By Adrian Musolino
May 18th 2009 @ 6:16am
Remove the cheerleaders from sport
Manly cheerleader during the NRL, Round 8, Melbourne Storm v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match at Brookvale Oval in Sydney, Friday May 1, 2009. Storm won 22-8. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)
For all the talk of sporting codes needing to ‘change their culture’ in the wake of numerous sex scandals, there is one easy change they can make, something blatantly obvious, one of the final remnants of the sexist sporting age. The cheerleaders, grid girls, whatever you want to call them have to go.
It’s just embarrassing and antiquated.
Motorsport is probably the biggest offender in this regard and one of the most odd, if not concerning things I see at the numerous motorsport events I attend throughout Australia is grown men lining up with their kids to get autographs from the grid girls, be they the scantily clad Four X Angels or the like.
It’s a phenomenon I’ve been unable to get my head around.
The Angels perform throughout V8 weekends and they leave little to the imagination.
The 2008 V8 Supercar media guide boasts that the audience of the sport consists of 38% females.
Is that really surprising when the off track entertainment caters for blokey blokes?
It’s driving families and women away from the sport.
Motorsport can hardly claim to be a bastion of enlightened thinking when it comes to equality amongst the sexes.
When IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick was linked with a possible test in Formula 1, the sports commercial ringleader Bernie Ecclestone claimed she should be “dressed in white, like the other domestic appliances.”
Oh dear!
Obviously there is not a direct correlation between having grid girls etc and misdemeanours that have been in the news, but the point is it is a sexist and cheap way of promoting your sport. Sexist in the degrading sense and a cheap and inefficient way to promote your sport, pandering to a specific section of your audience while ignoring others.
Having experienced some of the ‘goings on’ at the Gold Coast Indy and the Clipsal 500, I would have serious reservations about taking children or family to such events.
It’s not just motorsport.
It’s amazing to me that certain news websites, while taking the moral high ground on the misdemeanours of sporting stars and culture of the NRL, are happy to link to the hottest league cheerleaders photo gallery or the like.
At a time when the NRL is facing serious questions about its cultural makeup regarding treatment towards women, is there a place for scantily glad cheerleaders at what should be a family friendly environment?
It’s important to distinguish here too between what image individual athletes present and what the code does.
The aforementioned Danica Patrick has posed for racy shoots with FHM and Sports Illustrated but she, and any other athlete, has the right to pursue whatever career opportunities they wish.
As my Roar colleague Natalie Medhurst states, the sexes should be treated equally and perhaps the different perceptions of male and females doing such shoots points to the inherent sexism still in sport.
There is a difference between the two though. Sporting events should be family friendly environments. The codes should set an example themselves.
For all the criticism that Patrick is a bad role model for such shoots, you have to ask why parents are allowing their kids to read the likes of FHM. Come race time and she is a driver like the rest.
The media has a responsibility here too and as mentioned the hypocrisy of the certain outlets that run trash stories like this and yet act as moral adjudicators in, for example, the Matthew Jones case is pitiful.
It may seem like a bit of harmless fun, but it’s one clear way sports can change their treatment of women.
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Tom said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
The link to the cheerleader’s gallery off the foxsports website advertised it with the line ‘pom-poms, pouts and plenty of flesh’.
sheek said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Adrian,
Frankly this is nonsense.
Removing cheerleaders is a knee jerk reaction; a “seen to be doing something” motive; a temporary prevention rather than long-term cure; a band-aid solution to a fracture injury. Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
The problem of star players & women seems to be a predominately Australian rugby league problem. And involving a minority of players at that. Sure, other sportsmen from other sports are also tainted, but to a smaller degree again. Clearly, it’s a cultural/attitudinal thing for a minority group of sportsmen.
Blaming cheerleaders is an easy mark on an innocent profession/past-time. I’ve read where cheerleaders aren’t allowed to form relationships with players while both are employed with the same club.
I’ve also read where young women find the experience of cheerleading to be a positive experience. it gives them confidence performing in the public arena, & gives the girls the opportunity to perhaps eventually seek professional dancing &/or modeling careers. That’s got to be a good thing.
Basically, you’re adopting a neanderthal stance – girls aren’t allowed to be women; to show their femininity; to display their figures without you getting bad thoughts, & then not being responsible for your subsequent behaviour.
Instead of the ‘bogeyman’ being responsible for all of society’s ills, we now have the ‘bogey-cheerleader’! Until someone can show me a direct link between cheerleaders performing their dance routines & poor player attitudes towards women, your post is rubbish.
amanda curran said | August 29th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Yes the sport and their revolting dancers are rubbish I must give you that…….perhpas an all men event would be the place for them to display their bodys…no in front of my kids…….my grandparents……they look like tramps and act accordinly. Isn’t it about football not a bloody display of tramps running around prading their wares……revolting….never again..
