Donald Driver scores touchdown, crowned new 'Dancing with the Stars' champ

Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas had perfect scores and technique, William Levy and Cheryl Burke had screaming fans and happenin' hips, but in the end, Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd were the ones taking home the mirrorball trophy and the championship of "Dancing with the Stars."
Near the end of the show, Gladys Knight sang "The Way We Were" as the scores were tallied, and William and Cheryl were announced as being in third place. "It was an amazing experience," William said. "I'm going to miss all of you guys, all of you," as he looked around the ballroom.
Then it came down to only two couples and as host Tom Bergeron declared that Donald and Peta were the champions, she leaped into his arms and they jumped up and down, and then he was so filled with excitement, he rolled around the dance floor. They were screaming and laughing, and Donald showed he has his priorities in order -- after giving Peta a big squeeze, the people he was hugging and kissing were his wife and his children, who had rushed the floor. Katherine and Mark were gracious in defeat, praising Donald for his victory. Of course, there were enough fireworks and streamers for the next Fourth of July. And the irony that newish pro Peta (with Ron Artest) was eliminated in Week 1 last season was mentioned more than once -- shows what a dancer can do with a talented celeb like Donald.
After 10 weeks of remarkable dancing by the determined celebrities and their pro partners,

the Tuesday night finale of Season 14 was filled with entertainment, including Kelly Clarkson singing her latest hit. There was lots of dancing, from an opening performance by the entire cast of pros and celebs, to an encore of Donald and Peta's astounding freestyle of Monday night, to return dances by the celebs eliminated during the season, to a final dance -- learned overnight -- by the three finalists.
The dances Tuesday night -- a salsa by William and Cheryl, a jive by Katherine and Mark, and a cha cha by Donald and Peta -- all garnered perfect scores of 30 from the judges. Head judge Len Goodman told William, "If salsa and rhythm were in the Olympics, you'd win a gold medal," and told Katherine that of the "three fantastic finalists," she was "the complete package." Judge Bruno Tonioli described Katherine as a "blonde bombshell and one of the most wonderful competitors we've had on 'Dancing with the Stars.'' Judge Carrie Ann Inaba told William, "What makes you special is you have true star quality," but said Donald was the "one to beat" after his dance. It didn't hurt that he took off his vest at the start of his dance and presented it to Carrie Ann, who almost swooned.
There was over-the-top drama from the first words intoned by Tom: "Who will take it all? The finale begins RIGHT NOW!" And Len added his own touches to the overdone drama by comparing the competition to "Gettysburg, Bunker Hill, the Alamo -- this is the BATTLE FOR THE BALL," accompanied by very dramatic music by the band and singers.
Co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet was a sight to behold in her magenta, floor-length dress, cut up to her thigh, cut down so far that a slight piece of netting was needed to avoid an "R" rating and held together with large, silver rings.
The finale was two hours of fun and excitement, and should be enough to hold the most frenzied fan until the fall when Season 15 will be an All-Star version. See you in September -- maybe over the summer, Brooke can learn to keep her left hand off her hip and how to avoid asking inane questions. We can only hope.