James, East Coast Correspondent – Page 37

(Some great news for one the best friends of this site.)

When news broke this week that Tammy Dombeck was out at KTVT/Channel 11 after more than two years as a free-lance fill-in traffic reporter, local-media blogger Ed Bark reported — citing “a number of sources,” reported that Chelsey Davis was the front-runner for the position.

The front-runner is in: Davis, a former Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader, will begin June 8. Technically, she replaces not Dombeck, who was not on staff at the station, but Whitney Drolen, who left in October.

Davis comes to CBS 11 from KPHO-TV in Phoenix, where she is a multimedia journalist and traffic reporter. She earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. While in college, Davis served as a reporter and weather anchor for Cronkite NewsWatch, ASU’s award-winning nightly television newscast which airs on PBS in Arizona.

Here’s a compilation of her traffic reporting. Very Phoenix-y. But you’ll get the idea.

Davis has been with KPHO since July 2013, when she started as a fill-in traffic reporter, according to her KPHO bio. Much more from that bio, some of which we’re sure will change:

“She freelances for the Arizona Cardinals, who she is a die-hard fan of,” the bio states (welcome to Cowboys country!). “She has worked in their broadcast and media department during the day as talent, while also shooting and editing pieces on the official Cardinals website. Chelsey has also been the host for the annual Big Red Rib and Music Festival three times, drawing thousands of fans each year. In addition, she was an Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader for five seasons, and captain for two. Chelsey has developed the cheerleading brand as a team choreographer, and an ambassador for tours across the nation and overseas. She also coordinated and hosted the Jr. Cheer weekend for hundreds of little girls across the valley. Chelsey will always be honored to wear the Pro Bowl title for 2014.”

In 2010, when she was the Cardinals’ Cheerleader of the week, she said her goal was to be on TV in three to five years. Find out more by checking out this clip.

She has also worked as an intern at Phoenix’s KNXV and a producer at the city’s KPNX, as well as serving a stint as a print reporter. More of her in action:

Ocean Drive Magazine selects it’s 2015 Women of Influence. On the list is former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Pamela Silva Conde:

The coanchor for Univision’s highly rated Primer Impacto news program, Pamela Silva Conde has won six Emmy Awards, was one of People en Español’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” and has cohosted The View. She’s also a strong believer in using her platform to help shape her community.

Did being Miami-based give you a career advantage? I always wanted to do Spanish media because I wanted to serve my community. Miami’s a pivotal point. You have to be where the action is.

What role do you see Miami having in the world today? Miami has had an evolution in terms of news impact. We just built the largest newsroom in the country with a joint venture we did with Fusion, and were able to bring Univision News and ABC network [together]. It may be five or 10 years, [but] Miami’s definitely going to be a more competitive city than it ever was.

How do you pay it forward? With the [Pamela Silva Conde Scholarship], we have given six scholarships at Florida International University. I’m involved with the students because I want to maximize the impact that these scholarships have. That’s the purpose of doing philanthropic work, to build new generations of people with the same mentality.

How else do you give back to the community? I’m part of the committee of St. Jude Miami and I’m on the national advisory board for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. There’s also Amigos for Kids, which focuses on neglected and abused children. Throughout the year, we give counseling and seminars for families. We want to empower parents.

How do you manage it all? The second you start thinking, I could do this, it actually becomes manageable. Your attitude influences everything.

Our good friend Sandy Charboneau has launched a brand new website for her company, ProTour Productions.

ProTour Productions is an entertainment company that produces high level, high-energy entertainment to venues and military bases all over the world. 2015 marked five years since Founder, Sandy Charboneau started the company built on providing entertainment to boost morale. Every year, ProTour Productions has the opportunity to serve our troops and civilians delivering first class entertainment to bases throughout the world. The company sends professional athletes, professional cheerleaders, comedians, live bands and dueling pianists to venues worldwide. Past tours include groups to Australia, Diego Garcia, Guam, Alaska, Japan, Africa, Kuwait, Hawaii, Curacao, Korea and more. ProTour Productions looks forward to continuing to serve not only our military but also various venues seeking entertainment.

[ProTour Productions Official Website]

This is the poster that fans of the Charlotte KinghinGals received at the April 18th game. The theme was “Uptown Girls” and the dancers posed in cocktail dresses.

And here are a few more photos from the shoot courtesy of the KnightinGals.

Brett

Danyelle and Maya

Jackie

Makayla

By Louis Ojeda, Jr.
Fox Sports Southwest

It’s tough becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

Some of the best dancers from across the country and world came to AT&T Stadium last week for a chance to make the team.

Among the more than 500 hopefuls was someone who doesn’t exactly fit the typical profile of an NFL cheerleader.

Dr. Chiufang Hwang is a 49-year-old Dallas physician originally from Taiwan with no professional dancing experience, but that hasn’t stopped her from auditioning for more than a decade.

“The first time I tried out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in 1999, I was 34 years old,” she said. “I do not have a dance background, but I just like being here and I love competition.”

Being at least 18 years old is the only age requirement to audition. The oldest Cowboys cheerleader to ever make the team was 37 years old.

“I’m here to promote women and empower women,” Cowboys cheerleader director Kelli Finglass told the entire group on Day 1 of the auditions. “Who cares what age you are?”

Hwang has never made it past the first round of cuts and has lost track of how many times she’s auditioned, but it’s been a few years since her last attempt.

Despite her age, she felt more prepared than ever this time around.

“I got a choreographer to put together a routine for me,” she said. “I listen to the top 40 music a lot more.

“I think the main thing is the image and weight. You have to keep the weight down. You have to look the part, so I’ve been doing a lot of weight training. I put a lot more time and preparation into it this year.”

Most of those who audition range in age between 18-25 and are in peak physical condition.

“They’re like my children’s age,” said Hwang, who has two sons. “I’m not intimated by that. I love it.”

Even with all the hard work she’s put in, Hwang still doesn’t think she can beat out girls half her age who have been training their entire lives. However, she hopes the judges will see more than what she can do on the dance floor.

“They’re looking for a very experienced dancer,” she said. “They’re all more highly qualified than I am, but it may open up other opportunities being in front of the judges. This is the best time to be exposed.”

Hwang will never give up trying and said she would continue to audition into her 60s. But making the team isn’t the ultimate goal. She’s already achieved what she’s set out to do by just being a part of the audition process.

“I love being here because I get to see a culture that I was never a part of,” she said. “I spent my youth studying to become a physician. I never got to experience what the average teenager does. It’s a deeper level for me.

“Next year I’ll be 50. I hope they keep letting me come back and don’t put an age limit.”

2015 Cincinnati Bengals Cheerleaders Finals Auditions-Veteran Hopeful Sarah H.

Photo credits to Steve France

[Strikers Cheerleaders on Facebook]

Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center Soulmate Alyssa M. celebrated her 21st birthday as the Soul moved their record to 6-0 with a win over the visiting Portland Thunder.