just a bit.
Crazy for a guy who hasn't won in years? No, just Rocco, who can't wait to jump headlong into the season.
As for acting?
He probably won't watch Thursday night. Said he'll likely catch his "CSI" moments on DVR in a few weeks. But you can be sure he'll be quick with quip --- self-deprecating or not --- when the locker room reviews start rolling in Friday morning.
So, does he have a future as an actor?
"I wouldn't call what I did acting," he laughed. "I was just being myself. I think acting would be much more difficult."
But we know Rocco and ... well, he'll be ready to accept that Emmy nomination -- or the Emmy if they add that new golfer-who-can't-act category.
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