The Carolina Panthers recently selected their 2009 Cheerleaders. We don’t know who made the team yet, but they have posted a handful of audition photos on the Panthers website. Click here to go there now.
Silver and Black marches on COB Basra
By Staff Sgt. Derek Smith
The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division
June 1, 2009
Photos
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – The latest set of boots to hit the ground were a sharp contrast to the tan and green of military footwear as the stark white boots of the Oakland Raider Cheerleaders, the Raiderettes, marched through COB Basra and right into service members’ hearts May 29.
The silver and black-clad sirens performed their variety show, met with Soldiers and gave thanks for military members’ efforts in Iraq as part of their tour through the region.
“It’s been exhilarating and thrilling,” said Emily, one of “Football’s Fabulous Females”. “The experience has been nothing short of an honor since the first moment we got here.”
The Basra heat found some strong competition this night, but the Raiderettes were not to be denied their place in the hearts and minds of service members crammed up against the Morale, Welfare and Recreation stage. Camera flashes erupted like an approaching storm yet were still outshone by the smiles of the Oakland Raiders’ ambassadors.
The conditions in Iraq also allowed them to put things into perspective, the ladies said.
“We’ve experienced travelling with the Soldiers first-hand and feeling what it’s like to go through the heat out here,” explained Cole, the brunette veteran of the squad. “People explained that it was going to be hot here in Iraq, but you don’t know until you’re out here and the wind is blowing. It feels like a blow-dryer.”
“We look at (the Soldiers) and we know that we’re going through it and we’re trying to be soldiers for them and be strong for them,” she said, solemnly. “We know that they do this every day and to experience that is very humbling to us.”
Access Atlanta: Dancers from across the Southeast attended a prep clinic for the A-Town Dancers preliminary audition, which will be held Sunday, June 7. Those who are selected will perform at Atlanta Hawks games at Philips Arena. Photos
Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers (Sunday, June 7th)
Boston Celtics Dancers (Saturday, June 27th)
Charlotte LadyCats (TBA)
Chicago Luvabulls (Saturday, August 1st)
Cleveland Cavalier Girls (Saturday, July 18th)
Dallas Mavericks Dancers (TBA)
Denver Nuggets Dancers (Saturday, July 18th)
Detroit Automotion (Tuesday, July 21st)
Golden State Warrior Girls (Saturday, July 18th)
Houston Rockets Power Dancers (Saturday, July 11th)
Indiana Pacemates (Monday, July 13th)
Los Angeles Clippers Spririt (Saturday, July 25th)
(LA) Laker Girls (Saturday, July 18th)
Memphis Grizz Girls (TBA – Early August)
Miami Heat Dancers (TBA)
Milwaukee Energee! (TBA)
Minnesota Timberwolves Dance Team (TBA – July)
(NY) Knicks City Dancers (Sunday, June 28th)
New Jersey Nets Dancers (Saturday, June 20th)
New Orleans Honeybees (Saturday, July 11th)
Oklahoma City Thunder Girls (TBA)
Orlando Magic Dancers (TBA)
Philadelphia Sixers Dancers (Saturday, June 27th)
Phoenix Suns Dancers (Saturday, August 15th)
Portland BlazerDancers (TBA)
Sacramento Kings Dance Team (TBA)
San Antonio Silver Dancers (Saturday, August 1st)
Toronto Raptors Dance Pak (TBA)
Utah Jazz Dancers (Saturday, August 1st)
Washington Wizard Girls (Saturday, May 30th, That’s Tomorrow!)
You should definitely visit the website of the team(s) you are interested in.
It seems that almost everyone is offering some sort of prep class this year. I can’t speak to any individual team’s prep class, but I will say I’ve been to a lot of auditions in the 5 years, I’ve been doing this blog. And it’s pretty easy to see who’s prepared and who’s not. So consider taking a prep class. Auditions have never been more competitive, so you’ll want to give yourself every possible advantage.
The two-week long St. Louis Rams cheerleading audition process has concluded with the selection of a 25-member squad including 14 veterans and 11 rookies.
The auditions began on May 9 with approximately 100 hopefuls performing a routine in front of a panel of judges, with the judging being based on physical talent, dance ability, personality, appearance and poise. Following phase one of the audition process, 41 were selected as semi-finalists who then attended mandatory rehearsals and participated in an interview as part of the final selection.
“We saw a lot of great talent and enthusiasm over the course of the two-week process,” said Theresa Mancini, cheerleader coordinator, St. Louis Rams. “It’s always a hard decision in selecting the final squad, but we feel like we have a great group of community ambassadors who will represent the Rams well in 2009. We certainly encourage the ladies who didn’t make it this year to try out again next year.”
