Reality television shows these days are a dime a dozen - this we all know. And by now, most of us are at least familiar with the concept of these so-called 'reality' depictions; a group of people compete against each other in a series of tedious tasks for a large sum of money, a grand prize, or, of course, the man/woman of their dreams.

But ESPN has taken that a step farther. The sports network has developed a program where - you guessed it - contestants duke it out in a number of sports-related competitions (think NBC's Fear Factor minus the bugs) for the opportunity of a lifetime. Or, in this case - someone else's.

Now that's something Deanna Clover knows a thing or two about. Clover, a newly-crowned member of the Orlando Magic Dancers, was chosen by ESPN to compete in the new show 'I'd Do Anything' in a special episode that pits four NBA dancers from across the country against one another for the chance to make one of their loved ones' sports-related dreams come true. And that, Clover said, was an opportunity she couldn't let go to waste.

"My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, and it is still present in her," Clover said. "My mother-in-law also had breast cancer and she gave her this inspirational book about Lance Armstrong, so she's been a fan of Lance's for awhile now. When I was told about this show where you could grant someone's sports dream or fantasy, I thought that if I won, then maybe my mom could meet Lance Armstrong and maybe they could ride together. It's like Fear Factor, but it's basically about what you would do to win a sports fantasy."

The decision to compete for her mom, Donna, in a sports-related environment was an easy one for Clover. After all, it combined two of her loves in life: sports and family.

"My whole family loves sports," Clover said. "And I love my mother so much - she is a very giving person and I just wanted to be able to do something for her."

To be picked for the unconventional show, Clover had to submit an application and go through a casting process with directors from ESPN. While there were no formal auditions with stunts, they did speak with Clover on the phone to get a feel for her personality. And though the competitions may have come naturally to Clover - she has been an athlete all her life - she didn't have to go far to draw inspiration for the challenging obstacles ESPN came up with for the show, which began a four-day taping schedule September 7 in Los Angeles.

"The tasks were very physically and mentally demanding," Clover said. "It was hard because you didn't know what you were doing or where you were going, and you didn't know how to prepare for the event because there was always a twist. My nerves were a mess – my eating habits were all screwed up, and with the three-hour time difference, it was tough. My mom was trying to be nice, but I told her just to stand there and be there for me. It was stressful, but she was very positive and always cheered me on, even though some of the things were hard to do. We really had a lot of fun together."

If Clover is fortunate enough to win, (her mother, who was with her at the taping, is the only other person who knows the results of the show), she will give her mom the chance to meet Armstrong, who has been one of her idols and has inspired her through the tough process of fighting her life-threatening disease.

"This book (featuring Armstrong) just inspired her to be positive in life," Clover said of the effect of the six-time Tour de France winner. "This has always been a dream of hers ever since she was diagnosed with cancer. Lance is a very positive role model, and he is very motivated. It has helped my mom with her outlook on life, showing her that even though you have something not-so-good inside your body, if you have a positive attitude, you can make anything happen."

ESPN isn't the only place that saw some fight in Deanna. Jeanine Klem-Thomas, the coordinator/choreographer of the Magic Dancers, has seen Clover's perseverance first-hand, and noted that it is was one of the qualities that ultimately led her to choose Deanna as a member of this season's squad. Klem-Thomas not only noted Clover's character and drive through the audition process, she also saw what a good ambassador she would make for the entire Orlando Magic Dancer squad.

"With (Deanna's mom) suffering from breast cancer, that is a personal platform she would like to dedicate herself to," Klem-Thomas said. "And when you have a personal platform, it makes getting involved in other charitable causes even better because you know it is for a good cause."

Although broadcasting her case to a nationally-televised audience isn't a bad start, it isn't the only way Clover wants to educate others about the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among all women in the U.S. Because the Magic Dancers are so actively involved in the Central Florida community, Clover wants to use her position as a platform to inform women of the dangers of the disease and how important it is for every woman to be aware of her risks.

"I try to get out there as much as I can and get involved," Clover said. "There are so many different cancer organizations that are out there; I like to donate money towards them and wear the pink ribbon (in support of breast cancer). If there is something in our area, I would love to be able to help out."

While winning the show would be a dream come true for the both of them, Clover knows that showing her mom how much she means to her is the only reality she wants the show to convey.

"My mother has always been there for me," Cover said. "I have had a very supportive family. She has taught me that even though you don't always get the job the first time, you have to understand that and not give up. With what my mother's been though, it definitely gives you a more positive outlook on life and makes you want to give it your all everyday."

Tune In: I'd Do Anything premiers on ESPN tonight, September 28, 2004. The show will air every Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. and every episode through November 16 will re-air on the following Wednesday at 12:00 or 12:30 a.m. Clover's special-edition NBA Dancer episode, which will be an extra half-hour long, is currently scheduled as the fifth installment in the series to be aired October 26.

Melanie Curtsinger is an intern in the Magic's Communications department.