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‘Dancing With The Stars’: Who Has The Best Shot At Winning The Mirror Ball Trophy?

By Jeffrey Totey
Published on: 16:00 PST, Sep 4, 2016

It seems that every season of Dancing with the Stars features some controversy, and that is more than likely by design. This season, all eyes will be on disgraced Olympian Ryan Lochte, who will no doubt have the physical stamina to compete. However, unlike other athletes before him, he made not have the support of the American public.

For many, the timing of the announcement that Lochte would be joining Dancing with the Stars, right after his embarrassing gas station hold-up hoax in Rio, seemed a little too soon. There is little doubt that Lochte is trying hard to improve his tainted image. He is paired with dancing pro Cheryl Burke, who is back from leaving Dancing with the Stars in 2014 to pursue other opportunities. So far, things have been going smoothly for the dancing couple.

“I’ve worked with athletes like Chad Ochocinco and Emmitt Smith in the past and I’ve always been impressed by their work ethic — and Ryan is no different,” Burke told ABC News. “He shows up on time, ready to work, takes constructive criticism well and wants to keep practicing until he’s perfect.”

She added, “I’m really glad that I can be there now as a distraction. The show has given him something else to focus on: getting ready to dance in front of millions of people. I think this opportunity came at the perfect time for him.”

However, not everybody will agree. Even Michael Phelps admitted that he might not watch his fellow athlete perform. One News Page says that Phelps is unsure how well Ryan will do in the competition and that he “probably won’t go see Lochte’s performance because he is just too busy at the moment.”

Another Dancing with the Stars couple that is getting some attention in recent days is the pairing of pro dancer Derek Hough with actress Marilu Henner. Even at 64 years of age, the former Taxi star is in incredible shape and says that she is a “rabid fan” of the show.

“I took dancing as a child. This is a completely different ballgame,” Henner told Fox News.

Hough and Henner rehearse for four hours a day, and then Henner continues for another two hours at home.

“Our team is Team Henergy, which I like because nobody has as much energy as this woman right here!”

Henner might be the exception to the rule. As one of the older celebrities to compete, she is also one of the fittest. That isn’t the case with many of the celebrities. In fact, some are taking issue with the show that they allow athletes and ex-athletes compete at all.

“We’re calling foul on the new lineup for Dancing With the Stars,” reports the New York Daily News. “The dance competition show’s just-announced roster for the upcoming season includes Olympians Ryan Lochte and Laurie Hernandez, along with newly-retired All-Pro NFL wide receiver Calvin Johnson — all of whom should be disqualified for the simple fact that they’re ringers.”

Donald Garverick, a theater director and choreographer in Manhattan, agrees, saying, “Their body is their instrument. It does give them a huge advantage.”

However, what really bugs the news site is that by allowing the athletes to compete, the competition becomes too predictable and boring.

“When you put these people of completely different abilities and talent levels together, it ruins it,” Garverick explained.

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‘Dancing With The Stars’ Cast Keeping Ryan Lochte In Public Eye

Be that as it may, there are still many fans who will be rooting for Maureen “Marcia Brady” McCormick, the former child star from The Brady Bunch who is following the footsteps of other former child stars Kim Fields, Jodie Sweetin, and Elizabeth Berkley. However, at age 60, she is the oldest to compete. McCormick has been paired with Artem Chigvintsev. McCormick is a former contestant of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, and she lost 38 pounds while on the show and appears to have kept the weight off.

The rest of the celebrities competing on Dancing with the Stars include Rick Perry, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, Vanilla Ice, Jana Kramer, Jake T. Austin, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Calvin Johnson, James Hinchcliffe, Amber Rose, and Terra Jole.

Dancing with the Stars premieres Monday, September 12 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

[Image via ABC]

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