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Eagles Cheerleader Stephanie

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

Cheering on the Bengals Sans Pompoms

Cheerleading

Former Ben Gals Cheerleader Talks Life After the NFL

She’s 5’5, 120 lbs., blonde hair, blue eyes, loves long walks on the beach and enjoys a glass or two of wine. Oh, and she’s a former NFL cheerleader, which yes, means she’s hot.

She may not still have pompoms in her hands, but the memories she holds near and dear to her heart are still there. Meet Toney, former Ben-Gals cheerleader for two years. Here’s a look at Toney’s life post-NFL cheerleader, the things she misses most about being on the sidelines and the things she’s happier to have parted her spirit finger ways with.

Toney works in sales and after a long day, sits down in her sweats to spill the beans. She says she’ll never regret joining the Ben-Gals, but in an effort to further her career, plan her elaborate wedding and some unmentionable “issues,” she realized after two great years, it was time to move on. Just because she’s not on the sidelines anymore doesn’t mean she isn’t in the stands or on her couch still cheering on the Bengals. She even boldly predicts they’ll easily win the AFC North.

During her two-year span, the Maryland native had quite a few accomplishments on her rhinestone belt as she was voted top NFL cheerleader to follow on Twitter and ranked in the Top 10 hottest NFL cheerleaders in the AFC North.

While she sadly can’t rack up any more of those accolades, the thing she doesn’t miss very much: WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS.Now that she’s no longer a Ben-Gal, Toney takes immense pride in eating on weigh-in days, something she couldn’t do for the past two years. And good thing, because the 5’5” blonde is “obsessed with Chick-fil-A.”

I asked Toney to dish on the “weirdest” rules she had to follow as a cheerleader and here’s what she had to say (quoted):

3 lb. weight rule (you only had 3 lbs. within your “goal weight” you could fluctuate)
Hair and makeup full out every practice
We had to dress up to go into the stadium at 8 a.m when nobody was there to see us on game days (silly!!!!)
Toney, Former Ben Gals Cheerleader

Weird rules aside, she says hands-down the best part of the whole experience was the fact that everyone looks up to you. “Whether it be on the field, people, especially children, see you as a mentor or role model,” Toney says. Plus she loved being a part of such a dynamic group of girls, which ranged in age from 21-46. (Yes, the oldest NFL cheerleader is 46 and she too is a Ben-Gal.)

She’s got the eye of the tiger.

While other squads get to fly away to exotic beaches to provide you the sexiest calendar imaginable, Toney ‘fesses up that her shoots weren’t quite so glamorous. “We never go anywhere fun for our calendars, so my first year I was inside someone’s house shooting outside and on the stairs. My second year I shot inside an interior decorator’s store on a pink couch.” I guess it doesn’t matter where they shoot, because those 12 Ben-Gals looked amazing every single month and take my word – plenty of people in and out of Cincinnati purchased it.

Although she doesn’t have to keep up with her past workout and weight regime anymore, Toney still finds the time to keep herself toned. “I love weight training. My trainer is a beast and puts us to work. I love throwing around weights like a meathead,” she laughs.

On location at the Ben Gals swimsuit calendar

And like most girls, when she’s not working out or spending time with friends and family, she finds herself glued to the TV catching up on the trashiest of reality TV. “I DVR all the Housewives shows, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Duck Dynasty, and Teen Mom.” But her semi-embarrassing admissions don’t stop there as she tells me that the most embarrassing thing on her iPod is Spice Girls, saying “I was totally ‘Baby Spice’ when I was younger.”

For now, Toney is loving the time that has freed up since her former days as a hair-flipping and high-kicking cheerleader, however, she does have one more dream she is desperately trying to accomplish: “I have applied to be on ABC’s Wipeout over FIVE times, but I don’t ever get a reply. HELP! I think I would do better than most people would expect. I am extremely competitive and enjoy doing things that involve athleticism.”

Keep on with the weight training Toney and we’ll make some calls for you.

