Cheerleading has become completely incidental to the sports they were originally intended to support. If fact, it's mostly just an excuse for female daredevils to risk their necks for thrills and chills. It's by far the most dangerous sport for young women—even though the NCAA doesn't consider it a sport—so the Wall Street Journal wants to know what is the point of risking all these lives. (Dorks.)

Keep in mind—we're not talking about NFL cheerleaders, who are merely eye candy for the first 10 rows. What they do is unique and special, of course, but choreographed rumpshaking rarely breaks bones. We're talking about high school and college cheerleaders who continually up the ante on flips, dips and human stacking. It's crazy, irrelevant to the outcome of football and basketball games, yet somehow is absolutely necessary. No really cares about what cheerleaders are doing, but if you went to a college football game that didn't have them, wouldn't that be weird? Maybe you would forget to cheer. Then your team would lose. And it would be your fault.

So to answer your questions: Yes, there is no point. Just like every other sport.

What's the Point of Cheerleading? [WSJ]

The four teens are accused of stealing a cash box from wee little lasses, ages 9 and 11, at a public pool who were selling patriotic hats and t-shirts to help raise money for their dad's struggling business, an embroidering company.

Here's how it went down: Girl #1 flashed a $20 and acted as if she was going to buy something, but then quickly yanked the box of money from the girls and ran away. Girl #2 held the door open for Girl #1 to help facilitate the pilfery. Girls #3 and #4 were in the idling getaway car, a Ford Taurus — the kind you see in all those bank heist movies — probably listening to music you don't like.

You know the scheme, now meet the team:

Chelsea Alexa Steele, 17 (the cheerleader)
Katie Leathers, 18 (she's still held in Cobb County Jail as we type)
Alexa Michalski, 18 (the muscle)
Miss Not Appearing In This Blog Post, 16

Ms. Steele was first apprehended earlier this month when the father, Joe Greene, did some amateur sleuthing and recognized one of the girls from Facebook and the high school's cheerleading website. Once she couldn't keep her story straight, the other three ladies were charged yesterday.

My favorite bit of pandering to the sentimental reader was the mention of one of Greene's daughters' friends being bound by a wheelchair. So these Plastics stole money not just from children, but from handicapped children!

The lesson here is, I think, not that all cheerleaders are selfish, just most of them.

Cheerleader's friends charged [AJC]
TEEN GIRL SQUAD!

It's that time of year again: Dallas Cowboys cheerleader tryouts season! Not only do you have to pass a personal interview and present your prom queen tiara, but you also must ace a written test of more than 80 questions ranging from the history of the Cowboys to Pakistani public policy, Proustian memory and the political economy of Papua New Guinea.

Or just memorize some of Iraq's neighbors. Whichever's easier. Some sample questions:

1. Where will the Cowboys play their final home game this season?

2. Where will the Cowboys hold their 2009 summer training camp?

3. Name the Cowboys legend who served as head coach for the team's first 29 years.

4. What year was the Cowboys' first season in the NFL?

(A) 1960
(B) 1962
(C) 1964
(D) 1965

5. How many stars are on the Cowboys Cheerleaders' uniform?

6. Who is commissioner of the National Football League?

7. How many yards are in an NFL end zone?

(A) 10
(B) 20
(C) 30
(D) 50

8. Name one country that borders Iraq.

The answers coming up, right after the break, on this week's episode of "Are You Smarter Than A Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?" Dare you to get them all right.

Cowboy cheerleaders tryouts require beauty, brains [Dallas Morning News]
Cowboys Looking For Cheerleaders Who Can Name One Country That Borders Iraq [Busted Coverage]
Auditions FAQ [Dallas Cowboys]

Okay, it's actually not that unseemly, but the handheld device called "Dolphins Mobile Vision" offers premium ticket holders 11 different camera angles to watch the game from their swanky seats. And one of those angles is the "cheerleader cam." 5,000 of these devices will be available for an "unprecedented multi-media experience" including fantasy sports updates, concession stand menus, and the aforementioned boob view.

Still, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was recently told by Roger Goodell and other NFL owners that the Fins' stadium is "behind the times" and that they are in jeopardy of not hosting as many Super Bowls based on increased competition from the likes of Dallas and New Orleans. The next logical step for Land Shark Stadium to become Yankee Stadium South is to provide a see-through option on its "Dolphins Mobile Vision" for the fans who want a XXX football experience. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Sporano naked?

