December 2013 - The Blonde Side

2013: Review

Life in Hawaii: almost sums up 2013

I’ve never been one for the end-of-year dramatic flair (I swear!) but this year I figured it was time for a small sentiment and look back at my year. I’ll keep it short and sweet, mostly because in my heart I feel it’s important for whoever is reading this to read each and every word. I know time is of value, so…

This year was a lot of ups and downs and roller-coaster’ing for me – much like the life of a sports fan – you win some, you lose some, you kick some ass, and sometimes you get shut out and get your ass kicked, even with homefield advantage. While on FB or Instagram you might think my life is awesome because I got to sit courtside with Pat Riley and Micky Arison (just once) or because I was dancing with LeBron at the ESPYS (well creepily near him) or because I went to 14 NFL games and eight different stadiums – all that stuff is ah-mah-zing, but my life is real just like yours, and sometimes really effed up complete with a mascara tear-stained face.

I learned that the two most important people in my life have been there all along, and that I needed to stop looking for friends and a support system everywhere but there: MY HOME. As irony and hilarity would have it, it took that wretched Carnival Triumph and infamously named “poop cruise” to help me re-prioritize life. Getting onto that shit, I mean ship, in early February, my parents and I weren’t on the best of terms. I was stubborn, they were stubborn and we kind of left it like that.

Fast-forward a few days, literally not knowing if or when we were getting off that boat, and I realized the two most important people in my life likely wouldn’t be waiting for me to dock in Mobile, Ala. Instead, I was greeted with my friend’s parents, who so lovingly showed up with candy, flowers and signs (it also happened to be Valentine’s Day…). I realized if these girls were so close to their families, and probably experienced the same ups and downs as I did over the years, then I needed to man up, suck up my pride, apologize and just let go and love – probably in that order.

The most heart-breaking experience (probably of my life) was a few weeks after, once things settled down, my dad and I

Texans & NFL fun for The Blonde Side in 2013

were on the phone (he’s in Virginia/I’m in Texas). I somehow broke down and started sobbing, barely inaudible. I’d venture to say my father has seen/heard me cry only a handful of times. I always thought crying was a sign of weakness, but I couldn’t hold it in. I somehow muttered, “you should have been there,” referring to Mobile when our cesspool of a boat finally touched the shoreline.

He should have been there. After all, he was retired and probably bored, what’s a quick drive or flight to Mobile to see your only child?!

Then came his words: I didn’t know if you wanted me there. I’m crying as I write this now. My father, THE ONLY MAN who has ever stood by my side and done more for me than words can EVER say, didn’t think I wanted him there?

And to be honest, before that trip where I dug deep into my soul for an entire week (keep in mind, no phones, no books, no Internet, no booze, no music – I had nothing to do but think of my family and life choices), maybe I didn’t want him there. How sad and frightening of a realization is that?

The cruise ship girls (this was clearly AFTER the trip)

The things on my mind boarding that ship compared to the difference afterwards really spoke megaphone-loudly to my soul – I needed to make some changes, and I have.

This year also brought the heartbreak of losing my best friend. I have cried over the loss of her life pretty much every other day since it happened, and I realize there’s nothing I can do to bring her back. But there are a few things I can do: I can help spread the word and help debunk the stereotype that mental illness should be kept in the dark. We always think what could I have done differently? That’s the problem with mental illness – those suffering are afraid to talk to their best friends about it, for fear of judgement.

No more of that BS. No. More.

I can’t go back and change it for Megan, but I can hopefully change it for someone else. Hopefully less and less people will have to suffer this kind of devastating loss down the road. If I had asked her about her illness more, checked on her more, been more patient and understanding, talked with her parents, maybe it would have been different.

I won’t be one of those people who tries to benefit or get pity from others when a tragedy like this happens. I was a bad

The HI Life

friend for her at the end, and I’ve become a better person for admitting this painful truth. I wasn’t there for her, but it’s because I didn’t know how. I’m not making excuses, but in her last months, weeks and days, I was no where to be found. Having a best friend battling a serious mental illness is tough, but it doesn’t mean you quit. I would never quit in a game, why would I ever quit on a friend? The last conversation we had haunts me like you wouldn’t believe, but I know in my heart she still loves me and forgives me and is looking down on me cheering on the Eagles (she adopted them as a great BFF because she hated football but always said she’d love my team). Now, I do my best to think twice before saying something ugly, or turning my back on someone. As silly as it sounds, I think twice before posting something uber negative on social media, because what-if that’s the way I leave the world? I want to leave this world with great thoughts about me as a person and the work I do.

I dated super shitty guys, blah, blah, blah – haven’t we all? I didn’t really learn anything new in that department, except I am a woman of worth and if it takes me a bit longer to find that dream guy, that’s cool. It took the Saints 39 years to find Drew Brees, and look at them now. They waited, so can I.

Probably the biggest and most notable thing I did this year was make a massively impromptu decision to move to Hawaii. I moved there to write a book (about my life), but so much more happened. I learned to slow down a little, appreciate life and most importantly, how to love myself. I probably sound annoyingly cheesy, actually I know I do because I’m annoying myself, but it’s an experience I can’t really put in words, which is a devastating thought for someone who makes her living as a writer, one who is supposed to be good with words. I did some incredibly dumb things, like jumping off a 70-foot cliff with a random dude I met hitchhiking (who did not actually jump with me, red flag numero uno) and based on the videos and photos, I’m actually REALLY lucky to be alive. I spent three entire months on that glorious island hitchhiking around with nothing more than tequila courage in my veins and my trigger-happy finger held tightly on the taser my dad mailed me.

Living in and loving on the North Shore

Hawaii, and the ability to put life on hold for 3.5 months and write out my dream, was a blessing that many people don’t get. It was an experience. It was amazing. It was an amazing experience. I am a better person, and I have a damn fine book that is waiting to be published (hello publishers, lets talk – it’s a hilariously inappropriate recount of my life – a mix between Chelsea Handler and Tucker Max, but a tad more relatable and embarrassing) thanks to that island stint.

And lastly (I know there were probably 17 other MAJOR things that happened worth mentioning throughout the past 365 days), 2013 brought forth one of the toughest things I will ever face in life. Something that only a few people know, but something that showed me I have some of the most amazing friends to ever grace planet earth standing in my corner.

Most people can reach a year’s end and without much debate categorize it as a really good and blessed year, or a terrible shitty one they are ready to say goodbye to like a worthless quarterback. For the first time, I can’t do that. 2013 brought some damn good stuff my way, but it also brought a lot of tears, a lot of drama and a lot of heartache.

What I can say is this: 2013 was a year of learning. I think that’s the thing about life (if I’m wrong let me know), but I think we are supposed to just keep learning and being better and trying harder. Each day. Every day.

So there is my semi-short and sweet look back at 2013, and a semi MASSIVE thank you to those of you who stood by me, read my column, worked and partnered with me in business and didn’t set my jersey on fire even when I sucked. I don’t love you all, but I like most of you and am thankful for all of you.

xoxo, here’s to an even better 2014 for all of us, and hopefully an EAGLES SUPERBOWL WIN, finally.

December 30, 2013/by Jayme

That’s the Ticket! For a Holiday Gift!

Blog

Sports for the Holidays

You’ve had eleven and a half months to find the perfect gift for that perfect guy in your life, but alas, the clock is ticking and it still hasn’t hit you.

This might come as a surprise to you, but many guys, including your dad, brother or significant other, really dig sports, so why not get them tickets to one of the hottest sporting events of the year, also known as a gift they’ll never forget, also known as you’re the one who answers to Santa Claus from now on…

The folks at The Ticket Experience, an award-winning company that has been featured on ESPN and CNBC specializing in sports, concerts and theatre tickets all over the nation has one simple goal: to help you find the perfect tickets while still (hopefully) meeting your budget. And this isn’t their first rodeo either. This group of friendly experts is seasoned in helping people with absolutely no understanding of sporting events buy tickets to those hardcore and extreme fans coming to the table knowing exactly what they want. Rest assured they will walk you through the process and help you determine the best seats and games to meet your budget, all wrapped up with one tidy and fancy bow.

Use this quick guide, with information and tips from Ignacio Cubero and Patrick Ryan, the business partners behind The Ticket Experience, to make sure you get the best possible seats and prices. Getting the bang for your buck is what it’s all about this holiday season. Well, that and it’s the whole thought that counts thing…

“The Ticket Experience enables you to buy with confidence. If you buy tickets and have a question or feel like you’re going to be stuck with them or your needs change, we’re willing to work with people,” Ryan says of the business model. “We’re a mom and pop business that started with my business partner’s mom and I working out of my home and now we’re fortunate enough to have a number of employees and a nice office, but we know where our roots are from. We take every order very seriously and while we have the technology and website that looks complicated, the people behind it are very simple and easy to work with,” he says.

“If someone’s buying tickets as a gift, there are a couple things they need to figure out. First, are they buying tickets for a loved one because they want to see the home team or the away team? That will help narrow down the focus and of course the other thing will be budget,” Cubero starts.

That’s the ticket – to the perfect holiday gift!

Ryan used the back-to-back NBA Champs, the Miami Heat as an example in determining if there’s a specific team you want to see or just be a part of the sport you love. “If you know they are a big Heat fan, lets find them the best Heat tickets for their budget, but if their love for teams is a bit spread out and they prefer a lower level ticket, we can stretch the budget out a little more and have some flexibility. Getting those parameters first will help narrow down the focus and opportunities from there,” he says.

For some sports fans, they just want in the arena, but for others, they want to be so close, they can hear everything the team is saying to each other.

“Personally, I’d want the best seat possible, regardless of the opponent, so that would drive a lot of the decision for me because it’s fun to sit in the upper deck for a rowdy game given the exciting atmosphere, but the view isn’t as good as TV, so I’d rather go to a Wednesday night game against a non-marquee team. Look at a market like Houston, you could probably sit within ten rows of the visiting teams bench as the same price as an upper deck center for the Miami Heat, so as a fan of basketball the sport, I’d rather sit really close to the bench, even if it isn’t that great of a matchup,” he says.

And let me pause here – if you’re already confused or your palms are sweaty trying to decipher this information by yourself, the team at The Ticket Experience can walk you through all of it like they do with many of their customers. In fact, you can even email them directly at a VIP address (mail to: email VIP@TheTicketExperience.com) to start narrowing it down.

The Ticket Experience is what’s known as a secondary ticket market, simply meaning you’re buying a ticket that’s already been transacted once. It’s a lot like StubHub, a service you may already be familiar with, but with much more flexible and mom-and-pop shop type options, from people who know many arenas and stadiums like the back of their hand.

One of the things sites like StubHub lack is personal service and answers to some pretty vital questions. As Cubero and Ryan put it, “there’s no such thing as a dumb question.” I asked them to give me a few examples of things they may not see on a site like StubHub or where their expertise in so many stadiums/arenas can come in handy for a buyer like you and I.

