Turn in my man card?

When a guy is asked is do such a thing, it’s serious stuff.

Fellow Eagle sports scribe Mike Kilroy requested me to do so upon learning that I am a loyal viewer of “Dancing With the Stars” on Monday nights and have been for a few years now.

Yes, “DWTS” on my TV instead of “Monday Night Football.”

Yes, “DWTS” also is on my TV instead of the Penguins or any other sport that might be available during that two-hour time slot.

Indeed, I choose to watch a good Paso Doble over a punt return, the Bolero over a battle for puck possession.

While my wife’s passionate enjoyment of the dances caused me to start watching them with her — and eventually getting me hooked as well — there is a sense of athleticism about this stuff.

Eight NFL players — Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin, Chad Ochocinco, Jason Taylor and Kurt Warner — have gone from the ballfield to the ballroom.

Smith won the dancing competition. Rice, Sapp and Jason Taylor finished second. That’s not by coincidence.

Other past “DWTS” champions with sports backgrounds include race driver Helio Castroneves, speed skater Apolo Ohno, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and gymnast Shawn Johnson.

Figure skater Evan Lysacek has finished second, boxer Laila Ali third.

Add it all up and through the first 10 seasons of “DWTS,” an athlete has finished at least as high as third 10 times.

On many occasions, I’ve seen athletes begin their respective “DWTS” seasons rather lightheartedly, treating the experience as a fun, off-the-wall thing to do.

But as the competition increases with each passing week, the competitive nature of these athletes kicks in.

In a totally different environment, it becomes easy to see how they’ve gotten so far in their respective sports.

The training for these dances is grueling. Participants have suffered back injuries, ruptured tendons, broken toes, even concussions.

Far from a dancer myself — my only goal at wedding receptions is to avoid knocking over the bride — I’ve come to appreciate the talents of the professional dancers working with the stars and the stars’ commitment to improving themselves.

From the Argentine Tango to the Jitterbug, the Charleston to the Lindy Hop, the stars educate themselves on the steps, soak in the choreography and perform on Mondays — just like NFL players educate themselves about an opponent, soak in the game plan and perform on Sundays.

The Samba is a Brazilian party dance, the Paso Doble a form of Spanish bullfighting, the Bolero the Cuban dance of love.

See? This stuff can be educational as well.

I’ll keep my man card, thank you.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle