Fair enough, but if you place yourself at the vanguard of sport and come up with nonsense like this then be prepared to go all the way and begin agitating for the real wrong in female sport where they are ‘treated unequally’, but in the ‘over-dog’ position, and that is in ‘tennis’.

don’t you think it’s time were treated equally and made to play over 5 sets to justify the ‘equal money’, yet unequal performance requirements they have.

you talk of ‘blatant sexism etc in your article, but refuse to talk of the one glaring example of the ‘armchair ride’ female players get in the sport of dennis the menace.

Plus there is an extra expense to the game having all these people

How ridiculous. Has it occurred to you that cheerleaders love their job? If they are perceived as a complement to the spectacle and differentiate the live event from TV further (along with mascots and fireworks etc) then they will remain.

Australia does not need more moral police (have had enough to deal with from Howard, Rudd and Abbott).

“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

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. …….”

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…..”

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.

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!

i see no need for them in rugby or league

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!

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

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.

Italy: La dolce vita dampened by excess alcohol

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3632744345