Handheld Devices For Stadium New Boob Tube [NBC Miami]

Never say that Sacramento teens are not interested in speaking out on important issues. Casa Roble High School students were out in force over the weekend protesting for the return of their cheer coach, who was outed by members of the squad who had been disciplined for skipping practice. (Also please notice possibly the greatest headline ever written). But Carlie Christine — real name Carlie Beck — seems to have come out none the worse for wear in the controversy. Who would have thought that Playboy would have noticed the publicity this was getting and seized the opportunity to promote their site? Weird.

As part of her duties as Cyber Girl of the Month, Christine made a video in which she explains the whole mess, and invites those who got her fired to kiss her centerfold. Well, in a Miss America hope-for-world-peace kind of way.

"I was definitely very upset when I was terminated from my position," Christine said. "I loved my job there, I loved working with these girls. It was very unfortunate that the district decided to terminate me from my position.

"I have received an overwhelming amount of support both from people involved with Playboy as well as people who have never looked at Playboy before. Because of this support, I have decided to stay on board with Playboy, and I am happy to announce that I will be their Cyber Girl of the Month for June."

Here's the video. The link is safe for work, but further links from that page are not, in case you need that spelled out.

My question on the photo above: Where are the boys? At my high school there would have been a riot.

Cyber Girl Carlie Christine Gets Fired Up [Playboy]
Protesters Support Naked Coach [First Coast News]
Fired Cheerleading Coach Carlie Christine Says She'll Pose For Playboy Again As June Cyber Girl [Examiner]

Actually Lori Epperson has resigned from her teaching position at Edgewood High School in Trenton, near Dayton, Ohio, after taking four students — three 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old — to Club Masque, a strip club that features exotic male dancers. (Drag shows on Saturdays). Noe the police are involved, the club is in trouble for serving alcohol to a minor, and suddenly this woman's transgressions don't seem to serious.

She took the girls, who are all seniors, to Club Masque in Dayton. Club Masque is 18 and over gay bar featuring drag shows, where men dress up as woman and perform. Three of the girls are 18, one is 17. Parents who spoke with Local 12 are outraged over the incident.

The best part: Epperson's daughter was one of the four, and she apparently had permission from the parents of the other three to take them to the club. That had to be one great permission slip, suitable for framing.

Butler Tech school district spokesman Bill Solazzo says 47-year-old Lori Epperson resigned Thursday. He said Epperson told Edgewood High School administrators that the students — all cheerleaders at the school north of Cincinnati in Trenton — asked her to take them to the bar in February.

Epperson told school officials in an e-mail that she got permission from the parents of the 17- and 18-year-olds to bring them to Club Masque in Dayton.

Edgewood Teacher Resigns Over Bar 'Field Trip' [Local12]
Strip Club Field Trip [MSNBC]
School: Ohio Teacher Took Students To Strip Club [WKYC]
Cheerleaders Go To Strip Club, Get Coach Fired [Blog Of Hilarity]

Hell hath no fury like a cheerleader scorned. It happened at Casa Roble High in Orangevale, near Sacramento.

What apparently uncovered the coach was when some girls didn't make the cheerleading squad because they had a few unexcused absences from school. Their parents then made copies of Christine and dropped the pictures on the principal's desk. Christine was then fired from her position at Casa Robles High School.

"And I was in shock that I knew the girls had seen it and knew about it," a parent told CBS13. A lot of parents and faculty are talking and looking. "The whole football team has seen it," says one parent.

There is actually no such thing as the "Casa Robles" High School referred to in the CBS13 story, but Casa Roble Fundamental High School is located near Sacramento ("Welcome to Ram Country"). Christine was featured as Playboy's Cyber Girl of the Week (photos NSFW), for the second week in February. Why did this have to happen now, just three days before junior prom?

High School Cheer Coach Fired After Posing Nude [CBS13]
Carlie Christine Is Playboy's Cyber Girl Of The Week [Centerfold Blog.Net] (NSFW)

An archeologist at the Kansas City newspaper The Pitch, dug up this old book from 1983 that tells aspiring cheerleaders everything they need to know about how to join the pep squad and fight off the jealous stares of all your former friends you'll have to leave behind. Some helpful hints:

Don't assume that you must be dazzling ... If you don't believe this, take a look at the squad of cheerleaders in your school. You may find a few knockouts, but there most likely will be some boys and girls who are average kids....

"If you are heavy and have tried losing weight but are just one of those kids who is going to be big and beautiful no matter what, go ahead and try out for the squad.

Good to know! But it's not all splits and fist pumps:

"Cheerleading often makes you unpopular. For one thing, some kids are jealous of cheerleaders."

So true. But aren't cheerleaders supposed to be dumb?

