Hines Ward is still pinching himself.
Despite some seriously stiff competition (from fellow finalist Chelsea Kane and Kirstie Alley) the NFL pro was crowned the season-12 winner on Dancing with the Stars last night.
Backstage, the triumphant Pittsburgh Steelers player, 35, confessed that he thought he’d grab second place to fan favourite Alley, 60.
“[When] I heard my name…I looked over at Kirstie and I was like, ‘Oh geez.’ Everybody loves Kirstie!” Ward said. “So it was the fans that carried me through and I couldn’t believe it!”
(Kane and partner Mark Ballas landed in third place.)
Despite his consistently high-to-perfect scores with pro partner Kym Johnson (who has been nursing a neck injury from two weeks ago), Ward insisted he didn’t feel like the presumed winner going into the results show. “Anyone in this final deserved the trophy tonight. I’m not going to apologize for winning”. (ABC)
