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Tag: Cheerleaders

  • NFL Cheerleader: Former Ravens Cheerleader Charged With Raping Teen

    A former NFL cheerleader is facing serious prison time over an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy. According to The News Journal, 47-year-old Molly Shattuck was charged Monday with two counts of third-degree rape, four counts of unlawful sexual contact, and three counts of providing alcohol to minors. She was arrested on Wednesday and later released on $84,000 bail.

    Shattuck is a former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader and was once the NFL’s oldest cheerleader. In 1997 Shattuck married businessman and future Constellation Energy Group CEO Mayo A. Shattuck III. The couple have three children together. According to a Baltimore Sun report the couple were separated in March of this year. Shortly before the split Shattuck released a self-help book titled Vibrant Living.

    According The News Journal, Shattuck’s contact with the alleged victim started online. Shattuck had posted comments to the teen’s Instagram account in May. Shattuck’s phone number was later provided to the victim by one of Shattuck’s sons, who is quoted in court records as saying his mother was “obsessed” with the victim.

    Court records obtained by The News Journal show that the relationship between Shattuck and the victim became intimate over the summer, eventually escalating to incidents of kissing and groping in Shattuck’s vehicle. The teen has stated to police that Shattuck requested and received photos of him shirtless and in his underwear.

    Over Labor Day weekend Shattuck allegedly hosted a get-together for her children and their friends in a rented house. Court documents state that Shattuck provided alchohol to at least three teenagers at the event. Court documents allege that Shattuck performed oral sex on the victim that weekend. The teen has also stated to police that Shattuck offered to have sex with him, but that he declined.

    According to a TMZ report, Shattuck has been banned from her children’s school, which the victim also attends. TMZ reports that a letter sent from the school’s headmaster to parents states that “additional security” has been implemented.

  • An NFL Cheerleader At Forty? No Problem For Mother Of Two

    Kriste Lewis had always dreamed of being an NFL cheerleader. Then life and obligations got in the way and she never had the opportunity to make it happen…until now.

    Lewis decided that it didn’t matter that she is a 40-year-old mother of two. The dance instructor, in true “you only live once” fashion, decided that she would try out for the New Orleans Saintsations when she turned 40 back in April.

    It wasn’t easy as Lewis had some stiff competition on her hands.

    In her interview with ABC News, Lewis shared that she was afraid and a bit intimidated. “There were a lot of young, beautiful girls,” said Lewis.

    Lewis noted that the age range was 18 to 30, with herself proving to be somewhat of an outlier.

    However, Lewis had an unusual advantage: She was in part driven by an unfortunate physical condition.

    Fourteen years ago, Lewis was diagnosed with polysistic kidney disease. Said Lewis of her illness, “Eventually my kidneys will shut down.”

    She will be forced to take dialysis and she will also need to have a transplant.

    When faced with such a serious health issue, she decided that she “didn’t want to waste a day”. Taking a chance at a life-long dream would ensure that no matter what happens, Lewis will have no regrets.

    Despite her initial fears, Lewis was in fact one of the most impressive tryouts.

    Following three rounds, she was stunned to learn that she was one of 36 women who would be cheering for the New Orleans Saints during the 2014-2015 season.

    “It was really exciting,” said Lewis. She said that the day she found out that she’d made the squad she was “beside herself” with joy.

    “I cannot wait for [the first time when] we run out on that field,” Lewis said.

    Thanks to Lewis, we can see for ourselves that dreams can and will come true if you’re prepared to take the necessary steps to make them happen.

    Image via YouTube

  • Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders Sue Team Over Pay

    On Tuesday, five former Buffalo Bills cheerleaders filed a lawsuit against the NFL team over an unfair pay system.

    The girls, known as the Buffalo Jills, claim that they were required to work hundreds of hours at games and mandatory public appearances for little to no pay.

    Because the team classifies their cheerleaders as independent contractors, they are exempt from the state’s $8 minimum wage law and other workplace policies.

