Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Donald Driver Wins DWTS

Like Packers fans across the country, I did my part to help secure the prestigious "Mirror Ball" trophy for Donald Driver on Dancing With the Stars.

This is the first season of the series I've watched. Donald Driver was the one and only reason I devoted my time to the show, but I did enjoy it.

From WISN:

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver took the Lambeau Leap to the ballroom and is going home with the Dancing With The Stars Mirror Ball Trophy.

Driver, 37, competed in season 14 of the ABC show and defeated Telenova star William Levy and classical singer Katherine Jenkins to win the competition.

...Driver and partner Peta Murgatroyd earned their first 30 of the season in their second-to-last dance during their freestyle routine.

From ESPN:
Driver is a great athlete and competitor, and perhaps he was already a good dancer before this show. But his emotional reaction to winning was an indication of how hard he needed to work to secure this accomplishment, and how much satisfaction he felt upon achieving it.

(Having Packers fans supporting you in the viewer voting doesn't hurt, either.)

Driver will have a few whirlwind days of publicity but could re-join the Packers for offseason workouts as early as next week. His agent, Jordan Woy, tweeted: "Congrats to Donald Driver winning DWTS!! Now it is time to get ready for another season with the Packers!"

Here are some other Packers reactions via Twitter:

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers: Speaking of teammates, am so proud of @Donald_Driver80 and his accomplishment tonight!!! Enjoy the whirlwind the next few days quickie!!!

Tight end Tom Crabtree: Donaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaald Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?#titletown? ?#GoPackGo? ?#dwts? ?#football? ?#dance? ?#America

Linebacker A.J. Hawk: Congrats @Donald_Driver80, Champion, not even close!

Guard Josh Sitton: My little cousin @biigwilly won the sate baseball championship tonight an @Donald_Driver80 won dwts ! What a great night! Congrats guys!!!!!

Receiver Randall Cobb: Quickie has to write a book about this! Congrats to @Donald_Driver80!!!

ESPN analyst Andrew Brandt, a former Packers executive: Donald! Remember skinny 7th round pick coming in saying he would make a name in GB. Great story.

Here's a clip of Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews giving some words of encouragement to their teammate:


Here's Stephanie Sutton's interview with Donald Driver's wife, Betina, his son, Christian, and his daughter, Christina:

What a lovely family!

The kids are adorable. Christina is so sweet and Christian is so funny. "HE WON!"

When Donald and Peta were announced as the winners, Donald obviously was thrilled. I expected him to jump for joy, but I didn't expect the "stop, drop, and roll" reaction.

It was very classy of Donald and his wife to thank the Packers fans for voting, and to acknowledge our part, the easy part, in his victory.

All in all, the season was a lot of fun and a nice diversion from Wisconsin's political nightmare.

Can't we all just ballroom dance?

_________________

Donald and Peta's freestyle dance, green and gold, perfect 10s:

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