We rank athletes on 'Dancing:' Nos. 14-8
September, 20, 2012
9/20/12
12:00
PM ET
By
Lynn Hoppes and Kareem White | ESPN.com
We're a few days away from the start of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" with four athletes -- Apolo Ohno, Shawn Johnson, Emmitt Smith and Helio Castroneves -- vying for the mirror ball trophy. All four athletes have won a previous title, so it's really up in the air who will capture the season.
Playbook looks back at all the great athletes (and pseudo athletes) who have appeared on the show, and we rank the 35 over the next five days. On Monday, Nos. 35-29. Tuesday, Nos. 28-22. Wednesday, Nos. 21-15. Today, 14-8.
No. 14 ERIN ANDREWS
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesErin Andrews and professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.SEASON: 10
THE SKINNY: Erin Andrews consistently put up strong performances and lasted until the finale, proving she was more than just a pretty face. She also dealt with tough competition (Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger) and still held her own. Andrews told Playbook the experience on the show "meant everything to me," and said she would only return if Maks Chmerkovskiy was her partner again.
No. 13 SUGAR RAY LEONARD
Adam Taylor/Getty ImagesSugar Ray Leonard and professional partner Anna Trebunskaya.SEASON: 12
THE SKINNY: Sugar Ray Leonard put up the good fight and danced well on the Viennese Waltz. He was loved by everyone on the show. The judges loved him, and so did the crowd and his partner, as well. Len Goodman called Sugar Ray Leonard “the heart of the show." Leonard said on "Good Morning America": "I had the best time of my life. It was an experience I never thought would have taken place because I'm not a ballroom dancer, but the crash course I had was wonderful."
No. 12 RICK FOX
Adam Larkey/ABC via Getty ImagesRick Fox and professional partner Cheryl Burke.SEASON: 11
THE SKINNY: Rick Fox and his partner Cheryl Burke could have taken home the mirror ball trophy, but he was eliminated prematurely. The 6-foot-7 former NBA player was by far one of the best contestants on the show, and it was a shock when he and Cheryl went home earlier than expected. Fox told Playbook, "I'm still shocked that I was eliminated."
No. 11 EVAN LYSACEK
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesEvan Lysacek and and professional partner Anna Trebunskaya.SEASON: 10
THE SKINNY: Evan Lysacek was a true trooper on the show, dancing through injury (he had two broken toes), and still made to the finale. He went “toe to toe” with Nicole Scherzinger and was praised for his paso doble with partner Anna Trebunskaya. "From Olympics to 'Dancing With the Stars' to 'Stars on Ice,' I've had a great year," Lysacek told Playbook then.
No. 10 WARREN SAPP
ABC/Kelsey McNeal/Getty ImagesWarren Sapp and professional partner Kym Johnson.SEASON: 7
THE SKINNY: Warren Sapp was by far one of the more entertaining athletes on the show. We saw Warren Sapp imitate Beyonce’s moves on the football field during his playing career, but who knew a 300-pound defensive tackle could be so light on his feet? The highlight of Sapp’s appearance on the show was when the former defensive lineman dressing up like Morpheus from the Matrix to perform his routine with partner Kym Johnson.
No. 9 CHAD OCHOCINCO
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesChad Johnson and his professional partner Cheryl Burke.SEASON: 10
THE SKINNY: Chad Ochocinco lived up to his reputation as an entertainer, and his end-zone dances on the football field translated to the dance floor. With the help of Cheryl Burke, their chemistry propelled the pair all the way to the semifinals. After losing, Ochocinco tweeted: "Man this has been one of the best experiences ever, thanks to all who supported The Interesting One, this is just the beginning."
No. 8 LAILA ALI
Carol Kaelson/ABC/Getty ImagesLaila Ali and professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.SEASON: 4
THE SKINNY: Laila Ali was dinged up during her stint on “Dancing With The Stars” and still almost won the competition. She told the New York Post, "I have two bad shoulders, two bad knees, a bad back and my wrists are a little weak." On a side note, Ali was absolutely stunning on the show.