November 25, 2013/by Jayme

2013 Texans Woes

Football

Arian Foster injured and out for season (photo via SI)

I’ve been taking an increasingly undue amount of flack for my recent posts and Sports Uncensored segments, particularly when it comes to the reigning AFC South champs, the Houston Texans.

“Losing to the No. 26-ranked Raiders dropped the Texans another spot in the Power Rankings, for what is again their lowest ranking to date. Houston checks in at No. 29 this week, ahead of only the Falcons, Vikings and this week’s opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars,” via a recent ESPN article.

Let me start with this: I want the Houston Texans to win. I want a fun, entertaining, high-fiving and Bud Light drinking season. I want to use my extended credit limit on hotels in New York in hopes of catching the Super Bowl with the Houston Texans front and center, like we all expected them to be at the beginning of the season.

But that’s not happening. In fact, it’s the absolute furthest thing from happening. Amanda Bynes will probably be sober before the Texans make another appearance in the post-season again. I hate it, but it’s true.

For those of you bashing my negativity, let me also say, I love these guys and their heart. I’m friends with many of them and see the hurt in their eyes and hear it in their voices when they talk about this season, the same season we all thought made us Super Bowl 2014 contenders. I promise you it hurts each and every one of those guys more than it hurts even the biggest of fans.

A recent Houston Chronicle article started with this famous Albert Einstein quote and I’m not sure there’s a more fitting one in existence: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Hello Kubiak, perhaps Einstein was speaking to you?

In no particular order, here’s what the Texans have endured this season, i.e. parlaying the insanity:

Pro Bowler Owen Daniels out with a fibula fracture in Week 5. Sure Garrett Graham has done a phenomenal job as a replacement, but when one of your most reliable tight ends is no longer an option for your struggling quarterback, no matter who it is, that hurts.

Texans quarterback issues

Speaking of quarterbacks lets only briefly discuss Matt Schaub’s woes this season. Schaub, bless his little NFL heart, set an NFL record, but not the kind he had hoped to set. Schaub set a record for throwing a pick-six in four consecutive games and the mental demons continue to get the best of him. Then he goes out with an injury.

TJ Yates comes in and doesn’t impress fans the way everyone had hoped. Womp. Womp.

Case Keenum, the hometown local favorite, comes in, plays great, gets benched, which confuses every human who watched even a moment of NFL this season.

Head Coach, Gary Kubiak, collapses on the field and suffers a mini-stroke, scaring everyone.

The Texans set a franchise-record of eight straight losses. Again, another record we’d preferred to have avoided.

Arian Foster acts like a hot mess towards heckling fans, replays his nagging injury, which has now led to surgery and the loss of an entire season, not to mention a whole lot of money down the drain.

Another running back, Ben Tate, suffers fractured ribs, still trying to play through the pain, Texans run game takes bigger hits than a Tim Tebow roast.

Three players are released from the team for still-sketchy and unconfirmed reasoning, one of which a high draft pick, which is a waste in and of itself, and a much-needed running back to aid in the newly desolate run game without Foster and Tate teetering on the edge.

The Texans biggest free agent signee, the same guy that got everyone all warm and fuzzy, Ed Reed, gets released for having absolutely zero impact on the Houston Texans, surprising us all. Eleven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and only nine games with the Houston Texans, where he only played in seven and was paid $6 million for those seven lousy games. The Texans were 2-0 with Reed coddling his hip injury on the sidelines and 0-7 with him on the field, yet he still has the nerve to say the players, the ones who actually played, got outplayed and outcoached. Ugh…ok Mr. Reed – you only took 12 of a possible 69 snaps that game, so you may want to…

Anyways, good luck in New York.

Brian Cushing down with another season ending injury (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

And we can’t forget the awful Cushing injury for the second year in a row. Cushing is a mainstay in a leadership role and on the defensive line, adding to yet another blow this season.

