If you thought the judges blew it at the Olympics, get a load of the outrage I witnessed at the Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday night:

Best in Show went to a Poodle. A miniature Poodle. A miniature Poodle named Spice Girl!

Her name alone should have disqualified her. Madison Square Garden was as shocked and silent as if the Knicks or Rangers had just lost a season-ending playoff game. The crowd was stunned by the silly-looking partially shaved fluff monster who was taking home the blue ribbon. In my opinion, the top dog was Wetu Of Kalahari, a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback, who was one of the finalists. Maybe next year, boy.

Like the Russian pairs and the French judge in Salt Lake City, Spice Girl -- hmm, aren't poodles part-French? -- was not talking with the media last night. Between bites of kibble and sips of bubbly, she told me to call her agent.

This was my first Westminster, and bad judging aside, it won't be my last. It was an amazing night, the second-oldest sporting event in the U.S. (last night was the 126th show). It's all about dogs getting primped, coiffed, their nails done just so -- oh, and don't forget the doggie fragrance. "That's a must," said a Bulldog named Rock My World, who took home an Award of Merit. Woof, woof, way to go, boy. He appeared to be a most happy fellow.

The same couldn't be said for the humans I saw backstage after the finish. Plenty of people were crying, but I didn't see one dog with a tear in his eye. Bizarro. I suppose, with all the preparation that goes into getting these dogs ready to compete, the owners get pretty serious. I saw a woman putting powder on a tooth brush, "to help bring the dog's whiteness out." Rough.

Tails from Backstage: Strangely, I found that I could hear the dogs talking to me as I wandered around beneath the stands -- and they sounded just like athletes (only much more polite) ... "Another show next week," said Magic Sir-ly You Jest, a Brittany who was robbed in the finals. "Don't get too high, don't get too low. I just take 'em a day at a time" ... "As long as I get fed, I'm cool," was 13-inch Beagle Dixie Chick's take ... "I just want to first and foremost thank God for the opportunity to show at the Garden," said Malina Z Gangu Dlugich, a Polish Lowland Sheepdog. It was the first time her breed was invited to compete, so she was, indeed, just happy to be here ... Come to think of it, so was I.

John Broder is a senior researcher at ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at john.broder@espnmag.com.