Sports Commentary
The ban on cheerleaders warming up in front of the visiting team’s locker room appears to be the latest unwarranted measure by the button-upped No Fun League.
On his watch, in a little more than a year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has punished crooked coaches and players, and further neutered touchdown celebrations.
But to jeer those who cheer?
"Man, they worry about the wrong things," Vikings Pro Bowl defensive tackle Pat Williams said. "That’s little stuff."
Four NFL players said several teams "coincidentally" call on cheerleaders to "warm up" outside the visitors’ locker room. Given the size of NFL stadiums and the fact that most have multiple locker rooms and entrances to the field, the teams that employ this tactic are obviously trying to distract the opposing team minutes before kickoff. But one league official called it the "Redskins’ rule."
Another league official pointed out that the Washington Redskins’ cheerleaders have been a running joke at league meetings for years. In fact, one of them insisted that the cheerleaders are sometimes covered up less than they are on the field.
"It’s absolutely blatant," one of the officials said. "They are strategically placed there (near the locker room) for 'stretching' as the players are entering and exiting the field."
If these suggestions are true, this is not exactly the sort of behavior one would expect from a group dubbed the "First Ladies of Football."
The Redskins, however, insisted that they were not the impetus for the cheerleader ban and the league confirmed their position.
"No one from the league has ever, ever notified us about a concern about this," Redskins spokesman Karl Swanson said. "We got the memo at the same time as everyone else."
Cheerleaders perform during training for the beach volleyball events ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 7, 2008. (Carlos Barria, Reuters)
Carlos Barria, Reuter
Chinese cheerleaders perform at the break of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team against the Russian National Team during the USA Basketball International Challenge exhibition game at the Qizhong Arena on August 3, 2008 in Shanghai, China. (MN Chan, Getty Images)
MN Chan, Getty Images
Cheerleaders dance during the men's preliminary round beach volleyball match between Russia and Italy at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 12, 2008. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA)
Reuters
Cheerleaders perform before the men's 69kg Group A weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 12, 2008. REUTERS/Yves Herman (CHINA)
Reuters
A man rides a bicycle past tribunes as Chinese cheerleaders wave flags at the rowing venue during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
AP
Cheerleaders perform during a time out in a 2008 Beijing Olympics Women's preliminary match of Beach Volleyball at Beijing's Chaoyang Park on August 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Cheerleaders perform during a time out in a 2008 Beijing Olympic Women's preliminary match of Beach Volleyball at Beijing's Chaoyang Park Beach volleyball ground on August 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Cheerleaders perform during a time out in a Women's preliminary match of Beach Volleyball at Beijing's Chaoyang Park Beach volleyball ground, August 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A cheerleader is thrown up the air while performing during half-time break at the men's pool MB hockey match between Australia and Canada at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 11, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (CHINA)
Reuters
Cheerleaders perform during break of men's field hockey match between Pakistan and Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games on August 11, 2008. Great Britain won 4-2. AFP PHOTO/ AAMIR QURESHI (Photo credit should read /AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Swanson said the locker rooms for the home and visiting teams, as well as the referees and cheerleaders are all on the west end of the stadium. Given the layout, Swanson acknowledged that the cheerleaders could be in view of the visitors, but he added that the home team's players also would see them.
"Generally, they’re not even down there," Swanson said. "But if they are down there, they’re not supposed to be."
Since the memo was issued, Swanson said the club has spoken to the production staff.
Yet the same four players -- Williams was the only who would speak on the record -- insisted the intended effect isn’t achieved.
One veteran starter who has played at FedEx Field recalled seeing a lot of skin on the Skins’ cheerleaders.
"I was like, 'Wow,'" the player said. "Of course you’re going to look. You got beautiful women standing in front of you, half dressed. But you look, laugh and go about your business."
An NFC West starter said he considers cheerleaders a "part of the overall production," while Williams said he is too focused on football.
"I’m there for one reason, to whoop some (expletive)," Williams said. "So cheerleaders don’t bother me. I’m not even thinking about them.
"Watching cheerleaders ain’t going to help us win a game."
The number of virgin NFL players is probably in the single digits, if one even exists, and I have known players that prowl for women before and after games. Remarkably, on two occasions, I have been asked by a player to find out about a particular woman, as if I’m some kind of sideline matchmaker -- or worse.
But let’s give the vast majority of players the benefit of the doubt. They, like many of us, can distinguish when is an appropriate time to work and play.
"If you’re mature, it won’t even bother you," Williams said.
Besides, cheerleaders are usually prohibited from dating any players.
"I think they avoid us like the plague, because they knew they would get into trouble," the NFC West starter said.
Personally, I’m not sure what value cheerleaders actually add to the overall football experience. Anyone who has been to an NFL game knows there are plenty of built-in diversions during timeouts and breaks (my personal favorite is the kick a field goal to win a million bucks!). Other than a choreographed dance to the latest chart-topper and a brief shot coming back from a commercial or two, the cheerleader doesn’t play a very important role in an NFL game. And unless you sit in one of the rows closest to the field, you probably don’t get a chance to drool over them.
Ultimately, as he showed with his handling of the recent Videogate scandal involving the New England Patriots, the Commissioner is trying to clean up the NFL’s act and image. He wants to be proactive, not reactive. Thus, he surely recognizes that having sexy, scantily clad women gyrating and stretching in proximity of amped up, testosterone-charged men is a sexual harassment lawsuit in waiting.
Embracing the league’s standing as the nation’s most popular sport, Goodell understands how much he and all the billionaire owners have at stake, which is why he wants to keep the three letters he holds dear -- N - F - L -- out of the tabloid magazines and off of the tabloid shows.
Sean Jensen covers the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He can be reached at nothinbutlovefor@aol.com.
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