Did Scotty McCreery Deserve to Win American Idol?

122 million. That's the number of people who crowned the newest American Idol this week.

Not exactly a small sample size. We could keep playing the numbers game - how many songs, how many aspirants he bested - but you get the idea.

Some will say Pia Toscano was ousted too soon, and she probably was. Ditto James Durbin. But can anyone really dispute Scotty McCreery's worthiness?

Many of this year's eliminations were controversial, but only relative to some of the contestants who outlasted them - not to Scotty specifically.

He's got an outstanding voice perfectly suited for country, and he proved it time and again. What he lacks in flair, he makes up for with talent.

Slow, smooth and steady won this race, and deservedly so.
Scotty McCreery is a fantastic singer. If I were going purely by voice, he'd have earned my vote as American Idol champion after his first audition.

But forget what the judges say: This is not purely a singing competition.

There are, and there should be, other factors at work. The legitimacy of Idol itself is at stake, especially with new competition such as The Voice and The X-Factor.

It really needs to crank out a successful winner, and Lauren Alaina stands a better chance at sustained success than Scotty does.

For whatever reason, male victors simply don't do well on the charts. Kris Allen? David Cook? Lee DeWyze? Can anyone name a top 10 single by any of them?

As evidenced by her duet with Carrie Underwood, Alaina has a long way to go. But she's tough. She overcame a sprained throat to compete in the finals.

She clearly wants this and I have no doubt she has more potential to be the next Carrie than Scotty has to be more than a one-month wonder.