Foul!

I'm just going to come right out and say it: Warren Sapp sucks! He may wear a Super Bowl ring, but he cannot dance. I'm upset that he "earned" a 10 last night for his personality because his dancing certainly did not warrant that score. Rewarding Sapp with a 10 because he has a great personality demeans the hard work and talent of the other competitors who were denied that perfect score. As Len has said almost weekly, it's a dancing competition.

Of the 3 judges on the program, Len always gives a professional critique, which rightly has reflected weekly that Sapp has a great personality, but zero dancing talent. Imagine my surprise when Len awarded Sapp the 10. I'm tired of listening to Carrie Ann's gushy sexy comments when Warren monster mashes his way up and down the dance floor, while his partner swirls and twirls, yet Warren made it to the final 3.

What a joke.

Last night, it was clear that Brooke and Lance were pretty evenly matched in their final dances, but the kudos went to Brooke, while Lance was again chided for his lack of professional dancing ability. For the last 4 weeks of the contest, Lance has improved beyond what could be expected and has consistently turned in professional DANCING performances. Warren, on the other hand, stands in place and gyrates, lifts his partner, allows his partner to wrap herself around his body, and, for about 20 seconds of each performance, moves his feet. Warren then smiles his phony smile when both Len and Bruno tell him that he has zero dancing skills, then winks at Carrie Ann, and waltzes his way into the finals.

The judges have made it clear that Brooke will win the contest, which is a good decision; however, Lance should clearly be in second place for his dancing. Lance and Lacey have choreographed dances that showcase Lance's development as a dancer. His feet move, he maintains his physicality, his musical talent allows him to both keep on beat and to interpret the music. Lance blew the lid off the competition last week, but once he again showed what has been obvious for a lot longer than that, he can really dance, it was back to the negatives this week from the judges.

If you ask me, and no one will, Lacey was stereotyped as not the kind of dancer the judges wanted on the show, and they made their bias totally clear the first few weeks in harsh, harsh criticism of both the performances and the performers. When both Lacey and Lance demonstrated that they can dance, the judges had to find ways to keep them in the bad box they had created for the couple, but it's hurt the performers, as well as the outcome.

Reminds me all too much of high school, where far too often teachers reward students for good attendance, compliant personalities, and trying, when the rest of the world needs the judgment made on skill, ability, and accomplishment. Yes, there's a place for Warren's charming personality, but not high accolades for trying hard or pleasing the crowd with his personality when his best does not come close to either Cody Linley, who was dismissed as too young, or to Lance, who consistently was warned to try harder, rather than applauded for his outstanding performances.

Let Brooke take home the mirror ball, but allow Lance to enjoy the second-place win he richly deserves.