Emmitt Wins Dancing With the Stars! Did the Right Man Win?
Wednesday November 15, 2006
The third season of Dancing With the Stars is officially over -- but the debate is just beginning. Did Emmitt Smith deserve to win or did Mario deserve the prize? Tell me what you think about the final results by voting in the poll and adding a comment. For those of you who missed it, read details about the finale here!
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Dancing With the Stars Hottest Couple, Most Likely to Succeed, and More!
Comments
Emmitt won by popularity! Mario was by far the better dancer…hands down!
Well, I won’t say I wasn’t disapponted with the results. Emmitt did come a long way and did a good job, but over-all Mario was the far better dancer!!
Mario got robbed. This was a dance contest NOT a popularity contest
YES EMMIT DESERVED TO WIN. HE BY FAR WAS THE BEST. GRANTED MARIO WAS GOOD BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE HE HAD DANCING IN HIS BACKGROUND AND EMMIT DIDN’T
NO, EMMITT DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN. Mario is a better dancer. Popularity for being a football hero is what won Emmitt the trophy. This was not a football competition; this was a dancing competition and Mario is by far the best dancer PERIOD!! In tie breakers, the judges should have a dance-off because the way it happened was NOT FAIR AT ALL!@
We all know that Mario Lopez is by far the better dancer of the two men. The trophy should go to him.
Emmitt is a Football Hero and some people think that is why he won the contest because of his popularity. But you know he is in great shape and for him to preform the moves he did for all the years of playing football he deserved to win. YOU GO EMMITT!!!!
Sure right DWTS is a popularity contest…and clearly the more popular guy won. Although I believe that Mario was the better dancer (technically), Emmitt won the hearts of the audience with his moves and personality. Yes the show is about showcasing dance, but personalities of these stars are at the forefront for selection.If memory serves me correctly, when the scores were read Samantha asked the audience to call and vote for their “favorite” couple, not the “best technical dancer”. Jerry was voted in soooo many times not because of his ability to twinkle his toes, but because we enjoyed seeing his “performance” (not particularly his dance). I enjoyed the dancing capabilities of both Mario and Emmitt, but at the end of the day America CHOSE their winner. Fullstop.
NO!! Emmitt should not have one! Mario Lopez is the better dancer of the two!
Rose
Yes, Emmitt deserve to win. He was by far the better dancer. I think that Mario was better in some dance categories, and Emmitt was better in others. However, in the end, Emmitt was the better dancer.
Yes, Emmitt deserve to win. He is a great dancer. I also feel that for a person that had to be taught the different dances, he did a surperb job.
Emmitt should have come in third place, at best. Both Mario and Joey Lawrence are far better dancers. Former NFL stars should not be allowed to participate in this competition because it skews the results. Just like last season, second-place finisher Jerry Rice deserved no better than fourth. I hate when viewers turn talent competitions into popularity contests. Also, if the judges were honest with their scores, neither Emmitt nor Jerry would have come close to the finish line.
Interesting that your poll results reflect Emmitt leading but the majority of comments believe Mario was the superior dancer. Season four needs to change voting so it’s not just a popularity contest. I do give Emmitt alot of credit for coming a long way, but both Mario and Joey clearly have more God given talent.
IMO, Mario was and still is the better dancer. Competitons are no won based on how many fans like you, or what you did in your past carreer and how many rings you won during a championship. He is clearly the champion in the hearts and minds of those who think correctly. I give Mr. Smith all the credit that is due, and secound place credit he deserves, nothing more.. Let’s here it for Mario & Karina~ They simply ROCKED!!!
Of Course Emmitt won. The task was not and easy one, but his physical dondition and drive and his partner made it come true. Mario is quite talented and his partner was not complete. Three cheers for Mr Smith
Emmitt did what he always does … WIN! When he played football he was not the biggest, or the fastest or the shiftiest. He simply gets the job done. He charmed the audience, the judges and obviously the viewing audience with his style and execution. You have to give BIG props to his professional partner. Just like a good football coach, she evidently has a formula that gets the best out of her team. She has been on the winning team for the past to years. Drew was not as good a dancer as Stacy or Jerry inmy opionion. But she finds what best shows off her partners greatest qualities. The people have spoken!
