The Dudek Abides Journal Sentinel TV and film critic Duane Dudek looks at life on the small and big screen, and some of the cool stuff on both. SHARE

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Donald Driver was named winner of “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday’s results show.

The victory was something of an upset since the Green Bay Packers wide receiver’s scores had landed him in the middle of the pack throughout the season. His win will likely be controversial among the show’s fans.

A shirtless Driver defeated presumed favorites actor and heartthrob William Levy and classical singer Katherine Jenkins, who had scores after the two-night finals of 89 and 90, respectively.

Driver earned a perfect score of 30 for his last dance, a hip-swaying, pop-locking cha-cha, for a two-night total of 89.

Afterward, judge Carrie Ann Inaba said: “I think you are the one to beat.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli said he had “the strategy of a champion,” and that he “improved week after week” and had “peaked at the right time.”

It is assumed that votes by Packers fans helped push Driver into the end zone. But the number of viewer votes or how they break down was not revealed.

Host Tom Bergeron called this season the “hardest fought” in the show’s history, and its finale “the closest ever.”

"It took me 13 (seasons) to win a Super Bowl but only one season to win a mirrored ball," Driver said on WISN-TV (Channel 12).

Football is a team sport. But pinning a cheesehead on the show’s disco ball grand prize was a personal triumph for Driver. He is a student of the show, having watched the previous seasons, and talked knowledgeably about past contestants.

But he seemed to meet an immovable object in judge Len Goodman, who only gave him two scores of 10 all season - Monday and Tuesday night.

The judges award points for technical performance. Their scores are combined with voting by audience members who do so by phone or online.

“It is really more than ever that the public will decide” the winner, said Tonioli.

In an interview on WISN-TV, Driver's wife, Betina Driver, credited Packer fans with the win.

"You rocked with the vote," she said.

Each week, it seemed, the judges lavished Driver with praise but withheld points. He only spent one week, the fourth, in first place, after dancing to “Purple Haze.”

The other two finalists were sensual, lithe and graceful, and Driver also often took off his shirt to reveal his muscular, tattooed chest.

But his real assets were a compelling personal story, a wide smile and charisma.

And his peak physical condition allowed him to meet the demands put on him by his professional partner, Peta Murgatroyd.

“He’s very passionate and driven to succeed,” said Inaba.

But “sometimes he overdances,” said Goodman, a naysayer until the last.