In this installment of From The Archives, I share a few photographs from a post-college days road trip to Norman, Oklahoma.  In 1986, UCLA traveled to Oklahoma to play the Sooners and a friend in UCLA’s Sports Information Department secured a media credential for me to photograph the game.  It was early September and the weather was very hot and very humid, typical for that part of the country.  Jamelle Holieway, a local boy from Carson, CA, was the starting QB for the Sooners.  The Bruins fans who made the trek to Norman, Oklahoma were optimistic that we could put up a good fight against the perennial college football powerhouse Sooners, but we were to be disappointed.

UCLA scored the first three points of the game and then surrendered the next 38 points to the better conditioned Sooners.  It was quite apparent after the first quarter, that the day was going to be long, so I turned my attention to the OU Pom squad.  One girl in particular caught my eye.  Blonde and beautiful, she was as photogenic as they come.  So, the day was not a total loss.

I would later discover that she was the daughter of OU Basketball Coach Billy Tubbs.  Her name, Taylor Tubbs.  Oh, to be young and in college again.

In the early 90’s, I was a Los Angeles Raiders season ticket holder and when Al Davis packed his bags and went back north to Oakland, I decided to check out a few San Diego Charger games to get my fill of NFL football.  In this installment of From the Archives, I present one of my earliest photographs of the Charger Girls, taken with my old Canon film camera.

The environment at old Jack Murphy Stadium was much more family friendly than the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the excitement and pagentry of the NFL was so compelling that I soon became a San Diego Charger season ticket holder.  Of course, the Charger Girls were also one of the reasons for becoming a Charger fan, as you can tell from this photograph of Shelby C. from the mid 90’s.

Check out how high the waist is on this version of the venerable Charger Girl skirt!  It’s almost Victorian by modern day standards, but still, perhaps, my favorite version of the uniform.

Owing to the success of the 2004 Athens Olympics beach volleyball cheerleaders, the AVP has added a professional dance team to their beach volleyball tour.  Featuring a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, a former San Diego Charger Girl and a former Laker Girl, the AVP Dancers will premiere at the 2009 AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Manhattan Beach Open this week.

AVP Dancer Kortney

AVP Dancer Nancy

AVP Dancer Makenzi

Coincidentially, I have had the good fortune to photograph three of the AVP Dancers over the course of my photographic travels.

Kortney as a Charger Girl

Makenzi as a DCC

Nancy as a Laker Girl

So, if you are in Southern California this weekend, head on over to Manhattan Beach and check out the AVP Dancers.

This installment of From the Archives features one of my favorite Raiderettes, Anjanette Ayabari.  Like many Raiderettes, her exotic good looks led to a career in the entertainment field, most notably in the Philippines.

The Raiderette uniform has undergone minor changes throughout the years, but this version from the early 1990s is what comes to my mind when I think of the Raiderettes.  Like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform, the Raiderette uniform is a cheerleading classic.

This is a slow time of the year for me, the weeks before the NFL season starts, so I am inaugurating a new segment entitled “From the Archives”.  I have been photographing cheerleaders since my college days (a very long time ago) and have accumulated many photos that I would like to share with our readers.  So, in this first installment, let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Rams from the mid to late 1980’s.

Check out the head band and the fishnets!  The only thing missing are leg warmers.  Gotta love the ’80s fashions.

Congratulations to the Laker Girls and the Los Angeles Lakers on winning the 2009 NBA Championship.

And a sincere thank you to all the NBA Dance Teams who make watching an NBA game so special.

How did you prepare for Laker Girls auditions this summer?

I stepped up my workout routine by doing extra cardio and really focusing on stretching, since flexibility is important at auditions. I also worked on increasing my stamina since the first day of auditions is a very long day and requires a lot of energy.

What other styles of dance do you do outside of Laker Girls rehearsals to maintain your skills?

I love taking hip hop and jazz classes, and I really need to get back into ballet too!

Do you do anything outside of dance to stay fit (ie swimming, biking, etc.)?

I love doing cardio at the gym, and I also love hiking when I get a chance to go.

Take us through your typical workout. Do you use weights, cardio, flexibility exercises? If so, please describe.

I start out with 30-45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical machine. Right after that, I stretch because I like stretching when my muscles are still warm. From there, I move on to my favorite weights/resistance exercises–squats, lunges, sit-ups, and various exercises on the large exercise ball.

What do you eat to stay healthy/maintain energy?

I love having eggs with avocado, and fruit on the side for breakfast. It starts my day off right and gives me the energy I need to get going. My favorite lunch is a turkey sandwich or a fruit smoothie, and for dinner I love having a fresh piece of fish with asparagus and couscous! I love having original tart flavor frozen yogurt for dessert because it’s only about 90 calories per serving and absolutely delicious!

Talk about the importance of stretching, yoga or Pilates in your workout.

Stretching is absolutely essential as a dancer, and I love doing it because it is calming and relaxing for me. I love Pilates because it strengthens my core, which in turn makes me a sharper, stronger dancer. Yoga is extremely therapeutic and beneficial for me too. Its simplicity makes it great for beginners too.

How do you balance dancing vs. other fitness related activities?

I like to workout at the gym every other day (the days we do not have practice), so that I’m active everyday and I can alternate activities.

Who made you aware of the importance of staying fit?