“A common one is the numbering and lettering of rows. In some venues, the double letters like AA, BB come first, like they do in the Palace of Auburn Hills, and some of those seats include access to a complimentary buffet, but in the PNC Arena where the Carolina Hurricanes play, the double letters are actually in the back,” Ryan says. “A venue map is often times two-dimensional and doesn’t explain all the benefits of seating options, so that’s not an unfair question to ask. Things like, ‘are there any perks’ or ‘are there sections that include easier access to a bar or all you can eat buffets,’ etc. or some sort of lounge area,” Cubero chimes in. “Having an expert give you that information helps a lot, especially when you’re going after the experience,” he says.

Something else that isn’t always labeled on seating charts – where the team benches are located. That’s a huge plus for a big basketball fan that wants a close-up shot of Dirk Nowitzki.

Another tip from Cubero and Ryan, especially when using sites like Google or StubHub is not to shop just based on price. “Don’t just shop on price because one ticket is $200 and one a couple rows back is $170. On StubHub for example, the prices you see are what the person selling that ticket wants, it does not necessarily mean the seat is better. It’s not a completely logical market, to be honest,” Ryan says.

Other things The Ticket Experience can help you with is determining if there are sections you’d want to sit in or avoid. “In Houston, they have the Red Rowdies, a diverse fan group where fans audition by showing a ton of spirit and chosen to receive free tickets all season in that section. The section is loud and fun – they have drums and they go all out into characters. If I was going with kids who wanted to be loud, that’d be a great section, but if I was going to entertain clients, I’d absolutely not want to be near that,” Ryan laughs. Knowing where those sections are is helpful it seems. If you’re in a low row by the team tunnel, there’s a chance you’ll get a high-five or a wristband from your favorite player, but having the inside knowledge on where those seats are can be tricky. That’s what makes for a fun experience.

Another example Cubero points out when finding tickets in the “perfect” section is knowing where the no alcohol sections are in certain NFL stadiums. Imagine being with a huge bachelor party for a Broncos game and ending up in the only section that doesn’t serve or allow alcohol? Football and beer is a good thing, and that could certainly prevent the experience you’re going for.

“Sometimes stuff like that isn’t always clearly laid out but we can help people navigate that,” Cubero says.

An important thing to note about the secondary market, and companies like The Ticket Experience, is that the price fluctuates a lot, based on demand. “If you’re looking at a winter sport such as basketball or hockey, March can get really hot because teams are in a playoff hunt, so all the games have that dramatic feel to them, so prices can shoot up. There’s also the downside that if a team is out of the playoffs come March and they are tanking, prices will have gone down,” Ryan explains.

“If there is a must-see game, I think it’s more important to lock something in that you’re comfortable with, and not worry about it and understand you got a good deal. It’s a volatile market; it can go up and down. The Rockets market could collapse if James Harden and Dwight Howard got hurt, so that’s one of the things we try to help people understand. If you’re buying early, you’re buying piece of mind,” he says.

Another important note when buying from the secondary market is that the face value printed on the ticket isn’t always accurate. So don’t freak out if you paid a little more. Here’s a short example of how it works in some markets, according to Ryan. “Some teams are assigning averages to ticket prices, so a Friday night game against the Lakers may go for well over the $55 value printed on the ticket, for instance you might pay $105, but a Tuesday against the Bobcats you can probably score for $25, in the secondary market. Remember, you are paying market demand. In our business 70% of the tickets we sell are sold for below ‘face value,’ he points out.

Like many reputable businesses, The Ticket Experience makes their money off repeat customers, so feel at ease when reaching out to them asking questions or purchasing tickets. Their entire business model is based around making sure the fan, no matter of what team, has a great experience, tells their friends, and hopefully comes back for more (in that order).

With all the different markets, different opponents, different playoff races, and more “there’s no stupid question when it comes to ticketing,” Ryan reminds me. And believe me, I tried him on that, and it became crystal clear after our talk that there are so many variables when buying tickets and his team is ready to explain all the scenarios, etc. when purchasing.

For questions, email VIP@TheTicketExperience.com – and remember, there are no dumb questions, at least not when it comes to buying tickets… so get ready to be everyone’s favorite Santa Claus this season.

This piece originally ran on GirlsGuideTo.com under The Blonde Side’s column. Click here to see the original piece.

December 20, 2013/by Jayme

Buffalo Jill Christina

Cheerleading

Buffalo Jill Christina posing for the annual swimsuit calendar

As someone with a bit of a commitment issue, I seriously can’t fathom doing something consistently for eight years, but Buffalo Bills cheerleader (known as the Buffalo Jills), Christina isn’t quite the commitment-phobe I am. Since the earliest allowable age (18), Christina has served as a beautiful Buffalo Jill as well as a line captain for the past four years.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, the 5’6″ strawberry blonde with an abundance of energy and personality to match is no stranger to Bills football, in particular HOF’er Jim Kelly. “My favorite player growing up was Jim Kelly mostly because my father enjoyed watching him. Growing up, I thought it was an annual holiday that the Bills made it to Super Bowl just because of how much Buffalo Bills football was played in our household,” Christina says as we talk about the Bills being the only team to win four consecutive AFC Championships and make it to the Super Bowl four consecutive times in the early ’90s. She begins to brag, but with a record of such, I have to admit, it’s brag-worthy. Or at least it used to be.

Christina and I talk more about the Bills, their traditions and their cold weather temperatures, but then back to her love and appreciation of Jim Kelly. “Jim Kelly was the quarterback who led our team to those same four consecutive Super Bowls and inducted into the pro-football Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible. He now resides in western New York and watches from the sidelines every home game,” she gushes. The same sidelines she cheers from, no less.

