By Amanda Beland
Foster’s Daily Democrat
January 19, 2012
SOMERSWORTH — Two members of the Boston Bruins Ice Girls with their furry friend and mascot, Blades, paid a visit to Somersworth Middle School Wednesday morning to see some of the final projects completed by the students during their temporary enrollment in I.C.E. School.
I.C.E. School is a collection of lesson plans developed by Bruins staff to help students learn required subjects with a twist of hockey. The lesson plans, available online, are created to meet state education standards for grades pre-kindergarten to eighth grade in the subjects of French, geography, math, English, language, arts and science.
For the past several weeks, middle school students completed I.C.E. lessons plans in math and reading comprehension, among other subjects.
On Wednesday morning, some of the students got to present their hard work to Rory Patten and Kelly Thomson, two of the current Bruins Ice Girls, as well as Blades at a schoolwide assembly.
First, a group of sixth-graders presented Bruin’s ice rinks constructed out of paper. Participating students first took the actual size of the Bruin’s ice rank in feet and converted it to inches. Then, the students constructed miniature paper ice rinks, complete with the Bruins colored logo in the middle.
Along with the ice rinks, another group of sixth-graders presented handwritten Hock-us to their classmates. Hock-us, similar to Haikus, are several line poems where a certain number of syllables is required of each line.
Although the structure of the poems were set, the subjects of the creations were up to the students — as long as they related to hockey, of course. Some of the chosen subjects included overtime and the excitement of the game itself.
But, these weren’t the only activities completed by the students. According to Kathy Patten, mother of Ice Girl Rory and reading comprehension teacher at SMS, participating students did everything from completing research on every Bruins player to finding out a little more about the visiting Ice Girls. Students even wrote down their reading goal for the year on a paper shaped hockey puck before placing it on one of the school’s walls in the shape of the Boston Bruin’s logo.
“It was very successful and the kids loved it,” said Patten.
Patten began looking into bringing the Ice Girls to SMS after her daughter became a member of the group four years ago. Initially, Patten just wanted to bring members of the Ice Girls to the school to promote reading and initiate literacy activities between the visitors and students.
However, after she began researching the Bruins community page, she found out about I.C.E. school lessons and thought it was the perfect scenario for SMS to become involved in. Hosting the Ice Girls was just another added plus to the assembly.
“I call them the ambassadors to the Bruins,” said Patten. ‘They’re not cheerleaders, which is generally what comes to mind. They’re great role models and accomplished young women.”
At the end of the assembly, every SMS student received a special reward for the completion of their projects: an authentic, real-life Bruins hockey puck.
“COOL,” the crowd of SMS students bellowed after the announcement.
Click here for lots of photos on SportsIllustrated.com!
…and on to the next round
SpokaneShock.com
01/07/2012
In the world of professional sports, it’s often a numbers game. With only a handful of professional leagues, those who earn a roster spot have to demonstrate outstanding skills. In the world of professional dance, it’s no different.
This past weekend, the Spokane Shock Dance Team hosted its annual open tryout with nearly 50 hopefuls. By the end of the first round, that total was trimmed to 32 – including 13 returning members from the 2011 team.
Dance Team Director Maggie Kazemba opened the audition by teaching a short pom routine. Once the routine was taught, Kazemba put the Dance Team candidates to the test by performing in groups of three in front of a small panel of judges. Each judge scored the candidates on five different categories that included: appearance, choreography, performance, technique, and overall performance. The top-32 scores advanced as finalists.
The finals will be open to the public on January 18th at the Knitting Factory. The doors to the all-ages show open at 6 PM and will begin at 7 PM. Tickets to the event can be purchased in advance for just $5 (by clicking here) or at the door for $7. KHQ’s Stephanie Vigil will host the festivities.
The finalists will perform three routines – including the routine they learned in the first round – at the Knitting Factory.
“In my tenor, there is no question that this is the most talented group we have ever had,” Kazemba explained. “Every spot is up for grabs – returners and rookies alike. It will be the most competitive finals in my coaching experience. It’s going to be a great show and we hope to pack the house with Shock fans!”