Oh, did we mention fans boo’ing their own teammates, setting $200 jerseys on fire in drunken stupor and hopes for world wide internet fame, and cheering our own players injuries leading to Texans players begging fans to act “smart” and “normal” and “with class.” That wasn’t necessarily a highlight in the Texans Fans Are Classy reel seen throughout the NFL.

Oh, and then there’s laces out Randy Finkle Einhorn Bullock, who can’t kick a field goal when we need it most, having only nailed 14 of his 23 attempts thus far. Accordingly to Grantland, Bullock is nearly twice as bad as the second-worst kicker in the league.

But after all that, you still want me to be positive about this team? How’s this for positivity: we tailgate better than anyone else in the NFL, our cheerleaders are the hottest, and we are destined to have a better season next year, simply based on the numbers game alone? How’s that for positivity?

If the season ended today, we’d end up with at least a top five draft pick, so that’s something to be optimistic about. And the strong class of talent coming out of the draft could be a huge bonus for Houston, but the question is, what position are we most desperate for? And do we have faith in GM Rick Smith to draft position players the way we need them? I think so, but not everyone agrees.

I’m still a Texans fan, but I can’t sit here and lie to you, there isn’t much good going on. I wish there were. I will tell you I love seeing these Texan players in the community giving back each and every week even after a hard loss and I get pumped seeing all the super fans still supporting the team. But when we talk about play on the field, I’m about as optimistic as I can get without lying straight to your faces.

November 20, 2013/by Jayme

Titans Cheerleader Yalea Has Chemistry

Cheerleading

Titans Cheerleader Yalea

No literally, like a degree and everything.

Dennis Rodman once said, “Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is ten, or something.”

Something tells me if Yalea, a Titans Cheerleader with super-veteran status, were his teacher, he would have learned a whole lot more.

While it may be hard to believe for some (and a dream come true for others), Yalea’s outfit changes have quite the range going from a super skimpy light blue Titans Cheerleading uniform on Sunday home games to her typical lab coat and goggles during the day where she spends her time as a high school chemistry teacher and varsity cheerleading coach.

You might recognize Yalea on the Titans sidelines either from her huge smile, her jet-black shiny hair, or the fact she’s taller than all the other girls, standing proudly at 5-feet-10-inches.

So yeah, Yalea is actually taller than WR Devon Wylie (#19) who is 5-9, and is the same height as three other players on the Titans roster: RB Collin Mooney (#42), DB Alterraun Verner (#20) and WR Kendall Wright (#13) — all heights according to the current Titans Roster.

Or actually, you may notice her out of the beautifully star-studded lineup of Titans Cheerleaders because of her abs of steel, having been voted the “best abs” of 2012 by the rest of her Titans Cheerleaders. “I’m always super proud of my abs of steel,” Yalea gushes.

“I love staying in shape. I’m always going to bootcamps, running and everything else because I love maintaining a great physique,” the abs winner says. “I just got into running 5ks. I’m working my way up to the marathons, but a good 5k is quick and easy!”

Though Yalea has been a glorious Titans Cheerleader for three years, she, like all the others, still gets nervous walking out at LP Field. But I love her approach; it reminds me of an elite athlete knowing they’ve been blessed with a talent and unique opportunity. “I love every game and treat it like it could be my last and perform like it’s my first. I get crazy butterflies but have a blast during the entire day,” she explains.

As someone who lives in Houston, I can’t have a conversation with Yalea without bringing up the Texans/Oilers/Titans. “I would say our biggest rival has to be the Houston Texans just because of the history between both the city and our franchise. Every time we play them if it’s home or away you can always see both sides wearing their jerseys and if you’re anywhere watching a game you can feel it in the air,” she says of the rivalry.

Yalea pumping up Titans fans at LP Field. Photo courtesy of Donn Jones Photography.