In a way, a cheerleader must be smarter than the average high school student so that people won't think otherwise. 'Why do I have to do anything for these people?' you might (rightfully) ask. 'Who care what they think? They're just jealous.' While your instincts may be correct, you must keep in mind that some of these adversaries will be people you just may have to deal with. So do your best."

In other words, "Let the haters hate." You're more popular (or unpopular!) than they are anyway. Anything else?

You'll find that the younger male teachers may especially be willing to dress up like cheerleaders and appear in a silly skit for the good of the school."

Oh. I didn't realize it was that kind of book.

Everyone Is Just Jealous: Studies in Crap Brings it On With 1983's CHEERLEADING! [Kansas City Pitch]

The first thing you should know is that the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City has a men's basketball team. And that team has cheerleaders (pictured). And one thing you should know about cheerleaders: When they see an empty elevator, it's very difficult for them to resist the urge to all pile in (see exhibit A in link below).

This happened at F.I.T. on Sunday, as 19 cheerleaders — including two guys — crammed into an elevator on the eighth-floor lounge, intending to head to the gym on the main floor. But then, disaster struck. A first-hand account from The Love of Sports:

"We get in, the elevator starts to move down slowly and then began to shake. Then it dropped abruptly two to three times. The elevator slowed and then stopped altogether. So, of course, it started in panic, and you can imagine how loud it got with 19 cheerleaders screaming all at once … Once we all decided we were stuck we called F.I.T. security through the elevator phone thing and they said they'd get to us ASAP."

"Then it started to get REALLY hot … And I know, laugh it up, every guy's dream come true. Where else would you rather be than stuck in a hot elevator with a bunch of cheerleaders? But I'm sure any straight male that had been in that situation with us would've realized pretty fast it wasn't anything even remotely sexy. So, here we are taking pictures of each other while F.I.T. security is tinkering with the door to try and get us out. We couldn't be sure what floor we were on, or if we were stuck between floors … 30 minutes later, we hear someone saying, "fire department," and, of course, we were thrilled!"

"Some of the girls took video as they opened the doors just to try and capture the look on the firefighter's faces when they saw 19 cheerleaders stuck in between floors one and two. The firefighters were great and got us out as quick as they could, but, of course, cracked a few jokes on us on the way out … It was pretty easy to get out, being cheerleaders, we just lifted people up and out, it was probably the quickest elevator evacuation the firefighters ever had."

This of course has happened before. So why is there no officially sanctioned national elevator cramming competition?

F.I.T. Cheer Squad Gets Big Scare [The Love Of Sports]

Now, not sure on the accuracy of the page — or whether the "Dad" quoted on Graham's page is actually Clay Bennett — but if it is, well, it does offer some unsurprising insight into the man that ripped Seattle's heart out when he stole away their basketball team.

Via The Sporting Blog:

Now, the Crooked Oak cheerleaders being insulted by "Dad" in this are from Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, the cheerleader section of the school's website provides no pictures, so I can't verify whether the school actually does have a "pakistani," a "black midget with a pickle" and the other freaks of nature "Dad" was griping about. But if you go to their fan section, there is a shot of some of the "Ruf-Nex" cheerleaders during a football game:

Well, I don't see a pickle.

Clay Bennett Thinks Your Cheerleaders Look Absolutely Hilarious [The Sporting Blog]

Even worse, he dragged his four-year-old son along for the ride. (They were discovered by the child's grandfather and everyone was okay.) Russo became famous earlier this week, when it was alleged that he allowed his 17-year-old son to host a wild drunken party in his home and encouraged the boy's cheerleader friends to hop up on his homemade stripper pole. (And maybe there were some pictures taken too.)

I guess the pressure of being revealed as a world class creep was a bit much for Russo, so he decided to off himself and apparently felt that an unknowing toddler needed to pay the price too. But not before sending a text to the boy's mother, blaming the whole thing on her.

Quoted in her statement to police, Jessica Clapso said Russo text-messaged her, saying, "This is on you and good-bye."

Sigh. I think Steve needs some quiet time now.

Bethlehem Township man who allegedly hosted stripper-pole party ordered to stay away from son [Express-Times, via Busted Coverage]
Previous: Cheerleaders: It's All Fun And Games Until Your Cheerleader Stripper Pole Photos Show Up On Facebook (With Update)

Yeah, that would save a lot of time. Above is the Freedom High (Bethlehem, Pa.) cheerleading team, and they had a busy December. Steven Russo, 36, — our early choice for Father of the Year — has a 17-year-old son who attends Freedom, and they decided to host a party. In attendance were several Freedom cheerleaders. And like all good parties, it occurred in the basement and included booze and a stripper pole.

