OK The American Idol was crowned. What do you think?

[alabamaalan]

Ditto on the both are talented and will do well comments.

But naturally, being from Alabama I was hoping that the winner would be Clay

What can I say, I'm area code 334!

Here's my theory....

Jesse Jackson has just graced our state with his presence last week to stage a protest on the Capitol steps because the University of Alabama dared to choose a young white coach as head coach over an older white coach and an older black coach.

Oh wait, I'm sorry...he did not care that Shula was chosen over an older white coach

Since he still has 'Bama on the brain, he would have no doubt charged in with both barrels if Reuben did not win.

Seriously though, Clay did seem more versitile and a better performer but they are both very talented men and seemed like good, down to earth, Southern gentlemen.

Anytime votes are given to the people with multiple votes allowed, it only means who gets more calls, not who is the best performer.

 

[Nancy]

I tried for 2 hours to vote for Clay. I got through a total of 1 time! I either would get busy signals or a recording telling me the number was not in service! (I think I got that message at least 100 times!) I wonder if anyone else was getting that message and just giving up?

I also don't see the hype about Rueban...he has a nice voice..but I was not impressed with his versions of some songs. That said I also think Clay did not choose the best Beatles song on Tuesday. I was hoping he would come out and do a rockin' number!

I will not purchase a Rueban record, but I will purchase a Clay record.

 

[AllyandJack]

I really wanted Clay to win because I enjoy listening to him more. Not because I'd say he's BETTER, but I, personally, enjoy him more. But, I guess it doesn't really matter since we'll be hearing from Clay as much as Ruben anyway. The title is nice, but I think the top three will all end up in a record store near us. I'd buy a Kimberley CD and a Clay CD, but probably not Ruben....maybe the Flying Without Wings single, if there is one, but it's just not my style of music. I liked Ruben as a person and a performer and I'm happy for him and I think it is a well-deserved title, as it would have been for any of the top three.

 

[Tess]

I guess I would have been one of those--after all, I did say "I don't get it?" He simply didn't engage me as a performer--he never reeled me in with his songs. That's not a "personal" slam, just my opinion of his performance style. Nothing changed for me with his "crowning"--I'll just be saving some $$ because I won't be buying his cd. I could say the same thing about last year's #2, Justin Guarini--didn't get his appeal either. . . Frankly, I enjoyed Ricky's performances more than Ruben's--there's no accounting for some people's tastes. It is funny though--the audiences for each guy seem to be more rabidly competitive than the two of them! They are both a class act (at least by appearances) as are their Moms.

I did say, after Tuesday's performances, that the audience was loaded on Tuesday with Clay fans but that Wednesday it would be heavily Rubenites. That seemed pretty obvious last night--just can't help but feel that the deck was somehow stacked--for whatever reason. I'm also not sure I buy into that 1,300 odd vote separation. . .I guess the proof will finally come out in the sale of the music. . .when an actual cd is released by each anyway. I just hope it doesn't take a FULL year as it did with Kelly's!

On the topic of "they both get a contract", that's true--but you don't hear as much from "Justin" as you do from "Kelly", now do you--the promotion certainly isn't equal.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Actually, unless Ryan misspoke last night when giving the percentages the difference had to have been appx. 130,000 votes. The difference was about .5%, which for 24,000,000 isn't close to 1,300.

Someone screwed up somewhere when they announced the actual numbers.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by alabamaalan

Jesse Jackson has just graced our state with his presence last week to stage a protest on the Capitol steps because the University of Alabama dared to choose a young white coach as head coach over an older white coach and an older black coach.

Oh wait, I'm sorry...he did not care that Shula was chosen over an older white coach

I don't mean to take this off-topic, but I wanted to address this. Ummm I'm not a fan of Jesse Jackson. However, in this case he does have a case. While neither Mike Shula or Sylvester Croom are outstanding coaches (or have proven to be at this point), Mr. Croom was the better qualified candidate and has a history with 'Bama football. The SEC, as a whole, has yet to hire a black head football coach, which is kinda strange. There was a wonderful article in my local paper on Sunday outlining the differences between the two coaches, it's too bad they don't have it on their website or I would have posted it here.

This is why I LOVE living in the south.

 

[alabamaalan]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
While neither Mike Shula or Sylvester Croom are outstanding coaches (or have proven to be at this point), Mr. Croom was the better qualified candidate and has a history with 'Bama football. The SEC, as a whole, has yet to hire a black head football coach, which is kinda strange.

Point taken. Sorry to stray off-topic but I was just trying to joke around with an Alabama connection since Reuben is from B'ham and that was the first thing I could think of.

I'm just glad to see any coach with a Bama or SEC connection back in control!

And I DO love living in the South. You can find stupidity anywhere else in the country; we don't have an exclusive on it!!!

Okay, the rabbit chase is over now...back to the AI topic!!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

only 25 votes(but I had 2 phones and my sister's fav got voted off 2 weeks ago)

 

[suzannen]

I was very disappointed Clay didn't win. Not only do I think his voice is extraordinarily beautiful and unique, as Simon said, "no one worked harder on this competition than Clay." Look at how he changed and developed throughout the competition. He listened to their comments and criticisms and took them to heart and grew from them. Ruben never stretched himself, never took chances, and thus sounded exactly the same, song after song, competition after competition. He has a nice voice, but he sounds too much like other singers to me. I already have a whole Luther Vandross and James Ingram collection whose voices I like better. Nothing bad about Ruben, only wish him the best, but unless he takes it up a notch, I doubt I would ever buy his CD.