The Bills are the only NFL team who plays their home games in the state of New York, and the only team who plays one regular season home game in Toronto, CA (as of 2008). So clearly no stranger to cold weather.

I ask Christina to describe the crowd and the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium and she talks about one of my favorite things in the sporting world – wild fans and their obsession with body paint. “Honestly, there is not one snowstorm that will

Eight years of practice makes perfection for Christina

keep Bills fans from showing off their body paint in the stands. No matter the weather, no matter the score, our fans are one of the most loyal and dedicated in the league. Of the stadiums in the league, Ralph Wilson Stadium is the stadium with the catchiest touchdown song in the league. We call it the shout song. If you don’t know how it goes, watch the first ten minutes of Wedding Crashers,” she says, which of course gets the song, and the scene stuck in my head.

It’s been a while since the Bills legacy has come even close to that stretch of four consecutive years of winning football, I imagine making the life of a cheerleader more difficult. “I think that when you become a Buffalo Jills cheerleader, you need to be a die hard fan. We are considered the support system between the team and our fans and if that support system fails our will to win vanishes. We go by the motto that no matter what, you always need to Billieve,’ Christina says on how important it is to continue cheering and keeping a smile on your face at all times.

“My favorite player to watch is our running back, Fred Jackson. His drive to lead his team to success has been inspiring to me since we first walked out on the field. His motivation he gives his teammates on a constant basis makes him one of the leading role models in the Bills locker room,” she says.

Christina spends her workdays as an HR Analyst and admits that dirty martinis, doing laundry and shoe shopping are her guilty pleasures. Throughout her eight years as an NFL cheerleader, her best memory was being selected to represent the Jills at the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl. “It means nothing more than to have your own teammates grant you that honor. I am truly blessed they chose me. Most cheerleaders look to going to the NFL Pro Bowl as the Super Bowl for the cheerleaders in that only one girl gets to go from each NFL team who has cheerleaders,” she says.

Yup, THIS girl plays broomball

Christina also enjoys playing broomball in her spare time. “Yes that involves running on ice with a broom shaped as a stick,” she says in response to my puzzled face. There’s a lot about Christina that shows me she loves and knows football, she’s pretty and dainty and guys love her, but the girl could probably get down and get feisty if need be, so watch out.

As always, we talk about all the awesome opportunities Christina has been able to take part in over the last eight years, but all the commitment and energy that go into this lifestyle. “I think any girl who has lived the NFL cheerleader life would back me when I say that being a professional cheerleader is a part-time job full-time commitment. Many people on the outside are not aware of what kind of time and commitment it takes just to be an NFL cheerleader. Most of us have full-time jobs, second jobs, are students, and live on our own. Keeping the balance between your commitments as a cheerleader and your life can be challenging. However, as tough as the hectic schedule can be, time management is almost the best life lesson I have learned while being on the Jills,” she says positively.

Be sure to check out my favorite feisty Buffalo Jills cheerleader the rest of this NFL season, as it will be her last. Just like the players, the cheerleaders also retire after a great career and Christina informed me this will be her last season before retiring. “And as I move on with my next chapter in my life I would like to personally thank my number one support system who has been with me from day one, the Buffalo Jills cheerleading organization,” she closes.

This article originally ran on the sports page of CBS Man Cave Daily, click here to see the original version.

December 20, 2013/by Jayme

Falcons Cheerleader Dana

Cheerleading

Falcons Cheerleader Dana Has Passion for Football

Over the last few months, I have interviewed 15 NFL Cheerleaders, but there was still a big question that hadn’t been answered. These women commit so much of their time and devote their lifestyles to being conducive to everything you want an NFL Cheerleader to be, and to be frank, they do it without making a lot of money. Most are required to work full-time jobs or be full-time students, they have other things going on and lead very hectic lives, but they do it all with a smile each and every day. Aside from the amazing wow-factor to say you’re one of a few hundred NFL Cheerleader, which less than a few hundred women can actually say, why?

In just a few short minutes chatting with Dana, an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader for two years, she easily answered my question. “Most people think that it’s a full-time job for us. It definitely takes a lot of hard work and a significant time commitment, but it’s not what pays our bills. We love our teammates and coaches; we love supporting the Atlanta Falcons organization; and we love dancing. It’s really nothing more or less than that,” she says simply.

“Being an NFL Cheerleader is a blast. Sure it takes hard work and commitment to keeping our bodies in shape and our dance ability up, but in the end, we do it for fun. Time and stress management are skills that we are continuing to develop, and this opportunity is making us even better at it and at managing life in general. It helps us learn to prioritize based on what’s important in life and to really devote our time to activities and people that matter rather than to things that don’t,” Dana explains.

The Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders are one of those teams that require all the girls to either have a full-time job or be

All smiles for Dana

full-time students, what they refer to as “WOW Women.” As for Dana’s full-time job, she is a CPA/Auditor at a public accounting firm in Atlanta, which seems to run in the family, as both her dad and brother are also CPAs. Something tells me her dance skills and hair-flipping abilities far outweigh theirs though.

Having been a cheerleader in college at the University of Georgia (for both undergrad and grad school), football and the love for keeping fans invested in the game is practically second nature to Dana, but there is a difference between that and what she does now. “What many people don’t realize is that ‘cheerleading’ in college is very different than professional cheerleading, at least in most cases. Most girls who become professional cheerleaders were actually dancers in college as opposed to the cheerleaders you see flipping and getting thrown in the air on a football sideline or basketball court,” she says.

