St. Louis Rams
April 21, 2010
When Rams officials began planning how they’d conduct auditions for the 2010 Rams Cheerleaders, there was one important element that they believed would greatly enhance the process.
“We wanted to get the fans involved more,” Rams Director of Special Events Keely Fimbres said. “In the past, the auditions have been closed to the public. This year, we wanted to allow the fans to be part of the process.”
Tuesday night, roughly 1,000 Rams fans attended the finals of 2010 Rams cheerleader auditions and even had a hand in selecting the team. At the conclusion of the event, which was held at The Pageant in the University City area of St. Louis, fans voted for their five favorite candidates, and their votes made up a portion of the final scores.
“It meant so much to get the community involved and to have my friends and family here,” said Shannon, a physical therapy student who is a returning member to the Rams Cheerleaders. “Having fans attend the finals made a great night even better. They really added to it.”
The audition process began two weeks ago with a preliminary audition, which was held at the Russell Training Center. Of the close to 100 women who participated in the preliminary audition, 36 women made it through to Tuesday’s final audition.
In addition to performing at Rams home games, Rams Cheerleaders also make frequent public appearances and are involved in more than 500 community events each year. That being the case, Rams Cheerleaders must have strong people skills and be good communicators in addition to being talented dancers.
This year’s new format gave candidates more opportunities to show their full personalities, and fans were able to learn that being a Rams Cheerleader is about much more than just gamedays.
“There’s a little bit more to it this time,” Rams Cheerleading Coordinator Theresa Mancini said. “It’s not just us sitting behind closed doors making the selections. We got a lot more people involved, which made the process more in-depth.. The fans had an opportunity to learn about what the girls do and who they are, which is also great.”
The finals began with a question and answer session led by event emcee and former Rams defensive lineman D’Marco Farr. For the second portion of the evening, the ladies donned swimsuits and were escorted to the stage by members of the U.S. Army, who were dressed in their formal blue uniforms.
Fans cast their ballots for their five favorites as the candidates wrapped up the tryout portion with a dance audition where they performed a routine they learned prior to the finals. A panel of six judges then submitted their scores, and the 30-member 2010 Rams Cheerleader squad was introduced. The group is comprised of 17 veterans and 13 rookies, including five captains who are all returners.
“We’ve really got a great group of ladies,” Mancini said. “It’s going to be a great year for us.”
The 2010 Rams Cheerleaders include students and young professionals who hail from all over the country. Rookie Paige, an 18-year-old former Miss Oklahoma Teen USA, was elated once the results were announced.
“It means so much to me to be a Rams Cheerleader because I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Paige said. “I’m so excited to get to be a part of this great group of ladies.”
Fans who attended Tuesday’s finals not only got to take in an entertaining show. They mingled with Rams players such as James Laurinaitis and Donnie Avery and a few won door prizes, including a pair of Rams 2010 season tickets.
“We had a great turnout tonight,” Fimbres said. “I think everyone really enjoyed themselves and there was a great response. This was a great event for the Rams, the cheerleaders and the community.”
By Jim Moore
Special to SeattlePI.com
April 19, 2010
It’s pathetic, I know. A grown man should be with his family on a Sunday night, not hanging out at Qwest Field with half-dressed females who are trying out for the Sea Gals.
The guilt was really getting to me until the music started playing, the girls started dancing, the hair started flying and, well, I decided to roll with it because these are the types of sacrifices family men make from time to time to pay the bills.
For a change this year, I thought about approaching this assignment like a respected journalist would — you know, writing a straight-forward story about the competition while leaving out subjective impressions and snide remarks.
But then I heard Sea Gal prospect Brittany of Eatonville talk about the importance of staying true to yourself, and it was such a deep statement that I took her advice, and here we are, back with another biased report on Sunday night’s auditions…
Like the NFL draft on ESPN, this has turned into a very big deal. You could watch it on a webcast at seahawks.com. Tony Ventrella hosted the show, and Sequoia, a former Sea Gal herself, was the color analyst. The whole production lasted 3 ½ hours, longer than a Seahawks game, and it took forever to tally the judges’ votes.
I watched the proceedings from a courtside seat, behind two of the judges, KING-TV’s Chris Egan and the guest of honor, Amber Lancaster.
You remember her — she used to be Amber the Sea Gal, and now she’s Amber the Hollywood starlet. She’s been seen in episodes of “Friday Night Lights” and “Entourage,” and she’s one of Drew Carey’s models on “The Price is Right.”