Redb said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
I’m split on this, on one hand it is a tangible move by the NRL to ban cheeleaders (or at least cover them up), on the other it would be a shame to reduce the overall spectacle for us males, as our wives or girlfriends often tell us, you can look, but don’t touch.
If we ban voyerism then it would have to work both ways, how far does society want to go? I think it’s reasonable to draw a line in the sand around group sex especially in the 1 girl and 12 men scenario and general degradation of women by the NRL players, but let’s keep things in perspective.
Cheerleaders are more a celebration of the lovely female form.
Redb
br mike said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Treat the problem and not the symptom. Clearly the problem with many League players is that they actually can’t live balanced lives because deep down inside they actually fear the game itself. If you look at their indicators of psychological and emotional health then you wouldn’t have to be Sigmund himself to work it our. Poor interpersonal relationships, drug and alcohol dependency, high rates of post career depression, an incapacity to function within the basic rules of the game. I could go on. Cheer leaders are not the problem so don’t try to scapegoat. The game itself is wrong and many can only play at the highest level if they are externalised puppets who have had their value system corrupted.
Dave1 said | November 3rd 2009 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
You see bad behaviour in other sports. I dont think the game of League is wrong.
Pippinu said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
I have to admit that I have always found cheerleaders far too American for my liking (not that there’s anything wrong with Americans, the absolute salt of the Earth).
Also, in the Melbourne context, it was Carlton that first experimented with cheerleaders in the then VFL when they were flying high and were much hated. They were called the Bluebirds.
It was just another reason to hate Carlton more.
Cpaaa said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
If anyone did not admire for a moment the pretty girl accompanied to this article then strike me dead for you are not human.
“Remove the cheer leaders from Sport” because it looks so tacky not because it promotes tag team events.
Ljubo Milicevic commented that from his experience, this culture dosnt exist in Europe. Yet in Europe they are more exposed to naked flesh/porn and alcohol from an early age. Its everywhere, you cant avoid it.
so becomes the norm.
Dave said | August 29th 2009 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
and that’s why Italy has such a problem with alcoholism.
Italy: La dolce vita dampened by excess alcohol
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3632744345
Slacky said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Much prefer girls to Tah Man. How about drumming cheerleaders?
Mark Young said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Yup we should get rid of the cheerleader since people can ogle their hot bodies.
We should also get the players to play in baggy jumpers and track pants instead of tight clothing which allows people to ogle them as well.
Incidentally, I just watched 750 young ladies do a great half time display at the SCG and they were tops. The girls were buzzing when they came off the field, you could see it in their eyes how stoked they were to perform in front of a huge crowd to appreciative cheering and applause. They shouldn’t be banned.
Tifosi said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I agree with Cpaaa
Cheerleaders are tacky. If you need them to attract males to your sport, then there is something wrong with the sport your following.
Nam Turk said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
“I have to admit that I have always found cheerleaders far too American for my liking (not that there’s anything wrong with Americans, the absolute salt of the Earth).”
Of course this comes back to America polluting your traditions. It always is. Nevermind Australian traditions like selling home games and fitting eight sponsors onto one jersey, cheerleaders will be the real downfall of sport!
Choppy said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Adrian must be a Rabbitohs supporter, he can watch the drummers. I’ll take an attractive lady than a big boofy drummer bloke anyday.
Alan Nicolea said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
sheek
Totally agree with you and most comments on this article.The cheerleaders have nothing to do with the current scandal the league finds itself in. Its all about the incident in Auckland. For me, the only way to stop this turmoil is to end the careers of those players responsible for putting the game into disrepute. No second chances. Its the only way for mine. Its the only way players will really think about what their careers are really worth. If a player is found guilty, the NRL should tear up their contract and block any move back into the code. But that’s just me.
sheek said | May 18th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Tifosi,
I think you’ll find Cpaaa has a different view from yours. And exactly what is so ‘tacky’ about cheerleaders? Their performance? Or what they do to your dirty mind (which is not their responsibility)? Tongue-in-cheek, mate!
BTW, it’s looks like we’re going to have remove all sports, since women are a part of all of them, in one form or another!
Ryan Steele said | May 18th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Based on the last few lines – regarding a balance of the sexes – there is one solution that will keep allow the grid girls to keep their jobs (the unemployment rate is high enough), but could bring more women and men of “the other persuasion” in droves to motorsports.
Let’s start seeing some “grid guys”.
Brett McKay said | May 18th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Oh Choppy, why you make me so sad…..
BigAl said | May 18th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
. . . get rid of cheerleaders ! AND ban all sex in advertising AND ban miniskirts AND force women to cover up more – (infact from top to toes) AND ban women from being out alone (infact don’t let them out at all !)
WA said | May 18th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
I only clicked on this story because of the picture attached to it.
pothale said | August 29th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
I only clicked on it to see how many liars would turn up agreeing with it.
Tom said | May 18th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Adrian hasn’t mentioned the Matty Johns’ incident once in his article. He makes his case without needing to mention it once.
