October 24th, 2007
The tech world mourns the demise of Nerd Blossom
Guest post: Chris Matyszczyk shares his thoughts on Mark Cuban’s rumba and his exit from the “Dancing with the Stars” competition.
In the end, as so many in the tech world before him, he couldn’t do sexy.
Mark Cuban was voted off ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” last night, allowing the allegedly 57-year-old Jane Seymour, better known as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, to squeeze past him with the viewers’ vote.
One could look at this as the mere failure of Cuban’s newly-installed artifcial hip to gyrate in an erotic manner (this was rumba/mambo week). Or one can look at it as the disastrous inability of the tech world to support one of its own.
My feeling is the latter is more likely. I cannot believe there was something more interesting on the Discovery Channel on Monday night to distract his fellow nerds from their duty.
Cuban even tried to inject geekiness into his routine by wearing bottle-bottomed glasses and dressing as an employee of IBM, circa 1962. He hoped that this would inspire those retired from the Big Blues of this world to limp over to their cell phones and laptops and give him a pass for another week.
Regretfully, he did not get their support.
Yet his impact on the regular world was, in my view, huge. Where earlier this year he was seen sulking and snarling his way out of the Oakland Arena after his Dallas Mavericks were humiliated by the allegedly 67-year-old former Mavericks coach Don Nelson and his Golden State Warriors, this time Cuban left to a standing ovation.
There even seem to be a tear in the eye of judge Bruno Tonioli, who had definitely developed a very soft spot for Cuban’s extraordinary hard work, will-to-win and cute, love me-love me, grin.
Yet, when it came down to it, Cuban not only failed to surpass Ms. Seymour, he was also beaten by the fragile Marie Osmond. Although, to be fair, her fainting fit in front of the judges probably gained her the votes of those retired Big Bluers’ ex-wives. Her dance routine, as that of the majority of the performers on Monday night, was as stale as 2006 gorgonzola.
One can only hope that Cuban recovers physically (he has lost 30 lbs during his stint on the show) and makes more appearances in front of an audience of the masses.
I can see him guest hosting a tech-only version of The Price Is Right. Can’t you?
Chris Matyszczyk has spent most of his career as an award-winning creative director in the advertising industry. He advises major global companies on marketing and creativity. Chris has also been a journalist, covering the Olympics, SuperBowl and other sporting events. He brings a non-techie’s perspective to the tech world and a sharp wit to the rest of the world. Check out his “Pond Culture” blog.
Chris Matyszczyk has spent most of his career as an award-winning creative director in the advertising industry. He advises major global companies on marketing and creativity. Chris has also been a journalist, covering the Olympics, SuperBowl and other sporting events. He brings a non-techie’s perspective to the tech world and a sharp wit to the rest of the world. Check out his Pond Culture blog. See his disclosure of his industry affiliations.
...
