<p>This Cowboys fan admits to voting for Emmitt Smith back in the day.</p>
<p>ETA: It would pain me to vote for a Steeler, but Hines Ward was really adorable.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying for me ladies. My husband certainly would be thrilled if I was even remotely interested in football.</p>
<p>Yes, the pros do the choreography. They are often praised (or castigated) by the judges for their choreography.</p>
<p>Most football receivers have pretty good footwork, quick feet and a sparkling personality. I expect to see Ward Hines go pretty far this year.</p>
<p>tango, I am so envious of you and your husband taking lessons! When I am fully recovered from this ankle surgery, I hope to talk mine into taking more lessons. We have taken just a few, but nothing very intense or very “professional”, as you describe. I would LOVE to do that, though!</p>
<p>I loved watching Hines Ward dance. And what a hoot to see Franco Harris in the audience waving a Terrible Towel! :D</p>
<p>
OMG! I always say to my kids that I have turned into my parents. Remember when you were younger and your read a People magazine article about someone young and famous that we all knew (like Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts) and your parents would totally be like “Who is THAT?” and you thought they must be from another planet? I am so clueless as to who most of these people are, except the old timers like Ralph and Kirstie. Apparently, I am only slightly more hip than this poster:
No offense, ellemenope!
and DON’T believe that! My husband (and a bunch of guys I know) LOVES!! DWTS…he makes sure we never miss it…AND that I never tell anyone! 
Altho I also love football, this is really where the votes come from!</p>
<p>I am thinking that Kirstie must have had dance training in her youth because she certainly moved well especially at her weight. Ralph was adorable as well.</p>
<p>I thought that Hynes guy was good, too, but I had no clue who he was until I read this thread. </p>
<p>Kendra seemed to be brighter and have a better personality than I would have expected. I am embarrassed that I actually knew who she was!</p>
<p>Still, I’m rooting for Kirstie. I used all my votes for Buzz Aldrin when he was on and Kirstie’s getting them this year.</p>
<p>I watch this show even though I can’t dance to save my life.</p>
<p>My two wishes for DWTS:
I’d like the judges or pros to explain and demonstrate what the elements of each dance are- they say they’re doing the chacha, but it doesn’t seem like a cha cha to me.</p>
<p>I’d like to see the judges actually dance- esp. Len.</p>
<p>I agree that Ralph and Kirstie are looking good. Ditto The football player. I was expecting better things from Sugar Ray Leonard- he’s really a leadfoot.</p>
<p>churchmusicmom, don’t be afraid to search around for the best teacher. We went through 5 or 6 till we found one that H not only can tolerate but really likes. He knows his stuff inside and out and how to communicate it. And he can show the male part without being effeminate. He’s great because he can dance the male and female parts equally well. When we’re trying something new, he’ll dance with each of us, and be able to tell what we are each doing wrong so it works together. Right now we’re at a point on one move that we can each do it with him, but we can’t do it together! Some men prefer a female teacher, if you don’t mind that.</p>
<p>barbara960, that’s almost part of the fun, trying to identify the one or two steps they actually do within the choreography. When the celeb can’t really dance, they insert a lot of poses and body moves that don’t really require them to dance. Kirstie actually did a lot of cha cha steps and Ralph fox trot steps, unlike some of the others.</p>
<p>They need the dancing equivalent of Dick Button to explain it. I learned so much about skating and what the skaters were doing right/wrong from his commentary.</p>
<p>No comments on week 2?</p>
<p>Sure, I’ll chime in! I was very pleasantly surprised by Chris Jericho. I never heard of the guy before DWTS and I wasn’t impressed last week, but what a comeback! I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses. Cheryl is a wonderful teacher - he’s lucky!</p>
<p>I’m sorry that Chelsea has Mark as a partner. He has gotten more and more bizarre over the past seasons and he’s not doing her any favors by choreographing outside the standards that the judges have to use. I really liked her dance, though, and I hope she continues to do well.</p>
<p>Looks like either Mike or Petra will go home - maybe even Wendy Williams.</p>
<p>Lots of comments, just too lazy to dig for this post!</p>
<p>Chris Jericho had a great comeback. Cheryl really knows what she’s doing. Nothing that first week would have told you that he would be so good this week.</p>
<p>I don’t know what Mark was thinking with that routine. The costumes were distracting. Chelsea seems to have a natural ability.</p>
<p>Petra is just so hot that I bet she survives another week.</p>
<p>I’m not feeling Romeo.</p>
<p>Kendra is disappointing.</p>
<p>I didn’t like Kirstie as much as the judges did and liked Ralph more than they did.</p>
<p>I also didn’t expect much out of Chris Jericho, but he has been a pleasant surprise. Plus he looked so nice with his hair combed (just saying that makes me feel old). And at least he isn’t creepy like that Chad Ochocinco guy was–the way he’d hit on Cheryl was weird.</p>
<p>Not sure what Mark was thinking this early in the season with that weird routine…but I am not ready to see Chelsea go home so voted twice for her.</p>