In addition to performing at all St. Louis Rams home games, the 2009 cheerleaders will continue a strong tradition of community involvement, with the squad averaging 500 appearances at corporate, private and charitable events annually.
The 2009 St. Louis Rams cheerleaders are as follows:
[2009-10 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders]
The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders are in Aruba shooting their annual swimsuit calendar. Check out the photos here.
By Daniel Winningham
News-Press
May 28, 2009
Forty-three women from the Washington Redskins’ cheerleading squad are on Marco Island this week for a photo shoot for an upcoming swimsuit calendar.
The team is staying at the Marco Island Marriott Resort and spa from May 26 to June 2.
Melanie Coburn, director of marketing for the Washington Redskins’ cheerleading squad, said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ cheerleading squad shot their annual calendar last year at the resort and Marriott officials were interested in bringing another cheer team to Marco.
So far, the women have enjoyed dinner at Capt. Brien’s. Dinner at Stan’s in Goodland is planned for later in the week.
“I love it,” Coburn said of the Marco experience. “This is my first time. It’s been awesome. Everybody here at the Marriott has been very accommodating.”
“The shoots have gone well,” Coburn said. “We’re really excited to the see the final product.”
The squad is scheduled to perform Saturday, May 30 at 9 p.m. at the Marriott by the resort’s tiki terrace. In addition, the team will on a sunset cruise on the Marco Princess June 1.
The calendar, which will include all 43 women, will be available online at late July at redskins.com/cheerleaders.
This is the cheerleading team’s 12th annual swimsuit calendar.
Laker Girl, check! Back up dancer for Prince, check! Ass-kicking female in a post-Judgment Day world? After this weekend, star-on-the-rise Moon Bloodgood can cross that one off her list too.
By Harrison Pierce
Actress Moon Bloodgood is having a moment. The striking Korean, Dutch and Irish beauty has her first big starring role in Terminator Salvation, which opened Thursday in over 3,500 theatres. The feverishly anticipated continuation of the blockbuster Terminator series takes place in the post-Judgment Day, machine-ruled future only glimpsed at in the previous Terminator films. Moon’s character emerges from this dystopia as an ass-kicking babe in the grand tradition of Linda Hamilton in T2 and Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. After this weekend, moviegoers previously unfamiliar with the actress might make the mistake of labeling her an overnight success, but as she’ll attest, hard work over time is the more common route to any kind of success in Hollywood.
In fact, since her late teens, Moon’s been paying her dues as everything from a Laker Girl, to a backup dancer for music stars like Prince and Brandy, and as an aspiring actress humbly willing to accept parts with non-names like “Stripper” and “Gorgeous Woman.” Recently, she’s managed to win bigger and better roles, including one opposite Paul Walker in the hit adventure film Eight Below, and another in last year’s Hollywood satire What Just Happened?, starring Robert De Niro. For Moon, it feels like it’s all been leading up to this moment, and naturally, she’s an expectant mix of excitement and fear.
Advocate.com recently chatted with Moon on the eve of her big break to discuss everything from her role in the new Terminator film, to her days in purple and gold as a Laker Girl, to her feelings about the imminent Judgment Day decision by the California courts regarding marriage equality.
Advocate.com: Tell us about a little about your uniquely cool name, because, after this weekend, I think it’s one a lot more people are going to know…
Moon Bloodgood: [Laughs]. Thank you! Well, my real name is actually Korinna Moon Bloodgood. Moon is my middle name and my Mom gave it to me, because I’m half Korean. My last name, Bloodgood, is Dutch.
Before being cast in the new Terminator, were you a fan of the series?
Oh, huge, huge fan, especially of the first and second ones.
So, how’d you feel when you found out you got the part?
I think it’s one of those moments you wait your whole life for as an artist. I mean, you love the process, but you just get so excited because you get to be a part of something you grew up loving!
In the film you play a tough, post-Judgment Day survivalist named “Blair Williams.” Did you feel pressure to get Linda Hamilton-ripped?
I had a personal trainer and he did a lot of weight training with me. But I didn’t want to get too big. I just wanted to get a little stronger. Anyway, I’ve gotten some comparisons [to Hamilton] and it’s always flattering because — like her and “Ripley” in Aliens you love those female characters that are strong and likeable.
You have a relationship in the film with sexy Australian newcomer Sam Worthington’s half human, half robot character “Marcus Wright.” Ever dated someone you suspected was part robot?