But I don’t believe the issues are totally separate.
The reason why the incident was so disgusting was that the players treated the girl as an object for their gratification, rather than as a person whose rights and dignity needed to be protected.
The cheerleaders are also treated like objects. Their only value is their appearance and, unlike the male players, their uniforms are designed to accentuate their sexuality.
Now not everybody has a problem with being objectified and sexualised. The issue is that this is the only visible participation that women have in a match of NRL. The women who don’t want to be perceived in that way don’t even make an appearance.
Seeing as some NRL players, fans and men in general seem to have a real issue with treating women as people and not things, maybe its a bad idea to reinforce that problem.
bennalong said | May 18th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
I’m with big Al,
Get rid of women unless they’e big and hairy, like blokes really.
It’s really important that League players avoid women altogether. They must despise them
The cheerleaders themselves obviously don’t enjoy themselves — they’re only there for the disgusting men who like looking at women.
The PC crew demands that we treat women as equals. There must be male cheerleaders, eh?
In fact homosexuality with complete segregation would clearly have a beneficial effect.
You go first.
Big D said | May 18th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Honestly will people please stop trying to make men and women the same!! You will destroy some of the greatest things about being human.
@ Tom
“The cheerleaders are also treated like objects. Their only value is their appearance and, unlike the male players, their uniforms are designed to accentuate their sexuality.”
The mens uniforms DO accentuate their sexuality ask any woman whether she would rather see a rugby player in his uniform or in a G string and you know it’ll be uniform every time. Women get a thrill seeing the big guys in their tight shorts, fighting like real men.
Likewise men get a thrill seeing female athletes doing their thing. I think the cheerleaders would object to being called anything else.
I suggest some of you read a few books on the differences between male and female sexuality then re think your posts.
Aspiring to be a thing of desire is human nature, how people control their desires is down to the individual and society to manage.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | May 18th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
And ice creams and paddle pops – the way they are eaten is so dreadfully suggestive of something else (I feeeeel unable to mention that disgusting “sex” word in your genteel company). They should not allow the sale of such evil objects in footy grounds, scaring the kiddies.
Red has got to go. Any signs or objects containing red – advertising, fire extinguishers, pie stalls – must be eliminated. Red is a covert invitation to sexually aggressive behaviour. Macquarie University (Sociology and Fairness Studies Department) tests have clearly demonstrated this indisputable fact. The Rabbitohs are to realign their stripes to green and … um … beige.
If the cheerleaders are permitted to remain then smiling is forbidden – on the part of the perver and the pervee. Burkhas is the answer – they are to wear burkhas, and shapeless black cover all sacks. Feet are to be covered by uniform cream coloured surgical boots. Nail polish is definitely out.
Incidentally, Workcover now requires that all players wear protective orange or yellow hi vis vests, because they need to be clearly visible to the driver of that little toy truck that brings the kicking tee onto the ground. Safety is paramount.
The ARL is to publicly apologise forthwith, and to compensate offended eyes, for that outrageous Tina Turner promotion from the 90s.
Any father found taking a daughter to rugby games will be jailed for wilful negligence in exposing her to such decadence. Snipers will be in place to discourage blokes holding hands with their missus.
Comrade Deputuy Gillard and Comrade Penny Wong are to be seconded to the newly formed Australian Sports Prefecture to ensure people dress just like them – you know, the fawn or grey Mao suit style of the 70s.
Their first task will be to direct Speedo to design waterproof suits, in 3 layers, of a tracksuit nature for the wimmins Olympic swimming team. All in hi vis safety orange or yellow.
Can you not see where this stupid debate amongst people who don’t even like sport, or life, is headed?
Robbo said | August 19th 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
Spot f***ing on. Great job!!
JMS said | May 18th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
There’s far worse sexism in Australian motorsport than in the grid girls.
Adrian, you’re a journo, if you want to find real sexism in motorsport do some research into the fate of Leanne Tander — Garth Tander’s wife, heck of a driver in her own right, twice runner up in Australian Formula Three championship (highest open wheel category in Australia). Any male driver with those results would be snapped up by a top team and sponsors in an instant. Leanne still can’t get a V8 supercar drive, despite the huge market success female drivers have shown is possible in America. No one here will take her.
onside said | May 18th 2009 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
The young lady in the photograph should play on the wing for the Waratahs
Harry said | May 18th 2009 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
She is already signed for the Reds onside, replacing Leroy Houston.
Harry said | May 18th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
As to the substance of this debate, I disagree with Adrian’s view – the cheerleaders like to perform, it adds to the spectacle of the occassion and we Australian rugby supporters, particuarly Reds and Tahs fans, need something to divert and cheer us from the hororrs of the actual game about to unfold. I’m sorry but I just don’t believe there is a strong link – if any – between unacceptable off-field behaviour by players, and cheerleaders peforming at games.