To see the event through the lens of team photographer Gary Peterson, click here.
A two-second look back at last year’s finals:
Brickhouse Talk: Ramonda Cutrer Chats With Golden State Warriors Cheerleader Amber Browning
By Ramonda Cutrer
BrickhouseTalk.com
January 16, 2012
Brickhouse Talk kicks off the year with a great interview with the lovely Ms. Amber Browning. Amber speaks with Ramonda Cutrer on her life as a Oakland CA Golden State Warrior Cheerleader along with clearing up mis-perceptions of a professional cheerleader.
Amber possess a positive attitude with a winning smile. She’s a intellectual and her “young” life is filled with many great accomplishments. She openly spoke with and answered question posed by current cheerleaders, aspiring cheerleader and their parents who were in attendance. Amber instilled in them the importance of education! Being a professional cheerleader can certainly be a career choice, however working full-time or going to school full-time is a requirement.
This was very genuine and pleasant interview. Amber Browning is a very determine young lady with a bright future ahead. She has great energy and represents the Warrior organization professionally. She followed her dream and is reaping the benefits of her hard work and dedication! A true BRICKHOUSE!
Thank you Amber for your support and Brickhouse Talk supports you!
If you’re planning to audition for an NFL team this spring, now is good time to start thinking about what you’re going to wear.
With that in mind, I’d like to give a shoutout to DallasWear Uniforms, which launched their new collection of auditionwear separates this week. If it sounds a little familiar, that’s because you’re probably thinking of the company DallasWear, which used to advertise on this site. Dallaswear, owned by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader alum Terra Watson, has been making custom uniforms for pro dance teams for years. Dallaswear Uniforms is Terra’s new endeavor, offering an array of mix-n-match pro styles that can be purchased individually, and customized in your choice of fabric and accessories.*
One of their standout characteristics is the wide variety of fun prints and patterns to choose from. I’m talking polka dots, plaid, zebra, gingham, camo, calico, houndstooth, tie-dye, geometrics, swirls, and more. If you’re feeling bold, you can go with a head-to-toe pattern.
Or not.Solids are offered as well, for those who prefer something a little more subdued.
And of course they will bedazzle it left, right, and center for you.
If you’re in the market for a cute audition outfit, this seems like a good site to peruse. Plus, if you “Like” them on facebook they’ll give you a little discount on your outfit.
Click here to visit DallasWearUniforms.com
Click here to visit DallasWear Uniforms on Facebook
*Standard disclaimer: I don’t own, work for, or make money from this company. And I have nothing whatsoever to do with the design and distribution of their products, ok? I just think their stuff is cute.
Bonnie-Jill Laflin returns to Candlestick with her father, Ross Laflin, to reminisce about the 49ers.
ESPN Page 2
January 17, 2012
As I prepare for this weekend’s NFC Championship Game, I am filled with anticipation.
It is so exciting to see the San Francisco 49ers host the most important game of their season.
I’m so proud to see they are getting the respect they’ve been missing since those glory years.
Fans everywhere are talking about their chances against the New York Giants and how this will be a true test. But, win or lose, the new Jim Harbaugh 49ers are making a statement. In just one year, they have made an incredible turnaround, and who would have thought the road to the Super Bowl would come through Candlestick Park.
As a San Francisco native, I grew up a 49ers fan. I had no choice, being a daddy’s girl and he being a 49ers season-ticket holder; I was always in tow to each home game.
This past Saturday, as I stepped onto the sidelines at The Stick with my dad, my head flooded with so many emotions.
These were the same sidelines I cheered on as a member of the 49ers Gold Rush from 1994 to ’96, the years when if we didn’t win a championship, it was a bad year. The dynasty years, the era of Steve Young and Jerry Rice. The year when Young finally got that monkey off his back, and now here I was again.
It was a perfectly sunny day, unlike most in San Francisco in January, when the fog and biting cold are normal. I wondered whether this was a sign.
Bonnie-Jill Laflin was a 49ers cheerleader in the mid-1990s.
I had my Super Bowl ring on, along with all my blinged-out Niners gear.
