'Dancing with the Stars' eliminates Maurice Greene and Cheryl Burke

Maurice Greene may have won at the Olympics, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist track star and his partner Cheryl Burke had to settle for fifth-place on Dancing with the Stars as they became the ninth couple eliminated from the reality dance competition's seventh season during last night's live results show broadcast on ABC.


Greene and Burke were eliminated from the competition based on their combination of the judges' scores each couple had received for the two dances they'd performed during Monday's performance show -- one in a ballroom style and one in a latin style -- and home viewer votes cast immediately following the broadcast to determine which four dance couples would advance to the show's semifinals round.

Each professional had to perform a solo dance during a portion of their latin dance as well.

"I had a lot of fun. I made a lot of new friends out here. I learned how to dance out here in front of millions of people every night. I had a great time," Greene said after Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron revealed his ouster over Hannah Montana actor Cody Linley and his professional partner Edyta Sliwinska -- the only other couple still on-stage facing elimination.

"Out of all the seasons I've been on the show Maurice, you've been the hardest working partner I've ever had and you always, most importantly, be the 'Winner, winner chicken dinner' of my heart" Burke added, referencing Greene's catch phrase he had used during his time on the competition.


Similar to last week's additional "team dance" twist, the judges' scores from the two dances were added together to form one combined score out of a possible 60 points for each couple.

Greene and Burke received scores of 24 out of 30 for each of the two dances they performed -- a Quick Step for their ballroom dance and a Paso Doble for their latin dance -- for a combined score of 48 out of 60, which had placed them in a fourth-place tie with Linley and Sliwinska.

Despite his comparatively low scores, the judges had been impressed with Greene's improved posture, footwork and stamina during his pair's Quick Step.

"What I really loved was the details of your head angles, you really paid attention to what Cheryl was working with you on and it made all the difference, you just looked so refined out there," said judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

"Usually what happens is that you deflate halfway through the dance," added judge Bruno Tonioli. "Your posture goes, your footwork goes. This time you kept it going all the way through without [that] 'plump.'


Greene's Paso Doble with Burke had also impressed the judges -- especially his use of a cape during his solo.

"You were twirling that cape like a wind turbine in a hurricane I thought we were all gonna take off," said Tonioli. "Strong, imposing [and] very, very powerful. You're doing well tonight."

"I'm not normally a lover of the cape work, but on this occasion, having to do fifteen seconds, I thought it really fit to the dance," added judge Len Goodman. "As Bruno said, you did that cape well, it had attack, it had agression. I thought you did a real good job."

Tuesday's elimination show also saw the return of Linley partner Julianne Hough, who is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with endometriosis two weeks earlier. Hough stood with Linley and Swilinska backstage and reiterated Linley's Monday night show comments in which he had confirmed that -- assuming he survived last night's elimination -- she would be returning as his partner for next week's show.

On Tuesday, Hough complimented Swilinska for filling in admirably with Linley while she had been sidelined.


"I couldn't think of a better person to come in, you've done an incredible job with Cody, and I do mean that," Hough told Swilinska.

Former Rock Star host Brooke Burke and professional partner Derek Hough led Monday night's judges' leaderboard with a combined 56 out of 60 score.

Former NFL star Warren Sapp and his partner Kym Johnson had followed closely behind in second place with a score of 54.

Singer Lance Bass and partner Lacey Schwimmer had finished in third place with a score of 50, while both the teams of Greene and Burke and Linley and Swlilinska had finished in a tie for fourth place.

Prior to Greene's elimination, the show also aired footage of each couple sitting down with therapist and Celebrity Rehab host Dr. Drew Pinsky delving into the issues and problems they have encountered while working together.


Dancing with the Stars' semifinals performance episode will air on Monday, November 17 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.






About The Author: Steven Rogers