Mick of Newie said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Wow. I am amazed at the response to what appears to me as a pretty obvious point, that Cheerleaders are a mysoginist archaic part of sport that needs to go. When we have got rid of them can we then get rid of Jim Beam ads on Foxsports at 2pm on Sunday afternoon during the football. They make watching football with my 6 and 8 year old sons very uncomfortable.
The Bear said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
I have always found it tasteless. Glad all codes don’t use them.
Slippery Jim said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
Adrian, there is some irony in the fact that the photo attached to your article could also be seen as somewhat sexist, exploitative, mysogynistic, et al. Just sayin’ is all
Nird99 said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Adrian,
Great article. I agree that it needs to go. I think it is outdated and sexist. It would certainly not solve the problems of poor culture around sex, but it will be something that would help.
Mick of Newie said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
SJ, that aint irony.
Slippery Jim said | May 18th 2009 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
Having a photo featuring a close up of a cheerleaders erm…assets at the top of the article, and then having a go in said article at websites that feature cheerleader photos, is indeed, delicious ironing, surely Mick of Newie?
“It’s amazing to me that certain news websites, while taking the moral high ground on the misdemeanours of sporting stars and culture of the NRL, are happy to link to the hottest league cheerleaders photo gallery”
Millster said | May 18th 2009 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
I think the overall proposition is ridiculous. And it makes a ridiculous linkage. Admiring the female form, whether in a Boticelli sculpture or in the manner presented by the young lassie in the picture above, or even in one of Hugh Hefner’s fine publications is one thing. It is a mutually-consentual appreciation of something attractive.
Building this into an overall ‘entertainment package’ surrounding a sport is no problems for me. Neither is it any different from having similarly clad dancers at concerts, in nightclubs, etc.
And it is a long long way from the harassment and assault of women.
So my $0.02 is lets cut the crap and start seeing through things which might have a superficial semblance of a linkage but which in reality don’t at all. The day we ban cheerleaders in response to the maybe-not-consentual gangbang of a woman in NZ seven years ago is the day that this society has truly got its wires crossed. The only other time I hear such stupidly ridiculous quasi-logic is out of the mouth of the Taliban.
sheek said | May 18th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Apparently some Roarers, including Adrian, & others at large in the community, believe that cheerleaders must be banned. I haven’t seen the evidence, but their behaviour is so disgusting as to facilitate their removal.
Apparently…..
Cheerleaders have no respect for men.
Cheerleaders treat men as sex objects (pick me…).
Cheerleaders pick up young, innocent, naive men in bars in order to have sex with them.
Cheerleaders indulge in group sex – anything from 6 to 12 women with one man (pick me, pick me, please pick me!).
Cheerleaders hit their men with broken glass after a drunken argument.
Cheerleaders get drunk in public, then pick fights with other innocent women.
Cheerleaders urinate in public.
The list goes on….. Clearly, the behaviour of cheerleaders is so reprehensible than they no longer have any place in rugby league.
For those who don’t understand – this was said with massive sarcasm!
And I agree, the girl in the photo should be signed up for the Wallabies immediately. It doesn’t matter where she plays, she’s our secret weapon. No tactics required except “give her the ball”, & she’ll waltz to the tryline past all the fallen, slobbering jaws!
Crazy Dave said | August 29th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Sheek,
You have hit the nail on the head. The problem isn’t the cheerleaders… it is the football players themselves. Removing the cheerleaders from the sport won’t change the players attitudes to women. Lifetime bans for the players who disrespect women will change the players attitudes to women.
And if the girl in the photo played for the Wallabies, you wouldn’t need to give her the ball… she could just stand on one wing while the other winger waltzed over untouched for the try….
fasil said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
Agreed, the whole concept is pathetic and tacky.
If a sport needs cheerleaders then that sport should be examining itself.
Conor said | May 18th 2009 @ 9:54pm | Report comment
Right,
players get drunk and behave like idiots
So to fix this lets get rid of cheerleaders,
what the hell do the cheerleaders have to do with players not behaving like they should?
im with sheek mate, thats not doin something to fix problem, thats a half arsed effort to make it seem your doin something.
I Gotta say mate this seems like self righteous post that is full of crap.
westy said | May 19th 2009 @ 12:27am | Report comment
Penrith NRL have a male in their cheer leading squad. He is gay and the lumber jacket brigade have coped to their credit.
The picture itself is somehow impliedly meant to be wrong whereas it is beautiful in its own right. The attractive young women is happy and I enjoy her pleasure and yes she has lovely breasts. Am i missing something or have i done something wrong. I do not hit women i love talking to women and being with them . I also like my sport.
if awomen chooses to be acheerleader than so be it . Yes they are sexually attractive. No they should not be objectified. Yet is this not what this article does? it does so as much as some pissed spectatorat the game.
i go to the football for the game not the cheerladers but it is a free country and if they wish to cheerlead then so be it.
The elite in this country have shown an increasing tendency to control (at least I knew where I stood with their more reactionary forbears.)