I felt like I was back home and with my 49ers family, surrounded by so many 49ers greats from the ’80s and the ’90s, such as Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, Eric Davis, Brent Jones and Keena Turner, now supporting the new members of the 49ers family.
I said hello to coach George Seifert, who was being honored that day, and we reminisced about the good old days and talked about how we both hoped this would mark the return of the 49ers, the 49ers of the DeBartolo years.
But now we’re here in 2012, with a new regime led by 49ers president Jed York, who spent a few moments with me on the field prior to the game and dubbed me the 49ers’ good luck charm.
The player intros of the starting defense got those in the crowd swinging their rally towels and screaming, “Who’s got it better than us — nobody!” That’s Harbaugh’s mantra. The game was an emotional roller coaster, a high-powered offense and the NFL’s stingiest defense battling quarter after quarter. Who would have ever thought that in the final four minutes, these two teams would be exchanging blows like heavyweight boxers in the last round of a championship fight.
The emotions bonded us as we exchanged high-fives, and paced up and down the aisles with each lead change. Fans who did not know each other before the game now were united in one cause to get a W and advance to the NFC title game once more. The Stick was rocking it.
Then came “The Grab” with nine seconds left as Vernon Davis scored the winning touchdown on the 30th anniversary of “The Catch.” And finally Alex Smith got the monkey off his back and silenced his critics.
Harbaugh, in only one year, has instilled a new attitude and a new energy.
This is what sports is all about.
I looked around the stands, and I saw everyone hugging and screaming, my dad and I sharing the same hug we shared when I was a girl, and I thought to myself, “Who’s got it better than us — nobody.”
Bonnie-Jill Laflin is the first and only female scout in the NBA, an animal activist, and a former cheerleader. She can be reached on Twitter here.
The NFL’s 10 Best Cheerleading Squads 2012
By Darren Rovell & Paul Toscano
CNBC.com
17 Jan 2012
Last year’s Super Bowl matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers was memorable for many reasons, but one key aspect missing from last year’s championship game was a squad of professional cheerleaders. This year, a team with cheerleaders is guaranteed to make the Super Bowl, after Pittsburgh, the only AFC playoff team this year without cheerleaders, was eliminated.
In the off-season, one of the best ways for teams to generate buzz and get significant page views on their websites is to have a strong cheerleader page. So we went through all 32 teams, including the ones still in the playoffs, and ranked the top cheerleading squads, taking in consideration everything from presentation of the cheerleaders online, to fan interaction, community outreach and overall success of the cheerleading teams.
Although there is certainly a measure of subjectivity that goes into rankings of this nature, the cheerleader websites and the team’s cheerleader-related marketing campaigns were the major factors in determining this list.
In 2011, 26 teams had cheerleaders for games and have found ways, especially online, to generate revenue from their top cheer teams. As valuations go, NFL teams are hesitant to put a dollar figure on their cheerleading squads, but the use of cheerleaders as a vehicle for marketing is certainly in the public eye.
Here is our ranking of the top 10 teams that make the most of their cheerleading squads, both on and off the field.
10. Atlanta Falcons
Although the Falcons have an extensive library of cheerleaders’ photos and videos, the team’s web site is relatively clunky — you have to click on individual photos to see them. Odd strategy, but might lead to more clicks overall. It also created a stand-alone website for the team’s cheerleaders, but it doesn’t look like it’s been updated since last season, with the 2010-2011 swimsuit calendar still “coming soon.”
Regardless, the Falcons have a wealth of interaction with their fans, with plenty of blog posts and Twitter feeds, a great junior cheerleaders program, and a sponsor list that includes nine local and regional businesses.
9. Oakland Raiders
The Raiderettes should be much higher on this list. The cheer team has a slew of sponsors, including categories such as beer, shoes, makeup, a hair salon and nail salon, but the team’s website doesn’t really offer anything special for fans. It does translate many of its blog posts into Spanish, often doubling up posts on the team’s “News and Blogs” page.