In June, she’ll be the fantasy interest of the star character in the MTV Series, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger.” Check out the trailer here: http://www.mtv.com/shows/hard_times/season_1/series.jhtml.
Amber Lancaster is 29, but she still looks youthful enough to play Jenny Swanson, the All-American knockout blonde at Pinkerton High.
“I always say I’m from Seattle, and I didn’t have any sun growing up so I’m really well preserved,” Amber said of pulling off the role of a high-school girl.
Also in June, Amber will be featured in a Maxim magazine photo spread. Professionally, she’s cruising right along, and personally, she’s “newly single” after ending a three-year relationship with her boyfriend.
“I don’t know what’s going on, I think I’m a pretty good catch,” she said. “I’m just kind of picky. I want someone who will make me laugh and will talk about something I have no idea what he’s talking about and is passionate about what he does and is driven and ambitious.
“You don’t even have to be hot. Personality’s way more important. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Most of it, no. But driven and ambitious, yes.
Anyway, it was good to see her — as I’ve mentioned many times before, I’m her biggest fan because she actually sat on a sidewalk outside of a Federal Way gas station many years ago to attract vehicles to a fundraising car wash the Go 2 Guy was having for a bed-ridden reader, Howard Hanson. What’s happening to her now in Hollywood is well-deserved.
Will Lewis, the Seahawks vice president of pro personnel, was another judge. He said his three teen-aged boys were extremely excited about their dad’s gig and asked: “Can we go?”
“No, no, no,” Lewis told them. “This is legitimate work.”
Before the dancing began, I asked one of four Brittanies if she knew who the Seahawks’ quarterback was.
“No,” said the auburn-haired Brittany from Eatonville who was trying out for the Sea Gals for the third year in a row.
“Matt Hasselbeck,” I said.
“I’ve heard of him,” she said before adding: “I’m not a football girl, I’m a dance girl. I’ll know more once I make the team.”
Fifty-two girls competed for 27 spots. They came out two at a time and danced to Adam Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment.” Each girl also gave an answer to one of five questions. That part of the program should be eliminated — it’s the same kind of stuff you hear on the beauty pageants. If you’re at Qwest Field during a timeout of a Seahawks’ game, you don’t care how Shelly the Sea Gal answered the question, you want to see her gyrate on the sideline.
I get it though — the Sea Gals make community appearances, and they don’t want any Miss Teen South Carolina USAs on their squad, embarrassing the Hawks in public.
Each girl wore a black sport bra top — I guess that’s what you’d call it — and short black shorts. I have never seen so many whitened teeth and tanned bodies in one room at one time in my entire life.
I dutifully took notes, pretending to be the diligent reporter I’m not, attempting to disguise the leering wretch of a human being that I am. And in my honest opinion, I thought No. 8, Becky H., was the lock of locks. She was the hottest, sexiest dancer I saw all night long.
The fact that she did not make the team is an outrage. I threw a red flag in protest, but Sea Gals director Sherri Thompson didn’t see it so now I’m taking my protest to the NFL.
I will represent Becky H. in any and all protest hearings, arguing that she was wrongfully aced out by a new Sea Gal who should have been benched by the platinum blonde police. I don’t know jack about good hair or bad hair, but I’ve never seen hair like this before, and I don’t want it on my Qwest Field sideline.
It’s a weird deal — when Thompson announced a number, the girl would race to the center of the stage, understandably elated. It’s the Sea Gals’ version of an amped-up rose ceremony.
After she called the last number, the girls who got the thorns gathered their things in a hallway and headed to their cars. I didn’t see any tears, just a lot of disappointment and calls to friends and relatives to relay the bad news.
Becky H. was a better sport than I would have been if I were in her dancing shoes, saying: “It’s one of those things. You never know what they’re looking for. I felt good about what I did. If I didn’t do my best, I’d be crushed, but I did my best.”
In the judges’ defense, they were mostly on the money, voting for all 15 Sea Gals who were on the team last year, including Natalie C., who’s a candidate for most gorgeous Sea Gal ever; and 12 newcomers featuring Laura N., a Coug, and Chantale, a PLU grad student.
As for Brittany, the auburn-haired girl from Eatonville who didn’t know Hasselbeck from Hasselhoff, she’ll have plenty of time to read up on the Seahawks — she didn’t make the team.
