Ali & Roberto's Break-Up

Lots of opinions over what caused Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez, beloved former engaged couple, to finally split.  They truly seemed so happy during their season and like civilized, down to earth people who might actually have a shot at making it work.  I had so much respect for Ali for knowing it was Roberto by the end and telling Chris Lambton to go home (actually, I think I was just excited at the prospect of Chris being the next Bachelor).  She has been the first and only Bachelor or Bachelorette to send the runner up home early.  Based on that information alone, you'd think she might be the only one who had a real shot at making her relationship work.

Truth be told, it seems that the runner ups are having far more success at finding love than the winners.  Chris Lambton went on to get engaged to Peyton Wright.  Tenley, runner up for Jake Pavelka's season, and Kiptyn, runner up for Jillian's season, are now dating each other and still going strong.  The last two runner ups for Brad's season both found men within a matter of a months after their seasons ended.  Jason Mesnick's runner up, Molly, ended up becoming the "winner" and later his wife.  So perhaps the goal of the show is really to become the runner-up.  Because that will either make you the next Bachelor or Bachelorette, put you on Bachelor Pad, or give you a very good shot at meeting your match through the Bachelor network or from going back to an ex boyfriend (e.g., Jenni Croft, Chantal O, etc.)

But back to Ali and Roberto.  I agree that it could have been a case that they wanted different things.  Ali was a great Bachelorette.  The camera loved her and the viewers loved her down to earth nature.  She wore Converse sneakers. She loved the color yellow.  She was tongue tied over Roberto, Mr. Dimples.  And yet when she came back for appearances or to give authoritative advice to future contestants, something about what we loved about her just never reappeared again.  Suddenly she was a fashionista, recommending certain boots, sweaters or styling tips.  On Bachelor reunion shows she was all done up, over-styled and gave out advice in a Bachelorette-Dalai-Lama style that had more than a touch of self importance.  She went from a gig at Facebook to a Fox 5 San Diego news correspondent, though her appearances were irregular.  She would often be photographed at LA events or participating in Hollywood parties, fashion soirees, etc.  Do I think she wanted it to work out with Roberto? Absolutely.  But was she prepared to live a regular life in San Diego with her insurance agent husband?  Probably not.  Roberto made the bold first step - quitting whatever he had going on in Florida, moving across the country and building a business from scratch.  He was making real sacrifices.  Yes, Ali did move from San Francisco and gave up her job at Facebook to be the Bachelorette, but that was all before she met Roberto.

I'm not sure how I feel about Ali telling her break up story to People magazine.  Clearly she got paid for that, the very thing Vienna - her nemesis - did when she broke up with Jake.  If she truly was the down to earth starry eyed girl that fell in love with Roberto and wanted to live happily ever after, then isn't selling a break up story just more than a tad disingenuous?

In any event, there are a couple of great things that could come out of this: (1) Roberto Martinez could make one of the best Bachelors of all time.  And by the time Ben's season is over, I wouldn't be surprised if ABC just decided to go straight to another season of Bachelor with Roberto being the lead guy.  Hopefully over the next two months Roberto can have time to heal and be convinced to give it a go.  (2) Perhaps some time apart will convince Ali that she really did have an incredible man and it's time to put the Hollywood ambitions away in exchange for the life she claims she always wanted with Mr. Dimples.  I wonder if she would sell People their reunion / make up story as well. (3) Roberto and Emily Maynard ride off into the sunset???  That would be interesting.

Speaking of Emily Maynard, a bunch of the former Bachelors and Bachelorettes (including Emily) are auctioning off dates with themselves to raise money for colon cancer.  If you are willing to pay bucks for a date with Emily, Michelle Money, Graham Bunn (I think Michelle and Graham are still semi dating, but who knows), David Good (ManCode Dave), Ashley Spivey or Erica Rose - go to Washington, DC next Saturday, December 10th to District Nightclub for the "Dream Date Auction."  Information can be found here.