<p>Kendra is interesting…she has trouble finding her elegant feminine side–you could tell that she was very uncomfortable on the dance floor this week. Not like last week–she was very comfortable shaking her booty. I hope she stays longer, because I’d like to see if she can make that connection within her. I remember that L’il Kim had trouble with the same thing, but made it quite far. </p>
<p>Maks seems to be enjoying his time with Kirstie Alley a lot…maybe there isn’t much pressure on his like last year with Brandi, when Brandi was seen as a strong possible candidate for being a finalist. Of course, Kirstie doesn’t seem to have a fragile ego, nor does she seem argumentative with him like Brandi was. His behavior last season was awful.</p>
<p>Ralph could be a sleeper–a Donny Osmond in the making? </p>
<p>Why they chose an outfit that focused attention on Petra’s long legs during a dance that was sure to be difficult for her legs to look sharp in beats me…</p>
<p>I am getting Romeo…</p>
<p>I’m surprised that Wendy Williams isn’t more loose–I expected her to be more open like Niecy Nash. I hope she stay around at least one more week because she was a little better this week.</p>
<p>I hope that Mike goes home–he clumps around. </p>
<p>For years now, I have watched DWTS with my now 87 year old neighbor. We discuss who I should vote for–she doesn’t go in much for that internet thing. So I am not a DWTS junkie…I am only doing charitable service. :)</p>
<p>Still jumping on the Ralph train (just so sweet!)…and yes our wrestler was quite good! The DJ (Mike?) needs to go first…then we shall see. I did think Wendy was better than last week, so maybe she will progress.</p>
<p>I am thinking Sugar Ray won’t be there too long either. But he does at least make it look like he is having a good time!</p>
<p>I am a bit irritated that they are having Chris Brown on tonight’s show. The whole “beat up your girlfriend” thing is not leaving my memory anytime soon. DWTS could not find any other act that sings and dances?? Come on. Maybe Donny Osmond should make an appearance!? He sings…and apparently can dance!</p>
<p>I’m not a huge Cheryl Burke fan but you have to give her credit. She really knows how to make dancers out of most of her partners. I think in many ways she is the female version of Derek Hough (not on the show this season) – very demanding in practice and an exceptional teacher. She is also very good at choreographing to her partner’s strengths. I felt sorry for Chelsea, who had no control over the choreography that her partner chose. I still think she is one of the favorites to win it all and I’ll be surprised if she’s not one of the finalists. I’m glad Romeo had a good week. He needs to repair the “family name”, after his father was on the show, and so far he has. </p>
<p>I, too, am a Ralph fan and also agree with the comparisons to Donnie Osmond! If I were betting, I’d pick him to win it all, after just 2 weeks.</p>
<p>If Cheryl Burke has any flaw, it is that she sometimes choreographs routines that showcase her talent instead of her partner’s. </p>
<p>I miss Derek and his sister…I admit to sometimes keeping their stars in the game just so I could see the Houghs dance again. </p>
<p>I expect that Mark Ballas will follow them out the door soon…</p>
<p>Cheryl is a superb teacher and truly does get the most out of her partners. I was very surprised by/impressed with Chris Jericho. I would say the exact opposite about Cheryl–she doesn’t showcase herself and does not overdance her partners. She didn’t even do it with Wayne Newton. Karina and Edyta are the bad ones for dancing around their partners. That may be Ralph’s downfall.</p>
<p>Most everyone this week was disappointing with the exception of Chris & Romeo. The others were either the same or a bit worse. Loved that Kirstie suprised Maks with the kiss.</p>
<p>You have only to look at Corky to see that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with Mark. He just doesn’t get choreographing in a tone that is appropriate to his partner. Some of the weird stuff he did with Bristol Palin last season was just not appropriate to someone of her performance ability. He could have done a straight jive with Chelsea last night and scored really high and pleased the audience. The mime thing was borderline creepy.</p>
<p>I am SOOOOO glad Derek is gone this year. He’s a great dancer and choreographer but I can’t stand him. My pet peeve is that he throws a double turn in almost every dance. I’ve suggested a drinking game–take a drink everytime Derek does a double turn. No one could make it to the end of the game. I want to shout: "Yes, we know you can do that Derek!'</p>
<p>I think Wendy will be next to go, unless there’s a surprise.</p>
<p>No surprise about Petra’s costume. It had nothing to do with dancing.</p>
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</p>
<p>Don’t forget to mark them down for community service hours. You know how adcoms love EC’s! ;)</p>
<p>Oh, no! Poor Maks! I really hope he’s not out for good with an injury. I didn’t think they were going to be able to finish the dance. Kudos to both of them for going ahead with it.</p>
<p>Didn’t get the judge’s love for Chris this time. His story was touching but he didn’t really do much dancing. It looked like mostly walking while Cheryl danced.</p>
<p>Hines was adorable and Chelsea was very good tonight, too.</p>
<p>Kendra, Romeo, Sugar Ray - meh…
Petra was lovely.</p>
<p>Ralph seemed very awkward. What is it with his hair? Is that a weave? A wig? A comb-over? It’s really lopsided.</p>
<p>I think Wendy should go home.</p>
<p>Definitely Wendy. I voted for Petra tonight. Her dance was lovely, and I fear she has no fan base.</p>