In this installment of From The Archives, I introduce my all time favorite Raiderette, Kelly Morris.  These photographs were taken in the mid 1990′s with my old film camera and a 300 2.8 super telephoto lens (you know those big white lenses, the sports photographers use to shoot football games).  Back in the “good ol’ days” before 9/11, you could take in pretty much any camera equipment that you wanted…at least that was the case at the Los Angeles Coliseum.  Though Raiders fans have a rather surly reputation, safety and security were never a problem in the Coliseum because of the number of uniformed LAPD officers that patrolled the sidelines.  In fact, the season ticket holders in the row in front of me, were LAPD.  So, I never felt unsafe at the Coliseum, though there was once incident where those off duty LAPD officers spotted a Raider fan with a handgun in his pants…he was promptly escorted out by the uniformed LAPD.

But enough of my Raider anecdotes and on to the photos of my all time favorite Raiderette Kelly Morris.

The great thing about a Raiders home game was that the Raiderettes mingled with the fans before the game, signing autographs and posing for photos.  They were accessible, friendly, and very good looking.   You could really get up close and get to know them; it was a very close knit experience.  The Raiderettes and their fans were family.   Those were the days, back in the 90′s…it was a different time and place.

Five Washington Wizard Girls: Jessica, Nina, Samantha, Alexandria and Lyndsay  are back from a 10-day goodwill trip to China. Also making the trip was Wizard Girls Assistant Director Brianne who once again donned the WG uniform.

The Wizard Girls barely have time to catch their breath. In two weeks they’re off to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to shoot their 2010 Swimsuit Calendar.

[Wizard Girls in China Video]

[Wizard Girls in China Photos]

The latest from Aubrey Aquino’s On The Flipside:

The 2009 NFL season is just around the corner, and while the guys are getting ready for pre-season and fighting to make the final roster, the ladies of the NFL have been hard at work all summer long! On The Flipside host Aubrey Aquino knows a little about that, but these days she’s retired her dancing shoes and helping choose which ladies will stand on the NFL sidelines this season. Watch this special Sideline Distraction edition of On The Flipside – making the cut to be a member of the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. And helping out on the judges panel and on this special episode are WEDR/99 Jamz personality Lorenzo “Ice Tea” Thomas and Dolphins Alum Shawn Wooden. Check out the highlights from Aventura Mall and see who makes the team!

[On The Flipside]

[Aubrey Aquino]

Jacksonville Axe Maiden, Amy M. shares her first All Pro3 experience:

“Wow, What an experience! The weekend in Atlanta (June 27-28) at the All Pro3 cheerleading convention. Ten very excited Axe Maidens cheerleaders buddied-up in cars and planes headed to Altanta on Friday afternoon. The 5-ish hour trip was long but very worth it. This year is the 5th anniversary of the convention and was the largest yet. The Axe Maidens joined cheerleaders from the Tampa Bay Bucs, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Checkmates, Seattle Sea Gals, Washington Redskins, Indianpolis Colts, Houston Texans, and many others from the NFL, NBA, Arena Football, and even some visitors from Mexico and Japan. Having the opportunity to learn from great choreographers/team coaches and dance among the best was a great way to make us better individuals and team.”

“Saturday morning started off fast….and didn’t end until we had danced the day away. Several Axe Maidens were chosen to be featured in the convention magazine – Sideline Distraction/Attraction. This was a huge surprise and honor! We had some team bonding time on Saturday night and then it’s back to dancing all day on Sunday. After many head rolls, hair flips and high kicks, our bodies were ready for a break. The soreness will subside and the blisters will go away but the experience and fun we had together will always be remembered!”

[AllPro3]

[Jacksonville Axe Maidens]

(Note: I ran into some technical difficulties but I still have half a dozen or so P-R-O posts coming – James)

The Allen (TX) Americans, Collin County’s newest professional hockey club, are accepting applications for the Ice Angels promotional dance team.

The club is looking for individuals with skating or dancing ability, high energy, poise, good personality and good overall physical appearance. Ice Angel responsibilities include rehearsals, personal appearances, answering fan mail, children’s dance workshops, performances, interviews and photo shoots. Ice Angels must be fully committed to the position and serve as positive role models.

All applicants must be 18 years of age on or before August 8, 2009, and have a high school degree or G.E.D. Also, dancers must reside in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and have reliable transportation. Ice Angels are required to attend all practices, games and other related activities.

Preliminary auditions will be held August 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Legacy Dance Center in Frisco. The semi-finals will be held August 9 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Dr Pepper StarCenter. The final audition will be August 15 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Dodie’s Place Sports Grill in Allen.

All interested dancers need to complete the application and waiver located at allenamericans.com and return it to the Allen Americans office with a $20 registration fee (cash or check payable to Allen Americans) and a non-returnable photo by 5:00 p.m. on August 6, 2009. Applications can be mailed or dropped off at 190 E. Stacy Road, Ste. 1508, Allen, TX, 75002. If mailing the application, please put it to the attention of Ice Angels Auditions.

To help prepare interested applicants, the Americans are holding audition prep classes led by Ice Angels Director and former Dallas Desperados Dancer BreAnna Foddrill. Attendees will learn choreographies similar to the tryout routine and will practice their introductions that are required at the audition. The classes are designed to simulate rehearsals. The location and dates are listed below.

Classes will be held at Legacy Dance Center, which is located at 4040 Legacy Drive #205, Frisco, TX, 75034. The prep classes run from 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, and Wednesday, August 5.

Dancers should wear hot pants, bikers or cropped dance pants, a halter or athletic bra top and dance sneakers. They should also arrive with attractive hair and make-up. Each class costs $15.

For questions, please call BreAnna Foddrill at 817.889.0948.

[Ice Angels Auditions Application] (Opens in pdf)

[Denver Nuggets Dancers]

We probably don’t have many readers in the 6-13 age bracket, but if you know a kid who loves to dance you might want to consider telling them about this:

Auditions for the NETS Kids dance team will be held Tuesday, August 4 at the NETS Practice Facility, 390 Murray Hill Parkway, East Rutherford, NJ. The NETS Kids are presented by LTJ Arthur, the apparel retailer.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the auditions will start at 6:00 p.m.

The NETS are seeking boys and girls ages 6-13 with at least two years of technical dance training. Dancers will be asked to demonstrate their ability to learn and perform choreography. Tumbling and break-dancing skills are a plus, but not required. Participants should wear dance attire and non-marking sneakers or dance shoes. One parent must be present at registration to sign a participation waiver.

In advance of the auditions, the NETS will host a NETS Kids Audition Prep Class on Monday, August 3. The class will be held from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the NETS Practice Facility. Participants will learn actual NETS Kids choreography from the NETS Dancers and receive audition tips from NETS Kids Coach Debra Bisignano and NETS Entertainment Manager Kimberlee Garris. Call 201-635-3147 to register.

I was fortunate enough to watch the NETS Kids in action earlier this year, and I believe the correct technical term to describe them is “really, really good!”

[Complete Audition Info]

[Official NETS Kids Website]

Open calls for the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit dance team took place on Saturday. Over 250 dancers took a shot at making the team. After three rounds of dancing and three cuts, the group has been narrowed down to 29. That includes ten veterans hoping to return to the team, a former San Diego Charger Girl, a former Washington Wizards Dancer, and probably a few other things I haven’t found out about yet. Only 16 of the remaining young ladies will be asked to join the team. Who will it be? All that will be decided tonight, at finals!

Good luck tonight, ladies!
It’s all about the Eye of the Tiger.
(And remembering the choreography.)

In the meantime, as always, i took tons of photos. Click here to view some of them in my flickr gallery.