It my mind it is a tie. Almost impossible to choose. Mario of course is the better dancer. Near professional quality. Based on that he should have won. BUT Emmitt accomplished quite a feat. He started with no dancing experience, trained, worked hard and became so good he made it to the top. For that effort he deserves to be rewarded.
Any talent competition, whether it is dancing, singing or playing an instrument, is as much about playing to the crowd and winning their hearts as it is technical ability. Emmitt clearly, with his hard work, humble nature and incredible progress did just that. Mario while technically better had an arrogance about him that turned many voters off. Well done Emmitt!
Mario may be “by far” the better dancer, but isn’t the show about the fun of watching someone who isn’t a dancer, BECOME a dancer? Emmitt ended up with more voting fans on his side because he was “most improved, by far”, he had fun and he was sincere. Mario, for all his strained humility still came across as the cocky kid who thought he had it in the bag. Sincerity wins the day!
I think Mario should have won!!! ………. This ended up to be a popularity contest & I think the rules or people chosen to dance needs revising………Let’s . not have big NFL football players as contestants….. This is a DANCE competion not a football game!!!!!!!!!!game………Your the greatest MARIO & KARINA
No, I was very disappointed that it turned out to be a popularity contest and not based on the best talent. Mario should have won. He was the best!
He could be a professional dancer. Emmitt was big and clumbsy!
Mario has had dance lessions, Emmitt had not; so yes Mario was the better dancer. But, football players aren’t dancers! Was it a populatiry contest – it sure was but both dancers were popular, and GOOD! Makes one wonder whom you all will be arguing about next season!
Mario should have won – he was robbed!
Emmitt deserved to win because he was not a dancer prior to the show and worked to perfect his skill. Mario was a dancer with dancing and acting experience prior to the competition. It was hard for the non-professional to see where his dancing improved over the course of the competition.
Yes Emmitt deserved to win. Mario was a ringer to start with. Emmitt was certainly the more entertaining and improved more as the show went on. The only way Mario would have won would have been for the judges to create such a difference in scores that Emmitt’s fan base could not have overcome it. After all, this is an entertainment show.
I think Emmitt came a long from from the first night of Dancing to the finish, but he’s NO Mario. That trophy
belongs to Mario. It’s a dance contest,
NOT a popularity contest.
I suggest that the new seasons of Dancing with the Stars should be done:
1. The judges score counts for 3/4 of the vote and/or
2. The contestants are not big name sports people.
This occurred last year with Jerry Rice also, but thank God he didn’t win. At least Emmitt can dance!
Emitt did deserve to win , Mario is a very good dancer but it came all so natural for him , like he had been dancing from a early age , Emitt had to really work for it, and he pulled it off.
Hi, Emmitt deserved to win for 2 reasons. 1,he was the better dancer and made it look fun and easy. 2,Emmitt did not break any rules like Mario did.
Mario should have one. Yes, Emmitt was the most improved but the winner was supposed to be the best dancer not the most popular or the most improved. I liked both guys but Mario was a much better dancer, no question about it. The judging needs to be changed. The judges scores should have more weight and the judges should have the courage to give honest scores and not be swayed by popularity.
Absolutely, Absolutely, Absolutely!!!!
Get a grip people!!!! It’s a TV show for goodness sake and neither Joey, Mario or Emmitt are hurting because of the results. EVERYONE’S careers are all the better for this experience. Who cares if so and so was the better dancer. This is about ratings and the goal was met. If America wants to vote on personality. So be it. Now grow up, get over it and get a life.
I think “most” of us can agree that Mario was probably the better “technical” dancer. Early on, he stated that he had no dance lessons, and I find that hard to believe. His cockiness did turn off many of us, as well as him constanstly going on and on and on about his lover, Karina. Emmitt was the gentlemen throughout and clearly improved and improved each week. Like many of you, the popularity portion of this contest has bothered me. Come on now! Remember Sara Evans and Jerry Springer? The only reason Vivaca and Willa went out before both Sara and Jerry was that they had no voter base. The judges really need to start judging fairly and not giving them all 8s and 9s when they clearly did a 6. I believe that is why Sara dropped out….she was getting pressure that she shouldn’t be there and her fans probably would have placed her in top 3; heck, maybe she would have winned it all. I think this was her way to get out because clearly she didn’t deserve to be in the top 6. Anyway, Emmitt got my vote, although just in my heart and mind because I couldn’t get through on any lines, nor on the internet!!!!! Anybody else have this problem???? Makes you wonder what the results would have been if all votes got through and could be counted.
