Kurt Warner & Anna Trebunskaya - Season 11

[The Mod Team]

He’s the first quarterback ever to participate in Dancing with the Stars. Clearly he’s fast on his feet. But how’s is he without his cleats on?

In 1999, Kurt Warner emerged from obscurity to lead the St. Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. In that same year, Warner was named the NFL and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. As the ringleader of the “Greatest Show on Turf,” he led the Rams to two additional playoff appearances – including another Super Bowl - and received Pro Bowl honors for three consecutive years (1999-2001). He also earned his second NFL MVP in 2001. Injuries led Warner to move from the Rams to the Giants, and finally the Arizona Cardinals in 2005. In 2007, he led the Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl berth, was voted to his fourth Pro Bowl, and surpassed several Cardinals’ franchise records including touchdowns, attempts, completions, completion percentage and passer rating.

Warner’s gridiron accomplishments pale in comparison to the dedication he devotes to the community. In 2001, Kurt and his wife Brenda established the First Things First Foundation, a non-profit public charity dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values, sharing experiences and providing opportunities to encourage everyone that all things are possible when people seek to put first things first.

Warner was born and raised in Iowa and played college football at the University of Northern Iowa. He lives in Arizona with his wife Brenda and seven children.

[libgirl2]

I just love this guy.... I only hope he can dance. Been catching his tweets through FB and he has mentioned getting up early for dance practice.

[karalott]

I'm also hoping he can dance. Judging by Anna's tweets it sounds like there's work to do. I love Kurt's attitude and am sure these two are going to make a great couple to watch. Right now I'm hoping they or Brandy/Maks take it. Both pros are deserving and overdue, and I love their celebs.

[aname2]

He is better looking in person. My husband and I were having dinner at a local restaurant one night in Hawaii when he and his wife walked in. He was here for the Pro Bowl. I didn't know who he was, but everyone else in the restaurant seem to. He was very gracious to a few little boys who approached him for an autograph. But most everyone left him alone. We are very used to celebrities here.

[talldede]

Go Kurt and Anna, love this pairing!

[TonyDovolaniFan]

I remembeer reading about him a few years ago. He sounds like a really sweet person. At the moment, this is my 2nd favorite pair. LOVED Anna's choreograohy last season with Evan (still think they should have won).

[fluff]

I know little to nothing about Kurt Warner.
He seems a little hunched over in a couple of the publicity shots I've seen. It makes me wonder if he'll be a bit of a "wooden" dancer.
Hope to be proved wrong on that one because I like Anna and he seems nice from what I have heard.

[karalott]

Today is Anna and Jonathan's anniversary!

I have been a tad worried about Kurt's dancing per some clips I've seen. His posture appears to need work. Anna's on the shorter side so I hope he doesn't tower over her. She had Jerry Rice, though, and that seemed to work out okay. If his posture is a problem, like it's often been with athletes, I hope it's something he can continue to improve on. Tonight it'll be obvious whether his dancing is a lost cause or show promise. Since he's only 1 of 3 couples I'm looking forward to, hopefully it's the latter. I need you Kurt!

I'm sure his fanbase will step in and keep him around. LT and Michael were probably the worst football players on the show, and they made it halfway.

[babymay]

An inspiring story. I thought some of it was a bit fictitious, until I met someone who knew them:




In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a
new voice came over the asking for a carry out at check register 4.
Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and
decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand
a distant smile caught his eye, the new check out girl was beautiful.
She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he
fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock
to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at
him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card,
BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road.

Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered
her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted.
When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again,
outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible. He pressed and
she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-
sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she
accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.

That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him
that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and
canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, lets take the kids
with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but
again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda,
brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter
who was just cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out
her son, in a wheelchair, he was born a paraplegic with down
syndrome. Kurtis said to Brenda, "I still don't understand why the
kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would
run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had
disabilities. Just like her first husband and father of her children
did.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner
and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take
care of him. When he needed to use the rest room, he picked him
up out of his chair, took him, brought him back. The kids loved
Kurtis.
At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was
going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they
were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children and since then
they have added two more kids.

So what happened to the stock boy and check out girl? Well, .....
Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner, now live in St. Louis, where he is employed
by the St. Louis Rams and plays quarterback.

Go Rams!

I think they have 7 or 8 kids now...

[karalott]

I love reading Jonathan's tweets, especially when Anna gets flack. Last season there was a lot of 'the judges are fired', and last night he commented on their VW and said Len must be drinking again. What a supportive hubby Not that I think Jonathan deserves a likely early out in Florence, but it kills me they don't bring him back again and yet we have to endure Corky.

As for Kurt/Anna, I wonder what happened to them going 8th. I felt they got screwed by going so early. I found their dance much better, much like Audrina's, than some of the ones who came after them. And in no way, do I think Bristol's was one point below what he did, or Margaret's 4 points. But I guess 15 is probably the lowest one will score on this show anymore. Kurt looked like a diamond in the rough. I'd been worried about him regarding photos, video clips, and Anna's tweets, but he's got it. He's got kinks to work out, but he looked like a lot of athletes their first night out. I hope he's around until the end. My choices to win along with Brandy/Maks.