It is somewhat embarrassing but we babyboomers now we are in control must go close to the most hypocritical generation in our nation’s history. there were people at concerts I went to who wore no clothes and were doing lots of things together in public.
My problem when i played is none of the girls ever came to see us it was always the other team. it has permanently scarred me.
I worked as barman in the Cross . these were in the days before Uni was free. learned through experience not to be too judgemental about people.especially in relation to sexual identity..
These people worry about their kids seeing a cheerleader but permit them to view a few murders and wanton violence on film and TV .
What the hell is going on ?
I know i can be hypocritical but this self righteous moral superiority is so shallow.
Maybe one day Adrian your daughter may grow up and become a cheerleader. what judgements am I suppose to make about her please advise me.
Mick of Newie said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
SJ that assumes that Adrian picked the photo.
As to other recent posts, no one is blaming the cheerleaders. It is just a very odd part of what is otherwise billed as family entertainment. There continued survival perhaps reflects some of the attitude of those running the clubs.
By the way I don’t advocate a ban, I suggest that clubs will review these things post season and my tip is that a number of them wil get rid of the cheerleaders. Once that happens the rest will follow suit within 2 to 3 years.
Tom said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
On second thoughts, I agree with Sheek.
Keep the cheerleaders. Get rid of the rugby league players.
Redb said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
So the consensus is keep the cheerleaders? – Good.
Redb
Mick of Newie said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Great idea Tom. Have the cheerleading at the stadium one day and the league the next. Then we will find out what people go to watch.
Slippery Jim said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
“SJ that assumes that Adrian picked the photo”
How so? If anything, if the roar chose the photo for him, that makes it even more ironic!
Conor said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Wait theres a male cheerleader in the penrith club?!?
Well now i feel men are being objectified and demand that he be removed!!
Millster said | May 19th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
I think Conor’s second last post is spot on. How idiotic… the players misbehave so lets axe the cheerleaders. Ummm…. anyone see the basic flaw in that argument?
And to Mick of Newie, since when have dancers (because thats what cheerleaders are when its all boiled down) been an odd part of anything, or out of place for family entertainment? Are you similarly not going to take your family to ballroom dancing or ice-skating or one of the countless pop concerts where they also have dancers wearing remarkably similar costumes? Unless you are being cleverly sarcastic, with an attitude like yours you should don the robes and join up with the Franciscans.
jimbo said | May 19th 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment
You might want to remove the cheerleaders from sport, but you’ll never take the sport out of cheerleaders.
DaniE said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Have any of you guys actually seen real cheerleaders? In the States, cheerleading is a proper sport – with complicated cheers, lot of gymnastics requirements, dance requirements and routines, and is adjudicated according to very strict rules. It’s insanely competitive (for reference, watch Texas Cheer Moms!
) and looks very difficult. In sports such as NFL, NRL, rugby etc, the cheerleaders you see are merely fit, cheerful dancers who wave pom poms about – it’s not really serious sport.
sheek said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Apart from the cheerleaders being indirectly blamed for the players’ misdemeanors, those advocating their removal have missed a vital point I made in an earlier post on this thread.
Girls/women themselves see cheerleading as a legitimate career path step to perhaps something else – like professional dancing or modeling, or both. The opportunity to perform in front of large crowds helps to give these girls self-confidence, poise, etc. Skills that come in handy with professional dancing & modeling.
Who are we neanderthal, macho men to deny females this legitimate career opportunity?!
Brett McKay said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
DaniE, you mean better than the Tuesday ads for Dominos pizza?!?
Mick of Newie said | May 19th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Millster, If I wanted to go to Ballroom dancing or ice skating I would expect to see ballroom dancers and ice skaters. If I wanted to go to the AFL I would see AFL footy players ()and bombshell not a cheerleader in sight). I just don’t get the cheerleaders. And if we seriously say they are just dancers take another look at the photo, the Jim Beam ad is a bit of a giveaway.
As for the legitimate career path argument, fine set up a stadium and have cheerleading and see how many people turn up.
Tom said | May 19th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Absolutely nobody has said that cheerleaders should be axed in response to the Matty Johns scandal. No one. I do say that both are examples of the attitude some people in the NRL have towards women’s involvement in the game. I stand by that. If you disagree, fine, but it’s idiotic to suggest (as Millster, sheek, Harry and Alan have done) that the only reason for this discussion is the latest sex scandal.
A lot of people in this thread have argued that the cheerleaders enjoy the experience, are exercising their own choice and get some benefit out of it, and taking that away just hurts them. I’m sure a lot of that’s true. Unfortunately cheerleading remains the only visible representation of women in the sport. The ‘choice’ for women if they want to be a part of the game appears to be to dress up in pom poms, skimpy shorts and a push up bra or watch from the stands.
Now to be fair most male dominated sports don’t even offer that. But if the only way women are going to be seen is in a way that’s calculated to appeal to men’s sexual desires then I think it would be better if they weren’t there at all. That kind of involvement doesn’t make the sport appealing to women in general, I wouldn’t have thought. If the NRL really wants to offer women opportunities they can figure out how to get them involved in officiating, administrating and commentating.