The teens allegedly listened to Russo spin tales about his sexual exploits and drank vodka, rum and beer he gave them. They also mingled in the basement while he played music and shouted, "Get on that pole," according to a criminal complaint filed by Bethlehem Township police at the office of District Judge Joseph Barner.

Does it even need to be said that photos were taken, and that they showed up on Facebook? One of the photos — showing two of the girls kissing Russo on the cheek — began circulating at school. This caused members of the cheerleading team to begin arguing, and one of them showed the photo to a school administrator. Hilarity did not ensue. Mr. Russo now has some 'splaining to do to a judge. More fun stuff:

The girls said Russo did not try anything with them, but encouraged one 16-year-old as she removed her shirt during the Dec. 12 party. One teen mentioned Russo's house has a room called "the cave" on the second floor where people have sex. One boy claimed he was there that night because another teen planned to have sex and he was "hooking up," with one of the other girls. The boy said they left after his friend was finished.

A 14-year-old girl said she drank Red Bull and vodka at the party and Russo's son became sick from excessive consumption. She later sneaked out of the house with a friend because "the rule is that if you drink alcohol there you have to sleep over because (Russo) doesn't want to get in trouble ..."

I look forward to more fine reporting like this from Precious Petty.

UPDATE: Mr. Russo's mug shot.

UPDATE: Apparently Russo won some "Sexiest Bartender" competition a while back. Busted Coverage has the shirtless (of course) photos.

Steven Russo, 36, Accused Of Hosting Teen Drinking Parties, Encouraging Pole Dancing [Leigh Valley News]
Police: Cheerleaders Danced On Stripper Pole, Teens Drank Alcohol At Adult-Hosted Party [Leigh Valley News]
Freedom High School Varsity Cheerleading Squad
Steve Russo Is One Of The Cool Parents, Wants High School Cheerleaders To Get On Stripper Pole [Busted Coverage]

Lawlor was on one of 300 women to show up at Dana Farber Fieldhouse this morning for a chance to strap on the red and blue hot pants for the 2009 season.

One thing's for certain, the delightful Miss Lawlor probably won't be found wielding a magic marker over a passed out individual in a dorm room. So she's got that going for her.

Patriots Cheerleader Tryouts [Boston.com]

So how does a freelance photographer get permission to go to Iraq? How did the trip come about?

I was working on a project with the Louisiana National Guard. They have been patrolling the streets of New Orleans since Katrina, set to pull out at the end of this February. I did a book called Under the Radar, the National Guard in New Orleans. Myself and a cameraman I work with are also putting together a documentary about the Guard's work in New Orleans. He and I asked permission to be embedded with the Guard (meet up with units that had some of the same guys we worked with in NO) in Iraq and were given permission. To be embedded you need a professional organization to sponsor you. We got Fox, a local affiliate in New Olreans and LPB (Louisiana Public Broadcast TV) to be ours. LPB will get first look at the documentary we are collaborating on and we have been feeding Fox 8 dispatches.

When did you first decide you wanted to do this?

The trip started off with me doing a project I wanted to do long before meeting the Guard — which was me shooting Christmas portraits for them as my gift to them. The way I see it — the military are only shown when they are dead or have done something bad. I wanted to show them as individuals.

What surprises you most about being over there?

This is my first trip to Iraq — to any active war zone. What has surprised me the most is seeing first hand the scale of the war machine over here.

How did the Bills cheerleader shoot come about? Did you approach them? How did you meet them?

It was a total coincidence. They were going to perform for the unit we are working with — and we had to leave to get elsewhere so thought we'd miss them. By chance they turned up at the same hotel we were put up at. I asked if they would like pictures shot and they said yes. No press was covering their tour in Iraq.

What was the hotel like? What did the cheerleaders think of hanging out in one of Saddam's meeting places?

The cheerleaders didn't comment so much about the hotel, but instead on how moved they were by their experience of meeting the troops, making them happy meant a lot to them. The luxury is eerie but welcome. It isn't a five star hotel anymore as the stars above the grand entrance way claim. It has bunk beds in the rooms and serves food brought in from the main mess hall, but high ceilings, lush curtains, elegant furniture and marble floors offer unexpected elegance fitting of a five star hotel.

Is that a Ming vase I see in the background in one of those shots? Wow.

I'm not up on my vases so I can't say.

What was the general reaction of Iraqis to seeing the cheerleaders?

