Posted on 01/26/2014 2:41:06 AM PST by Zakeet
Parents, don’t let your girls grow up to be cheerleaders.
That’s just one lesson to be gleaned from a lawsuit filed by a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders, a National Football League team, which alleges sub-minimum wage pay and other labor abuses.
While professional cheerleading may seem glamorous, the cheerleaders allegedly earn barely enough to afford their own pom-poms. And, by the way, if they forget their pom-poms, the cheerleaders are reportedly socked with a fine.
[Snip]
The Chargers stress that the role is a part-time job and that cheerleaders “should at least hold a part-time job or attend college part-time.”
With such dismal conditions, why would anyone want to become a cheerleader?
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Nailed it.
Professional Football Cheerleading is not a carreer. It’s an extra ciricular activity as they phold other jobs. I worked with a Redskinette back when,
BINGO.
You said it a lot better than I was going to say it.
“Welcome to Hooters, may I get you something to drink?”
I think the poor gals are worried tha they might have to work on Sunday and the Raiders won’t give them the time off.
I didn’t realize they were even paid.
I know that the members of the Redskins band are not paid (or at least, they weren’t in the not-so-distant past). They were given four tickets to each home game, including preseason and playoffs (not that that happens much anymore, LOL).
Someone who worked for me was in the band, and would sell them to me for $50 each, then I’d give out to employees on a week-to-week basis. I got to see a playoff game against the Lions once that way.
Because being an NFL cheerleader used to be it’s own reward. At the least it was the fast track to trophy wife.
Those players making 100k a game though, you would think they could pony up and subsidize the cheerleaders.
I don’t know how many here actually know a woman that has been a long term cheer leader with one of the more well known groups, but I have.
She is middle aged now, and a VP of Sales for a significant company making six figures. She considers it one of the most formative and educational experiences of her life. She is very proud of the work she did in USO type tours and tells stories about how the discipline and team work translated into the right attitude for a challenging business career.
Members of the minor teams or members of recent years may not have had an experience like her’s but she has countless stories of why she is glad she spent four years at it.
I have a friend, 71, that was a cheer leader when we were in high school.
She still is, to this day
Do the Raiders drag these poor women from the street and force them to put on skimpy costumes and parade around at gunpoint? If so, why are they paying them at all? If not, then you knew what you were getting into.
Yes, I was going to mention the Cowboy Cheerleaders on USO tours. If any cheerleaders are reading this, thanks very much for the show way back when. I’m still a fan.
More pictures.
Maybe the cheerleaders should watch what they wish for . The Chicago Bears haven’t had cheerleaders since 1985. Not every team has cheerleaders.
Does anyone think these women are concerned about the money? They want to hook a wealthy professional athlete.
Anytime I’ve read profiles of cheerleaders, they’ve always been college students or independent business women, who had time to devote to the PT status of the job. Some were even models, so the status of being a pro team’s cheerleader offers more opportunities to market yourself and make money, the same way the pro athlete can get endorsement money outside of his team contract. Maybe these cheerleaders would do better if they had agents.
They get to meet a bunch of wealthy men (both on the team, and fans). Plus, how many 30-something guys wouldn't like to be able to say "my girlfriend is an NFL cheerleader".
Perhaps there needs to be a “tip jar” so the spectators can place a dollar or five at the stadium.
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