Millster said | May 19th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
So Mick of Newie – do you then dismiss the popcorn at the movies? the in-flight entertainment and the meal service on a commercial aircraft? These things are also peripheral to the core product, but nevertheless part of the overall experience.
Or does this strange puritanical strain kick in only when the entertainment has to do with the female form? Which I should point out is by far the most celebrated form artistically since the dawn of mankind.
On a slightly different tangent I also invite you to look at the photo at the top of this thread again… no doubt the lass is ‘buxom’ but she is in fact quite modestly dressed and I see much, much more flesh than that each time I go out in the evening or to the beach (or, linking to my previous point, in a painting by Rembrandt or a statue by Raphael). Its not like these cheer-leaders are naked or in lingerie; they are actually remarkably well covered.
My point again is that this thinking is warped. We have a sex scandal which in fact is not about sex but about violence, power and consent issues as they relate to women. And yet all the wowsers in society come out rampant against anything that is slightly sexually suggestive… which ENTIRELY misses the real problem at the heart of the scandal.
DaniE said | May 19th 2009 @ 6:19pm | Report comment
Brett – never seen the ads. I’m not in the country!
Tom – thanks for the post. You articulated my muddled thoughts!
Pauly Walnuts said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
Keep the boobs in sport. Love the picture in the article Adrian, sure got my attention!
Mick of Newie said | May 20th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Millster, happy to disagree, I have to re read my posts to see where my views are puritanical. I do not advocate bans, I am just guessing that when Gus Gould’s sledgehammer on the game has done its work, one of the things that will fall by the wayside will be the cheerleader, and I will go back to my original post, when they do I hope foxsports will reconsider showing Jim Beam ads at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon during the football.
Billo said | May 20th 2009 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
To want to ban cheerleaders is misogynistic, in my view.
It’s blaming women for the shortcomings of men, and that view is institutionalised in certain countries. I would hate to see it get like that in Australia.
I love and respect women for all their attributes, whether physical or otherwise. Let’s celebrate women, rather than banning them.
Steve said | May 21st 2009 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Dead right Billo.
What a joke, banning cheerleaders. I’m sure if you asked the cheerleaders themselves they wouldn’t be too pleased about it.
Crosscoder said | May 23rd 2009 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Ban cheerleaders I have heard the lot.Anyone with a Tv set and sees video hits and young singers and dancers prouncing around in next to nothing,doing the most sensuous dance routines,grabbing certain areas.Oh and its on FTA and marked for general exhibitiont .Britney,Christine,Pink,Madonna(names off the top of my head) get dressed,a bit of decorum, this is a kiddies show,otherwise young men will now go on the rampage .
Many of these cheerleaders are either professional dancers,or students trying to pay their way through uni and other courses.
The hypocrisy of it all amazes me.Ban bikinis I say and budgie snugglers LOL.
amanda curran said | May 25th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I do hope these so called Cheerleaders will be removed, they look like common trailer trash..what are they for????? I would not take my children to these games which is supposed to be for family’s?? or is it just for men who like to see half naked women running around a field kicking their legs up into the crowd??? The whole football thing has become dirty and I will not ever attend a game with this common behavior.
Amanda Curran
Dave said | August 29th 2009 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
South Sydney got rid of their cheerleaders.
They also have announced a $500,000 profit which is unprecedented in rugby league. maybe they are on to something.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25995835-2722,00.html
Rabbitohs hit jackpot with new blueprint
amanda curran said | May 25th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
How about all men cheerleaders…..we could have them dressed in tight shorts with all hanging out, wonder what happen then……really isn’t football about families?? or is it just about men wanting to see common pro type girls displaying everything in front of people who really don’t want to see what they had for breakfast…..send them to the cross where they would fit in beautifully….Amanda Curran
confused said | May 25th 2009 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
What confuses me is that the NRL spends megabucks trying to educate their players to respect women!!!Yet they are sending a message to the spectators that this is what women can contribute.They need to lead by example,get real and just admit that cheerleaders are their for men to have a perv.yuck,the NRL are still in the dark ages.
fandango said | June 19th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
I know an ex Cronulla Sharks cheerleader very well who was in the troupe for a very long time and was never bothered and indeed says the players always treated the cheerleaders well and with respect. That should be remembered.
Moreover, are we going to blame girls for showing a bit of skin for men’s behaviour? That sort of thinking belongs in the realms of extremist religious leaders!
Take responsibility for your actions. If you’re a boofhead, you’re a boofhead. It’s not anyone else’s fault but their own!
Green n Gold 2010 said | July 7th 2009 @ 11:11pm | Report comment
Keep the cheerleaders!!!!