Before you go judging her for having practically every Disney soundtrack on her iPod (which seems to be a theme among NFL Cheerleaders), she’s quicker to call herself a nerd than you are to think it. Aside from her array of musical choices, Yalea has more degrees that I have running shoes. “I have a BS in Biomedical Science, a Masters in Public Health and a Masters in Teaching. I’m pretty much the biggest science geek of all time,” she laughs, but in complete seriousness.

And my new tall friend Yalea is far from being the only highly educated woman on her team. “I think the biggest misconception about NFL Cheerleaders is that we’re stupid. That drives me crazy. My team specifically has PhD candidates, CPAs, nurses, teachers, and more. We have such a variety and I love learning from everyone,” she says.

The hardest part about being an NFL Cheerleader for Yalea is definitely the schedule, but that’s just another area where her geeky tendencies come into play and provide a benefit to her. “ I know for me I teach, coach and cheer so my time management and organization has to be on point. You’ll always see me carrying a giant planner and it’s color-coded to make it extra organized,” she says laughing realizing how incredibly dorky she sounds yet completely oblivious to how equally cute and fitting it is for her.

Taking all the busy aspects of her life into account, Yalea takes time to realize life should never get too busy quoting Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as a reminder for us all: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

“Although I love my Titans family, my favorite player to watch is Calvin Johnson of the Lions. He is really taking them places,” Yalea confesses. This is probably a good time to tell you she’s originally from Clinton Township, MI (a suburb of Detroit), so her first love is the Lions. As she tells me about her hometown she does the odd little Michigander location hand motion and I feel completely lost, but trust she knows what she’s talking about as a native.A girl after my own heart, Yalea admits she’s a big fan of The Real Housewives and we gush about those ladies and their crazy drama. “ It can get crazy but I love that show. You will always catch it on my DVR. Atlanta is definitely my favorite,” she says.

“I love my team. We are an amazing group of women. I think we work hard and it shows. No matter what our team is doing, know that we will be amazing,” she promises in a final gush about the women she works hard with each and every week to bring Titans fans the biggest and brightest smiles in all of Tennessee.

Yalea in the Titans swimsuit calendar

And as if the girl didn’t already have enough degrees, she tells me she wants more. (Us women, always wanting more…)

“I love having a brain to go along with cheering. I’m considering going back to medical school with my history of working as a phlebotomist and in triage in the ER. Hopefully one day I’ll be a physician!”

For those of you who love beautiful, geeky girls with legs for miles, here’s a special tip just for you:

“I love sushi! So if you want to take me out, find the best sushi restaurant in town and let’s go!” – from Yalea’s mouth straight to your computer screen.

Can we get a collective “Go Titans!” for Yalea?

Be sure to follow Yalea on Twitter – try to out-geek her — I dare you.

This article originally ran on CBS Man Cave Daily, click here to see the original article on Tennessee Titans Cheerleader, Yalea.

November 20, 2013/by Jayme

Dwight Misses Again

Basketball

Something tells me Superman could make his free-throws

Dwight Howard has 88 million reasons to make a free throw. He has 88 million reasons to be consistent. He has 88 million reasons to prove the haters wrong.

Bleacher Report just did a funny piece on the topic of the two things Dwight Howard is awful at: free throws and media questions. Ha, lucky us.

Howard’s answer for his poor free throwing shooting is that we talk about it too much. But in the game of basketball, there aren’t many gimmes. There aren’t many free points. A right-handed layup, that’s a gimme. Heck, in the pros any layup is a gimme. Any time you’re in the paint without a defender up in your face, that’s a gimme. Anytime you play the Jazz, that’s a gimme. 99% of the time Dwight touches the ball, that’s a gimme. Anytime you’ve been in the league for nearly a decade where the free throw line has remained a constant, that’s a gimme. If you’re shooting from a point on the court known as the “charity stripe,” that alone should tell you IT’S A GIMME.

But it’s not just Houston where Howard is sucking it up. Dwight has never really been any good at those free buckets at the line, not hitting more than 50% since the 2010-11 season. There’s this thing about sports – when teams spot your weakness, like in the Astros case where everything seems to be a weakness, they exploit them. It seems to reason if the Astros can’t hit a fastball if their lives depended on it, would you throw them a curveball followed by a slider?

