Kurt Warner: Why the DWTS Quarterback Is Steaming Mad
Kurt Warner was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday night, and the former NFL quarterback is none too happy about it.
"It was unfair," said Warner after he and partner Anna Trebunskaya were voted off the popular show one week after fellow athlete Rick Fox was also told to hit the showers.
Although he's not likely to admit it, Warner's biggest gripe at this point is that it was him who was ousted from the show and not Bristol Palin, daughter of 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. But while he isn't likely to discuss it, the Internet already is.
So did Warner deserve the quick hook? Or is his exit due to ill-placed public faith in Bristol Palin?
We'll discuss in the ensuing slides.
Warner's Final Performance
1 of 8The final dance performed by Warner and Anna Trebunskaya was the "Cha Cha Cha," which can be seen in its full glory in the attached video.
Watching the performance, it's hard to find anything wrong with it. In fact, for a man who made his legend as one of the best pocket passers of the past two decades, his movements are surprisingly fluid.
The judges were certainly thrilled, and Warner himself seemed very pleased with what would be his final showing. As the final judge says, it wasn't "perfect," but it was "good!"
Nevertheless, he left the stage defeated, albeit to the tune of "MVP!" chants coming from the crowd.
Bristol Palin's Last Performance
2 of 8The big outrage in all of this, of course, is not so much that Warner was eliminated. Instead, the general consensus appears to be that he certainly is more deserving to keep competing than Bristol Palin, whose last dance can be seen in the video.
Just from watching her dance, it is immediately apparent to a layman like myself that this controversy is well-founded.
First of all, Bristol Palin is not really a "star" in the true sense of the word. She's the daughter of a star, and one who is no prize in her own right.
Secondly, her dancing is clearly sub-par. She looks totally uninspired. Bored even. And that's probably the reason she was below Warner on the leader board.
Yet, Warner's elimination means that she gets to move on to next Monday's semi-finals, which will air on ABC at 8 pm.
Warner Expresses Disappointment
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Immediately following his exit from the Dancing with the Stars stage, it didn't take long for Warner to vent.
"It was unfair," said the former Rams and Cardinals great in an interview with People, "We felt for a long time that we should have gotten better scores than we did, so we're disappointed."
His partner was equally dejected. "I'm disappointed and sad," said Anna Trebunskaya.
Nevertheless, Trebunskaya also expressed her satisfaction with Warner's progression. "Kurt wasn't slacking off," she said. "He was getting better and better and better. He entertained the crowd. There are so many positives I will take out of this story. Getting to know this guy is priceless."
Warner himself also found a way to be humble. "I'm just glad it's me," he said. "I don't want anybody to have to go home, and everyone has worked hard...Winning wasn't even part of why I did this show."
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Right Wing Conspiracy
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As is always the case when people in and around the right wing of American politics get their way, the people on the other side of the fence have cried foul about Palin's survival on DWTS.
A story in the New York Post tackled the notion of a conspiracy theory, dealing with the several reasons why the Republican constituency in America is the obvious rationale for why Palin has yet to be eliminated.
As Broadway star and former DWTS contestant Marissa Jaret Winokur put it, "I think Bristol is going to keep advancing because the Republicans are going to keep voting for her."
Winokur goes on to say, "But she is never going to win. Bristol is sweet and cute, but everybody else are better dancers."
The Internet and Operation Bristol
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The Internet is abuzz with chatter about idea that Palin's success is being fueled by a sort of cloak-and-dagger republican scheme.
Something called "Operation Bristol" has been trending recently on both Twitter and web sites in support of Palin, including www.Conservatives4Palin.com and www.us4Palin.com.
In the words of one Twitter user, "Operation Bristol is a right wing conspiracy backed by crazy card carrying NRA members."
Indeed.
But Bristol isn't buying it. "I don’t think [my success] has much to do with my mom’s political background at all. I think it’s ridiculous to say that they’re all pulling together and having this campaign for me because obviously there’s more than that. There’s more supporters out there that are voting.”
Of course, she also added: “But we’re thankful for all our fans out there. It doesn’t matter who they are.”
Internet Support for Warner
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As the social networking world and Internet at large have come out in condemnation of Palin, it has also come out in support or Warner.
On the #KurtWarner trend on Twitter, both fans of the quarterback and critics of Bristol Palin have been sounding off pretty in hordes ever since Warner's elimination last night.
But while some chose to rip Palin with posts like "Bristol the [bleep] should have been eliminated," most users were just sorry to see him go.
The #DancingWithTheStars trend is also pretty heavily skewed in Warner's favor, where the word "rigged" is used fairly consistently.
Warner Remains Gracious
7 of 8Right wing conspiracy or no right wing conspiracy, the man himself was his classic gracious self in an interview with ABC this morning.
(Yes, you do have to watch it on Youtube).
In Warner's words, "It was really just embracing the whole thing that is Dancing with the Stars...It's really just about enjoying the process."
And for the record, ballroom dancing is significantly "different" from throwing a ball to Larry Fitzgerald.
Conclusion
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At the end of all this, we're left with one question:
Did Warner get screwed?
Well, if you're asking whether or not the better dancer was booted of the show, then the answer is yes. Both the judges in the show and much of the American public certainly seem to support the notion. So you're definitely right in thinking that the show would have been better off with Warner than it is with Palin.
But if you're asking whether or not Warner was the victim of some kind of conspiracy, the answer is no. Even if Palin's continuation in the show is due to right wing favoritism, I for one would hardly say that it's an example of a conspiracy.
After all, contestants on Dancing with the Stars are indeed chosen by who the general public wants to see week in and week out. It just so happens that there are more people who want to see Palin when they turn the TV on after a hard day's work.
If the show wasn't driven by a public vote, then it would certainly seem odd that such a lousy dancer was managing to keep surviving the cut.
In other words, quit your bitching.
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