Good for the single ones hahaha….
gavin said | July 21st 2009 @ 11:47pm | Report comment
cheerleasers shjould be removed from League and union as they are not part of the tradition of teh game, making up a portion of their histories. It’s an American thing
Adrian Musolino said | July 22nd 2009 @ 12:26am | Report comment
I wrote this column a day before flying to America so I missed the fallout and I only recently had a chance to read through all the comments, prompted by a friend who disagreed with my point of view.
Thank you all for your comments.
I’ll clarify some points raised:
JMS, Leanne Tander has a V8 Supercar ride at the enduro’s this season.
SJ, I didn’t pick the picture to accompany the column.
I knew this was a controversial and divisive issue and I’m not surprised by the split in opinion.
We are all entitled to our opinion and in mine, based on my experiences covering V8 races across the country, I think it is outdated and not really appropriate for what should be family friendly environments.
Finally, I think Mick of Newie said it best with:
Wow. I am amazed at the response to what appears to me as a pretty obvious point, that Cheerleaders are a mysoginist archaic part of sport that needs to go. When we have got rid of them can we then get rid of Jim Beam ads on Foxsports at 2pm on Sunday afternoon during the football. They make watching football with my 6 and 8 year old sons very uncomfortable.
Richard Brockhurst said | July 27th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
Mick of Newie….You need to get out more.
cuzybro said | August 29th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
The only country i have seen cheer leaders in rugby is South Africa, seem to not be “used” elsewhere. Would be a little cold on the South Island for a them . shame
Dave said | August 29th 2009 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
the crusaders have cheerleaders
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ixQUUmf4LdY/Super+14+Rd+1+Crusaders+v+Chiefs/-gbn3A8Sh9n/Crusaders+cheerleader
A Crusaders cheerleader preforms during round one Super 14 match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at AMI Stadium on February 14, 2009 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
westy said | August 29th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
You have to feel for the poor bastard Amanda’s with
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | August 30th 2009 @ 9:48pm | Report comment
Too right, Westy.
I posted on this way back on May 18, at which time I found the comment by “Mick of Newie”, made on May 18, to be hilarious.
He was “very uncomfortable” sitting on the lounge with his sons witnessing booze ads AND those slatterns during games on television. I first thought he was “uncomfortable” because he’d accidentally dropped a silent one, or let out a tiny pee of sheer delight at a good try, but I read on to find his kids will, indeed, never get to see Beyonce on MTV – not at home, anyway.
Personally I’m a bit more concerned about the impact on the young ‘uns of the weekend cavalcade of famous players clearly saying “fire truck” in wide screen living colour every time they drop a ball, and serial abuse of the ref. They are more likely, at 7, to imitate this behaviour than to go chasing chickies because they saw the brilliant, happy smile on the young lady at the top of this page. And she just might like dressing up, make up, being seen on TV, dancing, achieving something for herself in an activity organised and overseen by adult women. Some comments here would have you believe the clubs force them to shower with the players and selected supporters!
After witnessing a son and three daughters negotiate their way through to their 30s my observation is these pretty girls suffered no predatory behaviour from their brother’s team mates. They in fact gained an extra 15 protective brothers!
The original columnist needs to be writing for the Age or the Sydney Herald on the inevitable doom we face from global warmeringnessity or human rights in Fitzroy and Glebe – on anything but life or sport. He clearly does not understand life and dislikes sport.
Life throws up all sorts of challenges for parents like precious Mick and Amanda in learnin’ them proper like, in right and wrong, which really is not that difficult. We certainly do not want to cede that role to government introducing an Anti Boob Act, No Ballet for Little Girls regulations, No Suggestively Vivid Green Nail Polish Never Ever legislation, Neck to Knee Municipal Pools and masked black sacks.
THAT would be mysoginistic!
danwighton said | September 3rd 2009 @ 12:55am | Report comment
I tend to agree with what Adrian says here – I like that, in the NRL, Souths have removed cheerleaders from the games, but replaced them with drummers and other sideline entertainment. I think there is definitely a place for other entertainment at the games, but removing cheerleaders would be an important step in improving attitudes to women, not only in sport but in society in general.
danwighton
Dean Pantio said | September 19th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
If you don’t like it, don’t look at them.
Dave said | September 19th 2009 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
you think If they dont like cheerleaders, they shouldnt go to the football?
Lk1699 said | September 22nd 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
It is very degrading to women. The sole purpose of the cheerleaders is exactly what many people have commented on, eye candy. I do not want my daughters to believe that being ogled is empowering. I can think of many wonderful things that are empowering, that is not one of them. These women have a serious lack of respect for themselves and for the people they “perform” for. I don’t want it in my home. It is offensived to me and I feel degraded by them. So, no sports in our home. Shame, we loved watching or going to the events before the cheerleaders came along.
Why are there no scantily clad men on the cheerleading squads? Why do the sports leagues believe that only women should be degraded? The men are competing, facing the challenge, clashing wits. The women do strip like routines on the sidelines. Be honest. They are there to degrade themselves. They should not be there. The people in the crowd that want to have that kind of entertainment should just go to strip clubs instead. That way we all could watch with our families.