Um, no.

The same rule applies here to Howard – if the big guy can’t sink a free throw when the pressure’s on, why not foul him all day and all night? And it seems to be working, especially down the stretch.

When it comes to free throws, Dwight is the exact opposite of our mascot. Get it? Clutch.

To date, Howard leads the league in free throws. Obviously not ones being made, but attempted shots, so far at 87.

In the much-anticipated Lakers game where Dwight greeted his old teammate buddies on his new home court, they sent him to the line 12 times just in the fourth quarter alone. For those not so good at math, that would have been 12 much-needed points in the fourth quarter, instead Dwight nailed only five. And isn’t that weird? The Rockets lost by one point that night. One.

According to NBA.com Dwight is only hitting 47.1% of his free throws, his second (30.8) and fourth (41.4) quarters

Dwight Howard having trouble from the charity stripe

averaging the lowest.

And all this talk about how good Dwight is at making free throws in practice really doesn’t matter. I was good during Driver’s Ed, but my awful driving record is pretty much what matters at this point, does it not? My car insurance doesn’t calculate my insanely high rates based on how good I was when I practiced.

I don’t think “Hey officer, I was driving really good and legal until you started watching me,” would suffice as an answer the way Dwight thinks he can tell us the cameras and the lights and the pressure are getting to him. But again, like I always say – I’m not a 6-foot-11 professional basketball player or three-time defensive player of the year…But the point remains, I’m a terrible driver when it counts, as is he a terrible free throw shooter.

The $88 million you signed to come to Houston is meant to account for all that pressure and those cameras and the media and the criticism your bound to take by being a beast of your size and your nature. That’s coddling money for you buddy. And Dwight, if the pressure is getting to you already, perhaps take a page out of Matt Schaub’s book – it isn’t going to get any better until you do. That’s the cold hard truth in Houston and anywhere else.

Not that you should put much stock in Wikipedia, but if you look up “free throws” it even calls Dwight out as “a notoriously poor free throw shooter.” Wikipedia had 450 players to choose from this year alone, let alone the thousands of greats and poors over decades of play, and they cited Dwight as one of the worst. Well, if being one of the worst pays $88 million, put me in coach.

Let me be clear in saying Dwight Howard’s inconsistent free throw shooting isn’t the only inconsistent play the Rockets are experiencing at this point, like never knowing exactly which Patrick Beverley or Jeremy Lin you’re going to get come game time – the team really needs to step it up and win those easy games, and those easy “charity stripe” points.

They’re a pretty high contender this year and I for one want to see a team perform at least as expected this year.

November 14, 2013/by Jayme

Addai Talks Post-NFL

Football

Joseph Addai vouches Peyton is just as cool as we always thought

It’s no secret I meet some amazing people on airplanes, Southwest Airlines specifically. That’s where I encountered Houston’s tiara-wearing reality star Erica Rose, and most recently, former Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai.

Sans Super Bowl ring and pads, this 30-year-old ex-NFL player is just a regular guy sitting in the middle seat to LAX, nice enough to share his Skittles.

Addai hardly talked football, unless I brought it up, and he made it very clear that football doesn’t define him. It didn’t back then and it definitely doesn’t now. That would become even clearer in a follow-up interview in Houston.

Running late because his Pilates class ran over, Addai came to lunch at Crave Sushi wearing jorts, a purple Anchorman shirt and purple Houston Astros hat. Admittedly Addai’s love for the color purple stems back to his days at Louisiana State University. “I’m proud of my university, I feel like it made me who I am,” he says.

“I’m a guy that has yet to touch the money I made in the NFL. We met on Southwest, not in first-class.”

I was a little disappointed he wasn’t sporting his Super Bowl ring. Addai admits it doesn’t get much use. “I probably wore it for two weeks after I got it the first time and that was it. I promise you, I’m grateful for it, but I’m not that guy that needs attention,” he says.