“Since I did not have much technical dance experience, I had a lot to learn before auditioning. I found an awesome local dance studio called Gotta Dance Atlanta, and started taking classes three or four nights each week. I wanted to make sure I had achieved a certain level of confidence in my dance ability before I showed up at auditions (which can be pretty intimidating to a newbie). Because I put in the work before auditions both in the studio and in the gym, I was fortunate enough to make the team on my first go ’round,” Dana says. Although acing things on her first try isn’t really a new thing for her. Dana passed all four parts of her CPA exam on the first try as well, which is pretty much unheard of.

Born in Griffin, GA and raised in Marietta, Dana attributes much, if not all, of her successes and motivations in life to her “rockstar parents” and is one of those girls who counts her blessings everyday.

These girls know how to have fun

As for her guilty pleasures, Dana loves candy and energy drinks, admittedly not something that necessarily goes hand in hand with her amazing physique. “I eat at least one piece of candy almost every single day at work. I have tried to limit energy drinks in the past few months, but the candy hasn’t gone anywhere,” she says of her almost childlike addiction. But given their hectic year-round schedules, these girls must have some sort of liquid energy to get them through their days, especially on Sundays when they have to keep up with those wild Falcons fans.

“We have INCREDIBLE ride or die fans. When the game is on the line, you know the 12th man will show up every time! Our games are held in the Georgia Dome, located in downtown Atlanta. The Dome holds over 71,000 of our awesome fans! They show up no matter what kind of season the team is having. We have phenomenal digital media and marketing teams that do an awesome job prompting fans throughout the game. The Dome is electric during pivotal moments. It’s something you can’t understand unless you experience it for yourself,” she says of the game day experience known only to Falcons fans.

Dana’s favorite football player in the past was David Pollack, former linebacker from her alma mater. “He played with so much passion and heart. You could see his love for the game every time he stepped on the field,” she says. As for her favorite player on the current Falcons roster, she admits it’s a bit of a cliché, but it comes with good reason. “With a number of our starters being hurt this year, Matt Ryan has probably been one of the most consistent players. I’m always amazed at how calm and composed he is at any given time in a game,” she says of the starting quarterback.

One of the best parts about taking time to interview amazing women, like Dana, is that you truly learn how a group of 20-40 women can interact on a regular basis, even through the tough times. It’s not all Real Housewives of the NFL like you might imagine (or hope).

As a former sorority girl myself, spending that much time around so much glitter-infested estrogen almost scares me, with images of dramatic cat-fights taking place on the regular, but that certainly isn’t true with this group. “My favorite

Dancing up a storm in the ATL

thing about the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders and coaches is that we all truly care about each other. We celebrate each others successes and support each other during tough times. We take time before every practice to sit down as a team and give ‘good news, bad news, sad news, and glad news’ so we know what’s going on in each others lives and can provide support. We also recognize that each one of us was put on our team for reason, and while those reasons vary from person to person, we understand we are all equally important and worthy of this amazing opportunity; it’s evident that each of us believe this to be true by the way we treat each other,” Dana says of her teammates.

A well-rounded gal, Dana also finds herself listening to country music on Spotify, loves the beach, including palm trees, sunshine, sand and the sound of waves crashing on the shore (which she considers a glimpse of what she imagines Heaven will be like), has a dog named Grace that she absolutely adores and finds peace going on jogs throughout her neighborhood. You know, all of that in her spare time.

Be sure to follow my favorite Falcons Cheerleader, Dana, on Twitter: @AFC_Dana

This article originally ran on the sports page of CBS Man Cave Daily. Click here to see the original goodness.

December 13, 2013/by Jayme

Is the Heisman a Joke?

Football

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Pro football, at least here in Houston, kind of depresses me right now, so I’m moving on to a topic I think deserves some blog time in the college world.

It is college football’s most prestigious award. Each year the Heisman is awarded to: The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work

According to the Heisman website, their “goal is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.”

Now remember that definition for the debate I’m about to take you on…

The problem–well, just one of them–with the Heisman is that it is overall rooted in subjectivity for voting. It pretty much always has been.

Take the simple definition of the Heisman as proof: “awarded to an individual designated as the outstanding college football player in the United States.” Ask that exact question to ten people and pretty much you’ll get ten different answers, but the kicker here is this – you’ll probably get ten different answers based on ten different thoughts or reasons and value systems. Multiply that by 90 and regional bias and that’s a campaign I’d like to sit out.

You’ll hear people say: I think Johnny Manziel should win it because he’s taken A&M to brand new heights in the SEC and revitalized that program pretty much singlehandedly. I think so-and-so should win because they had the toughest schedule this season. I think so-and-so should win because he ran the ball more on the ground or does so much good in the community and he goes to my church and blah blah blah or so-and-so went undefeated and no one else did.

All of the above may be well and true, but that isn’t what a “prestigious” award should be based on. If you leave the very definition of the award open-ended as it seems, doesn’t it stand to reason the winner and the reasoning behind said winner will too be open-ended? That just doesn’t scream consistent and annual award like it should, at least not one worthy of such discussion.

Last year Maxim magazine voted Miley Cyrus the sexiest woman alive. I shudder saying that out loud. While that has

Mila Kunis IS the Sexiest Woman Alive (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

absolutely nothing to do with sports, I’m well aware, it does prove that if you leave a big vote and honor up to a bunch of random individuals; you’ll end up with the wrong recipient for an award.

Personally, I think Mila Kunis should have pulled an Archie Griffin and been the only back-to-back winner in history, but it wasn’t up to me. Apparently it was up to a bunch of teenie boppers who have yet to discover the actual definition of the word sexy.

Everything about the Heisman and the definition of selecting a winner contradicts itself.

Another example? If it’s designated an individual award, why does a tanking team or one with a less than impressive strength of schedule rule out some of the best and most “outstanding” players in college football? If you’re simply looking for the most outstanding player in college football, by your own definition, then some of these outstanding guys have been left out of the discussions. Again, discrepancy after discrepancy.

Many pundits have stated that one game or one miracle play, no matter how highlight worthy it may be, can’t catapult a player into the Heisman watch on its own, so then how does one bad/lousy/terrible/embarrassing game (Week 13 to be exact) cause widespread panic and call for a reset of the Top 5 Heisman guys who have led the talks all season? If you can’t become a Heisman hopeful in one game, it stands to reason you can’t get knocked out of rankings in one game, right? Everyone’s allowed one subpar game, are they not? Not according to this Heisman race; Manziel, Mariota, and Bryce Petty all dropped pretty much out of the running after bad or average games last week.

Which has led to this: Derek Carr is now in Heisman talks. If that name doesn’t sound familiar or ring a painful bell to the folks in Houston, just know he’s the brother of everyone’s former “favorite” Houston quarterback: David Carr.

And I’ll just leave you with that image. Oh and for those who lost count, the last two Heisman winners came from the great state of Texas. Maybe I’m just reaching here on this whole Heisman theory, but what do you think? I can’t help but think every year it loses a bit of luster and prestige and is turning more and more into a joke than the sexy Miley Cyrus bit.

This article originally ran on CBS Man Cave Daily on The Blonde Side’s sports column. Click here to see the original article.

December 10, 2013/by Jayme

Eagles Cheerleader Stephanie

Cheerleading

Stephanie modeling one of the new Vera Wang Signature Pieces

While I wouldn’t say there is a fully encompassing description of what an NFL cheerleader looks like or does for a living, I’d be willing to say Stephanie, a five-year veteran as a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader and Fundraising Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, breaks that typical mold and does so with immense pride.

If you’ve never checked out the Eagles Cheerleader website, let me start you off with this: before accessing the site, there is a “warning” that reads, “Please note, this area contains mature content.” If that doesn’t get your attention as a football fan and lover of beautiful women, then stop reading now.

It’s no secret the Eagles have been my football team of choice since 1991, so this interview on the sidelines of Lincoln Financial Field with Stephanie was by far one of my favorite moments. The Eagles are known around the league for their forward-thinking vision and taking the world of cheerleading to incredibly new and amazing heights all with one thing in mind: their fans. Just as each football team plays a different kind of ball relying uniquely on run games or special teams spectaculars, the cheerleading squads you see on the sidelines are just as unique.

“We are known for being cutting-edge. We were the first to produce an eco-friendly calendar as well as the first to have a lingerie-themed calendar, which really set us apart from the typical swimsuit calendars,” Stephanie, also known as Miss January 2014, brags. “We are the first and only to have uniforms created by an internationally renowned designer (Vera Wang), and the first to create a Cheerleader Calendar Mobile App. These are just a few examples of our creative mentality. It’s exciting to be a part of a squad that is always implementing new ideas!”

As two hardcore Eagles fans, we talk about our love for Brian Dawkins and the bad rap Philly sports fans get from the rest of the world. “I think Eagles fans are the most passionate fans in the NFL – we live and die with the team, we bleed green! We have a great history of football tradition here in Philadelphia and are very proud of that history and tradition. The reason why Philly fans get a bad rap sometimes is because we are so passionate…but that passion comes from love. It’s our love of the game, our team, our city, our fellow fans. I am so proud to be an Eagles fan and be in the constant company of incredible fellow fans here in Philadelphia. Just like the Eagles organization, Eagles fans stand behind important community initiatives. With the support from Eagles fans, over the last several years more than $1.7 million has been raised for breast cancer care and research in the Philadelphia region. Eagles fans support our troops, help feed the hungry with our food drive, support research for Autism, participate heavily in the Eagles Go Green campaign, and much more. E-A-G-L-E-S- EAGLES,” she says without stopping for air.

Together we could go on and on about the love for our team and fans, but this isn’t an Eagles PSA, so we’ll move on.

Stephanie participating in a NFL Network promo

As someone who’s clearly never been a cheerleader, it always amazes me to hear these women describe their roles and their game day routines and rituals, but I think Stephanie explains it best. “I always use this analogy what it feels like to be on the field for the first time as a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, that it’s a lot like getting on a roller coaster,” where she pauses to inform me that roller coasters are one of her top three biggest fears in life.

“Once you’re strapped in and climbing toward the first drop, as much as you want to freak out and start screaming, there is no getting off so you just hang on and get ready for the ride of your life. After five years on the squad, I guess you can say that as soon as the ride stops, I am the woman running to get back in line to do it all over again,” she says admitting that the experience and adrenaline are addicting.

Stephanie is just one of the 38 beautiful, smart and driven women on the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader roster where she has served as a captain for the past two seasons and serves as perhaps the most dynamic representation of the organization. Calling these women smart and driven is by far an understatement. “I have had teammates with careers that included being a registered nurse, architect, teacher, accountant, and more. I always joke we need to start our own company. That way we can give ourselves the day off after a game!” she laughs.

Oh, and back to not exactly looking like your “typical” cheerleader (her words), Stephanie stands at 5’6″ and weighs 124 lbs. with long black hair. “I am proud of who I am and how I look. I wish more celebrities would publicly embrace a healthy weight and lifestyle rather than promoting dieting and being skinny so they could be role models for young girls today. It’s important for young girls to know it’s not about what you weigh, it’s about your health, how you feel, and loving the way you look,” she says.

Stephanie was also selected to model for Esquire magazine’s “Me in My Place” feature alongside supermodels Chrissy Teigen and Jessica Hart.

Stephanie – Down the Shore Calendar

And Stephanie isn’t the only one that loves the way she looks and feels; she’s one of the favorites on the Eagles sidelines, by players and fans alike, and is featured as Miss January 2014 in the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders 2013-2014 Calendar. “I was extra excited for this year’s shoot, because all the net proceeds are being donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. It is a cause near and dear to our hearts because so many of us grew up spending family vacations or living at the Jersey Shore and it was devastating to see the damage. Through the calendar, we hope to show the great resiliency of the shore communities and contribute to the rebuilding efforts,” Stephanie says. And that’s just one of the ways the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders set themselves apart from the other women in the league.

“I love that our uniforms were designed by Vera Wang. We are the only squad to have uniforms created by an internationally famed designer. I really like that our look is so different from other teams. We have a very fashion-forward look that is both sporty and chic. My two favorite signature pieces are the sweater with the modern design and sleeve length and the jacket with the Eagles wings logo motif. Also, I’m a woman truly obsessed with shoes so I absolutely love our new black sparkle sneakers that Vera Wang designed just for us,” she says.And it isn’t just the uniforms and the amazing friendships she’s made being an Eagle cheerleader that Stephanie raves about, it’s the entire organization. “The Eagles organization as a whole embraces change and knows that to make a difference on and off the field you have to be willing to evolve. That’s why you can see progressive decisions being made like bringing on Chip Kelly as the Head Coach with his innovative approach and adding wind turbines to adorn the top of Lincoln Financial Field. I think the Eagles Go Green efforts are absolutely on a playing field of their own,” she says.

Stephanie admits that it’s probably just her and “the entire world’s population of 13-year-olds” that bought Bieber’s Believe album, but there’s just something about the Biebs that makes you want to dance, she says. But then admits she’ll dance to pretty much any kind of music.

Don’t let her goofball personality or devotion to Justin Bieber fool you. Like many of the NFL cheerleaders I’ve interviewed, Stephanie too is an over-achiever it seems and I sometimes wonder how she gets so much accomplished having the same 24-hour window that we all are gifted with. All before the age of 22, Stephanie graduated from Drexel University where she earned her Bachelors in Design and Merchandising with a minor in both business and dance where she was also a four-year member of the soccer team as well as captain of the Division I Drexel Dance Team, then went on to earn her MBA from Philadelphia University where she had a life-changing opportunity to participate in a study abroad program in India where she checked off the Taj Mahal from her bucket list. I repeat, all before the age of 22.

As if her big heart, her beautiful dark eyes and olive skin weren’t enough to make you fall in love, she loves to bake too, although admits it’s crazy she doesn’t own a microwave and prides herself on buying all organic and not going anywhere near artificial sugars. Stephanie says a lot of her recent free time (what free time I ask again?) she’s been baking pumpkin inspired goodies to help celebrate and get into the fall season to share with her squad.

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, nor should you judge a cheerleader by her obsession of catalogs. Yes, catalogs.

“For some reason, I find looking at catalogs really relaxing and flip through them as I workout. They are really easy to page through while working out and it takes my mind away from that ‘I’m going to fall over and die if I do one more sprint’ feeling,” the Pen Argyl small town native laughs.

One of her newest obsessions is the new craze of The Color Run. “There is just something about being doused in different colors of paint at every kilometer that I find delightful. I also love that the run celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality,” she explains.

Stephanie’s coveted Trading Card

For those who have never experienced Philadelphia sports for real, let me let Stephanie walk you through an Eagles game day. I won’t say an “average” Eagles game day, because the word average doesn’t exist in those parking lots.

“The excitement starts long before you enter the stadium. Tailgating is one of our great traditions at Lincoln Financial Field. For a 1:00 PM kickoff, you can see Eagles fans in the parking lots by 7:00 AM tailgating. The excitement in the air is almost tangible. Once you enter the stadium, it is a sea of green jerseys. When our fight song is played pre-game and after touchdowns, 70,000 fans are singing it together! Throughout the game, you will hear sections of fans competing with one another for the loudest E-A-G-L-E-S cheer! I also love that we live in a city that bears all the elements. We get the blazing heat of the August preseason games, the crisp fall that is synonymous with it being football season, and the brutal winters…and our fans never leave their seats! We are tough, proud, and passionate,” she explains.

As an Eagles fan having ventured into The Vet and The Linc on multiple occasions, I couldn’t agree more with Stephanie.

Will the beautiful Stephanie return for a sixth year? You never know, but she does end with this. “I love my career, but as an NFL cheerleader, I just feel like I am living a dream and I don’t know how you ever walk away from that,” she says before adding how incredibly grateful she is for this experience.

This was part of The Blonde Side’s sports column on CBS Man Cave Daily. Click here to see the original article.

December 6, 2013/by Jayme

James Ihedigbo Invites You

Football

James Ihedigbo and his charity efforts

If you’ve never had a professional athlete personally invite you to an event to hang with him and some of his teammates, all while helping a great cause, then listen up as Baltimore Ravens strong safety, James Ihedigbo has a message for you regarding his 1 Annual Celebrity Cruise and Casino Charity Night, Monday, December 9th. The charity cruise at Spirit Cruises/Baltimore Inner Harbor, sets sail at 7:00pm and goes until about 10p.

Tickets for the event (in advance) are $75, which includes open bar, a dinner buffet and $500 casino play money with 100% of ticket proceeds going to the HOPE Africa Scholarship fund.