Yes, Mario could dance a little better than Emmit but Emmit had the attitude that kept him through the tough challenges, accept others, and have a fun time but succed doing it. Mario never talked about how great Joey, Emmit, or anyone else how great of dancers they are even though they said how talented he was. To sum it up…..Mario could have one but Emmit was just a good of dancer with a show a class.
Emmitt had an outstanding attitude from the very start which drew people to him verses Mario’s cocky attitude, which tends to turn people off. The overall program was fantastic this year. I think Jerry Springer became a real, loveable personality….a side that most people could not have imagined.
Yea Emmitt and Cheryl.
Well, as usual America loves the underdog & in this case the football hero who proved he can dance to beat out the talented hottie! Mario should’ve won, that’s the truth. I guess the brother vote outnumbered the hombre vote. I guess they were all watching UNIVISION instead of learning their ABC…
Mario was the best and we all know that Emmitt won because he is popular he desrve the fourth place. We’re looking for the best dancer not the popular person. Even though Mario broke some rules he still the best and i think Joey deserved to be in second place and of course it didn’t happen just because he wasn’t popular as Emmitt. Mario didn’t get the trophy but we all know he was the best and Karine was a good teacher.
Emmitt knows that Mario was the best. He deserved to win. Emmitt daughter said that his dad has more fans than Mario and it was true. We know that Emmitt work hard but we were looking for the best dancer not the ”’smiler”’ He didn’t even deserves to be in the final Joey Lawrence was the one that deserved to be there last night. You better review your management a vote by population was a joke America will never get the best if it still that way. What happended last night was a joke and was based on personal feelings and popularity.Mario is the best and we know that the wrong man got the trophy.
Oh what a suprise?????????? The wrong man won there is a big difference between ‘dancer’ and ”DANCER”. kARINA did a great job and Mario was the best ever.
WE were all looking for the best Emmitt wasn’t the best his popularity based on football game made him win but it wasn’t fair. Review your strategy give the trophy to the one that deserves it. If you think Mario was mean so that a personal feelings here we’re talking about ”DESERVE” and Mario deserved that.
Ithought America was looking for the best?? I agree Emmitt have some credit from me but it still insufficient. Hey the guy can’t even shake.Emmitt got a B- but Mario got an A+ we can’t walk away from that. Please review your rules for the next season.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – MARIO WAS ROBBED. He led almost the whole season and then because of popularity of a football star, he loses. Mario has quality: precision, smoothness, technique, style, charisma and performed very difficult moves; unlike Emmitt who has the style and charisma – no difficulty and no technique or precision.
I was so dismayed that Emmiitt won. I did enjoy his dancing but come on- Mario and Karina were spectacular! Every dance they did was difficult and so exciting. Unfortunately, I agree with others who say the NFL stars skew the results- so much it is unfair to even call it a dance contest. Jerry Rice couldn’t even dance and was in the finals last year. Maybe the judges should have ¾ of the vote.
Emmitt did a great job? Yes. DID he deserved tio WIN? Double NO. It was a fact Mario was best and what happened last night was unfair.
Come on the NFL new the result Emmitt knew he was the winner it’s unfair. Go Mario we’re are proud of you
I was sincerely disappointed at what turned out to be a popularity contest over talent. I think the replay of the judges over and over of Mario being a bad boy and breaking the rules; verses Emmitt being a “common man” turning into a star before our eyes, added fuel to the fire and was very unfair. Emmitt may have come a long way, and he did, but Mario was excellent from the get-go and continued to get better! I agree that the judges’ votes should count for more, after all they are the professionals and should know true dancing talent.