Our interview was equal parts laughter, story sharing, talking about Houston sports and, of course, a crash course in Sushi 101 (Addai’s just getting on the sushi bandwagon).

Shortly after Addai and I first met, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend of eight years. Like most guys, he’d be happy just going to the courthouse, but he knows how important that special day is to his fiancé.

“I want to see that smile on her face walking down the aisle,” Addai says.

We didn’t talk about his party days or the women throwing themselves at him during the seven years he spent in the league — maybe it happened, maybe it didn’t. Addai was more interested in sharing the nonprofit work he’s doing to help young kids from inner cities.

As for what he does now, Addai admits he doesn’t have a full-time job, but doesn’t need to. “I’m blessed to be in this situation,” he says. “I’m a guy that has yet to touch the money I made in the NFL. We met on Southwest, not in first-class.”

Addai’s focused on his work at Heritage Ranch Christian Children’s Home, a nonprofit based in Baton Rouge that uses a Life Skills program alongside mentoring and service learning to impact children in crisis. He serves on the board of directors.

“Football, basketball, stuff like that is not real life,” Addai says. “Not everybody can have a career as a pro athlete, you might have two left feet and can’t play football, but if you and I both put in hard work in child education, we could both be teachers.

“It’s not reality to tell every kid he can be a professional football player, so I look beyond that. We need to teach our kids more than sports — that’s my mindset.

“The leaders in this world should be your parents and teachers and God, but it doesn’t go that way. If I’m a young child, I pay attention to what rappers are saying. It’s not right, but we do. Image is a must, that’s what this country has taught us.”

Then, Addai launched into a lengthy talk about his faith, something he’s extremely passionate and vocal about.

Now a resident of Sugar Land, Addai was raised in Southwest Houston and he attended Sharpstown High School.

Football Role Model

Addai still takes inspiration from a close friend he played football with (LaJuan Moore) who was paralyzed during a game. He’s “one of the most positive people I’ve ever met,” Addai says. “He’s the one who gives me motivation, not the other way around.

“If he’s not upset losing his ability to walk, why am I complaining about small stuff?”

“At the end of the day, I had my money and didn’t need to abuse my body to stay in for the long haul.”

As an ex-NFL player, Addai seems more free and unscripted with his words, not afraid to answer anything. He says what’s on his mind, whether it’s supporting controversial Texas A&M University star Johnny Manziel or his disagreements with Patriots coach Bill Belichick during his final year in the NFL. Addai refers to New England as “the team that let me go.”

As for Manziel?

“He’s a child, he’s not God,” Addai says. “Somebody makes a mistake and we blow it up. Sometimes we put too much pressure on guys and they have to live a certain way and that’s when they start turning crazy.

Former Colts Running Back, Joseph Addai

“For the record, I’m a big fan of Manziel.”

Someone Addai won’t be cheering for anytime soon? Belichick.

When I asked what made him leave the league, Addai’s tone changes. “Two things. I’m about to have my fifth knee surgery. After a while your body starts to feel a certain way. Belichick surprised me. If I was a person to complain, it would have been my word against his and it wasn’t worth complaining or fighting it.

“I never looked at football like a job, and didn’t need the money. A friend of mine was telling me about another ex-NFL guy that cried because he couldn’t even pick up his own son. I want to be able to play with my son. Eventually you just have to stop.

“At the end of the day, I had my money and didn’t need to abuse my body to stay in for the long haul.”

“I don’t need five cars. I know a guy in the NFL with 13 cars, and I’m not talking Hondas.”

Professional football’s become too complicated and corrupted in Addai’s view.

“In a perfect world, football wouldn’t be played on TV,” he says. “For me, it attracts too much attention, a lot of times negative. Now, since you see me on TV, you think I’m not human and everything I do is supposed to be perfect. If I do something wrong, I’ll get blasted. But I’m human.”