I’ve definitely met guys that made me think Why can’t you feel anything? I don’t understand you! [laughs]. Interestingly enough, in the movie, I sense that the Marcus character has a lot of emotion and I’m surprised to find out he’s half robot.
On set, did you call your director “McG” [real name Joseph McGinty Nichol] or something a little more formal?
Well, he’s called that because his father’s name is Joseph, so it just became his nickname a long time ago. I actually have known him for a while, so he’s just McG to me. I mean, my name’s Moon so, between [co-stars] Common and Anton [Yelchin] and Bryce [Dallas Howard] — we all had crazy names on that set.
McG previously directed the Charlie’s Angels films — do you think your character could take those girls?
I definitely don’t think my character is as fun as them, but, yeah — I’d like to think I could take them. My character, I mean. I don’t think Moon could…I wouldn’t go that far.
In the machine-ruled world of Terminator Salvation, things are a bit drab — where are the gay robots to glamorize things up?
I know, where are the gay robots? Actually, you don’t know what those robots are into.
It seems like no one has time for sex in Terminator world…
Who has time to think about it when you’re just trying to fucking survive? [Laughs] Even my character doesn’t have time for sex and, believe me; I’m thinking Blair hasn’t gotten any in a while.
You know, gay audiences love hot, ass-kicking women on the big screen — are you ready for your big gay fan base?
I would love to have a gay fan base because, you know, I grew up as a dancer, so a lot of my friends were gay. When you grow up and you’re into musicals and stuff — I love that artistic world — you find a lot of gay men and women love that world too, so I hope I get a lot of new fans. I’m down…I feel it, I want it.
What was it like being a Laker Girl?
Being a Laker Girl was a dream of mine since I was a kid. But there was a time when they would warn us not to hang out with the players and it just sometimes felt, like, even though it was a job, they were telling us what to do with our private time. That felt a little restricting. I was 18 and thinking, What I do with my personal time is my business! I was a little rebellious [laughs].
Did the Laker girls get along or was it catfight city?
Ninety nine percent of the time everyone got along, but any time you get a group of girls together there’s gonna be some drama. There were never any physical fights but there’s always gossip and a couple girls who don’t get along.
Did that gig prepare you for the acting world?
Yeah, it did. In some ways it’s a similar medium and in other ways it’s very different. But it helped me develop my physicality, which later helped me with stunts. [Doing Terminator] I wasn’t afraid to run, jump or hang from harnesses. I wasn’t fearful of executing those stunts because I have that center of gravity from dance.
What was it like backup dancing for the Purple One?
I had a show at his club and I worked on some of his CD Roms — I did a lot of different things for Prince. I worked with a lot of different artists as a dancer, like The Offspring, Deborah Cox and Brandy. So yeah, I was a backup dancer for a while and wanted to do music, but five years ago, I segued into acting, which I’ve fallen in love with.
Early in your acting career you played characters billed as “Stripper” on TV’s CSI and “Gorgeous Woman” in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton — did you ever ask if your characters could have a name?
At that point, I was just happy to be working. I was like, “Fuck it, if I’m a stripper, that’s what I am.” Like, what am I gonna say? I was so used to being treated like shit as a dancer, where they saw us as a group and not as individuals. Now, I wouldn’t want to be just called “Stripper;” I have a little more of an ego, I have to admit.
When you work with a hottie like Paul Walker in Eight Below, how do you control yourself from jumping his bones?
You know, I was with somebody at the time — being in a relationship usually helps with monogamy, you know [laughs]. I recommend it. But Paul, in person, is quite stunning and, believe me, it definitely helps with onscreen chemistry. I’m lucky I got to do a kiss with him.
Speaking of jumping bones, you played a film executive trying to seduce Robert De Niro in What Just Happened? Who was more nervous filming that scene?
I think people would be surprised at how shy Bob was — well, people call him Bob, I’ll call him Robert De Niro. I think he was more embarrassed than I was and when I had to flash him some good ole’ titty, he was looking away. I think it was a courtesy to me, because he didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable. He’s quite the gentleman. You think he’s this badass actor who’s fearless, but he’s quite shy in person.
Have you had a chance to meet the original Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger?
I haven’t met him, no, but I did meet his kids at the premiere. They’re beautiful.
Do they look more like him or the Shrivers?
I gotta say, they’re like a really good hybrid.
I remember seeing his son somewhere and wondering how much pressure that poor kid must feel to be a body builder…
Or a politician. He’s like, “I’m fucked either way” [laughs]. I think they should just go into psychology or something.
For the gay community, the imminent decision by the state courts about Prop 8 is a bit like Judgment Day — what are your feelings on the issue of marriage equality?