The girls told me the Iraqis were pleased to meet them and all begged them to tell Americans not to pull out and keep them safe. They went to 7 different sites. The girls were out and about. Not on streets though — you can't go on streets in Iraq — just on on base! On base it is all military and private contractors. The girls turned some heads among those guys.

I assume that Iraqi kids play soccer. Have you seen any of that? Do they play other sports?

Yes I have seen some soccer playing. I haven't seen anything else sports-wise. Just visited a few schools and seen them in classrooms.

Have you ever done any sports photography?

I shot one game of the Saints in action in 2007, and shot the Manning Family Passing Camp last summer. I like shooting sports but haven't had many assignments so far.

JVB Hotel, Luxury In Baghdad [Julie Dermansky's Blog]

Welcome to Hot Girls In Scary Places, the genius combination of mankind's two dominating primal urges; fear and lust. Oh, and also they'll discuss clothes. The premise, so dubious when tried with Eddie Murphy, so potentially wonderful here, is to place USC Song Girls in an abandoned hospital which is said to be haunted. They have to investigate all creepy noises and other ghostly happenings. There's a cash prize of $10,000, although it's unclear how that's awarded. It's the show so awesome you can't resist it, so stupid TiVo won't record it!

That one in the middle in the photo there is undoubtedly Lindsey Grubbs, by the way.

"They're totally scared, and totally believe experiences they're going through," says executive producer Gary Auerbach. "They'll get scared and then be talking about a sorority party coming up. It's a little bit ‘Scooby Doo'-ish."

The plan is to have the same three girls placed in a different scary location each week, which may or may not include Barry Switzer's house. The show's debut, scheduled for Friday, March 13, is a backdoor pilot, meaning that it's basically a prototype. So if you skip it, it may go away. Oh USC Song Girls, you have given us so much. Hopefully we can all make this show a success to pay you back.

E! Orders Hot Girls In Scary Places [The Live Feed]

Called the JVB Hotel, it was once one of Saddam Hussein's favorite meeting places, and is just across the street from one of his former palaces, now part of Camp Victory in Baghdad. So naturally, everyone involved was thinking, photo shoot! From Julie's blog, posted on Monday:

It was one of Saddam's favorite places to hold meetings and the place his last interview on network TV was held before he was hung. The chair he sat in for the interview remains and is used by guests. The luxury is eerie but welcome. It isn't a five star hotel anymore as the stars above the grand entranceway claim. It has bunk beds in the rooms and serves food brought in from the main mess hall, but high ceilings, lush curtains, elegant furniture and marble floors offer unexpected elegance fitting of a five star hotel. ... The Buffalo Bills cheerleaders, who are spending a week in Iraq performing, stayed in the room across from me.

More photos on Julie's Flickr page, and over at her blog. The latter is a rather fascinating account of her time in Iraq, and well worth scrolling through.

This is the second straight year that the Bills cheerleaders — actually the Buffalo Jills, sorry — have visited Iraq. And Bills guard Brad Butler just got back from there as well.

JVB Hotel, Luxury In Baghdad [Julie Dermansky's Blog]

Neich, 19, tried out recently for a spot on the Penrith Panthers National Rugby League cheerleading squad at an open audition, and made it. Now the real work begins.

"Penrith haven't really seen any male cheerleaders, they are going to be like 'Oh My God', I am going to get out there and strut my stuff,'' he said. He is expecting some heckling but is prepared. "I have had it all my life, I have grown up with getting names called, if people call me a gay poof, I am and I don't care. If you have got it, flaunt it."

So the U.S. falls woefully behind in the gay male cheerleader race. If you don't count Steely McBeam.

I think that Aaron's story is great and wish him the best of luck, although I enjoyed it more the first time I saw it, when it was called Billy Elliot.

Rugby Team Hires First Gay Cheerleader [Bob's Blitz]
Aaron Neitch Is First Gay Panthers Cheerleader [Daily Telegraph]
Aaron Neich [Penrith Panthers]

A USC student sent this to us and wanted it added to the official Deadspin record, so here you go.

Deadspin: Not sure how often this pic has been passed around, but first time I've seen it. Some jagoff soiling an otherwise tremendous picture of our beloved Song Girls straight chillaxin.

Yeah ... move along out of the shot there, Larry.

Update: The girl in the middle is Lindsey, and Busted Coverage was on the scene way before this photo was sent to us.

Ack, it's Portland High and the Amazing Technicolor Cheerleader Sneakers. To steal a line from Johnny Carson, it looks like Walt Disney threw up on them.

Apparently Rainbow Brite Is 'In' Again [Central Maine Sports Blog]