5 Reasons I Support Team Chris on The Bachelorette

With The Bachelorette 2010 down to its final night, one burning question remains: Which remaining member of the Man Pack will receive Ali Fedotowsky's final rose? Will it be baseball player Roberto Martinez, blondie's season 6 'can't-keep-my-hands-off-him' eye candy, or Cape Cod landscaper Chris Lambton, who took an emotionally meandering approach to the competition but endeared himself to the bachelorette via his devotion to all things family? Although both are undoubtedly the cream of The Bachelorette crop, here are five reasons I'll support Team Chris on finale night.

Chris takes things slowly. Although his refusal to force things forward with Ali proved frustrating to the 'go-go-go!' bachelorette - she complained about it nearly every week, in fact - I found his caution and slow approach utterly charming and admirable. He wasn't going to push things beyond his comfort zone, and he also wasn't going to force Ali out of her own happy place with lots of pretty words and feigned affection. Chris allowed their relationship to grow and evolve naturally, and that's the kind of union that lasts.

Chris is genuine and sentimental. Although he was slow to warm to Ali, I sensed early on - during week four, in fact - that Chris was as sincere and sentimental as a guy on a reality show could possibly be. Week seven in Lisbon marked a real turning point for Chris and his relationship with the bachelorette. When he presented Ali with a very special bracelet during their winery date, I was taken with the sweet symbolism behind the gesture. I was blown away when a few weeks later during the hometown visit, Chris' brothers' wives noted her bangle and held out their arms to display their own. Chris isn't a guy who'd fake sentimentality; if he were, he would've given Ali the bracelet during week one as a 'hey, look at me!' maneuver. He's way too what-you-see-is-what-you-get for that to fly.

Chris' family is numero uno. When it comes to Chris, family is the number one priority by a country mile. We saw the incredibly strong bonds between Chris, his dad, his brothers, his sisters-in-law and even the memory of his mom during the hometown visit. When they all arrived to meet Ali and reunite with Chris, I nearly cried as hugs were exchanged all-around. You could practically feel the love through the TV screen! The carefest went on as Chris' sisters-in-law Sara and Meagan grilled him over his feelings, just as protective blood relatives would do. There's nothing like a loving, supportive family to make a great guy and a very lucky future wife. After all, Ali herself DID tell Chris during their week three date that she'd "love to marry into" a close-knit family.

Chris is a caretaker. The tender care that Chris showed by returning home to take care of his dying mother is mindblowingly sweet and an undeniable tribute to his gentle and giving spirit. But he's also a caretaker in more real-life, day-to-day ways. I took note when he gave his gloves to a chilly Ali during their week five group date in Iceland. It's the subtle, nearly undetectable moves in life - and not the grand gestures - that tell the story of someone's soul. And Chris' record points to a heart of gold.

Chris has a sense of humor. Although his quiet, at times brooding presence may well overshadow his humor for some viewers, Chris can be a really funny guy and most girls love a man who can make 'em laugh. His alarmed reaction to the week six olive oil wrestling exploit in Turkey was snicker-worthy, as was his week seven horror over driving a moped. I chuckled over his weenie driving skills and his worry that he'd become "the dude who killed the bachelorette". Those things aside, Ali giggles when she's with him, and laughter is good for the mind, body and soul.

So there you go: Five reasons to support Team Chris on The Bachelorette 2010. Be sure to tune in Monday, August 2 to see who wins Ali Fedotowsky's heart.

Sources

Sherry Wight, The Bachelorette 2010 Week 3: Justin Hoofs It, The Weatherman Cries, 3 Go Home, Associated Content

The Bachelorette season 6, May-July 2010, ABC