The Raiderettes, however, do have a nice interface on their cheerleader bio pages, which include videos and individually selected photos of each member of the squad, along with a big bio picture. The squad has a tiered level of pricing for appearances, which starts at $400 per cheerleader for four hours in the standard package, but the fee shrinks considerably for fundraising events ($100 for three hours) and charitable events ($35 for three hours), all with a minimum of two cheerleaders each.
8. New Orleans Saints
We liked two things about the Saintsations. It’s the only team that offers an autographed swimsuit calendar (though it costs $20 more) and the cheer team is among the least expensive when it comes to public appearances: $250 per cheerleader, per hour.
The team’s outreach to the community also can’t be discounted. This year, the squad paired with its official sponsor, The Royal Sonesta Hotel, to raise money for a college scholarship for high school seniors on a cheer or dance squad. The team also has a long list of charity appearances and is currently developing an alumni team to increase presence in the New Orleans community.
7. New York Jets
The New York Jets may be coming off a disappointing season, but they are the standout team in MetLife Stadium in one major way: The team’s cheerleaders. The New York Giants are one of six teams without a cheer squad and the Jets have a distinct advantage in the nation’s largest football market.
The team also makes the list for another reason – it features more game-day photos on its website, The Flight Club [sic], than any other team. An added bonus is a nice selection of desktop wallpaper for your computer. The Jets cheerleaders also have a fantastic diversity of outfits, from flight jackets and Santa uniforms to pink pom-poms for breast cancer awareness.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ cheerleader site is the only one in the league that, before entering, displays a button warning you of “mature content.” The Eagles continue to be among the most aggressive cheerleading squads. The team was the first team to launch a swimsuit calendar app this year (cost $1.99 on the Android), it encouraged fans to “Celebrate the Holidays with the Cheerleaders,” and members of the squad maintain a robust blog.
The squad has engaged in a number of activities, including a trip to the U.S. Military installation Camp Buehring in Northern Kuwait. This year, the cheerleaders will be performing at the Senior Bowl, one of the league’s premiere pre-draft events.
5. Denver Broncos
The headlines in Denver this year may have focused on Tim Tebow, but the Broncos also clearly know how to cash in on its cheer team. The squad’s sponsors include a spa, a tanning resort, a yoga studio, a cosmetic dentist and a uniform company. It was also the only team to sell tickets to a cheerleader talent show, which this year included a meet-and-greet afterward.
In addition to their work on game days, the cheerleaders commit nearly 1,000 hours per year to charities and other events in the Denver area, according to the Broncos. It also has a robust junior cheerleaders program for girls between the ages of six and 14, covering seven months of instruction by team cheerleaders. The program is “designed specifically to promote self-esteem, pride, commitment and discipline,” and offers young girls the chance to perform with the professional squad during a regular season game, both during pre-game warm-ups and at halftime.
4. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were one of the top teams in the league this year, and the same can be said for its cheerleaders. On the cheer team’s website is a convenient scrollable list of its cheerleaders, allowing fans to familiarize themselves with members of the squad. We awarded extra points for the relatively long videos on the team’s site — there’s a six-minute piece on the cheerleaders getting ready for a game — as well as being the only NFL cheerleading squad to feature two sets of twins.
The cheer team also held the fifth annual “Bulls and Birdies” charity golf tournament in late 2011 to raise money for the Houston Texans Foundation. At the event, a cheerleader photo was displayed near the tee for each hole at the course, and cheerleaders were on hand to sign autographs and take photos with fans. According to the Texans, the tournament sold out this year, even with a $3,500 entry fee.
3. Miami Dolphins
While the Miami Dolphins haven’t given football fans much to look at on the gridiron in recent years, the same can’t be said for the team’s cheerleaders. The Dolphins are the only NFL team to have links to the cheerleaders’ Twitter and Facebook pages right on the front of its website. There are plenty of photos that can be enlarged, as well as high-quality video.
