She Wuz Robbed

I was still at work on Monday when I started receiving emails from one of my yahoogroups that there was a "conspiracy" with the voting because the lines were constantly busy for Laila Ali during Dancing With The Stars. I started laughing because I knew I had plans to vote online and use 3 phones to vote as many times as allowed. Low and behold, while I was able to submit my 5 votes online, I could not get through to vote on a single one of my phones during or after the show. Then, when the judges seemed to uncharacteristically mark Laila and Max down for hairline infractions and take off because she wasn't "elegant" during the "free style" (translated, supposed to be FUN) dance, I knew it was over for her. Don't get me wrong, I fully expected and wanted Apolo to win. He and his little partner were just as cute as could be and their youthfulness really added a dimension to the show that hasn't quite been there before. Part of what I love about the show is that they take people who aren't dancers and watch some of the most unlikely ones, blossom into true champions. Speed skating and dancing don't quite seem to jive but Apolo turned it out big time!

Laila Ali, who joined Ohno and Fatone during the final round, was eliminated from the trophy race in the middle of Tuesday's two-hour finale. She and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, earned the lowest score from the judges, and fans failed to make up the difference.

When asked which of her fellow competitors was poised to take the trophy, Ali called both "great."

"It doesn't mean anything no matter who wins," said the world champion boxer. "Especially because I didn't." [Qusan: this was a joke in case anyone thinks she was being pissy].

Being on the show allowed fans to see her in a different light, she said. The 29-year-old daughter of Muhammad Ali was the last remaining female contestant.

None of the show's contestants are expert dancers. Each becomes the student and performing partner of a professional dancer throughout the 10-week season. Three judges rate each couple's ballroom- and Latin-dance skills while viewers weigh in by phone and Internet. The combined tallies determine which couple is eliminated each week.

Fans — taken with Ali's grace, Fatone's showmanship and Ohno's determination — got to know their favorites a little better each week as the show offered glimpses of the couples behind the scenes. They saw Ali bring her partner to a get-to-know-you backyard barbecue at her house. Ohno invited a hip-hop dancer to help him with his moves. Fatone brought his partner, Kym Johnson, to Disneyland. Viewers connected with them as they bonded with each other.

Ohno was the first of the finalists to earn a perfect score during the competition, collecting 30 points for his samba in April. Fatone and Ali have each earned perfect scores since. All three earned perfect scores during Tuesday's season finale.

I was never really feeling Joey Fatone or Ian Ziering. I guess it is because I had aged out of the mix when N'Sync and BH 90210 came along. They aren't young enough to still be hot and not old enough to be considered has beens. They were both good but they just didn't move me. Laila, on the other hand, was a total surprise with her drive and ability to pick up the different styles of dance. She and Alex were exciting to watch. I wanted her to come in second. Though I did notice those "boxer's arms" while she was dancing, I never really noticed that she was a "big girl" until she mentioned it during the finals. Apparently she got a lot of compliments from non-stick people who thought she represented larger women quite well. Whatever her appeal to others, she was a joy to watch and yet another reason why I LOVE THIS SHOW!

P.S. I'll bet her fiance is glad this season is over. You cannot pay me money to believe there was not some chemistry going on between Laila and Max. I think he was totally smitten, that she knew it and that her boyfriend knew it. That brother/sister act they tried to pull at the end didn't change my mind a single bit. Hmmmmmmm!

And another thing: to date, Asian men haven't typically been among those noted for being good looking or sexy. But, with their prominence in reality shows over the past few seasons, I think that is changing. Apolo is a cutie pie and that Yul from last season's Survivor was too hot!