Full disclosure: Prior to this, I have never watched more than a few minutes of DWTS in any of its previous seasons. I know sports figures have competed and some have acquitted themselves very well, but I can only guess the idea to have a bunch of athletes as a stand-alone theme was one of those “what else can we toss out there?” moments.
This year DWTS — with 25 seasons in the bank — trotted out one 75-year-old, 7-foot-something basketball icon; three ice skating champs (one with a historic degree of questionable notoriety); a softball player; a luger (the sled kind, not the German pistol); a ski boarder; and an NFL pro-bowler. If I missed anyone, with all due respect, I really don’t care; the only reason I’m doing this entry is because the show included Johnny Damon.
Damon, as Red Sox Nation fans will recall, was part of the “Idiots” team that won the 2004 World Series after a near 90-year drought. He capitalized on that fame by publishing Idiot: Beating The Curse and Enjoying the Game of Life
Anyway, since I don’t watch regularly, it’s not fair for me to weigh in. But since that never stopped me before…
I know this isn’t indicative of a regular DWTS run, but it seems each season has sentimental favorite they know from the outset has no chance of winning. Like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, to whom I give major props. Considering his age, he wasn’t the worst out there. If you assume these contestants have a better chance than most because they’re athletes, you’re wrong. Some of these them basically just stood there while their professional partners danced around them and did all the heavy lifting, as it were. Figure skaters should have the best chance since (I believe) dancing in a part of their practice routine.
Damon was one of the first to be eliminated in this abbreviated (four episodes) shortened season. And with good reason.
Don’t quit your day job, Johnny. Oh, that’s right; you don’t have one any more. Maybe you can parlay this into another book.
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