81 replies to this topic

[TWoP Howard]

He played for the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers, and he’s done some acting. Is he still dating Eliza Dushku?

[spanana]

Yes, he's still dating Eliza. Don't forget he's also former Mr. Vanessa Williams. I'm guessing based on twitter he's paired with Cheryl. In addition to them following each other he also recently started following Gilles. Gilles tweeted tonight about how he got to meet Cheryl's partner and he's a nice guy.

Edited by spanana, Aug 30, 2010 @ 11:52 PM.

[El Tee]

Rick Fox: Won't Get Called For Traveling

[oakgal]

Rick Fox has always struck me as a tool, so I'll be interested to see how he comes across on the show. He certainly lucked out if he got Cheryl. On the upside, we might get Faith/Echo in the audience! *geeking out*

[bparhad]

Yes, he's still dating Eliza

They're actually engaged, I think. I follow her on twitter and she already is trying to get people to follow him before DWTS. Not sure if that will give him any extra push or not.

I'm pretty much indifferent towards him, but he's lucky I still try and block out his terrible acting as Jackson Vahue on OZ.

[Fukui San]

I always wondered why DWTS always had football players and not other team sports players, and I guess this is why. They can get Hall of Famers and All Pro football players, but for basketball they can only get Rick Fox, quality role player and fame whore?

Couldn't they get Michael Jordan? Charles Barkley? Shaq?

[bparhad]

Could the extreme height be part of the issue? I know Chuck Liddell was tall, and Rick Fox is what 6'6? That has to pose some issues, even with the tallest pro they could find. As it was, Ochocinco practically danced with a hunchback all last season so he wouldn't dwarf Cheryl. I'd love to see Shaq, but I think at 7'2, he'd be out of the question.

Charles Barkley on the other hand needs to be on this ASAP. I would much rather see him than Rick Fox.

Edited by bparhad, Aug 31, 2010 @ 10:17 AM.

[spanana]

I think height is a big issue in terms of casting basketball players, as I expect it will be here if indeed he is paired with Cheryl. Not that any of our female pros are exactly tall. Though I don't think Ochocinco ever realized he didn't need to hunch over to dance with Cheryl. There are ways of dealing with the height issue to some extent without doing that.

I don't really have any strong feelings on Rick Fox one way or another. If anything at this point I identify him more as an actor than a sports star. I'm not saying he's a fabulous actor or anything, but in recent years I've seen him appear on tv shows more than anything else.

Also he made a guest appearance on Party Down, one of my favorite tv comedies of all time, so he can't be that bad. Even if it wasn't a great episode.

[IHeartDVR]

Yes, he's still dating Eliza. Don't forget he's also former Mr. Vanessa Williams.

I would trade Rick for Eliza in a heartbeat, but if he's paired with Cheryl he'll be on my radar. At least Eliza will probably be in the audience as long as he's on the show. Rick seems like one of the stars who would request a specific pro, and I could totally see him asking for Cheryl.

Rick Fox has always struck me as a tool, so I'll be interested to see how he comes across on the show. He certainly lucked out if he got Cheryl.

He won't be able to get away with much where Cheryl is concerned (if he has her). Only Karina competes with her when it comes to not taking any BS from a partner.

Edited by IHeartDVR, Aug 31, 2010 @ 2:57 PM.

[dancingdoc]

I'd want to dance with Rick. Being an avid Laker fan, I'm just praying he has rhythm. He certaininly has the looks, and the body. Wait isn't he from the islands?? He better have rhythm.

[harvestbasket]

Rick Fox was pretty funny on Party Down. Rick Fox is the ideal NBA candidate IMO as he was not a legend (sorry, he is not) but played for a high profile team. No worry about tarnishing an image. But he was also on the Lakers and rooting for them is like rooting for the Yankees :) Though his girlfriend Eliza's fan base may help him. Also the cast in general seems so weak. I think Eliza will be in the audience. She seems to be a fan.

Couldn't they get Michael Jordan? Charles Barkley? Shaq?

Okay so I had Rick Fox on my wish list as I felt he was the right NBA guy to ask. Unlike Clyde who is a legend but not necessarily the most outgoing or known for his personality. Rick struck me as a tool too. Could be that he played for the Lakers and generally felt they were all douches, especially when led by the biggest entitled babies: Shaq and Kobe. Now Sir Charles has been on my wish list for years so hopefully it will happen now! He said they ask but he says no. MJ will never do the show. Shaq seems like the type who would since he loves attention but he said since he was not the first athlete on, what's the point. He does not want to follow others.

Edited by harvestbasket, Aug 31, 2010 @ 5:33 PM.

[LizDC]

Rick has been doing his homework...

Although taller than some of her co-stars, Burke is still more than a foot shorter than Fox -- though not with the aid of the right heels. Fox knows that this could be a problem for some taller guys, but he's already plotting how to use it to his advantage. When Zap2it caught up with him at the "DWTS" casting announcement, he shed a little light on his plan.

"Jason Taylor opened a door for bigger guys, considering most of the female dancers are in the 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-5 range," says Fox of the 6-foot-6 NFL linebacker and Season 6 runner-up. "I've watched a number of his videos, and he really owned his height. He didn't dance down and just went in there and used his posture to create a power and strength. I think that's one of the things that can work for me."

