Snakes and Swimsuits are some of the highlights in this year’s calendar
By Joseph M.D. Young
NBC San Diego
Sep 17, 2010
[Click here for photos from the party and a peek at the calendar]
This year’s Charger Girls calendar isn’t just about swimsuits and 28 beautiful faces. Some of the proceeds from the 2010-11 calendar, which was unveiled Thursday night at a party in the Gaslamp, will go to help Multiple Sclerosis patients.
Scenic spots in San Diego are the backdrops as the Charger Girls modeled swimsuits provided exclusively by Sauvage swimwear. Along with the swimsuits, some models had a little extra in their shoot, like rookie Charger Girl Maria, who posed alongside a 70-pound snake. “I got to experience something a little bit different than the other girls, and it was a lot of fun…a little nerve racking but it was something I’ll never forget,” she said.
While this year’s calendar features a good amount of new comers representing 12 months out of the year, there are some returning faces as well.
A seasoned Charger Girl, model Natalie is in her second year, “ Last year was exciting, but I’m really excited for this one as well,” she said. However, that doesn’t mean posing for the calendar got any easier she went on to say, “It is a hard job you know…nutrition comes in to play, and working out too. Sometimes you have to be in cold water but you just make it happen and I think that it’s going to pay off.”
Fans looking forward to getting on the $16.99 calendar can purchase it online, with some of the proceeds from sales going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – The 2010 Charger Girls squad has unveiled its brand new calendar.
They showed it off Thursday night at a special VIP party at Donovan’s Circle of Fifths. Not only did guests get their first peek, they also got a chance to meet the Charger Girls and get their calendars signed.
“I think the calendar is gorgeous. I think it just gets better and better each and every year and it’s amazing,” Charger Girl Lauren said.
“It’s such an awesome experience. It’s such a life changing experience. I’ll remember this forever,” Charger Girl Emily said.
You can pre-order your copy of the calendar at the Chargers’ official pro shop on Chargers.com.
Go behind the scenes and see the making of the 2010 Charger Girls calendar. Watch “Charger Girls 2010” Saturday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m. on CBS 8.
The Charger Girls unveiled their 2010-11 Swimsuit Calendar on Thursday, September 16. Click here to see photos from the party on Chargers.com.
WKRC Cincinnati: Local 12’s Bob Herzog is getting psyched for the first home game of the season for the Cincinnati Bengals. On Friday’s edition of Good Morning Cincinnati, he invited several of the members of the Bengals cheerleading squad into the studio for a special Who-Dey edition of Dance Party Friday.
The girls taught him a new dance move… called “The Melt.”
Bob also traveled to Crawford Woods Elementary in Hamilton for Dance Party To Go, where he joined staff members and danced to a song from High School Musical.
Terry Foster
The Detroit News
9/16/2010
[Photos]
Royal Oak — The Lions have been in Detroit since 1934, and they’ve never had cheerleaders. That’s all about to change. Sort of.
The Detroit Pride will make its debut in and around Ford Field on Sunday for the Lions home opener against the Eagles.
They’re not recognized as the Lions official cheerleaders. In fact, team officials and the Pride had to agree on a few rules of etiquette before the group was allowed inside Ford Field.
• They are not allowed to perform organized cheers.
• They cannot obstruct the view of fans.
• They are not allowed to take group photos with fans. Only two girls may appear in photos, so they plan to walk through Ford Field in rows of two.
• They cannot wear Lions logos or team colors. Although there is blue in their uniforms, it will not be “Honolulu blue.”
The Pride will be like any of the other 60,000 fans, just differently.
“We are not going to do anything that would cause us to be asked to leave and we do not want them (the Lions) mad,” said Andrea Wiliamowski, director of operations for the Pride. “We want them to like us. We want to show the Ford organization and the Lions that this is something people want.
“We want to support the team because we believe they deserve it. We believe they are going to do well and we want to make them happy.”
But that time is not now.
“The Detroit Lions have no plan to bring on cheerleaders at this time,” said Bob Raymond, vice president of business operations for Ford Field.
The public gets its first glimpse of the Pride at the Eastern Market tailgate at 10:30 a.m. before they move to the Elwood Grill outside Ford Field around 11:30 a.m.
The team will move into Ford Field to watch the Lions game against the Eagles.
Dancing for pride
Stacey Latona looked like a proud mother as she leaned forward in a corner stool watching 12 women ages 18-34 twirl, dance and pop silver pom-poms to the beat of “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
The back studio at Kor Fitness in Royal Oak vibrated to the beat as members of the Detroit Pride flew into the air, dropped in perfect sync and battled through a routine they’d learned just 24 hours earlier.
Latona is marketing director of the group, and she seemed to be dancing right along with her pride of women.
When the music stopped, she did her own cheer.
“That’s so awesome! Good job!” she cried.
Latona then leaned over and said in a low voice: “I feel like a mother who is about to see her kids go away from home. And we are going to make sure they don’t look bad. We just can’t let that happen.”
Looking for more
Wiliamowski is a longtime season-ticket holder who says she kept hearing fans say they wanted the Lions to have cheerleaders.
Her original goal was to make the Pride the Lions’ official cheer team. But now, the Pride is branching out and doing charity events and fundraisers. They also would like to be the official cheer team for the Tigers or Red Wings.
Wings and Tigers representatives said they have not been in contact with the group.
“I don’t know if that fits with our tradition and our brand,” said Steve Violetta, vice president of the Wings.
The Wings attempted to enhance their game experience by adding a hostess to interview fans and conduct games.
“It has always been a challenge for hockey because of the ice,” Violetta said. “Where can you put them?”
