If there was ever a “perfect night” for a “Dancing With the Stars” contestant, it was Hines Ward’s night tonight (May 16). Ward and his professional dance partner, Australian-born Kym Johnson, received perfect-10 scores from the show’s three judges throughout the show.
Tonight, the four remaining couples had to perform two fully choreographed programs and one prepared short routine for round one of a special challenge never before done on “DWTS.” Two pairs of contestants were pitted against one another, and the winning pairs from that challenge faced off again with an impromptu dance.
Ward and Johnson received a rare perfect total score of 30 points for their first and second routines. In the short routine, they were pitted against Karate Kid Ralph Macchio and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, and won. However, they lost the 15 bonus points in a very close face-off challenge with the other winning pair from the short routine, Disney’s Chelsea Kane and her partner, Mark Ballas.
Ward cried profusely when he and Johnson received a perfect score and a standing ovation on their first dance. Earlier in the show, footage was played of an awful fall and subsequent injury that Johnson sustained while being swung between Ward’s legs. In Ward’s grasp during the risky move, the top of Johnson’s head slammed on the floor, and her neck and the top of her spine severely curved into a C-shape. She was put into a neck brace and rushed to the hospital.
Ward, who was left visibly shaken after the incident, said, “I can’t even think about dancing right now. All I can think about is Kym and whether she’s going to be OK.” He then lowered his head into the bend of his arm. The move that injured her ultimately was removed from the routine. Ward’s tears probably were the result of misplaced guilt, pride from the perfect dance and relief that his partner was able to perform. Johnson, who comforted Ward as he wiped away the tears, judge Carrie Ann Inaba and audience members cried as well.
Another highlight of the show were individual interview snippets with Ward, Ward’s mother, Kim Young-hee, Steelers owner Art Rooney, coach Mike Tomlin, former coach Bill Cowher and players Jerome Bettis and Troy Palomalu. Ward talked about his difficult childhood as a black Asian child who was not readily accepted by his peers and the effort his mother had to expend working two jobs to raise him. His Steelers mentors and colleagues attested to his kind heart, his determination and how proud they are of him. His mother expressed her initial doubt about his being on the show.
“I’m shocked, really,” his mother explained. “I tell him, ‘You don’t know nothing about the dancing. Maybe you go one week. You’re going to fail.'” Now, she is thrilled about his accomplishments. Ward said if she hears anything negative from a judge or naysayer about his performances, she says, “Don’t you talk about my baby like that!” –arnell pharr
