Esquire’s Monday Morning Cheerleader: Fabiola of the Dolphins

Miami lost a nail-biter to New York in primetime, but this week’s lovely sideline expert sees a big upside — and has some choice words for Braylon Edwards
By Steve Mazzucchi
Esquire.com
September 27, 2010

Not every Sunday night game lives up to NBC’s hyperbole, but if anything, the Week Three matchup between the Dolphins and Jets exceeded it. You had Chad Henne and Mark Sanchez dueling like actual adults, Brandon Marshall blowing up with a fantasy-friendly line, and Braylon Edwards, fresh off a DUI, hot-stepping down the sideline for a 67-yard score. And then you had Miami conducting a near-breathtaking drive that fell just a few yards short of taking things to overtime.

With the AFC East now topped by three different 2-1 teams, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll take it. But when it comes to the fire and fitness of the cheerleader squads, it’s hard to bet against the Dolphins and Louisiana-born, Venezuela- and Florida-raised Fabiola, who first came to fame as one of the FSU Cowgirls. “The whole thing was crazy, but it had nothing to do with me trying out for the Dolphins,” she told Esquire.com on Monday morning. “I would like to think I made the team because of my fabulous dancing and personality!” She knows a thing or two about football, too.

ESQUIRE: Tough situation at the end last night. What was the atmosphere like on that final push?

FABIOLA: The stadium was out of control. It was already a game that had so much hype, and Miami fans always want to beat the Jets. There were no empty seats.

ESQ: Despite the loss, were you proud of how the team rallied after going down 14-0?

FAB: Absolutely. The first quarter was a little disappointing. In the first couple minutes, when the Jets scored a touchdown, I was like, “No way — this is not gonna happen right now.” But then they really started coming back, and it was like, “Alright, the first quarter did not kill us.” We really gave it to them in the second quarter.

ESQ: This game was billed as a battle between two hard-running, tough-defending teams. Were you surprised by the amount of passing and scoring?

FAB: Critics were saying we needed to throw the ball more, and I think the Dolphins were trying to prove a point with this game. The defense could have been better. The first two games were all defense, so you can’t be mad at those guys. But I think the team looked freakin’ phenomenal out there. When the Jets beat the Pats, I was little scared. I figured they’d come in a little cocky and confident, thinking they can take us on like easy cake. I’m glad we put up a fight.

ESQ: Brandon Marshall accounted for 166 of Chad Henne’s 363 passing yards. He seems to be delivering action without antics for once. Is this what you expected when the team traded for him in the off-season?

FAB: Brandon Marshall was a stud, let’s just say it. Brian Hartline and Davone Best were also great, but Marshall was the talk of the game. When they brought him in there was huge talk in South Florida about it. We expected him to be amazing, and he is.

ESQ: Of course, he did say last month that he would play for the Heat or the Nuggets if there’s an NFL lockout next year. No shortage of confidence, huh?

FAB: Yeah, like the Heat will just pick him up, right next to all the amazing players they’ve got! But if the NBA did pick him up, he’d better play for the Heat. Don’t leave Miami. Don’t be a traitor.

ESQ: Speaking of which, LeBron James was in the stands and got cheered. Former Dolphin Jason Taylor was on the field and got booed. Fitting?

FAB: When they showed LeBron on the screen, the whole stadium went wild. I knew that Jason Taylor was not gonna get a good welcoming. He came out for the coin toss, and the entire stadium booed him. He was a big part of the Dolphins, he had a lot of community organizations, he was really involved — it was like Jason Town down here. So to see him go to one of our biggest rivals, our fans were disappointed, and they certainly let him know their feelings.

ESQ: Sort of like if LeBron went to a game in Cleveland?

FAB: Yeah, exactly like that.

ESQ: Braylon Edwards looked pretty sober scoring his touchdown. Should he have even been in the game?

FAB: No. Obviously it paid off for the Jets, but a DUI, that’s something I don’t take lightly. When you are a football player in that kind of life, why even put yourself in a drinking and driving situation? If that happened to a player on the Dolphins, he would not play. And if that ever happened in my team of cheerleaders, she’d be gone. He’s a double idiot. He got the DUI, and all he had to do was call for the car service.

ESQ: Tony Sparano: great mustache, or greatest mustache?

FAB: Greatest mustache ever. My dad had a pretty sweet mustache when I was growing up. I am pro-mustache, if you’re not dating me. I don’t want to feel all that facial hair. He wears it well.

ESQ: What were those knee socks/leg warmers you guys wore last night?

FAB: With the orange-jersey game, we wanted to make it more sporty and funky because we are wearing a jersey. So we cut the toes off of knee-high socks, cut the heel off, and slip them over our boots. We’re still in our three-inch heel boots, because who doesn’t go to a football game with three-inch heels?

ESQ: It’s been three weeks. Besides the Dolphins, who else could you see going to the Super Bowl?

FAB: I’m not even going to give you the satisfaction of saying the Jets. Maybe the Saints again. If I had a choice of my second team, it would have to be Saints, because I was born in New Orleans. I’m technically a Southern Spanish girl. You meet a lot of those, don’t you?

ESQ: Oh, for sure. You were one of the original FSU Cowgirls. If you’re sitting next to a guy in the stands, what could he do to impress you?

FAB: I’m really picky, I’m not gonna lie. I like guys that are themselves — fun, funny, and easy to hang out with. If you’re cocky, get out of here. We’re at a football game: let’s cheer, drink a beer, and have some fun.

ESQ: What about facepainting?

FAB: I’m all for facepainting. At FSU, we would do the little removable tattoos on our faces and bodies. I’m all for anything crazy that fans want to do, like the Super Noles with their bodies painted garnet and gold. I give bodypainting two thumbs up. And if you’re a big Dolphins fan, I love it. I’m all for it.

Click here for more on the Dolphins cheerleaders and their swimsuit calendar. (Fabiola graces the back cover and the month of November.)