Full-court Press: Pom-poms and pucks
By Jay Nanda
San Antonio Express-News
The Rampage may miss the American Hockey League playoffs, but there’s still incentive to catch a game. On Saturday, 15 members of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders will be at the AT&T Center to perform during the 7 p.m. contest against … uh … does it matter? The squad will also conduct a clinic from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday at the Lifetime Fitness at The Rim for aspiring youth, some of whom may one day audition on “The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Squad.” American Idol-esque judge of talent Kelli Finglass, 44, who cheered for the Cowboys from 1984-88 and has been the squad’s director since 1991, took time out to chat.
Q: A lot of people may be attending a Rampage game for the first time thanks to your squad’s appearance, as well as Cowboys fans who aren’t able to make it to Irving for a game. What does it mean to provide such community service appearances?
A: The performance we’re doing for the Rampage is a sports entertainment performance. We go and do basketball, hockey, even baseball games. The part that reaches out to the community is the clinic at Lifetime Fitness. (Clinic participants) get a ticket to the game, they perform at the game, meet the cheerleaders. They get all the bells and whistles.
Q: Do you think cheerleaders will ever be a fixture in professional hockey?
Kelli Finglass (left) with DCC Megan FoxA: You know, they could be. There are some teams that have them. With the right surface, I can see them being a part. Fans need to be entertained. Everything from music to dancers. It’s all a part of the game and the experience.
Q: For those who have never seen the TV show, can you describe the qualifications you’re looking for?
A: They have to be able to grab the attention of the judges. Throughout our entire process, if they don’t come to us this way, we certainly have to accentuate it. The baseline is a talented individual.
Q: How often do people refer to you as the Simon Cowell of the show?
A: I get that quite a bit, however, I have to debate that a bit, because people who know me the best … I pull for the underdog. I’m not as hardcore as TV might make it seem. I do enjoy looking for talent.
Q: What’s the most memorable moment during all your times of holding auditions?
A: Oh boy. Many. Singers that shouldn’t sing. We’ve had dancers that don’t dance. We’ve had many wardrobe malfunctions. When you have an open casting call, which is what our first round is, it can be quite entertaining. But it’s also quite humbling seeing people try out for their dream. Especially now with the TV show. There are more cameras all over the place, and that can be intimidating. All cheerleaders have to audition, even if they were on the squad before.
Q: What was your worst experience as a cheerleader?
A: Well, one of the craziest was a huge thunderstorm in the old stadium. We were doing high kicks in the mud. White uniforms became brown uniforms, we’re kicking mud all over each other, and we had to wash our uniforms in the toilet.
Q: Should the Cowboys have released T.O.?
A: You know, I don’t make those calls, so I’m better off not making judgment. I’m gonna leave that to the coaches. How’s that for a politically correct answer? But you know, through the years, I’d grown more fond of T.O. He’s a passionate player, and I do like players with passion. There were times Michael Irvin had his ups and downs with the media. You can’t help but cherish players like Troy (Aikman) and Emmitt (Smith), of course. But I’m in the tunnel with the players right before introductions, and some players just stand out. You see their fire and anger and the way they psych themselves up, and Michael was very passionate. It has nothing to do with football.
Q: What would happen if you tried to persuade Jerry Jones to make the cheerleaders’ locker room in the new stadium be referred to as Kelli’s World?
A: (Laughing). Well, I’ve been a part of the design, and we have a wonderful, spacious state-of-the-art locker room that we’ve needed for a long time. The locker room doesn’t make the ladies, that’s for sure, but we are looking forward to being in the new stadium.
