I was regaled during dinner a few evenings ago by an acquaintance who is planning a trip to [huge resort in Orlando] to witness her grand-daughter participate in a "major" cheerleading competition.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the theoretical role of cheerleaders in life is to stimulate the enthusiasm of fans watching sports competition - mainly basketball and football. During breaks in play, they come out onto the floor and chant encouraging slogans ("Kill the Bastards!"), while executing acrobatic maneuvers designed to draw attention to themselves.
Whether cheerleading is "successful" is a dubious proposition indeed. Do they make the fans more fervent in their wishes that the Team will win? Do they stimulate the players to play harder (only the benchwarmers would be paying attention anyway, and then only occasionally)? The answer to these questions is undoubtedly, no.
But are the cheerleaders relevant for their own sake, independently of the players on the court/field? Again, no. Nobody comes to a Game to see the cheerleaders (other than the immediate friends and parents of the cheerleaders); nobody else gives the proverbial rat's ass about what they are doing, and most of the fans (who came to see the game, after all) are, when the cheerleaders are doing their thing, either heading to the toilet or the concession stand.
A couple generations ago, cheerleaders were chosen via an informal popularity contest, and they constituted the cutest and/or most popular girls in the school. At that time, cheerleading was a worthwhile spectator event. But we all know what happened to that selection philosophy, even if most the cheerleaders continue to think that they still are the cutest and most popular girls in school.
I personally see cheerleaders only once or twice a year while scrolling through cable TV channels, when by accident I come upon some cheerleading competition being televised. The prevalent characteristics of these competitions are (1) the militaristic execution of the exercises (they would have made a Prussian drill sergeant proud), (2) the soft-porn aspect of the outfits and body gyrations of the cheerleaders, and (3) the incredibly bad background music.
One cannot doubt the athleticism of the cheerleaders, or the effort and preparation that goes into their routines. But what's the point? Is it merely a venue for girls to exhibit the skills and moves their parents spent thousands on developing when they were taking ballet, gymnastics, and other classes?
It is not a SPORT! If it were a sport there would be cheerleaders for them in competitions.
And then I hear that the grand-daughter in question is vying for one of several CHEERLEADING SCHOLARSHIPS to college.
Jesus Freaking Christ. Did I not hear someplace that there is a crisis of escalating college tuitions?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the theoretical role of cheerleaders in life is to stimulate the enthusiasm of fans watching sports competition - mainly basketball and football. During breaks in play, they come out onto the floor and chant encouraging slogans ("Kill the Bastards!"), while executing acrobatic maneuvers designed to draw attention to themselves.
Whether cheerleading is "successful" is a dubious proposition indeed. Do they make the fans more fervent in their wishes that the Team will win? Do they stimulate the players to play harder (only the benchwarmers would be paying attention anyway, and then only occasionally)? The answer to these questions is undoubtedly, no.
But are the cheerleaders relevant for their own sake, independently of the players on the court/field? Again, no. Nobody comes to a Game to see the cheerleaders (other than the immediate friends and parents of the cheerleaders); nobody else gives the proverbial rat's ass about what they are doing, and most of the fans (who came to see the game, after all) are, when the cheerleaders are doing their thing, either heading to the toilet or the concession stand.
A couple generations ago, cheerleaders were chosen via an informal popularity contest, and they constituted the cutest and/or most popular girls in the school. At that time, cheerleading was a worthwhile spectator event. But we all know what happened to that selection philosophy, even if most the cheerleaders continue to think that they still are the cutest and most popular girls in school.
I personally see cheerleaders only once or twice a year while scrolling through cable TV channels, when by accident I come upon some cheerleading competition being televised. The prevalent characteristics of these competitions are (1) the militaristic execution of the exercises (they would have made a Prussian drill sergeant proud), (2) the soft-porn aspect of the outfits and body gyrations of the cheerleaders, and (3) the incredibly bad background music.
One cannot doubt the athleticism of the cheerleaders, or the effort and preparation that goes into their routines. But what's the point? Is it merely a venue for girls to exhibit the skills and moves their parents spent thousands on developing when they were taking ballet, gymnastics, and other classes?
It is not a SPORT! If it were a sport there would be cheerleaders for them in competitions.
And then I hear that the grand-daughter in question is vying for one of several CHEERLEADING SCHOLARSHIPS to college.
Jesus Freaking Christ. Did I not hear someplace that there is a crisis of escalating college tuitions?