    Two members of the squad, along with their attorney Frank Dolce, held a press conference on Tuesday. “We are Bills fans,” said Dolce. “We definitely want our organization and other organizations in the NFL to respect the rights of these cheerleaders.”

    When the girls signed up for the team, they never expected the costs that would come along with it. Not only do they have to pay $650 for their uniforms, for which they are not reimbursed, they also receive no pay for practices or games and are required to make 20-35 public appearances each season.

    Aside from the money, the girls also claim that they received degrading and demeaning treatment. They revealed that they were subjected to “jiggle tests” in which they would have to shake in front of their coach to see if any part of their bodies jiggled. They also were required to wear bikinis to several events, and received sexual advances and comments from the public.

    According to the girls, the team controlled everything they did, including their personal lives. “Everything from standing in front of us with a clipboard having us do a jiggle test to see what parts of our body were jiggling,” Alyssa U., one of the former cheerleaders, said, “and if that was something that she saw, you were getting benched.”

    The Buffalo Bills are not the only team facing a lawsuit from former cheerleaders. The Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals have suits pending against them as well.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Texans Cheerleader To Attend Prom With High Schooler

    Dreams can come true. If you just happen to be high school senior Mike Ramirez, and that special dream involves taking a cheerleader from the Houston Texans to prom, then dreams definitely come true.

    The Crosby High School senior asked beautiful Caitlyn Beth, who just happens to be a Houston Texans cheerleader, to be his prom date. The 20-year-old blonde beauty agreed if Ramirez could reach 10,000 retweets on his Twitter account, and luckily he did.

    “I’m so excited. My buddies are excited for me too. They said I have to do it big, so that’s what I’m going to do.” Seventeen-year-old Ramirez said before adding, “Honestly, I didn’t think she’d respond, but you don’t hit unless you swing.”

    Friends and Twitter followers of the high school student are excited to hear the positive news. According to Colten Watley, “I thought she was going to blow it off because she’s a Houston Texans cheerleader right? Yes, she’s a professional and he’s just a high school student.”

    Ramirez had voiced his desire to find the perfect date for the special evening. “Got the asking prom idea, now I just need the right girl.” Caitlyn was flattered by the invitation and shared her own thoughts on the offer. “I thought it was the sweetest thing ever and I immediately said yes,” Caitlyn said.

    Image Via Twitter

  • Raiders Cheerleaders Sue Team Over Unfair Wages

    In a type of story that does not surface often, a squad of cheerleaders in the NFL is suing the team that they cheer for.

    The cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders have recently brought up a lawsuit with the team after feeling that they are being paid unfairly.

    The Oakland Raiders are being sued by current and former cheerleaders who claim that their wages were taken away, among other unfair employment practices.

    The Raiders cheerleaders have the nickname of Raidettes, and while being put on display for everyone to see, they feel that they deserve to be treated fairly.

    The lawsuit was filed on Wednseday at the Alameda County Superior Court, asserting that the organization withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until the end of the season, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses.

    One member of the Raidettes, who is identified only as Lacy T. due to their security policy, was able to speak up for her and fellow cheerleaders and said “We also have to pay the costs for traveling to all kinds of events, including photo shoots … I love the Raiders and I love being a Raiderette, but someone has to stand up for all of the women of the NFL who work so hard for the fans and the teams.”

    Sharon Vinick, the attorney working on the case, also reported that she had never seen an employment contract with so many illegal provisions.

    The Raiders have had a bad enough time on the field in recent years without having to have this kind of thing happen, and the team has had two consecutive seasons of 4-12 records.

    As for what the cheerleaders hope to accomplish through the lawsuit, it seeks to repay “tens of thousands of dollars” to former cheerleaders and “thousands of dollars” to those who worked in 2013.

    If these recent findings are true, it is quite shocking, and something certainly needs to done to protect the wages of cheerleaders in the league. It also shows that they earn much less than the NFL mascots per year, which seems silly when thinking about all of the things that the cheerleaders have to do, in addition to actually being seen and displayed publicly during each game.