Honestly, I picked it up on my own when I was in college and realized I had gained about 8 of the Freshman 15. I’m pretty self-motivated because I like feeling fit and in good shape. But, I’m also inspired by the trainers at the gym because of their dedication to fitness.

What do you find a “nutritional snack” during the day? In addition, tell us about your favorite meal to eat that you find healthy for your lifestyle.

I love, love, love Fuji Apples–they are a sweet, nutritional snack and they fill me up just enough to hold me over between meals.

What advice would you give to Lakers fans about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

I would say to make diet and exercise equally important–they go hand in hand and both are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Don’t jip yourself by only doing one or the other.

Do you have an everyday helpful, healthy tips for any of the Lakers Fans?

Drink lots of water!! It gives you energy and is so much better for you than soda and most other drinks. It also helps with portion control because it fills you up.

More Laker Girl fitness profiles, here.

Draft Day.  A football team’s fortunes may be determined in the few minutes it takes to draft a Peyton Manning or a Ryan Leaf.  For the hardcore football fan, it is one of the most anticipated days of the year.

This past Saturday, I made the long trek to the bay area to experience the 49ers Draft Day Party.  Thousands of 49er fans packed the Santa Clara Convention Center to partake of the festivities and to eagerly await their team’s draft pick.  Fans booed and cheered as the picks were announced, proving that this crowd was as knowledgeable and passionate as those hardcore fans in attendance in New York.  A huge roar erupted when the Raiders, with the seventh pick, dubiously selected Darrius Heyward-Bey, the wide receiver from Maryland whom many considered to be a late first round pick.  Derisive laughter soon followed because that meant with the tenth pick overall, the 49ers were able to select the consensus top wide receiver in the draft, Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech.  Score one for the niners.

Soon after the pick, Head Coach Mike Singletary made an appearance and briefly addressed the crowd.  Now, I was never a Chicago Bear fan, but I became a fan of Mike Singletary after his famous “cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them” rant against Vernon Davis’ uninspired play last year.  Go get ‘em coach.

And the best part of the 49ers Draft Day Party…the Gold Rush cheerleaders.

The Gold Rush were on hand to meet and greet all the fans who came out to support the 49ers.  They graciously signed autographs and posed for photos throughout the day.

Okay, let’s give some recognition to the Gold Rush and start off the roll call with Meridith and Lauren D.

Last week I was in Arizona covering the Cardinals cheerleader auditions.  This week, I’m back in L.A. covering the Laker Girls.  For the past eight years, 1330 AM ESPN Desportes, a local Spanish language radio station, has sponsored Fiesta Lakers, a celebration of Latino heritage and, coincidentally, the Lakers.  Thousands of fans packed the Los Angeles Convention Center to watch ballet folklorico, local bands, hip hop dance groups, and to show their support for Los Lakers de Los Angeles.

The Lakers Girls were featured performers at Fiesta Lakers and I could not pass up the opportunity to photograph the NBA’s most renowned and recognized dance team.  For the Lakers are synonymous with basketball in Los Angeles and the Laker Girls are rock stars.  As long as I have been a Lakers fan, the Laker Girls have been the gold standard to which all other NBA dance teams must be judged.  And this latest group is no different.

Like the thousands of other fans, I waited in line for what seemed like hours to get a glimpse of the famed dance team.  The Laker Girls didn’t disappoint, performing three times over the course of the five hour event.

Every one of the Laker Girls is a beautiful and talented dancer as you can tell from these photos.

Now I must say two Laker Girl girls caught my eye.  Fresh faced Annika, a graduate of UCLA, is a wonderful dancer and not too bad on the eyes.

First year Laker Girl Jessica, a strikingly beautiful blonde, is remarkably photogenic.  With eyes that sparkle and a beautiful smile, Jessica is the epitome of a Laker Girl.

Of course, the highlight for many was a chance to see the Lakers up close and personal…if for only a few minutes.  Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and heartthrob Sasha Vujacic spoke appreciatively to the fans for all their support.

Don’t you just hate European players?

But, the crowd really came to see only one person.  Kobe Bryant, the once and future King.  And the King arrived to chants of M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P.  Well, I think one player in Cleveland might take umbrage.  But I don’t think Kobe is too concerned.  Gearing up for the playoffs, Kobe gave a rousing speech to the thousands that had assembled near the stage.

And with that, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers departed to prepare for the evening’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies.  I, too, soon departed.  For my job was done.

It’s that time of year again, college basketball annual hoops fest formally known as March Madness. Sixty four of the nation’s best college basketball teams competing for the elusive NCAA Championship trophy. March Madness is also a showcase of the some of the nation’s best college cheerleading and dance teams. Throughout the years, one squad has garnered perhaps the most attention on the court, UCLA’s Dance Team.

Once the subject of a 1981 Sports Illustrated article entitled, Eight Beauties and a Beat, the UCLA Dance Team, then called Song Girls, popularized the more glamorous, NBA style uniforms that are de rigueur today. That squad featured a future Miss USA and Miss Universe Runner Up, in Julie Hayek. It was also a squad that was very popular amongst opposing fans and sportswriters who increasingly began to take notice during the Bruins 1980 Final Four run in Indianapolis .

And though UCLA’s basketball fortunes have waxed and waned since then, one constant remains…the glamour and beauty of the UCLA Dance Team. Here are a few photos of the current UCLA Dance Team.