A Sea Of Green Invades Tampa Bay

What seemed like a million fans from the frozen tundra invaded Raymond James Stadium for the Buccaneers versus Packers NFL contest. I expected the Sea of Green Jerseys to show up but the Ocean of Cheese Heads was surprising. Really, who goes to a football game with a head of cheese as your hat?

Forget the game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleaders kept my attention for the day. The TBBC displayed new Christmas outfits for the afternoon and as the following photos will attest to, they were extremely popular with both home and visiting fans.

OK cheese heads take your win and get back to your 6 months of winter. Our two days of winter are almost over.

Fourth year veteran Cassie, two as line captain, will be the TBBC representative at the January Pro Bowl in Phoenix.

Enjoy the photos:

1-Cassie, Pro Bowl Representative
Cassie, Pro Bowl Representative

2-Megan
Megan

3-Cori

Cori

4-Jeanne
Jeanne

5-Christina
Christina

6-Stephanie
Stephanie

7-Kymberli

Kymberli

8-Amber and Jessica

Amber and Jessica

 

[Bucs Cheerleaders Gallery]

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders]

Photos of the Year – December 26

(As the year ends, we’re sharing our favorite photos from the past 12 months)

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There was a photo sequence of Titans Pro Bowl selection Ashley P during the Halloween game that I love, and this is one of my favorites of the series. Ashley’s joy shines through and is infectious. Plus, at times photography can be economically intimidating, but because I used wide aperture fixed length lenses for most of the game, and I knew it would be sunny, I brought along a low end telephoto lens for on field performances. I am always happy to see that I could capture Ashley’s performance with equipment that does not break the bank. All of the photos in this sequence and more at this link. Have a wonderful 2015 everyone!

Photos of the Day – Merry Christmas

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From Scott – Delaney of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders

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From Gerard – The Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders

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From Jackson – Rebecca of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders (2012)

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Bonus from Jackson – Christine of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders (2013)

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From David Tyau – 2013 Pro Bowl Charger Girl Anjelica

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From James – A Miami Dolphins Cheerleader

Photos of the Year – December 24

(As the year ends, we’re sharing our favorite photos from the past 12 months)

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Not exactly great photography art but funny episode. During preseason practice I realized at the last minute that the squad would be facing away from me. As they were going on the field I yelled to Crystale to sneak a peek back to the camera. This is the “peek a boo” look I got. Haha. The TBBC are a fun loving group, even through they haven’t experienced a home win yet they maintain upbeat spirit.

Park Ki-ryang, Korea’s Best-known Cheerleader

Park Ki-ryangKorea Bizwire
December 22, 2014

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — In professional athletic events such as baseball, basketball and soccer games, there are always cheerleaders appearing between innings, breaks between quarters or during the half-time break. Spectators usually assume they are low-paid college coed part-timers. But some of them are as high-priced as the athletes themselves.

Park Ki-ryang, a 23-year-old professional cheerleader who was selected as the best cheerleader of the year for two consecutive years, is well known among professional sports fans for her flashy dance moves and boasts the status of the highest-paid cheerleader in Korea.

She works for the Lotte Giants during summer months and for the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus during the winter basketball season. She often appears on TV show programs and brags her dance skills as good as top girl groups. On December 18, Park was seen on “Happy Together,” a variety show program on KBS2-TV, perfectly imitating the dance moves of girl group EXID. Park was envied by others on the show by saying she is 176 centimeters (5 feet 9 inches) while weighing only 48 kilograms (106 pounds).

She began her cheerleading career in 2007 by working for the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus and is now working for several other clubs such as the Guri KDB Life Winnus (women’s basketball) and Daejeon Samsung Fire Bluefangs (men’s volleyball). Even though the annual pay of cheerleaders differs individually, anyone with experience of five to six years tends to earn about 25-30 million won. [That’s approximately $25,000 ~sasha]

Gracious Whitney graces the cover of the Titans Cheerleaders Calendar

Now in her third year, Whitney during her second season as a Titans Cheerleader in  October 2013
Whitney during her second season as a Titans Cheerleader in October 2013

No doubt, Whitney was born to be a Tennessee Titans Cheerleader. The daughter of a cheerleader, Whitney started cheer at age seven, then through high school and college. Even when participating in other sports, Whitney’s innate cheer spirit emerged. “My mom was a cheerleader and I kind of just grew up knowing that’s what I wanted to do,” Whitney explained. “I tried playing softball but I was the girl in the dugout cheering on the rest of my team.”

And Titans faithful would not want their fan favorite any other way. Along with teammate Jocelyn, Whitney graces the cover of the Titans Cheerleaders 2014-15 Swimsuit Calendar. Whitney detailed for UltimateCheerleaders how she went straight from college to pro cheer, being on stage in concert with Florida Georgia Line, and, although I refuse to believe it, Whitney claims that she went through an age not quite as photogenic as she is today.

One reason Whitney was born to be a Titans Cheerleaders is that she is a native Tennessean. “I was born and raised in Soddy Daisy, a small town right outside of Chattanooga,” Whitney details. “I moved to Nashville two weeks after graduating from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I have one younger brother, Jackson, who also lives in Nashville.”

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Another requirement of being the perfect TTC is being ready for the sideline extremes of Nashville’s summers and winters, and Whitney’s best family moments helped prepare her for that. “My favorite memories were all the places we traveled to for vacation,” remembers Whitney. “We went skiing in Canada, Montana, and Colorado. We also went to Vegas, Mexico, and Florida. Every year we went somewhere different and we always had the best time.”

