- Mar 14, 2011
- 174
- 188
After careful consideration, I can’t help but point out the irony Ive found in cheerleading. The other week I registered and after my first post I got negative feedback, from comments such as “seriously?” “umm is this appropriate?” and other remarks where I could see multiple fingers snapping at me through my computer screen. Admittedly, my question sparked controversy but it started out by complimenting both people of whom the subject was referring to. Thank you to the one person who had enough intellect to see the intent of the question and answered it without the Oh So FiErCe sarcasm, disapproval, etc that so many think they need to have on a cheerleading message board. *Finger snap.* From that one person who answered the question, I learned information that I previously did not know..which is the point of a message board, am I correct? Share ideas, gain information... I learned something new that I hadn’t known before, and I also learned the irony of this sport comes in too many ways to count. And by the way, later my account got deleted (I did contact an admin asking how accounts were deleted, but not directly requesting mine to be)…coincidence? Doubt it
With that said, the irony: Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who will shout until they’re blue in the face to defend the athleticism and right to be recognized as an official sport? Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who have those ..clever.. shirts saying things such as “wimps lift weight, cheerleaders lift people”? Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who get fired up and respond to ESPN articles about cheerleading with complete disapproval, scolding the author for skewing the information and fulfilling stereotypes set by the public?
……Yet we must walk on eggshells on a message board about the sport. Do you think on sports message boards for basketball or football there’s a parent admin waiting to take down controversial posts that might cause drama or hurt feelings? Nope. “They’re just kids,” you might argue. What about recruiting and scouting boards whose subject are high school players, where they brutally pick apart their talent skill by skill saying whos better, who’s not, who deserves to play for what team, etc.? They have fans who are disgusted by certain prospective players and make it extremely clear they would never want that athlete to play for their college team.. Fans who beg to see player A over player B on the team they love because player B is garbage and unworthy of wearing that jersey. Are those athletes not just kids too?
Not to mention, my post was actually about COACHES. It’s common sense there’s going to be controversy about coaches…especially when it comes to rivalry teams. Coach K vs Roy Williams… enough said. I assure you, coaches know the position they’re in and the controversy and challenges they face. So when comparing “cheer IQs,” as I put it, of coaches on a message board, forgive me for underestimating my audience and failing to realize everyone would see it as a personality war rather than a topic designed to stimulate conversation about their roles in the industry, overall “historical” successes, if you will, etc.
Back to the athletes.. so many “cheerlebrities” absolutely revel in the spotlight, tweeting things such as “omg soo many friend requests after competitions!” and “When your a celebrity, it's adios realityyyyy people think your cool, no matter what you do just cause your on tv<3” while at BATC. I don’t fault them for this, who doesn’t love a little recognition? But as soon as something is said on these forums that may bruise their ego, people are ready to see heads roll. I know every athlete has fans who jump to their defense, but the point is other sports realize they cannot avoid controversy or feel the need to tip toe around feelings.
There are forums in other sports where the topic will be as straightforward as “who’s the stronger point guard, PlayerA or PlayerB?” People come forward and make their case with facts and figures, links to videos, memorable game moments. It’s not meant to “cause drama” but meant to actually get opinions and feedback. Sure, there are always those who need to find a better hobby and demonstrate it by stating something as dumb as “PLAYER A SUCKS!!!!” But there are also those who are mature and knowledgeable in the information they bring. Can you imagine if someone asked a question as straightforward as that on one of these forums? “Who’s the stronger tumbler?” “Who is the better point flyer?” HA! Heads really would roll.
The same goes when videos cut out areas where a team messes up, but the athletes argue they’re “only human.” We get that you’re only human…so why are you the ones trying to keep up appearances of perfection by editing out flaws in your routine? In other sports, videos are made specifically making fun of athletes..showing them air ball or make mistakes in slow motion, etc. Even sports networks show crucial flaws in their highlights…its part of the being in the public light. ESPN sportscenter will replay a last second missed shot that could have been a game winner over and over. Sports networks show not only the reaction of the winning teams, but the heartbreaking faces of the losing team get a little camera time too. Can you imagine if there was a cheerleading version of that which showed a stunt falling repetitively at Worlds? Or zooms in on faces of athletes who just had their championship dreams shattered for that season? The cheerleading world would be up in arms. Recognition sheds both negative and positive light on anything. Let’s be honest, if cheerleading got the amount of national attention like other sports do, few would be able to handle the negativity without getting their spanks in wad.