    The filing found that the Raiders cheerleaders are only paid $1,250 per season, which amounts to less than $5 per hour for the time they spend rehearsing, performing and appearing at events for which they are not compensated.

    Image via Facebook

  • Paris Jackson: NFL “Offers” Her a Cheerleading Job

    Last week, Paris Jackson, the daughter of pop icon Michael Jackson, was spotted on the cheerleading squad for her L.A. school, The Buckley School. She showed off her short-cropped hair while cheering for her school’s basketball team.

    Now, TMZ is reporting that Paris might have a shot at becoming an NFL cheerleader. The publication spoke to Barbara Zaun, director of cheerleading for the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders. Zaun was effusive with her praise for Jackson and even suggested that she try out for the Eagles cheerleading squad. From the TMZ report:

    “We thought that she had a lot of poise, confidence, and enthusiasm in her cheer performance,” Zaun says … adding, “Paris has that ‘wow factor’ that makes a great cheerleader.”

    Zaun also told TMZ, “We hope that she will try out for the team and be an Eagles cheerleader.”

    Jackson will have to wait until she is 18 to try out for the Eagles, and even then it isn’t clear from the leaked video that she has the skills to be an NFL cheerleader. Still, no NFL team would pass up the publicity of having Michael Jackson’s daughter on their cheerleading squad, so this “offer” is probably at least half-serious.

  • 55-Year-Old Cheerleader Auditions for the Dallas Cowboys

    55-year-old cheerleader Sharon Simmons has always wanted to cheer on a professional level. Although she had hoped to follow her dreams back in her 20’s, life, it seemed, had other plans for her. Now, nearly three decades after she thought this chapter in her life had been forever closed, Simmons has done what many others have only dreamed about: audition for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader squad.

    Don’t let the “grandmother” label fool you; Sharon Simmons isn’t some random individual looking to make her dreams come true. In fact, she’s a fitness competitor, an accomplished author, and, apparently, an actress. Furthermore, I’d say she’s in much better shape now than 95% of the people currently reading this article. So before you start snickering to yourself about a cheerleading grandmother, ask yourself this question: Would I be able to do the same thing right now if I wanted to? I didn’t think so.

    Simmons started entering fitness competitions at the age of 50, winning nine title in a little under five years. Her experiences prompted Simmons to write the book “Triple F: Fifty, Fit and Fabulous”, which helped spawn the website fitnessanyage.com. Additionally, Simmons’ passion for acting has landed her a role in the upcoming reboot of the popular television series “Dallas”. In other words, she’s not messing around.

    If she makes the cut, Simmons will be the oldest cheerleader in the NFL, a title which I’m sure she’ll wear with pride. Like me, a lot of people seem to think that Sharon Simmons is an inspiration to those who never give up on pursuing their dreams. Have a look at some Twitter reactions below.

    (image)@B1047
    Hot Country B104.7    This woman is an inspiration- I hope she gets on the squad!!! http://t.co/HPZERil2(image) 20 minutes ago via Facebook ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@mktg2seniors
    Carolyn Frith    RT @news4retirement: Texas grandmother aiming to become NFL Cheerleader http://t.co/J9IKBz4p <never give up on your dreams(image) 7 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@missfree
    Free    Did You Know: It’s never 2 late to experience your dream 55 year old grandma tries out for WHAT??? –> http://t.co/4ExwNWlR – never give up!(image) 3 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@sarahbrodhead
    sarahbrodhead    You go get ’em granny! http://t.co/zylAJIM0(image) 6 hours ago via Facebook ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@MtDewz
    Danielle Williams    55 year old grandmother auditions to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. What the fuck am I doing with my life?(image) 10 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Broncos Male Cheerleader Sacha Heppell Fails To Be First Man Ever On The Squad

    “I am not your typical Broncos cheerleader,” says Sacha Heppell. “I dont wear makeup, my legs are hairy, I don’t have boobs, I’ve never been to college…I’ve only been dancing for about three weeks. But I really do think I have what it takes”

    That was said a little over a month ago in a video he posted to YouTube. Over the weekend, he got his chance to prove himself.