I’d like to know how to have a “Dance Off” where the judges’ scores count more than they did for this contest. MARIO SHOULD HAVE NEVER COME IN SECOND. THAT IS A DISGRACE. Mario is outstanding and just kept getting better and better and was absolutely cheated.
I think Mario was the better dancer. And I think he got rob.
MARIO WAS ROBBED!! Mario is in a totally different class than Emmett. This turned out to be based on who had the most fans. NEXT YEAR I’LL KNOW THE WINNER IS THE MOST POPULAR PERSON. DISAPPOINTED WITH DWTS.
For all I know, Mario could have not beat Emmitt in a Mario Lopez look alike contest. It was totaly unfair.
Mario should not have made the finals. He should have been disqualified and not receive any points when he disregarded the rules not once but twice and laughed about it and said that he wanted to entertain the people. Emmitt deserved everything he got. He is a big man and light on his feet.
America chose the right man! Yes, Mario has great technical dancing ability, but when you see Emmitt and Cheryl dancing together, it is sensual, smooth, and very entertaining. It was so enjoyable to watch that it made me want to take Latin dance lessons. Emmitt exude grace and personality through his dancing. He landed all of his difficult performances. All of this, makes him the BETTER DANCER!
Emmitt deserved to win. His rumba was more rhythmical than Mario’s. Mario hardly moved his waist in any of the Latin dances. Emmitt’s waltz was classical.
I’m so proud of Mario. He is a great dancer and should have won. Everyone is saying that Emmett should have won because of his personality. This was a DANCE CONTEST, NOT A personality contest.I think Len Goodman started the rumor that Mario was bad from the beginning and people jumped on that and said he was cocky. Everyone who is good is LABLED that way It is not true Mario is a great guy and you can tell by the way he treats people. Even Emmett said he was a gentleman.
I love this show! Emmitt won by popularity! WE ALL KNOW MARIO IS THE BEST DANCER EVER ON THE SHOW! WOW!!
(MARIA – (MEXICANA)
I find it funny that so many people are griping about football players having an advantage. Do you really think that that many football fans are spending their Tuesday and Wednesday nights watching Dancing With The Stars?
Emmitt won because he was real. Mario lost because most viewers saw threw his phony “we’re just happy to be here” routine.
The judges had two very different levels of expectation for Emmitt & Mario. They used qualifiers like Emmitt did really well for such a big guy while Mario was told that they expected more from him. NFL running backs train doing agility & balance excercises. To keep implying Emmitt was an underdog was not fair to Mario. Mario has had no more professional training and I fault the show for implying that. Emmitt would probably run circles around Mario, but Mario DANCED circles around Emmitt!
Oh, please, Mario was not robbed. His mommie said she’d get him a trophy if he didn’t win one. He’s hot, he’s a great dancer, but he is a professional dancer and Emmett is a football player. For Emmett to reach the level of skill that he did is through sheer hard work. It comes naturally to Mario.
I’ve been ballroom dancing since 1995. Having watched all three seasons of DWTS, its clear the show has never been about who actually dances the dance the way they should be, but its more about popularity. This was the best season of the three. Mario, by far, was technically the better dancer this season, hands down; IMHO, it was clear that he has had prior dance training and he should have never been brought on the show in the first place. However, Emmett did a fantastic job for someone just learning the dances AND was much more likeable than Mario, who always seemed fake. Karina always came off as being a moody bi— while Cheryl was irresistable. Karina’s routines were hot & technically demanding, but Cheryl’s were always entertaining. I agree with some of the people in this page who say that the judging weightings should be more in the show’s judges favor and less with the audience. But, it IS TV, what more could you expect?
What is the name of the show? Dancing, Yes. Mario is a better dancer, Emmit was the most improved dancer, but Mario could out perform that man any day. If you did’t know who either of them were and watched them both,Mario wins anyday!
I thought Mario was the better dancer. However, Emmit was tottally out of his element and proved he deserved his tittle. People who are on stage are trained professionals and are talented for a reason. You take a football player off the field and turn him into a ballroom dancer, thats talent!