NEXT: Coming Friday -- Nos. 1-7, and "Dancing" judge Carrie Ann Inaba gives her thoughts on each.
Playbook looks back at all the great athletes (and pseudo athletes) who have appeared on the show, and we rank the 35 over the next five days. On Monday, Nos. 35-29. Tuesday, Nos. 28-22. Wednesday, Nos. 21-15. Today, 14-8.
No. 14 ERIN ANDREWS
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesErin Andrews and professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.THE SKINNY: Erin Andrews consistently put up strong performances and lasted until the finale, proving she was more than just a pretty face. She also dealt with tough competition (Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger) and still held her own. Andrews told Playbook the experience on the show "meant everything to me," and said she would only return if Maks Chmerkovskiy was her partner again.
No. 13 SUGAR RAY LEONARD
Adam Taylor/Getty ImagesSugar Ray Leonard and professional partner Anna Trebunskaya.THE SKINNY: Sugar Ray Leonard put up the good fight and danced well on the Viennese Waltz. He was loved by everyone on the show. The judges loved him, and so did the crowd and his partner, as well. Len Goodman called Sugar Ray Leonard “the heart of the show." Leonard said on "Good Morning America": "I had the best time of my life. It was an experience I never thought would have taken place because I'm not a ballroom dancer, but the crash course I had was wonderful."
No. 12 RICK FOX
Adam Larkey/ABC via Getty ImagesRick Fox and professional partner Cheryl Burke.THE SKINNY: Rick Fox and his partner Cheryl Burke could have taken home the mirror ball trophy, but he was eliminated prematurely. The 6-foot-7 former NBA player was by far one of the best contestants on the show, and it was a shock when he and Cheryl went home earlier than expected. Fox told Playbook, "I'm still shocked that I was eliminated."
No. 11 EVAN LYSACEK
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesEvan Lysacek and and professional partner Anna Trebunskaya.THE SKINNY: Evan Lysacek was a true trooper on the show, dancing through injury (he had two broken toes), and still made to the finale. He went “toe to toe” with Nicole Scherzinger and was praised for his paso doble with partner Anna Trebunskaya. "From Olympics to 'Dancing With the Stars' to 'Stars on Ice,' I've had a great year," Lysacek told Playbook then.
No. 10 WARREN SAPP
ABC/Kelsey McNeal/Getty ImagesWarren Sapp and professional partner Kym Johnson.THE SKINNY: Warren Sapp was by far one of the more entertaining athletes on the show. We saw Warren Sapp imitate Beyonce’s moves on the football field during his playing career, but who knew a 300-pound defensive tackle could be so light on his feet? The highlight of Sapp’s appearance on the show was when the former defensive lineman dressing up like Morpheus from the Matrix to perform his routine with partner Kym Johnson.
No. 9 CHAD OCHOCINCO
Adam Larkey/ABC/Getty ImagesChad Johnson and his professional partner Cheryl Burke.THE SKINNY: Chad Ochocinco lived up to his reputation as an entertainer, and his end-zone dances on the football field translated to the dance floor. With the help of Cheryl Burke, their chemistry propelled the pair all the way to the semifinals. After losing, Ochocinco tweeted: "Man this has been one of the best experiences ever, thanks to all who supported The Interesting One, this is just the beginning."
No. 8 LAILA ALI
Carol Kaelson/ABC/Getty ImagesLaila Ali and professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.THE SKINNY: Laila Ali was dinged up during her stint on “Dancing With The Stars” and still almost won the competition. She told the New York Post, "I have two bad shoulders, two bad knees, a bad back and my wrists are a little weak." On a side note, Ali was absolutely stunning on the show.
NEXT: Coming Friday -- Nos. 1-7, and "Dancing" judge Carrie Ann Inaba gives her thoughts on each.

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