[vincesanity82]

As a relatively informed NFL fan and a passionate devotee of the female form, I've long known that most NFL teams pay their cheerleaders a scant $75 or less per home game. It's the sort of trivium that would come up in a conversation at a sports bar, and I'll say, "Wow, only seventy-five MY GOD LOOK AT THAT WOMAN" as FOX's NFL coverage cuts away to commercial.

But not this week. This week, the slate of NFL games is almost completely devoid of suspense, and I won't be distracted by the bruising hits or plunging cleavage. This week, I'm an activist for women's rights. NFL teams are exploiting their cheerleaders for additional publicity and profits, then returning their hard work by paying them like illegal immigrants. If NFL cheerleaders want to be taken seriously, they need to stop being so thankful for so little, and start organizing a labor movement.

Yes, I'm suggesting a cheerleaders' union.

The Prelude, Week 17: Do NFL Cheerleaders Need to Unionize? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[Lefty Noob]

Definitely sounds like they're underpaid compared to the coaches and athletes.

How do their salaries compare to P.A. announcers and scoreboard operators, though, hmm?

[azrael492]

They are just cheerleaders. Do they want $50000 a year to clap their hands. They are only a step away from pole dancers anymore anyway. Get a different employer and you will get paid more.

[alex83]

yeah i dont understand why they are asking for such a big pay rise or whatever i mean what do they do exactly that benefits the team? i mean they dont pump up the crowd or boost the players performance, they are just as much use as the mascot and yet you dont see them getting together and going on strike becuase they want more money do you??

dont get me wrong i think they do a good job and come rain or shine they do their dances and always smile but come on...how much money do they want for doing what they do?

but i definatly dont agree that they are like one level away from pole dancers

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by azrael492

They are just cheerleaders. Do they want $50000 a year to clap their hands. They are only a step away from pole dancers anymore anyway. Get a different employer and you will get paid more.

You'd figure the Cowboys would pay their girls more with the hell they put them through in auditions.

I wouldn't say give them $50,000 a year. Atleast give the 25K. Maybe added incentives for special appearances. You got to think about this. Some of these outfits use their girls as a source of makin money (calendars, appearances, shirts, etc). It is a job after all.

[alex83]

i would say if you wanna pay them anymore, give them a salary to live off. i dont think they should be getting six figure salarys but when someone who works at Wal*Mart is earning more than them a week then thats sorta a kick in the teeth for the girls who probably have to work another job during the week, practice and then come out on a sunday all smiles and pep to have guys looking at them in a not so nice manor

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Quality88

You'd figure the Cowboys would pay their girls more with the hell they put them through in auditions.

I wouldn't say give them $50,000 a year. Atleast give the 25K. Maybe added incentives for special appearances. You got to think about this. Some of these outfits use their girls as a source of makin money (calendars, appearances, shirts, etc). It is a job after all.

I think they make money from personal appearances...

[Geechee843]

they want more money to dance at home games for like 8 weeks a year? wat do they do? yea you might see 3 or 4 seconds of em before a commercial but thats it. they jus shake around palm palms ......and shake around other things.

[Bette]

Ok, since you guys are only interested in the pictures, I did a little research.
First get rid of the notion that this is an easy gig. These girls work hard, have practices during the week and again on Sunday before the game. They must diet and exercise, and spend money on their beauty routine.
The info on pay I found was $15-20 per game, but they can make extra doing outside appearances as was suggested. The going rate on the page for the Buffalo Jills was $100 per cheerleader per hour. The standard was 2 cheerleaders for 2 hours. They must be reimbursed for parking fees, and if the event was out of WNY area, they were to be reimbursed at .38cents per mile. If the event was more than 6 hrs. they must have a 30 minute paid meal break and 2 five minute rest periods. I am not sure if these are current rates or not.
The best I could find was that yes, prestige was a big factor. Most of these women do this during college and then go on to other careers. Other careers listed were models, actresses, beauty pageant winners, tv personalities, fitness instructor, a WWE wrestler, and of course Playboy Playmates. Krazy George Henderson of the Chiefs was mentioned. (Yes, I said George)
The teams do get benefits from them, in the form of publicity.
Remember that they only work for the team at home games.
I will make no comments about their appearance except to say that they are indeed beautiful women.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bette

