LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hines Ward added a disco-ball trophy to his Super Bowl shelf Tuesday night after he samba-ed his way to the "Dancing With the Stars" championship.
The Steelers wide receiver and former Super Bowl
MVP won the title, besting actresses Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane to become
the season 12 champ.
"You are the MVP of 'Dancing With the Stars'
season 12," judge Carrie Ann Inaba said after Ward and professional
partner Kym Johnson finished their last dance. "You learned how to lead
the dancing, not only in the dance, but you led your partner out of injury. You
dance with heart and it shows."
Ward said after the show that he owes the victory
to his partner, hard work and the fans.
"The competition has been so close all year,
we knew it was going to come down to voting," he said, "so we want to
thank our fans."
Judge Bruno Tonioli said Ward "really is like
a ray of sunshine when he enters the arena."
Ward was chosen by viewer votes combined with
judges' scores. All three couples emerged with perfect scores after dancing
Tuesday night, which kept the competition tight. Ward came into the season
finale tied for first place with Kane, who finished in last place when the
votes were tallied. Alley finished second.
Alley was a fan favorite all season, whittling down
her body as the daily dance exercise allowed her to shed 38 inches by Tuesday.
She was also one of the most amusing contestants on the ballroom floor, losing
her shoes during one performance and always getting through her challenges with
a smile and a quip.
"I know I'm not alone when I say I love you
for being you," Inaba said Tuesday after Alley and partner Maksim
Chmerkovskiy finished performing a cha cha. Alley wore the same dress she had
worn on day one of the competition — nipped and tucked by 38 inches.
"I'm just going to miss dancing with
Maks," Alley said of her partner.
Kane, who waltzed to the theme from "Harry
Potter" with professional partner Mark Ballas, was the first to be
eliminated Tuesday. But she wasn't too upset.
"The fact that I'm here (in the finals) is
super flattering," the 22-year-old actress said after the season finale.
"For me, I'll never experience anything like this ever again."
Wendy Williams, Kendra Wilkinson, Sugar Ray Leonard
and other celebrity contestants cast off the hit ABC show earlier in the season
brought their sometimes stunning, sometimes wacky moves back to the ballroom
for the finale.
The show opened with an all-cast routine and the
Black Eyed Peas singing their new single, "Don't Stop the Party," to
an energized audience.
Besides the Peas, the Go-Go's played their classic
"We Got the Beat" for a frenzied dance routine, and Josh Groban sang
"You Raise Me Up" while Petra Nemcova danced. Sara Evans performed
"A Little Bit Stronger" at the end of the show, before Ward won the
mirrorball trophy.
Famed sports announcer Michael Buffer called
Leonard and pro wrestler Chris Jericho to the dance floor for a tough-guy
dance-off. Wilkinson reprised her sexy, booty-and-bosom-shaking cha cha, then
nearly fell off the judges' table when she finished. Radio personality Mike
Catherwood, who was the first contestant dismissed this season, poked fun at
his lack of dancing skills and stripped down to a leotard during his goofy
routine.
Ralph Macchio, who dazzled judges when the show
first started with his quick step, returned with partner Karina Smirnoff for a
reprise.
Williams was the only contender who didn't take to
the dance floor. She instead interviewed herself during a segment where she
said Alley would "be a perfect drinking partner."
The 35-year-old Ward is the second professional
football player to win the "Dancing" crown. Emmitt Smith won in 2006.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
(AP
Photo/ABC, Adam Taylor)