MC said | October 26th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
I think LK is missing the whole point of the power women have over men. I am assuming that she is either extraordinarily highly principled or not so attractive. Women DO have this power over men. Do they use it? Yes. Do marketers use it? Yes. The target audience of pro sports is typically men aged 15-50.
Most men who like sports, like women. Sex sells etc etc. Blame the weak administrators of “Professional” sports for their lax control over the behaviour of their athletes. Don’t blame the fact that good looking dancers there to lead the crowd cheering. Though I also think the dancers and other entertainment should be complementary.
PS: I know some professional dancers (not strippers, before you say) who would be disappointed by the above “defenders of women’s rights”. Some women dance for a living or as a hobby and they enjoy it when in front of an audience that admires them. They know the power they have and they enjoy testing their confidence with that. Good on them!
Amband said | September 25th 2009 @ 12:48am | Report comment
there was a time league and Union never had cheerleaders, for about 70 years in fact.
i see no need for them in rugby or league
Crazy Dave said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
Cheerleaders are present in other countries and in other sports too… Do the same problems exist there?
Look at the 20/20 series in India. Those dancing girls who get up and show their stuff at every available opportunity. Have there been problems with cricketers misbehaving towards women?
Look at the American Football (where the cheerleaders first started and some say are the best in the world). Are there problems with American Footballers misbehaving towards women?
I think this is a problem specific to Australia (and yes it hurts to acknowledge that). I also think it is a problem that is specific to a small no. of sports within Australia. (V8 Supercars and NRL being the obvious targets).
Why should we penalise the dancers just because of the attitudes and dancers of a small no. of sportsmen (who are all NRL players, there have been no reported incidents of V8 Supercar drivers misbehaving towards women).
Any sport that has scantily-clad dancers is predominantly (always has been and always will be) a manly sport. And what is one thing that 99% of the male population like to look at? Beautiful women!!! Of any age, wearing any clothing!!! So it kind of makes sense that these sports have their dancing girls or gridgirls. I believe that most women prefer to look at other women rather than men…. so it works there as well…. Sure, maybe some of their uniforms could be less revealing, or some of their routines could be less suggestive, but mostly they are good clean fun. And most of the girls would probably not go out there with the intention of showing themselves off to the men. They are just doing their job. And how is what they do any different to clothing models? Or to ballet dancers? Or to car models who drape themselves over the bonnets of expensive cars at Car Shows? Are there behavioural problems associated with any of the men in these industries towards their women?
This is an NRL Players problem (thankfully most players aren’t involved). It must be stamped out by teaching the players when they are young, how to behave around women, and penalising them severely when they break the rules. Don’t penalise the dancers or gridgirls by taking away their jobs. Don’t penalise the fans who enjoy watching the girls while waiting for the main event.
Dave1 said | November 26th 2009 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
Youre right about there being no problems with attitudes to women in american football
you have to go right back to November 17 to find any stories on it
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4662777
“…..Reality TV star Tila Tequila filed a lawsuit against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman alleging domestic violence……
Tequila, whose real name is Tila Ngyuen, alleges assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She said that when she tried to leave his house, Merriman grabbed her by her arms. When she tried to break free, Merriman shook her like a rag doll, the suit said.
Merriman threw her onto a couch, hurting her neck, jaw and back, then choked her until she almost passed out, the suit alleges…..”
Crazy Dave said | November 26th 2009 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
Fair enough… Australian media obviously doesn’t report their sport stories the way they do ours…. unless you just have to be interested in their sports to find the stories…
Dave1 said | November 26th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
this from india
http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/11/26/no-sari-clad-cheerleaders-for-india-sri-lanka-odi-in-cuttack-50188/
“BHUBANESWAR – The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has scrapped its idea to have sari-clad cheerleaders perform during the day-night ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack Dec 21………
………the move had invited a lot of criticism within the state and outside. A fringe political outfit Kalinga Sena had threatened to disrupt the match if OCA introduced sari-clad cheerleaders. …….”
Firestarter Bob said | November 18th 2009 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
When they ban magician’s assistants then I’ll listen to Andrew.
Football Person 2 said | March 8th 2010 @ 4:07pm (2 weeks ago) | Report comment
Agree with the article to be honest, very nice to look at and all but this is sport. Im sure they can get other jobs.
Amband said | March 8th 2010 @ 6:20pm (2 weeks ago) | Report comment
quote
“The aforementioned Danica Patrick has posed for racy shoots with FHM and Sports Illustrated but she, and any other athlete, has the right to pursue whatever career opportunities they wish.”
Patricki is not an athlete. The term ‘athlete” is used too casually these days
Therse girls want the attention of the men playing the sports. They chase them. Let nature take it’s course.
My only complaint about cheerleaders is that it’s not traditional in Australia
Sex scandals! So what, who cares