Post NFL, Addai admits he’s had a “strange” career. He didn’t start until his senior year at LSU, but still went in first round (30th overall) of the NFL Draft. “I definitely think my career was weird. I won (a) Super Bowl, made it to the Pro Bowl (2007), and at the peak, I did what a lot of other great running backs have done. My biggest story was injuries,” he says.

We get back to money, because anytime you talk to a professional athlete, you can’t help but wonder about their bank accounts.

“To be honest, I’m scared to lose my money, scared to be broke,” Addai says before adding he isn’t necessarily cheap, just “reasonable.”

Addai’s biggest purchase after signing with Indy was a Range Rover. “I don’t need five cars. I know a guy in the NFL with 13 cars, and I’m not talking Hondas,” he laughs.

I remind the former LSU running back he has one more big splurge and Addai agrees that his upcoming wedding will probably be his biggest payout yet.

We move on to the topic of Indianapolis, as a city, as a home, as an organization. “I love the feel for that town — it’s a great place to raise a family,” Addai says. “You know how you watch one of those old-time movies where somebody moves into the neighborhood and everybody brings over cake? That’s what happened, and they didn’t even know I was a ball player.

As the food arrives, Addai gets sidetracked. “What is that green stuff?” I tell him wasabi and he recalls an Entourage episode where Ari’s eating sushi with E. “I never knew what that stuff was. I’m getting an education,” he says.

As for guys in the league he still talks to, he mentions Jerraud Powers (who I also met on the plane with Addai), Robert Mathis, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. “He’s been the guy I’ve always looked up to,” Addai says of the recently injured Wayne.

You can’t talk Indianapolis Colts without talking Manning. “Peyton checks on me a lot,” Addai says of his former quarterback.

Is there an obvious change in Peyton since landing in Denver?

“It’s his wisdom,” Addai says. “When I got to the Colts, Peyton was already amazing. You ever meet an old guy sitting on a porch with so much wisdom and you just want to sit there for hours and soak it all in? That’s Peyton. He has so much wisdom, he makes it look easy.

“Peyton proves it’s not necessarily a young man’s sport the way people always say. He’s playing now the way he did back then, but now he’s got the wisdom to back it up, which elevates his game that much more.”

Rapid Fire with Addai

Favorite current LSU guys: Odell Beckham Jr and (Jarvis) Landry

Best running back of all time: Barry Sanders. At that time people probably say Emmitt Smith, but Barry didn’t have the same support. As a running back, you need your offensive line — Barry was straight talent.

Current running back: (Philadelphia Eagle LeSean) McCoy.

NFL Team: Cowboys because of back in the day with Emmitt, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman

NBA: Rockets

Thoughts on Dwight Howard in Houston: He just has to play. Nightlife in Houston is good, I hope he doesn’t get caught up in it. I hope he proves all these haters wrong.

Baseball: I’m not big on baseball. I loved Jeff Bagwell, but it’s a long process.

Social Media Of Choice: Instagram.

There was one question I forgot to ask: Why on earth did a guy of your size, who got on the plane before me, choose a middle seat?

This article ran in the sports section of Culture Map. Click here to read the original article.

November 12, 2013/by Jayme

Texans Legs

Football

Add another body part to Texans 2013 problems: legs

While I have no empirical evidence to back this up, I’d be willing to say more people have quoted the infamous “Houston we have a problem,” line this NFL season referring to the Houston Texans as a whole than the entire combined four decades since the saying first debuted during the Apollo 13 mission.

How many ways are the Texans having problems? Gee, let me count the ways. Turning away from the recent issues we’ve been having with quarterback arms and coaches play calls, now we’re focused on the legs. Three missed field goals in Sunday night’s loss to Indy has been much of the talk this week. It feels like the freaking hokey pokey going on at Reliant, putting the left arm in and the right leg in and all those other injured and non-functioning parts in between.