Ok, since you guys are only interested in the pictures

Ahem madam.... I mentioned somethin about the hell the Cowboys cheerleaders go through.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bette

Ok, since you guys are only interested in the pictures, I did a little research.
First get rid of the notion that this is an easy gig. These girls work hard, have practices during the week and again on Sunday before the game. They must diet and exercise, and spend money on their beauty routine.
The info on pay I found was $15-20 per game, but they can make extra doing outside appearances as was suggested. The going rate on the page for the Buffalo Jills was $100 per cheerleader per hour. The standard was 2 cheerleaders for 2 hours. They must be reimbursed for parking fees, and if the event was out of WNY area, they were to be reimbursed at .38cents per mile. If the event was more than 6 hrs. they must have a 30 minute paid meal break and 2 five minute rest periods. I am not sure if these are current rates or not.
The best I could find was that yes, prestige was a big factor. Most of these women do this during college and then go on to other careers. Other careers listed were models, actresses, beauty pageant winners, tv personalities, fitness instructor, a WWE wrestler, and of course Playboy Playmates. Krazy George Henderson of the Chiefs was mentioned. (Yes, I said George)
The teams do get benefits from them, in the form of publicity.
Remember that they only work for the team at home games.
I will make no comments about their appearance except to say that they are indeed beautiful women.

You missed a career...the one where they go on to be a trophy wife...

[Geechee843]

haha yea. but about the hard work thing. i know they gotta work hard and stay in shape and exercise. but thats nothing compared to the year-round workouts that teh playesr have to do. i played ball in high school and i woulda loved to get away wit the workouts the cheerleaders did. yea they might have togo six hours away to do a appearence but they dont have to go on long road trips to play a game where their career (or life) may be ended. they may have to spend money on beauty salons but not medical bills.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Ahem madam.... I mentioned somethin about the hell the Cowboys cheerleaders go through.

I'm sorry. But I still think you go for the pictures first.

Originally Posted by Geechee843

haha yea. but about the hard work thing. i know they gotta work hard and stay in shape and exercise. but thats nothing compared to the year-round workouts that teh playesr have to do. i played ball in high school and i woulda loved to get away wit the workouts the cheerleaders did. yea they might have togo six hours away to do a appearence but they dont have to go on long road trips to play a game where their career (or life) may be ended. they may have to spend money on beauty salons but not medical bills.

No one is suggesting that the cheerleaders face the same sort of fitness struggles the players endure. Its just not like they walk in and shake a little.
I did more research and it seems to me that college and high school cheerleaders suffer some serious injuries, including broken bones and spinal injuries. Cheerleading injuries are on the rise. But they do more tumbling and stunts I think. I really havent paid much attention to the NFL ones, but all I have ever seen them do is shake their pom poms. They appear to be more like dance teams.
Cheerleaders would like to be taken more seriously. Remember the suit that more than a hundred former Eagles cheerleaders brought against 29 NFL teams for their alleged peeping tom antics? That was outrageous if it is true.
It could be that cheerleading teaches leadership skills. Former cheerleaders include George W. Bush, Ronald Regan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Samuel L. Jackson, Meryl Streep and Madonna.
These women seem to love what they do. There are some who have come to resent being treated as decorative sex objects, though. Frankly, that's what I see them as. They are there strictly for male entertainment.

Cheerleading: one giant leap for mankind... | Sport | The Observer

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by alex83

yeah i dont understand why they are asking for such a big pay rise or whatever i mean what do they do exactly that benefits the team? i mean they dont pump up the crowd or boost the players performance, they are just as much use as the mascot and yet you dont see them getting together and going on strike becuase they want more money do you??

dont get me wrong i think they do a good job and come rain or shine they do their dances and always smile but come on...how much money do they want for doing what they do?

but i definatly dont agree that they are like one level away from pole dancers

What is the difference between the 2? They both dress half naked and gyrate in front of a lot of men. The reason they are a step above is that they have to tone it down because children go to games and they don't take the guys to the backroom.

It is not like this is a career. With the money the teams make, they should pay them more than $75 a game, but I wouldn't go more than say $500. If they added something to the games or the teams, I would say pay them more, but they don't. If you took them away from the game, they would be the only ones upset.

[Seahawker 562]

I dont think they are underpaid. What do they do? nothing is right.
pay those who deserve it