I’ve always believed that people who are against gays getting married are people who don’t have gay friends. If you had a gay friend, you’d support it because you’d want him or her to get married because, you know, nobody chooses to have a life that people have prejudices against. It’s always baffled me, because my cousin was gay growing up and I was always around it.
Do you think there’s really such a thing as overnight success in this town?
I rarely see it. Everything I’ve seen — nine out of ten times —is people working really hard and taking little baby steps toward it. Once in a while somebody pops off and they’re an overnight success, but they’re very few and far between. I think all of us worked really hard to get where we are.
Was there ever a time you wanted to throw in the towel?
Are you kidding me? Almost every other day [laughs]. There are moments that I’m so happy and can’t think of doing anything else and other moments where you get why people marry and move to Montana and raise cattle. I remember being at the premiere [for Terminator] and thinking, ‘I am so overwhelmed by all this.’ You wonder, ‘Do people really like me for me?’ or ‘What game do I have to play?’ and ‘How much is this about my talent?’ It’s a really tough business and there’s a reason people crumble and have a hard time. Yeah, there are times I’m like, “Fuck it, throw in the towel? I’m gonna throw in my whole career, my car, my everything” and I’m just gonna get up and go away.
Will there be another Terminator sequel after this one and will you be involved?
At this point, and I’m being totally honest, no one knows. We’re kind of waiting to see how the movie does and how people respond to it, but hopefully they will and I’d love to be in it.
The Terminator billboards are everywhere in Los Angeles — do you love it?
I do love it, but this is my first thing of this caliber so I’m nervous and I hope people like the movie. I have a lot of emotions running through me right now.
Vikings.com: Once again, Vikings fans will help determine the cover of the 2009 Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar. Eight ladies will be vying for a spot on the cover, and their fates will be determined by fan voting on Vikings.com.
The third matchup features Krisan vs. Annalisa. To vote for who you think should advance, click here.
By Lindsey R.
Titans Online
May 25, 2009
Hello Titans fans from Destin, Florida!
We arrived at the fabulous Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort today at around five o’clock after a long, but fun bus trip. We all met early this morning excited and ready to go, but the rookies had a few things they had to do before getting on the bus.
This year we have eight amazing women who are new to our team and just for fun, they each had to perform one of the short routines we perform on the field in order to get on the bus. And once they got on the bus, they each had to tell one interesting fact about a veteran to receive their rookie sign. Now their rookie sign is not anything terrible. It’s a small sign they wear around their neck throughout the first month of training until they earn 10 stickers. The 10 stickers are given by the captains and the veterans when they see a rookie giving 110% and going above and beyond. It’s our way of letting them know we have noticed their hard work and to keep it up.
With such a long bus ride, the captains came up with several games to keep us entertained. One of the funniest activities we did was having each girl write down their most embarrassing moment. We then read them aloud and had to guess who it was. Needless to say, we learned a lot about each other! We also gave the rookies crayons and a piece of paper and they each had a few minutes to draw a picture of themselves. We then tried to guess who had drawn each picture and voted on who had the best artistic skills. And lets just say none of us are artists for a reason!
Throughout the drive, we also began giving hints to the rookies as to who their big sister would be during the season. Each rookie is paired with a second year member to guide her through the year. They will find out their big sister on Wednesday night, but we wanted to keep teasing them with clues until then.
Once we arrived at the resort, we all had about two hours to freshen up before meeting back up for dinner at the Marlin Grill. It was so nice to see everyone all dressed up because we normally see each other in practice clothes and tennis shoes. The dinner was amazing, complete with appetizers, a salad, and fabulous entrees. Our Director, Stacie Kinder, gave a great toast thanking all of our sponsors who traveled with us to Destin to help make our swimsuit calendar a success. And she also wished all of us good luck for when we step in front of the camera in the next few days.
The night ended with a surprise from our Director and the resort. They took us outside for a picture and then announced they had a special fireworks display for us. The sky was lit up with fireworks choreographed to go along with some of the songs we performed to last year and during tryouts. It was such a nice treat and bigger than anything we could have imagined.
Tomorrow, women will have call times as early as 4 a.m. to get hair and makeup done before heading to the beach for a sunrise photo shoot. Other women will head to the marina to take picture on a yacht and there will also be a photo session at a waterfall. It will take a lot of hard work to make sure every picture looks its best, but it will also be a lot of fun.
Well, I’m off to bed. Check back everyday for a new blog as the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders continue their trip in Destin creating the 2009 Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Swimsuit Calendar!
Lindsey R.