My point is simple: toughen up. Many people in this sport need to develop a thick skin or stop complaining when others stereotype cheerleaders as prissy people with no right to be recognized as athletes in the same category as other sports. I wholeheartedly agree that cheerleading should get more respect and recognition, but it’s up to those in the industry to treat it that way as well. Like I said, recognition sheds light on the negative and positive. If you want the sport to evolve in a way that gets the respect it deserves, make peace with the previous fact…and let it.
You may disagree with me, but I hope if you think objectively about the points I made you’ll see the perspective I offer. To those who are about to jump down my throat for this post, or furthermore to the admin who may remove this… thank you for further adding to the irony.
With that said, the irony: Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who will shout until they’re blue in the face to defend the athleticism and right to be recognized as an official sport? Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who have those ..clever.. shirts saying things such as “wimps lift weight, cheerleaders lift people”? Aren’t cheerleaders the ones who get fired up and respond to ESPN articles about cheerleading with complete disapproval, scolding the author for skewing the information and fulfilling stereotypes set by the public?
……Yet we must walk on eggshells on a message board about the sport. Do you think on sports message boards for basketball or football there’s a parent admin waiting to take down controversial posts that might cause drama or hurt feelings? Nope. “They’re just kids,” you might argue. What about recruiting and scouting boards whose subject are high school players, where they brutally pick apart their talent skill by skill saying whos better, who’s not, who deserves to play for what team, etc.? They have fans who are disgusted by certain prospective players and make it extremely clear they would never want that athlete to play for their college team.. Fans who beg to see player A over player B on the team they love because player B is garbage and unworthy of wearing that jersey. Are those athletes not just kids too?
Not to mention, my post was actually about COACHES. It’s common sense there’s going to be controversy about coaches…especially when it comes to rivalry teams. Coach K vs Roy Williams… enough said. I assure you, coaches know the position they’re in and the controversy and challenges they face. So when comparing “cheer IQs,” as I put it, of coaches on a message board, forgive me for underestimating my audience and failing to realize everyone would see it as a personality war rather than a topic designed to stimulate conversation about their roles in the industry, overall “historical” successes, if you will, etc.
Back to the athletes.. so many “cheerlebrities” absolutely revel in the spotlight, tweeting things such as “omg soo many friend requests after competitions!” and “When your a celebrity, it's adios realityyyyy people think your cool, no matter what you do just cause your on tv<3” while at BATC. I don’t fault them for this, who doesn’t love a little recognition? But as soon as something is said on these forums that may bruise their ego, people are ready to see heads roll. I know every athlete has fans who jump to their defense, but the point is other sports realize they cannot avoid controversy or feel the need to tip toe around feelings.
There are forums in other sports where the topic will be as straightforward as “who’s the stronger point guard, PlayerA or PlayerB?” People come forward and make their case with facts and figures, links to videos, memorable game moments. It’s not meant to “cause drama” but meant to actually get opinions and feedback. Sure, there are always those who need to find a better hobby and demonstrate it by stating something as dumb as “PLAYER A SUCKS!!!!” But there are also those who are mature and knowledgeable in the information they bring. Can you imagine if someone asked a question as straightforward as that on one of these forums? “Who’s the stronger tumbler?” “Who is the better point flyer?” HA! Heads really would roll.
The same goes when videos cut out areas where a team messes up, but the athletes argue they’re “only human.” We get that you’re only human…so why are you the ones trying to keep up appearances of perfection by editing out flaws in your routine? In other sports, videos are made specifically making fun of athletes..showing them air ball or make mistakes in slow motion, etc. Even sports networks show crucial flaws in their highlights…its part of the being in the public light. ESPN sportscenter will replay a last second missed shot that could have been a game winner over and over. Sports networks show not only the reaction of the winning teams, but the heartbreaking faces of the losing team get a little camera time too. Can you imagine if there was a cheerleading version of that which showed a stunt falling repetitively at Worlds? Or zooms in on faces of athletes who just had their championship dreams shattered for that season? The cheerleading world would be up in arms. Recognition sheds both negative and positive light on anything. Let’s be honest, if cheerleading got the amount of national attention like other sports do, few would be able to handle the negativity without getting their spanks in wad.
My point is simple: toughen up. Many people in this sport need to develop a thick skin or stop complaining when others stereotype cheerleaders as prissy people with no right to be recognized as athletes in the same category as other sports. I wholeheartedly agree that cheerleading should get more respect and recognition, but it’s up to those in the industry to treat it that way as well. Like I said, recognition sheds light on the negative and positive. If you want the sport to evolve in a way that gets the respect it deserves, make peace with the previous fact…and let it.
You may disagree with me, but I hope if you think objectively about the points I made you’ll see the perspective I offer. To those who are about to jump down my throat for this post, or furthermore to the admin who may remove this… thank you for further adding to the irony.