"Twinkle-toes" Taylor to take stage again tonight

by Matty I on Mar 24, 2008 4:01 PM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

Alright, I'll admit it. Jason Taylor's performance on Dancing With The Stars last week peeked my interest. And it did so enough for me to actually watch his performances from here on out.

But that's not why I'm writing about dancing, of all things, on this site. I really planned on not even bringing up the topic. But then I stumbled upon a blog that Jason Taylor is doing for ESPN. And that really caught my attention. Specifically, the following excerpt:

The dancing shoes also took some getting used to--they're thin, flimsy light things, with no support. My feet were killing me for that first week and a half. Then again, everything was killing me. Right now, I'm in, by far, the best shape I've been in in March in my career. Everyone's making this big thing about the off-season program and all that. But when I won Defensive Player Of the Year [in 2006], I made less than half of the workouts in the off-season. And last season, when I didn't have as big a year, I was in the off-season program 75 to 80 percent of the time.

They're making a big deal about nothing.

Now? I'll be up at 7:30 and go lift. Then I'll head over to the dance studio and I'll dance from 11 to 2. Then I'll eat lunch for an hour and then come back and dance another three hours. I'll dance six hours a day. It's a different training for a minute-and-a-half or two-minute dance. In football you train to play 10 second plays for 60 minutes. But there's no better way right now for me to get in shape and burn fat than what I'm doing. I've got more lean muscle than I've had in probably 10 years. I'm seeing my abs again. I was getting a little chubby smoking cigars and playing golf.

So I guess this can really put an end to the idea that this dancing crap is going to affect Taylor's football training. The bottom line is Taylor is likely going to be in better shape than he has been in a long time.

One other interesting tidbit is below:

I also got a text from Coach Sparano after the first show. "Great job," he said. "You looked nervous, you looked a little winded because you were nervous, but great job.'' I told Coach Sparano I really appreciated the support. Just a simple text message. It was nice to get.

We haven't really gotten a whole lot of support from the Dolphins or from the NFL for this thing, which blows my mind. We've got so many problems in the league right now that are so public. Then you have someone bringing positive recognition to the NFL and to Miami Dolphins on a weekly basis in front of 25 million people, and nobody seems to want to get on board. That makes my teammates support mean even more.

First off, it's great to hear how Tony Sparano sent Taylor a text following his performance. Sure, it isn't really a big deal or anything. But the fact that not only his teammates, but also his head coach, is supporting him is a good sign and really should end the questions about his loyalty to the Fins. Clearly, he has the support of his head coach and teammates.

I do wonder, though, why the Dolphins organization and the NFL both haven't backed Taylor more in this endeavor and JT makes a really good point. The NFL has been involved in some recent negative headlines. The Michael Vick thing and Pacman Jones thing come to mind right away. And here's Taylor, working his butt off and doing something that, while some fans might find ridiculous, is a positive PR move. And neither the team nor the league are really supporting him. Go figure.

Either way, for those interested, Taylor will perform again tonight at 8 pm eastern on ABC. So be sure to check it out if you got the time.

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JT has some good points, there.

In a time when most of the headlines about NFL players involve strip joint shootings, bar room brawls, beating on women....... wouldn't you think the Dolphins would take the opportunity to hold up our shining star Jason Taylor, as a way to say "Hey, there are good guys in this league and on our team."?

Think of all the charity work JT has done in the comunity & around the world. He's a roll model for kids, a solid citizen & should be praised & held up in the highest regard for everything he has done to uplift the NFL's image.

Just another reason I hope he stays & retires a Dolphin (and we take Jake instead of Chris in this draft, LOL).

By the way, for the "real men" who think what he's doing is silly & being a sissy, I definately believe what he's saying about the shape he's in. I can't remember who it was (back in the 70's or 80's I think), but I remember one of the greatest players of all time made a statement about taking ballet lessons & training for dance as the difference between their "game" and everybody else. Anyone remember who that was? Seems to me it was a wide receiver or a running back.

My hat's off to you Jason Taylor, and I hope you'll be out there as a Dolphin this year & until you retire!

Dave

by davehowardcustom on Mar 24, 2008 4:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if he made a statement...

...but I know Barry Sanders is known to have taken ballet as part of his training.

by Matty I on Mar 24, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's it

That's who I was thinking about. Either him or Jerry Rice.

by davehowardcustom on Mar 24, 2008 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Herschel Walker

Best I could find below...but I know there was an SI article with a cover photo with Herschel Walker and a ballerina talking about the subject.

"It is not an entirely unproven concept. More than a few successful football players - Lynn Swann, Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders and Willie Gault, for instance - have turned to dance to enhance their skills."

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/02/12/sports/devrieze/doc47b108a85ba56777524633.txt

by OntheGo on Mar 25, 2008 4:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh...

even i don't watch dancing with the stars Matty! :) :)

I just had to razz you about that, it isn't as if I get many chances.

Here's a video for all you who wanna watch the big man put on the moves on the dance floor :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8Rfgw4uFY2k

by Natalya on Mar 24, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yea yea

mock me if you'd like.

But do let me clarify...I only watch Taylor's performance. I record the show and skip to only his performance.

by Matty I on Mar 24, 2008 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh, I wasn't 'mocking' you

or at least I don't think of 'mocking' as having a lighthearted laugh with someone.

And your clarification has been noted by the peanut gallery. Lest anyone think you watch the whole show :)

by Natalya on Mar 24, 2008 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch out, Katina

Um, that woman, JT's partner? Smoking hot.

P.S. I thought it was Walter Payton who took the ballet lessons. I could be wrong.

Go Dolphins.

by lancelotlink on Mar 24, 2008 8:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

JTs partner...

holy shit is she hot. and i even get to watch it cause my fiancee has a "thing" for JT and since im a fan of course i have to watch it :)

on a serious note the man does look in GREAT shape right now. he is by far and away the best dancer on there besides the pros of course. im sure he will be ready to go for the season if he is still with us of course

There will be changes here, there's no doubt about that ~BP~

by jwillis9 on Mar 24, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

That was another one I thought about. There are probably a bunch who don't publicise it, LOL.

"Sweetness" was the first one I thought of, then I'm thinking, "no.... Barry Sanders.......no...... Jerry Rice...... no...... Lynn Swann.......no...... Mike Singltary........"

Oh well,

Dave

by davehowardcustom on Mar 24, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

/sigh

"It all starts with the Dolphins," an executive with another team said Sunday, "and not a single person here has any idea what they're going to do."

by Neo on Mar 24, 2008 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well the

older you get the harder it gets to stay in shape. Talk is cheap lets see what you bring in September and then again in December.

by jvw on Mar 25, 2008 12:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

VOTE ON JT!

For an hour after the show you need to vote for JT.
1-800-868-3402. As the competition rolls on, your votes become more important. Emmitt won because of the Dallas contingent, Jerry Rice almost won because of the 49er vote (came in second instead of 3rd where he really belonged behind a smokin hot, great legs, better dancer in Stacy Kiebler.

SPREAD THE WORD VOTE JT.

by kevin on Mar 25, 2008 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs