Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska -- ABC-TV
The New York Giants’ legendary Lawrence Taylor says he has already lost 25 pounds rehearsing with professional partner Edyta Sliwinska for his upcoming stint on Dancing with the Stars.
The NFL Hall of Famer told the New York Daily News this week that he decided to compete on the show to improve his health.
"I've always been under some kind of exercise regimen," he said. "Dancing is serious exercise and your body moves in many different directions."
Taylor is following in the footsteps of DWTS football alums Emmitt Smith, who won the competition in 2006, Jason Taylor, Jerry Rice and Warren Sapp, who came in second last season.
"I never watched the show before, but I know that other football players have danced," said Taylor. "I look forward to the start of the show because it will be a challenge."
The 50-year-old athlete, who retired in 1993, said he has been practicing with Sliwinska about 20 hours a week in preparation for the DWTS premiere on ABC-TV on Monday, March 9.
"Dancing for this show is not like dancing in the club,” he said. “The dances I'm learning are very technical. I had never been exposed to ballroom dancing so I am learning how to point my toe and learning all the technical stuff that the judges look for."
Meanwhile, Taylor said he is in the competition to win.
"There are much better dancers on the show, but nobody works harder than me," he said. "My goal is to do my best and not embarrass myself or my family. I'm a fighter and a competitor and I want to win. The longer I last on the show, the harder I will dance."
Also competing in the show are actress Denise Richards, rapper Lil' Kim, Apple computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, Go Go's singer Belinda Carlisle, comedian David Alan Grier, singer Jewel, Jewel’s cowboy husband Ty Murray, "Access Hollywood" so-host Nancy O'Dell, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, actor Gilles Marini, "Jackass" star Steve-O and songwriter Chuck Wicks.
For more info: ABC's Dancing with the Stars
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