[spanana]

No idea if Rick can dance, but it does sound like he's been doing the homework and taking this seriously. I also read he said that Eliza has had him doing pilates and sorts of other things to get in shape pre-season.

On the plus side for Cheryl, at least there should be no room for a fauxmance or showmance this season.

[dancingjunkee]

Whenever I look at Rick I think of that episode on Friends where Ross left the tooth bleach on too long and his teeth were fluorescent and could be seen across the room. I wonder if Rick's teeth will glow when the lighting is dimmed.

Edited by dancingjunkee, Sep 2, 2010 @ 12:35 AM.

[ByTheWay]

According to this Boston Herald article, Rick and Cheryl will be in Boston this weekend. Rick tweeted about it.

@CherylBurke On the plane, still stoked about our music we got today. See you in Boston watch out for Hurricane Earl!
about 7 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

[Sharon]

I don't really have any strong feelings on Rick Fox one way or another. If anything at this point I identify him more as an actor than a sports star. I'm not saying he's a fabulous actor or anything, but in recent years I've seen him appear on tv shows more than anything else.

Compared to some other athletes who have tried to act, Fox is actually not that bad. Even though he usually plays a retired athlete or someone in the sports world (Oz, Dirt, One Tree Hill), he usually manages to stay in character so you're not thinking "hey that's Rick Fox" the way you would if it was most other athletes w. less acting ability. (He also has a natural sleazy charm that will appeal to some voters.) I can't imagine that he will be that flexible but could have potential in the ballroom dances.

[oakgal]

(He also has a natural sleazy charm that will appeal to some voters.)

You nailed it. That's it exactly. I hope to get over my aversion to him as a person and maybe like him with Cheryl. I can't only cheer on Maks and Louis. I need a backup!

[Sharon]

Rick & Cheryl are at the U.S. Open. (Rick has been a regular the last few years.) Pam Shriver interviewed them during the Nadal v. Lopez match. Rick said that's he is training six hours a day & will be ready. He needs to learn how to move his feet better. Cheryl said that she's never danced w. anyone so tall, but Rick is working hard & is a joy to be around. After the interview, Pat Mac asked Johnny Mac if he would ever appear on DwtS & he said "I hope not." Johnny Mac then said that the show needs to have some more tennis players participate since Monica didn't do so well. Pat Mac pointed out that Todd Woodbridge did well on the Australian version. Johnny Mac suggested Gael Monfils. (I doubt that will happen anytime soon.)

Edited by Sharon, Sep 7, 2010 @ 11:16 PM.

[CassandraRedux]

I watched the whole Oz series this summer, so I'm pretty excited to see how Rick does. Would love to see an Oz reunion in the ballroom as well. Wonder what his teammate Busmalis has been up to?

[MDKNIGHT]

Just curious. What kind of a guy did he play on Oz?

Well I'm glad he's taking this seriously. Cheryl always takes these things seriously and it wouldn't bode well for thier dance partnership if he were partying instead of training. I hope he's not stiff. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he looks like on the dance floor.

[bparhad]

Just curious. What kind of a guy did he play on Oz?

A drug addicted basketball player who assualted his girlfriend (the assault was why he was in OZ). He was one of the few to actually get paroled though.

[GoldenWoman]

When I saw that he was doing the show I was super happy. I've seen him in interviews and such and I've always liked his personality. I also love that him and Vanessa Williams have remained good friends even after the divorce. I'm really hoping that Vanessa stops by. I also hope that he has rhythm.

[ByTheWay]

Video > (ABC) First Look: Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke Rehearsal

**********
ETA: Video > (ETOnline) Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke Rehearsal

Edited by ByTheWay, Sep 14, 2010 @ 7:13 PM.

[BillandGrace]

The former athletes have the blessing and curse of coming to DWTS with very supportive fans and those who have learned to really dislike them. Fox seems to be one of those celebrities who generates a lot of both, but that’s usually good publicity for DWTS. And he’s super lucky to have Cheryl.

[spanana]

From the video I've seen he has potential. His posture is good and he seems to move pretty well. Obviously the height difference is the main issue these two have to overcome, but if anybody can make it work from a choreographic stand point it would be Cheryl. Then again, I've only seen him rehearse the VW. Who knows how he'll be with the Latin dances.

[ByTheWay]

Video > (People TV Watch) Inside Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke's DwtS Rehearsals

[GoldenWoman]

Rick did really good tonight. His posture was wonderful, I loved his personality and he has rhythm. Next week is going to be a rough week because latin may be very tough for him. I also liked his and Cheryl's partnership.

[spanana]

Provided he makes it through this week, which he should, he would have jive next week. That should certainly be interesting.

[ByaNose]

I guess the girl they kept showing was Rick Fox's girlfriend? I know he used to be married to Vanessa Williams, but I'm not familar with his new lady friend. As for his dancing, he didn't do any worse than anyone else and I think he will be around for weeks to come. I don't think he will win, but he has some ability.

[Sharon]

I guess the girl they kept showing was Rick Fox's girlfriend? I know he used to be married to Vanessa Williams, but I'm not familar with his new lady friend.

Eliza Dushku:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244630/
http://www.televisio...vampire-slayer/
http://www.televisio...com/show/angel/
http://www.televisio...show/dollhouse/