If stadium news doesn't get your blood pumping, then perhaps ballroom dancing will float your boat on this fine Monday afternoon.
After years of begging, the NFC North finally has representation on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." We in the business call it "DWTS" for short. You will soon, because Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver is one of 12 celebrities paired with a dancing professional to compete in an elimination-style competition.
(For now, we'll skip over the possibility that Driver, 37, will not be a part of the Packers' roster in 2012. He's ours for now.)
Season 14 debuts Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on, yes, ABC. Tuesday night brings us the first results show of the season, from what I understand.
A total of 10 current or former NFL players have participated in DWTS, and Driver will be the fifth wide receiver after Jerry Rice, Hines Ward, Michael Irvin and Chad Ochocinco. He is paired with Peta Murgatroyd, a native of New Zealand whose previous celebrity dance credits include Ron Artest before he re-named himself Metta World Peace.
I haven't decided whether we'll actually do a DriverWatch, or perhaps a DWTSWatch, as this exciting drama unfolds. I do think it will be fun to see how Driver's personality plays on a national level, and we've seen enough fancy footwork from him to think he has a reasonable chance to, uh, dance well over the next few weeks. (Sorry, I don't know how the kids these days describe good dancing. "Getting down?" "Gettin' jiggy with it?" "Busting a move?" I'm a big "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" guy, but otherwise, I have no idea.)
For now, at least, consider this a public service announcement as you look for ways to fill your Monday (and Tuesday) nights until Monday Night Football returns in just a few short months.