“What we (HOPE Africa) do is designed to give students of African descent the opportunity to pursue higher education and we do that through our funding process where 100% goes to those scholarships. Right now we have 12 students in colleges ranging from NYU, Arizona, Oregon, the list goes on,” Ihedigbo says of his charity, HOPE Africa.

“HOPE Africa comes from both my parents coming from Nigeria and having to work through many years of adversity to achieve their goals of earning their Ph.D.s. HOPE Africa creates a platform in a similar place, the opportunity so these kids don’t have to struggle as hard to make ends meat while going to school. We take the financial burden off of them so they can concentrate on their studies and their dreams,” he says.

The mission of HOPE Africa is to boost future young African leaders to achieve its goal, providing academic scholarships and a broader structure: volunteer opportunities, internships and a network of people to help them create sustainable projects with the aim of establishing a continuing system of resources for future generations, as it says on their website.

This cruise event is the first of its kind for Ihedigbo and his charity, with a desire to do something locally in Baltimore where he plays with the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Baltimore Ravens. “We (HOPE Africa) have this big event we do during the NFL Draft weekend every year in New York, and we wanted to do something big in Baltimore. It’s awesome, we have great sponsors across the board, and a lot of people have already been buying tickets. All the big name Ravens will be in attendance as well, it’s definitely going to be a great and fun night,” he promises.

As for a list of Ravens players confirmed to be on board, there isn’t one yet, but Ihedigbo did throw out names like Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Vonta Leach and a few others. It seems there will be about 20 Ravens players, past and current, that will be setting sail with fans in support of this great cause.

James Ihedigbo hanging with his students

It’s no secret, playing in the NFL is one of the surest ways to jam-pack your schedule. Aside from practices, games and watching a ton of film in preparation for games, most players are actively involved in their own charitable endeavors, as well as supporting those of their teammates. It’s kind of an unwritten rule in the league, but one that doesn’t go unnoticed by philanthropists like Ihedigbo.

“It means a lot (to have their support) because you understand the effort and time we put into HOPE Africa and the busy schedules we all have. Having them come out and support (the cause) means a lot. It’s one thing for people to give monetary gifts, but the major thing is when people give their time because they have such a limited amount of it. When guys like Ray Rice and Vonta Leach say ‘I’ll be there and wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ that means a lot to me,” the strong safety says.

And it’s not just his teammates support that means so much to Ihedigbo, who has quickly found his home in Baltimore and among their fans. “That’s the thing I’ve grown to love about the Ravens fan base. They love their Ravens players. They support us and our efforts on the field, but they also give us major support on the things we do in the community. The outpouring I’ve seen on Twitter and their commitment to being there (his December 9^th event), posting their receipt for buying tickets to the event and all that, fans really know the amount of work we put in off the field and on the field, and want to be a part of it all,” Ihedibgo says.

Although tickets have been selling rapidly, there’s plenty more room on board and Ihedibgo personally extends the invitation to each of you. “The more the merrier. We’re hoping for hundreds to come.”

Ihedigbo, who wears #32 for the Ravens, talks why he chose to wear that number in the NFL, attributing it to his college friend who is no longer in the league. “It’s pretty awesome, I had a good friend of mine, Matt Lawrence, who I played college football with at U Mass, and he was on the Ravens when I was on the Jets. He wore #32, and kind of had a career ending injury with his neck, not where he’s paralyzed, but he can’t play football anymore. When I came to the Ravens, I wore 32 in his honor,” Ihedigbo says of his buddy.

James Ihedigbo invites you to his event December 9th

It’s not often you get to sit down and chat with a guy who’s had the chance to play in back-to-back Super Bowls, losing one with the New England Patriots, followed the very next year with a win with the Ravens.

“I’ve been on both sides of the coin – that’s rare that that happens. The agony of defeat after I lost that Super Bowl…honestly I didn’t want to look at SportsCenter, anything that had to do with football, I didn’t want to be a part of it for a good month and a half. You work so hard and so much goes into making it to a Super Bowl, so much effort, sacrifice, coming together as a team…to lose one is devastating. It’s kind of awesome to know that God had something better for me, leaving and going to another team.

“I was saying to one of my teammates in Week 7, I said ‘Wow we have what it takes to be a championship team.’ I could say that because I’ve seen it before, I know what it looks like. We continued to fight, scratch, fight our way to the playoffs, and then to win a Super Bowl, it’s the complete opposite, it’s the biggest joy you could ever have,” Ihedigbo says. “I actually heard from someone, the two greatest things a man can ever experience are winning a Super Bowl and the birth of their first child, that’s pretty awesome.”

But back to his main focus right now, at least off the field, Ihedibgo’s event. “It’s pretty simple, it’s going to be a great night – you get to cruise the inner harbor with your favorite players on the Ravens while supporting a great cause. What better night to spend the evening with Joe Flacco along with gambling, supporting a great cause, live music, it’s just going to be a great night,” he says.

For tickets, visit HopeAfricaUSA.org. All proceeds from the event go to support the scholarship fund of HOPE Africa USA, a non-profit 501c3 public charity organization founded by Ihedigbo. The cruise boards Monday, December 9th, at 7 p.m. at 561 Light St. Have fun, Charm City.

This series is part of The Blonde Side’s Blue 32 Birthday Series on Man Cave Daily – an attempt to interview as many current and former professional players of all sports, who wore the number 32 on their jersey.

This article also ran on CBS Man Cave Daily, in the sports section. Click here for the original article.

December 3, 2013/by Jayme