Simon Cowell issue a very public apology to David Cook at 'American Idol' finale

Did Simon Cowell know David Cook would win? Or was he, for once, just being nice?

Right before host Ryan Seacrest announced Cook as the next "American Idol," Cowell issued an uncharacteristic apology to the sincere 25-year-old rocker for skewering him during Tuesday's final performance show. The British judge went so far as to say that the remarks he made the night before to the future "Idol" winner were "verging on disrespectful."

"When I went back home and watched it, it wasn't quite so …