Cheerleading

That would be hilarious.

 

In Georgia, it is a sanctioned event. And unfortunately it draws THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of people to it. Also, it brings more than $800,000 in ecomonic impact to the community.

So it's a big deal.

 

That still does not make it a sport. Put it on the local page..or maybe even an A-1 feature.
But NOT in sports...NOT EVER!!!

 

Ma'am that's what weekly newspapers are for.

 

In this state, it's governed by the association as an athletic activity. We'll run the results in agate if they're submitted.

Took a call yesterday from a presumed momma ... "Are you aware there's an XXXXXX cheerleading tournament Saturday?"

Me: "No, but if the people running the thing will submit the results, we'll publish them" on our agate page.

Her: "OK, thanks. I'll tell them ..."

 

We've always handled cheerleading as a school activity, not for the sports section.

Side note: Main local high school has had a tradition of its graduates going on to be cheerleaders at biggest state university. Always try to have our photographers get some sort of feature shot of them at pre-bowl game parties to use on 1A to tease to our bowl coverage inside.

This year, father of one of the women (also big local businessman) calls and suggests that we do a story on the two women who are cheerleaders there this year. We've never done stories on any of the other ones. I'm not ready to slide down that slippery slope.

 

If there's a problem and your ME orders you to run it, use the most cheesecakey photo you have. That'll teach them to keep it out of sports.

 

Incidentally, the night you decide to take this advice, also practice saying this in front of the mirror: "Paper or plastic?"

 

I guess my question is what is the difference between that and like gymnastics or figure skating. What makes them a sport and not cheerleading?

They are all scored by judges.

AND I DON'T LIKE COVERING IT ONE BIT.

 

You could argue that any sport that is "judged" isn't a sport ... I wouldn't make that argument, but I think it's a valid point of view (and lest boxing be brought into this, if you knock a guy out, there is no judging, so it's a different animal).

For me, gymnastics is sanctioned by the state athletic league. Cheerleading and figure skating are not. Makes for an easy delineation.

I would also argue that any "sport" that involves grinding a pelvis to the song "My Humps" does not qualify. If it did, I know of plenty of all-staters at the local clubs who would kick the crap out of the local cheerleaders at a competition even after downing 17 tequila shots.

 

If the cheerleaders actually did a "big spread," it would merit page one.

 

Didn't realize you were into kiddy porn.