Mario should have won. Emmitt did a good job but Mario is the better ballroom dancer. Emmitt won on popularity and being the most improved dancer. Emmitt’s style was more night club than ballroom dancing. The judges judged Mario harder than Emmitt. In the free style section Emmitt did a poor job of imitating Hammer. He never moved his shoulders. Mario did a fantastic job. His dance was original with lifts, jumps, and could not have been better. I think the judges know that Mario was the better dancer. Some say that Mario has had training. I disagree. He as a young man has danced just as Emmitt has danced in the night clubs. Where do you think Emmitt got the smooth moves? Hopefully, next year this will not be just a popularity contest.
Get over it!!! The best MAN won. Mario should not have been in the contest as he should be considered at a least semi-pro, if not a professional dancer. Let him dance on Broadway, not an amateur dance contest.
mario blew emmitt smith away with his dancing and technique! he defintely should of won!!!! he is such a better dancer then emmitt smith!
I am in total agreement with America’s Vote crowning Cheryl & Emmitt this Season’s Winners. They both showed Class, Great Sportsmanship, Showmanship, Improvement every week, the most creativity in their free style dancing and made every attempt to follow all required rules and had alots of fun with each other, the judges and the audience. We must remember this program was called Dancing with the “STARS”, I don’t remember it ever saying the Winner was to be the Best overall Dancer, but it takes more that for the audience. We must enjoy it by wanting to dancing along, sing to songs chosen, laugh and just have fun and check out how the couples interact with one another during their routines. “DON’T FORGET AMERICAN IDOL” it is the same it’s all up to you to VOTE on your favorite.
SPECIAL NOTE: If it was up to the Judges you very same ones wanting their votes to count carry more weight and the couples you wanted to win didn’t you want only the Viewers Votes to Count, So just Enjoy and Vote for your Favorite Couple not just Dancer ok!!!
YES,he deserves it.Although many people said that it is not football but a dancing contest, Emmit worked so hard.Harder than Mario did.Can you name so many athletes who can play ball games outstandingly and dance gracefully at the same time? Not so many. That is one of the reasons why Emmmit got the people’s vote. He is very likeable too. There is something FAKE about Mario. America didn’t like his personality.We’re sorry, Mario.
YESSSS! Emmit definitely deserves to win! People didn’t wanna let somebody who is unreal like Mario win the contest. People’s votes made the show popular.Thus,don’t blame Emmit for being popular football player. It wasn’t the main reason why he won the trophy. Yes, Mario danced better than Emmit but there not so many good dancers voting for Mario. People loved watching DWTS because they saw themselves as ordinary people dancing there in Emmit’s shoes since Emmit wasn’t a dancer before the show just like the people who voted him.Thus, absolutely, Emmit deserves the trophy. NO DOUBTS at all!
I voted for Emmitt Smith’s partner, Cheryl Burke. I hated Karina. Furthermore, Emmit is a good man, very likable. It is not being popular which made him win the contest. Its his personality. Nobody that I know likes Mario’s personality. Yes, he is handsome & a good dancer but he’s been a good dancer from the very first week of the competition. Emmitt improved a lot. Sorry folks but America voted for Emmitt.Thus, he deserves the trophy.
I liked Emmitt,along with all of the celebrities this season, but as far as the best dancer? Mario was mesmerizing.
DTWS was trying to show how dancing can be fun even for the “average Joe”. Emmitt, who had no prior dance experience, danced with such enthusiasm and charm that the audiences sided with him. Yes, Mario was technically a better dancer, but he was too intense for an average person to emulate. It was a great season for this show. Joey, Mario and Emmitt really put on an awesome performance each time they danced. Now let’s see you go try some of those steps.