The Dolphins cheerleaders take their auditions very seriously, holding prep classes before their auditions twice per week from February to April, leading up to official auditions on April 20. The squad has also sent its members on outreach programs, including visits to military bases, charity events, and in support of NFL Mexico in Mexico City.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are not only the most prestigious squad in the NFL, they’re also the most heavily marketed. On the team’s website are endless photos and updated cheerleader blogs, not to mention more than 130,000 people have “liked” the squad on Facebook. Additional fan interaction takes place through youth programs and public appearances, including store openings and trade shows targeted at football’s key demographic: men.
The Dallas Cowboy website is truly comprehensive, including a section called “our secrets”, which endorses the squad’s favorite local businesses, listing everything from the team’s official dentist and where the women have their hair and makeup done, to their bootcamp and yoga exercises. If there’s a negative for this cheer team, it’s that the Cowboys don’t let the cheerleaders have their own individual social media accounts… and that’s a shame.
1. New England Patriots
Chances are that you were shocked to find a cold weather team at the top of this list. In reality, in order to have the best cheerleading page what you really need is a great mind behind it. What makes this team so good? Let’s start with its website, which contains 16 years of photos and something called “Cheer 365″ where fans can vote on which picture they find most attractive.
The team is also successful in marketing its top squad, sending cheerleaders to local charity events, such as the Doug Flutie Bowl, Fitness for a Cure and the Lowell General Hospital, among other events this spring. Not only that, but the cheerleaders recently geared up to shoot their 2012 swimsuit calendar in Aruba, which the team is marketing through “Postcards from Paradise” videos produced from the perspective of the cheerleaders.
The squad also has a “Junior Patriots Cheerleaders” program that hosts clinics for aspiring cheerleaders at Gillette Stadium a game-day performance, and the opportunity to make community appearances with Patriots cheerleaders throughout the year.
Jenn
By Lou Ponsi
The Orange County Register
Jan 13, 2011
LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant slams home a reverse dunk to punctuate a recent Lakers’ victory over Phoenix – and the Laker Girls rise up from their spots behind the base lines, turn to the erupting Staples Center crowd and spur the fans on even more with fist pumps and claps.
In their purple, two-piece outfits with gold trim, the 22 dancers – half positioned at each end of the court, always – celebrate every Laker basket and free throw the same way.
They are dancers, not cheerleaders, performing hip-hop and jazz routines. The Laker Girls – seven with strong Orange County ties – are as rhythmic in on-court performances during timeouts as the players are during the game. The iconic squad performs up to five dances a game.
Getting one of the coveted spots – and keeping it – isn’t easy.
Many try out multiple times before finally making the squad. Even incumbent Laker Girls must try out each season to win back their spots, says Lisa Estrada, who oversees the dancers.
Teresa
Tryouts are typically held every July, in front of nine judges, and start with as many as 600 candidates. By the end of the first day, about 35 are called back.
“Each girl gets a number, and at the end of the round, they call the numbers of the girls they want to come back for the next round,” said Lindsey Riley of Huntington Beach, a rookie Laker Girl. “The most nerve-racking thing is waiting for your number to be called.”
Laker Girls must be able to execute solid dance steps as well as demonstrate an ability to dance as part of team.
“I need the basics to be at a high level,” said Estrada, herself a former Laker Girl. “For me, first impressions are something hard to forget. (And) they are going to be ambassadors, so we definitely need people-people.”
Laker Girls practice two evenings a week for three hours. They must arrive at the arena three hours before games and are required to attend at least three charity events a month, in addition to paid personal appearances (Laker officials would not say how much the women earn).
Their schedules can be crowded. First-year Laker Girl Teresa Giltner is a Fullerton College student who also works full time as a performer at the Disneyland Resort. Jennifer Albeanu, 28, of Fullerton works full time at an equestrian center.
The pair, like the rest of the Laker Girls, find time to represent one of sports’ most-celebrated franchises. A time in their lives when the spotlight is on them, just like it is on the players.
“It’s one of those things you have to slow down to take it in,” Riley said. “I’m trying to slow down and experience it.”
After a competitive audition process, the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers have selected 18 members to their Sidewinders dance team. Congratulations!
NFL.com has expanded the playoffs cheerleader gallery to include teams from the Pats, 49ers, and Ravens. Click here to check it out.
