Crunch gym member Marni Rosethal gets to kick a millionaire's butt.
NEW YORK - As it turns out, Rick Rockwell's failed marriage to Darva Conger was not the most painful experience of his life. Even the subsequent negative media coverage couldn't claim that prize. No, Rockwell's most excruciating moments came when he stepped into the ring with Crunch gym member Marni Rosenthal.
For those of you who have been boycotting reality-based television, Rockwell was the millionaire of Fox's Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? He chose Conger as his bride in what turned out to be a controversial and short-lived relationship.
More recently, Rockwell took part in a different type of contest, one that had nothing to do with romance or love. His heart wasn't on the line; just his head. And 160,083 people wanted it. That's the number of entries Crunch received for its online contest, "Who Wants To Kick A Millionaire's Butt?"
Rosenthal was the lucky winner, and she reportedly underwent aggressive training for her recent kickboxing match with Rockwell, whose self-admitted regimen of junk food did little to prepare him for Rosenthal's ferocity. Forget about the Thrilla in Manilla, the Rumble in the Jungle. This was the Punch Thrown at Crunch, as spectators crammed the chain's Lafayette location in downtown Manhattan to watch Rosenthal get a piece of Rockwell. Crunch also cybercasted the bout at its Web site.
As for the outcome of the match, let's just say that the contest lived up to its name. "Marni kicked his butt!" said Dayna Crawford, director of public relations and marketing with Crunch.
Rockwell wasn't a complete loser. He received $20,000 to donate to the charity of his choice for participating in the fight.
At press time, Conger hasn't had her butt kicked-although she has shown it in Playboy magazine.