Oh, and I tried for over 2 1/2 hours and only got through twice for Clay. My DH finally borrowed my BIL's phone and text messaged 10 votes. They definitely need to change the system. If both lines were busy non-stop for 3 hours, then it was really a tie.

 

[korzmom]

I too was dissapointed at the outcome.No I wont "bash" ruben he was good, but like someone else said he is too much like Luther Vandross,James Ingram,we already have those talents,who needs another clone. Clay on the other hand has such a unique voice,much rather listen to him.On another note I think the reason Ruben won was MEDIA HYPE!!! Give me a break! We'll see you has the most talent when both their CD's come out..and on a personal note, did anybody notice the lack of emotion Ruben had when he won???Almost like he expected it..Clay is my AMERICAN IDOL.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by ryanpatricksmom
Actually, unless Ryan misspoke last night when giving the percentages the difference had to have been appx. 130,000 votes. The difference was about .5%, which for 24,000,000 isn't close to 1,300.

Someone screwed up somewhere when they announced the actual numbers.

The media is reporting today that Ryan Seacrest misspoke and the difference between the two was 130,000 as you said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030522/en_usatoday/5180111

 

[ABCMom]

I tried for three hours and only got through about 10 times, for Reuben. I picked him and Kimberly from the very beginning because of their voices but also because I was put off by comments that the American Idol should have a certain image. I loved Reubens voice and personality and I thought that was what was most important. After reading some of the comments here I thought I was in a minority and up to the very end I thought Clay would win.
Though I agree that Clay had a beautiful voice and had certainly improved over the course of the contest, the guy always rubbed me the wrong way - maybe it was the hair, or maybe that little smirk he always had JMPO as I know there were many who loved him - but that is what America is all about, right? We all have different opinions and are free to express them. Anyway I am sure he will still have a future in the music industry. Ryan even said last night they would release both their CD's at the same time - maybe he was joking, but I didn't take it that way.

 

[Gette88]

I really didn't care who won. I thought they both were great and I'm sure they'll both have successfull music careers. If I had to pick I would of picked Clay, but I was very happy for Ruben.

 

[Towncrier]

I think that the "final three" were all worthy of the title. There was a lot of talent on that stage last night. Kimberly, Clay, and Ruben all evoked an emotional response from me (aka goosebumps) at various times during the final hour of the show last night.

(I admit it. I watched the season finale of Enterprise instead of AI)

Each one has their own special style. I am not disappointed by the outcome. I am a bit surprised because I had heard all sorts of straw polls that put Clay way out in front. It just goes to show that the polls don't mean a thing when it comes down to it.

Right after the show, a local Cleveland report had the chance to talk with Clay. Clay said a big "thank you" to Ohio and mentioned the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Kimberly, Clay, and Ruben are all winners in my book.

 

[vald1977]

I picked the option that I didn't vote but wanted Ruben to win - yeah! . I didn't even try to vote on Tuesday because I have tried in the past and couldn't get through. I knew I would stress myself out trying for three hours so I didn't even try. I was very happy last night to see Ruben win !

I have to say the both Clay and Ruben seem to be real class acts. Both handled themselves like gentlemen and I was proud of both. I do think the voting system needs to be revamped. Even though I was happy that my choice came out on top in the end, I have seen multiple posts here of people whose votes didn't count on both sides and that is not right.

As far as bashing contestants, I am clueless . I have not seen much of that on the DIS. I have said it before and I will say it again. I did not like Kim L. If I had my way, she would have gone very close to the beginning. Is this bashing her? I don't think so. People have said they find Ruben boring. I don't think that's bashing either. Everyone has their own opinions .

 

[ShuisFan584]

I obviously wanted Clay to win. I tried to vote the whole 3 hours and unfortunately only got 11 votes in. I wish the phone lines weren't so clogged, otherwise I know Clay would have won. I'm disappointed with Ruben winning because he bores me. If anyone, I wish it was Kim Locke who would have beaten Clay, because she's another person whose cd I would buy. I guess we'll just have to see who the real winner is when their cd's are realeased, since it sounds like they will be coming out the same time.

 

[CookieGVB]

Originally posted by sgtdisney
The media is reporting today that Ryan Seacrest misspoke and the difference between the two was 130,000 as you said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030522/en_usatoday/5180111

Ryan never struck me as the sharpest tool in the shed - I'll bet he read the number wrong.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I agree with the other posters who said they should have a system where you can only vote once, it definitely would reflect a more accurate winner. Maybe they could just do online voting. I know that's not fair to people who don't have computers, but I think it's more fair in picking an actual winner. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that Ruben won, but after reading these posts I see a lot of people did not get through while others got through several times. I just feel it would be more accurate if everyone just got one vote. JMHO

 

[Towncrier]

As far as allowing only one vote per household, that would be unfair to those homes with larger families. Or to people who have multiple cell phones.

Statistically, everything should have evened out. For all those people who cast hundreds of votes for Ruben, there were more than likely an equal number who cast hundreds of votes for Clay. However I will agree that last night's vote was really too close to call. Considering the percentages, I would say that it was for all intents and purposes a dead heat. I'm certain that both Ruben and Clay will do well regardless of the results of the vote.

 

[damo]

Although the vote one per phone would still be slightly unfair, although every person should be allowed to vote so bigger families should have more votes, some people actually voted over 1000 times!!! A system of one vote per phone would be A LOT more accurate.

It's sounds to me as if many, many people were unable to cast their votes. The lines should be open for 8 hours or so, with each phone allowed one vote. This should allow everyone a chance to vote and the vote would be more indicative of the actual fan base.