Mario was robbed. He is 3 times the dancer that Emmitt is. Emmitt simply had more football buddies and fans than Mario. TMuch as I love to watch the dancing on this show, the voting is a JOKE! It is not about dancing at all … simply who has the bigger fan base. The final two dancers should have been Mario and Joey. Emmitt is a very distant 3rd. There is no credibility to this contest at all. Skill = 0, Popularity = winner
I agree with everyone that voted for Emmitt and Cheryl. They deserved to win based on their dancing, their very likable attitude. originality and costume. Lets face they were the best. I am very happy that Emmitt and Cheryl were partners because they are both my favotites. Mario you are cute, but Emmitt deserved to win because he is cute and sexy!!!!!!!!!!!1
Ofcourse it’s a popularity contest. But look how many times Mario was bashed for not following the rules, by the expert judges….Each contestant got the same number of votes from the judges in the end. Does that not say something? Then I could not get through to vote it was so busy.That also says something. Mario was great from day one. Though he and his partner did do thier own thing at times. But Joey was also great. And most of the stars this time were. But this is not an real ballroom dance contest. It’s entertainment. AND we don’t vote like it is. Do u really think Kelly and John were the best of thier show? Besides I always feel it’s a cheat to put stars with dance backgrounds against those without. Emmitt got the votes, enough said.
PLEASE, enough about Mario being robbed. In a contest there is always a winner and a loser, it doesn’t mean that the loser was cheated. AND…Mario broke rules left and right, due to his incredible cockiness and conceit. He whined about his other obligations the whole time. His partner knew he was breaking rules yet she didn’t warn him. If Mario lost, it’s his own fault.
Emmitt deserved to win. I have loved Cheryl since last year, they were great together. Emmitt was awesome and was so sexy when he did that last Mambo. Mario is full of himself, since when do the dancers break the rules!! He even admitted on the show to his partner “and I’m also good looking”. I dont’ think he deserved to win at all.
It completely baffles me when I hear people say that Mario was clearly a better dancer BUT that Emmitt came a long way. Was I wrong to think that when judging a dance competition, you judge on dancing ability? Because Emmitt was well liked for his abilities on the “football” field did not warrant viewer’s votes. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? It was not a lets-see-who-improves-most contest, and it certainly wasn’t a popularity contest. Which is exactly what it turned out to be in the end. Mario was the TRUE champion!!! Everyone knows that!!! I’m sure even Emmitt and Cheryl themselves know that. Emmitt didn’t even come close. Ignorance on the part of viewers is what made Emmitt, a semi-decent, at best, dancer, a winner. Having an utterly non-deserving person take home the trophy because he was better known for an entirely different and irrelevant skill, devalued the whole point of the show. I have no interest in watching next season.
I was really disappointed. Mario was the better dancer and should have won the contest. Emmitt was good but not as good as Mario. Too bad these contests are also popularity contests. When I look at dancing competition, I expect the better dancer to win.
Of course Emmett deserved to win. Mario started better, and many weeks was better, but on the last show, Emmett executed his dances better, while Mario looked unsure on the lifts, and looked once like he almost dropped his partner. Emmett surpassed Mario by the last show.
After it was over, I was glad that Mario didn’t win when Karina showed what a poor loser she was.
Emmett did deserve to win. As other comments have stated. He improved each week,he improved on the skills of each dance. I watched from the beginning to the end. He got better each time.
Linda Salaam
Yes, Emmit was the winner. Ballroom dancing is about dancing with a partner. Emmit made every woman watching want to dance with him. He looked like he would make any partner a beautiful dancer too. Mario looked like he would rather dance alone.
Mario won hands down in dancing! This wasn’t a popularity contest. Emmett was actually mad at one point in the show when he didn’t like the judging and/or comments. He showed his true colors in those moments. Emmet knows he wasn’t the best dancer. But, winning is winning, however you got it in some cases.
MARIO IS SO CUTE EVEN AN 80 YEAR OLD WOULD WANT TO DANCE WITH HIM AND HE WAS SUCH A GOOD DANCER. HE WAS MY PICK!
MARIO IS SO CUTE EVEN AN 80 YEAR OLD WOULD WANT TO DANCE WITH HIM AND HE WAS SUCH A GOOD DANCER. HE WAS MY PICK!
I felt it was very close, and Mario was a good dancer and also Joey. At the end out of fairness and with the final dance by Mario, it was not that great with the break dance. If Mario, would have stuck to his regular dancing, he probably could have won over a very close margin to Emmitt.
If Emmit had been paired with ANY other professional, he would not have won in year 3. He was paired with Cheryl Burke who, for some reason, has a fan base of vacant-minded people (similar to Trekies) who will vote for HER, not the celebrity HER. You can’t reason with them, they share a tiny, little brain.