Petra: My audition experience
March 31, 2010
Stampeders
Preliminaries – I arrived at 9:30 a.m.. I filled out the audition form and received my number. My name for that day was #26. I started stretching with my four other girlfriends that had also come to try out for the 2010 Outrider team. A few minutes after 10 a.m. we began learning an intricate combination that would later be performed in groups. This combination was quite difficult, especially in the time frame we were given. After performing in small groups, the team of judges made their first set of cuts. I was waiting and listening for number 26. Sure enough, Kelli called my number. I was relieved.
We also practiced a cheer that Megan H., the assistant coach, had taught us. It was also to be performed in mini groups. Right after the first elimination, we got right back up and continued to run through the combo and the cheer in groups. We were to receive a call before 10 p.m. that night if we had a chance at making the 2010 team. The call came at around 7:30 p.m. and I was out-of-my-chair excited. I was then invited to the interview the following Saturday.
The interview – 11:15 a.m. was my interview slot. My palms were sweaty, of course. 10 minutes ended up feeling like 30 seconds. We were to perform at the final auditions at Flames Central the next day.
Final Audition – I arrived at Flames Central by noon. I found my number which had a sticky note on it that said “group B.” I was to perform during the first intermission of the hockey game. There was a lot of waiting and lots of nerves. It was eventually our time to perform in front of the crowd. Four hours went by like eight hours. I was just ready and eager to find out if I had made the team or not.
At about 3:30 p.m., I was called into the room where Kelli and Megan were waiting. Kelli asked me if I had enjoyed my time, I said absolutely. She asked if I would like doing this for the rest of the season. Of course, I said absolutely. She then told me that I had made the team and proceeded to give me an Outrider t-shirt. I came out and everyone congratulated me. Only two of my four friends also made it. Bitter sweet. The final team was then announced to the crowd and we had our first photo opp. I was finally a Stampeder Outrider!
Petra
KSDK (4/20/2010) — The decisions on the draft aren’t the only ones the Rams are making. They picked their cheerleading squad for the 2010 season.
The final round of auditions took place at The Pageant Tuesday night.
But unlike the NFL Draft, fans were able to vote on their favorites. Of the 35 finalists, only 25 will make the team.
View pictures from the cheerleader finals by clicking here.
Click here and check out the Los Angeles Kings Ice Crew on SportsIllustrated.com!
If you’re a die hard Laker Girl fan, this is your chance to own a piece of Laker Girl history. There’s a guy on eBay selling two vintage 1979 Laker Girl costumes. (They look to be two different sizes. One of the girls must’ve been a real shrimp.)
Bidding starts at $10,000 for the set of two, and the auction ends Wednesday 4/28. That’s right, I said ten THOUSAND dollars. Maybe that’s pocket change to you. If it is, this could be a real steal. (I might add however, that if you really do have that kind of money lying around, we’re always open to donations here at UC. Travel and camera equipment ain’t cheap, wink wink)
Click here to go to the auction page.
Click here to see the same listing on craigslist.
Obligatory disclaimer: I don’t know the guy selling these outfits, so I can’t vouch for him or the authenticity of the costumes. Bid at your own risk. (If I were bidding, I’d probably ask the guy why the Sergio Valente patch appears in the color photo but not in the black and white. He says has documentation, so I’m sure there’s an explanation…)
Tryouts for the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders are coming up this weekend. Click the links below to see what’s been going on in the prep classes and meet some of the MDC hopefuls.
(My bad. These are from the 2009 auditions. Enjoy the anyway)
Click here to check out new photos of this year’s Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders auditions at the Mall of America!
Raiders.com: The 2010 Raiderette squad was selected at the end of the final audition Sunday, April 18th at the Hilton-Oakland Airport. Click here to view a larger image. Click here for photos from prelims and finals.
Open calls for the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders took place yesterday. Our good friend and former Titans Cheerleader Sissy was on the judges panel this year and sent over a few photos from the day.
Lindsey, Lindsay and Jen showing the routine to the judges before auditions
Alumni Laverne, Whitney, Sissy, Melanie and Valerie
Titans Cheer Alumni with Director of Cheerleading, Stacie Kinder The one with the beach ball under her shirt is alumni Farrah. She’s due in 15 days. (Looks to me like it could be any minute now!)
Some of the returning veterans posing for the camera
Current members and returning retired members of the squad preparing for tryouts.
Former members, Felicia, Amy, Stefanie S. and Stephanie A. are returning to tryout.
Alumni members and Stacie after the auditions
