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Ex-Buc Sapp Shows Off Dancing Moves On 'Stars' Debut

ABC

Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson impressed the judges Monday, earning a score of 21.

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TBO.com

Published: September 23, 2008

Updated: 09/23/2008 11:02 am

On a season-opening night when low-score paddles were the rage, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer star Warren Sapp surprised the "Dancing With the Stars" judges, netting an impressive first-performance score of 21 of 30 possible points.

Remember, Sapp chased quarterbacks at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds most of his 13 NFL seasons. But the big fella, sans football pads, showed himself to be quite light on his feet, dancing a cha-cha with partner Kym Johnson to Stevie Wonder's "Do I Do." All three judges gave him a 7.

Judge Len Goodman called Sapp "a great bundle of joy."

"You came out and had fun," he said.

Fellow judge Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, "Big boys can dance."

Model-actress Brooke Burke dominated the dancing competition with a 23, but several of the seventh season celebrity participants began at the bottom of the pack. Television legend Cloris Leachman received a 16. "All My Children" matriarch Susan Lucci was given a 15. And celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito cooked up a lukewarm 14.

"I forgot we had a 4," quipped host Tom Bergeron of the low score paddle flashed to DiSpirito.

However, the lowest number - a pathetic 12 - went to comedian Jeffrey Ross, who suffered a scratched cornea after his partner Edyta Sliwinska accidentally poked him during a rehearsal Monday. Ross wasn't the only performer to dance despite suffering a previous injury. Professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, who's partnered with DiSpirito, sprained her ankle.

Leachman brought the most drama to the ballroom. After dancing, the 82-year-old actress lifted her leg onto the judges' table, fell to her knees in front of Len Goodman and then sat on Carrie Ann Inaba's lap as the arbiters attempted to evaluate her routine. She wasn't any more subdued backstage. Her reaction to her low score had to be censored.

"They can't even add up the numbers, they're so stupid here," she said, grabbing an off-camera card with her score.

Other celebrities who managed to score more than 15 included singers Lance Bass and Toni Braxton (both with 22s); reality TV star Kim Kardashian; actors Cody Linley and Ted McGinley; and Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor (tied with Sapp at 21) and Maurice Greene.

One dancing couple will be eliminated tonight. Following another routine, a second team will be sent home Wednesday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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