    Unfortunately for Heppell, he didn’t have what it takes this year. He was cut after the first round of tryouts. His bid to be the first ever male Denver Broncos cheerleader is over – for now.

    Heppell, a Colorado native, was up against 200 women – so the odds were stacked against him from the beginning. Many football fans will tell you that cheerleaders are one of the best parts of the stadium experience, and I’m guessing that most of those fans would prefer the cheerleader had shaved legs.

    “It’s huge. I’m excited – totally thrilled. No male has ever made it through auditions. I don’t even know if a male made it to the auditions,” he said before the tryouts.

    Turns out, Denver Broncos cheerleading auditions are open call. Check out the video below to see how his audition went:

    As for the future?

    “Well, I’m going to practice. Practice, practice, practice. I might even send some of my kids out there. But it’s not an easy thing to become a Broncos cheerleader, I have to tell you that.” he told Denver’s Westword blog.

    Legitimate dream? Media stunt? Either way, it’s a pretty funny story.

    As you can see, many of the female cheerleading hopefuls were supportive of Heppell’s goals. What do you think about a male NFL cheerleader? Let us know in the comments.

  • Cheerleader Mom Becomes A Viral Hit

    Little league parents are something of a phenomenon in the United States, as thousands of adults live vicariously through their children’s athletic accomplishments. This is normally done in a very vocal, and sometimes, physical manner as the adults ensure no one interferes with their child’s progression as a blossoming sports star.

    Normally, or at least until the Internet took over, most of the stories related to the parent/child athlete dynamic appeared in local newspapers or, perhaps, even a national publication like Sports Illustrated when an incident warrants such coverage. But now, thanks to the power of social media, oftentimes, we get an up close and personal look at this kind of parent/child behavior, and it’s normally not the prettiest thing to see.

    Take, for instance, the video of the cheerleader mom that’s currently blowing up on a viral level. What we have is video footage of a cheerleader mom who is completely and utterly absorbed by her daughter’s team’s performance, complete with a tendency to stomp her feet when she’s trying to emphasize her support.

    The video in question, which can be found here, for those out there who are seeking credit for filming someone without that person’s knowledge:


    Much like the second most popular comment hinted at, you get the feeling the mother in the video didn’t have much success at her cheerleading career, and so, she’s pushing her daughter’s team as hard as she can. Well, as much as an observer can push a team from the stands, I guess. It’s either that or she used to be a cheerleader coach and she’s just doing what comes naturally.

    While I’m poking fun at the mother’s overzealousness, the video uploader deserves some scorn here as well. Apparently, when the video was first uploaded four days ago, the embed function was disabled, and so, people started posting their own versions based on the original video. Apparently, that upset the user who uploaded the video, and so, they wrote this little disclaimer on the YouTube page:

    ********** THIS IS THE ORIGINAL VIDEO SHOT AND UPLOADED BY MYSELF. DON’T BE FOOLED BY IMITATIONS!**********IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST THIS IN YOUR BLOG OR ELSEWHERE, PLEASE GIVE ME CREDIT. THANKS FOR LOOKING!**********

    I’m curious if he gave credit to the person cheering on the performance, or if he filmed the video without her consent. Furthermore, I wonder how she’d feel if she knew the uploader’s intentions when she was being filmed. That is, to make fun of her. Did the person complaining about not receiving credit for their YouTube video ask the lady’s permission before he started filming her? Furthermore, did he tell her the video would be used to poke fun at her and other sports parents?

    If not, perhaps the video uploader should just be quiet and enjoy the ride while his video pops.

    As for the mom/fan/observer in question, perhaps she should relax a little bit and let the youngsters enjoy the competition.