Though a Nashville resident now, Whitney has fond feelings for her natal area. “Chattanooga is so beautiful,” Whitney says. “It has all kinds of outdoorsy things to do. They have the new aquarium, famous Chattanooga Choo Choo, cute art shops, boutiques, fun restaurants, and a building you can rock climb. It’s very artsy and downtown always has something going on.”

But much of Whitney’s time growing up was devoted to her passion for cheer. “I have a long history of cheerleading,” recounts Whitney. “I started off in All-Stars when I was seven years old, and cheered throughout middle school, high school, and college. I remember my first cheerleading competition like it was yesterday. I was in second grade. Our music was a mixture of songs, but Alan Jackson’s song “It’s alright to be little bitty” was a big part of it because we were pee-wee’s. We had the coolest black, blue, and silver uniforms. We had our pony tails on top of our heads with ringlet curls, tons of hair spray, and glitter head to toe. I’m pretty sure we dropped all of our stunts and forgot most of the motions, but our tumbling was perfect so we didn’t care.”

Whitney's Catwoman catsuit has been purrrrfectly beloved by LP Field fans the last two Halloween games
Whitney’s Catwoman catsuit has been purrrrfectly beloved by LP Field fans the last two Halloween games

“There’s nothing better than an adrenaline rush, and that’s what competition cheerleading gives you,” Whitney continues. “You work all year long, go to a handful of competitions, and you have one try to get it right. I started off at United All-Star Cheerleading, cheered at Loftis Middle School, cheered at Soddy Daisy High School, and competed with United my senior year, then cheered 4 years at UTC.”

Whitney loved her university time at UTC. “College was an awesome experience,” Whitney details. “I was in and out in four years, so it flew by, but I had the time of my life. I majored in Communications and minored in Business Marketing. My concentration was in broadcasting, radio, and journalism, so I did radio segments, broadcasted on air, and did marketing for a local radio station in Chattanooga. My best memories are definitely with the UTC cheerleaders and football players. We were all really good friends. Our parents tailgated together so it was like one big family! I also had the opportunity to travel to New York City and Arizona while I was cheering. I have only the best memories with UTC and I’ll always cherish those moments.”

But remember, Whitney was destined to be a Titans Cheerleader. “I was graduating from UTC in May of 2012, so I was ready to start a new chapter in my life,” said Whitney, when asked what prompted you to try-out for the TTC. “I somewhat felt like I had done everything in Chattanooga that I could possibly do. I wanted something more and I’ve always admired NFL cheerleaders so I just decided to go for it. It was last minute and I didn’t tell many people. I remember standing behind the curtain waiting for the names to be called. There were 50 girls backstage and 27 spots. They started calling names and I was one of the last ones behind the curtain. I just remember telling myself over and over that if it’s meant to be, God will make it happen, and if it’s not, then I’m not meant to be in Nashville. When they finally called my number, I probably looked down five different times at my number just to be sure I heard right.”

Whitney rookie season calendar release party with former TTC Anne
Whitney rookie season calendar release party with former TTC Anne

Continue reading “Gracious Whitney graces the cover of the Titans Cheerleaders Calendar”

Halftime surprise proposal brings extra holiday joy to Rams Cheerleader Karielle and fiance Drew

Edward Jones video of proposal of Drew to Rams Cheerleader
Edward Jones Dome video of proposal of Drew to Rams Cheerleader Karielle

There was a monumental shift from the first to second half of the Rams game at the Edward Jones Dome. No, not on the field, as the Rams trailed throughout. The big change was on the sidelines, as Rams Cheerleader Karielle went from Rams Cheerleader during the first half to engaged Rams Cheerleader, to fiance Drew, in the second half.

At halftime, the Rams Cheerleaders lined up at midfield to watch a highlights video. But instead, it was a proposal from Drew, and eventually he was on the field on one knee. Karielle said yes and a super big group hug ensued.

When Karielle returned to the sidelines for the third quarter, the fans cheered in support of her change in status.

Rams Cheerleade Karielle shortly after her surprise at halftime
Rams Cheerleade Karielle shortly after her surprise at halftime

Karielle is originally from Kansas City, was on the Golden Girls dance team at University of Missouri, and now is a Rams Cheerleader. What a way to end the season!

But I must ask, usually the surprise proposal this time of year is the future groom dressed as Santi Claus, and also the Rams Cheerleaders were not donned in any holiday apparel during the game. Did the Grinch claim he was taking their Christmas-y costumes to the North Pole for emergency mending? Well, just like Christmas in Whoville, the joy of the Karielle-Drew engagement could not have been more joyous than it was.

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More photos of engaging Karielle are at this link.

Photos of the Year – December 22

(As the year ends, we’re sharing our favorite photos from the past 12 months)

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My favorite photo of the year comes from the opening game of the Baltimore Blast soccer team of the Major Arena Soccer League. I’ve covered the Washington Redskins Calendar Release Party and Wizard Girls Final Audition Showcase this year, but the Blast Cheerleaders is the first team that I covered during a game.

I love capturing action, and this photo was taken just as the team completed their dance routine. I also chose this photo because I wanted to showcase the team. The Blast Cheerleaders are very interactive with the fans, and each member is friendly and personable.