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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Hightower Report: Why are NFL cheerleaders booing their teams?
Let's turn now to the Wide, Wide, WILD World of Sports.
The big story at this time of year, of course, is the Super Bowl, that multi-multi-million dollar showcase of super-paid superstars, billionaire owners, taxpayer-financed sports palaces, extravagant corporate skyboxes serving deep-fried caviar, and TV ads running $4 million for a 30-second spot. But behind the scenes of this big money sports extravaganza is a sordid secret of illegal cheating.
No, not the use of steroids. Rather, this scandal is about the NFL's use and abuse of cheerleaders. Astonishingly, these glamorous, athletic, and very hard-working ladies who bring sideline pizzazz to the show and are used by owners to promote the team brand and ticket sales are paid less than the beer hawkers on game day, less than McDonald's crew members, and way less than minimum wage. Yes, that's illegal, which is why some Raiderettes (the popular cheerleaders of Oakland's NFL team) have filed a lawsuit for wage theft against the owners.
Overall, pro-team cheerleaders get $70 to $90 per game. That's for a 12-hour game day, plus uncompensated practice sessions that routinely run a grueling six hours, and mandatory promotional appearances. The teams nickel-and-dime the women by shorting their hours, and they even illegally fine their pep-leaders for such nonsense "transgressions" as bringing the wrong pom-poms to practice. And no health care for a job that puts you at constant risk of injury.
More at http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2014-01-31/the-hightower-report-why-are-nfl-cheerleaders-booing-their-teams/ .
antiquie
(4,299 posts)The club management withholds all cheerleader pay as meager as it is until the end of the season, so the women are essentially indentured servants to teams wallowing in wealth, that the teams siphon out of the pockets of ticketholders and taxpayers.http://www.jimhightower.com/node/8240#.UuvulffTk5t
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)... back in the late 90s. When we met, I was astonished to hear that she was paid $15 a game. Of course, I was a bit younger, so it didn't hit me like a ton of bricks or anything. She made money on promotional events, so I just figured that's how it was structured. She didn't complain. But reading this, and now that I'm a little older, it does strike me in a more unjust sense.
weissmam
(905 posts)paulkienitz
(1,295 posts)I mean, there's nothing stopping them from giving them proper pay and a decent health plan -- the cost is peanuts. They've just been stealing from them because they could get away with it.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)I was unaware of this until yesterday when someone posted a similar article. Hopefully enough people see these articles for it to make a difference.
WhiteTara
(29,676 posts)their glamorous lives and their exciting jobs.
$70 - $90 a game? Are you f*king kidding me? What is the motivation for these women? Is it supposed to be a stepping stone to ?
WhiteTara
(29,676 posts)ass? or is that $.005 per peek? I am sickened.
woolldog
(8,791 posts)Then they should feel free to get jobs as beer hawkers and McDonadl's employees if money is their primary consideration.
Obviously they get more value out of being cheerleaders, otherwise they wouldn't do it.