Ron Colangelo, vice president of marketing for the Tigers, said the Tigers have the “DTE Energy Squad” and are happy with the group.
“All individuals are welcome to compete in the tryouts for the DTE Energy Squad,” Colangelo said. “If any members of the Pride would like to try out, both male and female, they are welcome to.”
Working their passion
Shannon Brown leaves her Bay City home every day at 5:30 p.m. for the 90-minute drive to Royal Oak. She practices at night, gets home at around 12:30 and often has to be at work by 9.
“It’s worth it just to be here and dance with these girls,” said Brown, a former Saginaw Valley State dance team member who is a store manager in Saginaw. “It is what I really love, and to be supporting the Lions and all the fans who are there. I love it.”
Emily Salans of Ann Arbor earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from USC. Now she’s teaching at Michigan and taking graduate classes (she’s due to finish in December).
Her days away from home often last 15 hours, and admits she “crashes” on the couch when she gets home.
“I have a passion for dancing and spreading not only the love of dance but the spirit to every one,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to not only explore my passion but to do it with an amazing group of women that we have here.”
The women said this passion is not about gaining fame. It is about supporting the community.
“I am doing this because it is something I love and believe in,” said Lillianna Gonzales of Troy, an assistant manager with a local paint company. “We love the Lions and we want to support the team and we want to bring energy and people to the games.”
Where to catch Pride
Meet the Detroit Pride cheerleaders Sunday:
• 10:30 a.m.: Eastern Market tailgate
• 11:30 a.m.: Elwood Grill, 300 Adams Ave.
• 1 p.m.: Inside Ford Field
By Kaz Nagatsuka
Staff writer
Japan Times
9/16/2010
Numerous Japanese women have crossed the Pacific to the United States to become cheerleaders for NFL teams. But none have reached as high of a level as Tomoko Kojima.
Kojima was named as one of the four captains for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders for the 2010 season, which kicked off last weekend. She is in charge of one of four lines, with seven cheerleaders in her line.
Kojima, who is embarking on her eighth straight campaign with the team, said in a telephone interview with The Japan Times that she was surprised when she first heard the announcement.
“My goals for this season were to make it for the eighth consecutive year, to become a captain, and to be selected for the Pro Bowl.” Kojima said. “So I was fortunate enough to be able to achieve two of them.”
The club’s process for appointing captaincy was new this year, according to Kojima. While captains were previously designated by the coaches of the squad, a new candidacy system was adopted this spring.
As this was to be her final year as a Bucs cheerleader and it was something she had been willing to do for four years, Kojima quickly raised her hand.
The 32-year-old said she wasn’t quite sure what she was supposed to do to be chosen. She pointed out to the coaches that she was qualified enough to lead the squad.
The biggest obstacle for her was the language barrier. Kojima had always felt inferior when speaking in English and had to fight with herself internally.
“I think I worked on the mental part a lot,” said the native of Osaka Prefecture.
“I would be like, my accent isn’t right, I’m still thinking in Japanese or my word orders are messed up, stuff like that. But even if you don’t speak perfect English, you can convey your message better when speaking up. So I really had to fight my inferiority complex and my shyness.”
Having conquered them, Kojima successfully passed the trials. But there was no room to take a deep breath. As a captain, her teammates will always be watching her.
“In order to go to the Pro Bowl, you have to receive votes from your teammates,” she said. “You can’t get there by just doing your duties as a captain, or because you’ve been here for eight years. I think they watch how you talk to other cheerleaders and your attitude as a captain. So I feel way more responsibility than just a job.”
Asked what her plans after this season are, Kojima said she only has a rough picture at this point but wants to be involved in community activities through sports in Japan.
“Rather than producing a cheerleading team, I’m more interested in helping give energy to communities through sports,” the former X League cheerleader said. “Not just referring to cheerleaders, but over there (in the States) sports are closely tied with communities. I’m hoping to introduce that (in Japan).”
Shirley Jones shares message with animal lovers
By Samantha Gowen
The Orange County Register
Sept. 15, 2010
ANAHEIM HILL Distinguished oncologists, cardiologists and nephrologists mingled with 200 guests Saturday night on the grounds of a hillside estate.
Laker Girls smiled and handed out programs. By the pool an enormous Newfoundland dog named Lucy slurped water from the shallow end.
Actress and singer Shirley Jones and husband Marty Ingels rubbed elbows with fans and posed for photographs.
Guests had gathered not for the celebrities of Hollywood, but for four-legged friends and the people who fix them. The doctors here, the heroes of the evening, specialize in pet care, not people.
The annual Paws for Cures event raises money for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation, which funds grants to study cancers, kidney disease and other ailments suffered by man’s best friend… [Article Continued]
Photographer Steven Leija has some great photos of the DCC in action. Click here to see the rest of the collection!
The Charger Girls have unveiled their new team poster in advance of tomorrow night’s Calendar unveiling at Donovan’s Circle of 5ths.
Fans can meet Charger Girls from 8 to 9 p.m., get autographs, take pictures and buy calendars. Calendars can be purchased for $17 (cash only). A portion of all the proceeds will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Several NFL dance teams debuted snazzy new uniforms on the sidelines during preseason. I have my favorite. What’s yours?
The Buccaneers Cheerleaders rock the skull and crossbones
The Cardinals Cheerleaders are back in red
The Dolphins Cheerleaders show off a look sportier than their other white uniform
The Falcons Cheerleaders have a completely new look
The Patriots Cheerleaders traded in last year’s white for a little more color
The Texans Cheerleaders present a new color variation on their classic jersey-inspired tops.