It was such a refreshing and welcome change to see the youngster Case Keenum chucking those balls in the first half to Andre, we all almost thought for 30 minutes, this is it – we’re baaaack. But then Randy Bullock missed from the 49, 43 and 55 (which could have tied the game) and is only 13 for 21 this season, failing in four attempts from the 50 and beyond. You know, the actual opposite of the definition of clutch, which is what the Texans have needed a few times throughout this six-game stretch of losses. A win against Indy could have possibly, maybe, sort of, brought back a glimmer of hope for this season.

Mr. Bullock is on pace to miss as many field goals this season as our last two kickers Rackers and Graham combined to miss in their three seasons with the Texans: 16. And the Texans put a lot of stock in Bullock, grabbing him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft.

Nothing smells of desperation quite like inviting a guy (Justin Medlock) who got cut from Raiders training camp to take over as kicker, or at least try to.

Sure, seven points are better than three, but points are points. We need to get them on the board however we can, plain and simple.

And there is some Matt Schaub and Randy Bullock comparison – they both seem to be lacking confidence and our team, for one reason or another, seems to keep putting them in these positions where it’s harder and harder to gain that confidence. If you’re looking to me for the answer, I don’t have one, I just feel there’s a bit of a comparison there and wanted to bring it up.

Great game for Keenum but a tough loss yet again

There are only eight guys this season to have attempted four or more FG from the 50 and beyond, according to ESPN, including Bullock, so obviously it’s not an easy task or one offenses find an optimal spot to put their kicker in. To put it in perspective, Bullock actually shows up on the second page of field goal stats over at ESPN.

And I say this as an individual having never played professional football (yay for obvious statements), but this Arian Foster injury thing is getting old. Older than Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan rotating jail cells news. Tate played with BROKEN RIBS – yes, broken ribs. Could that be the difference between a running back having already signed a big contract and a running back hoping to sign one? Who knows, but I do know one thing – seeing one of our top offensive guys continually hobbling into the locker room or sitting on the sideline surely isn’t helping this team, a team that surely needs help.

I won’t sit here and try to pretend there’s hope for this season, but I do love this quote from Wade Phillips after Sunday’s loss to Indy: “We signed up for the whole season, to play and to work and to coach as hard as we can coach. And that’s what we’re going to do with this team. Anybody that wants to give up can, but we’re not going to.”

So the “whole season” that Phillips speaks of continues Sunday in Arizona against the 4-4 Cardinals, where yours truly will be sitting midfield, hoping to catch a glimmer of something I miss so desperately: good and winning football. If we can have more of the first half we saw with Case and Andre from last week, I’ll be a happy camper. I think…at least until next week.

And if you’re looking for a super feel good story in the midst of the bullying issues all over the NFL, check out this video of an amazing group of middle school kids, taking a knee, in an effort to help another amazing kid with learning disabilities:

“Nothing can ever explain getting a touchdown if you’ve never had one before.” – If you don’t get goosebumps and the urge to do good on your own from watching this 3-minute clip (especially at the 2:48 marker where one of the kids tears up at the realization of the power of this simple touchdown), you may want to verify you are in fact human. For serious.

November 7, 2013/by Jayme

Colts Cheerleader Allie Never Quits

Cheerleading

Allie J from the Colts

There’s this thing about Indianapolis. Though I’ve never been and I don’t really know anyone from there, I get the sense it’s one of the greatest and friendliest places on earth (minus the cold weather of course). My girl Allie, one of the 26 lucky ladies named a 2013 Colts Cheerleader, only strengthens that belief for me. Like Jillian Michaels meets Manny Pacquiao kind of strength. She’s that good.

I’ve interviewed many NFL Cheerleaders in my day and each and every one surprises more and more. Not that I thought for one second these girls were shallow or uneducated, but hearing about their hectic schedules and seeing what their workouts and practices look like firsthand, and then hearing about their schooling and careers, I’m literally amazed. I talk about football all day, so my job’s not that hard. These women do that too but multiplied by at least 20. Maybe even 30.

Allie J. has got to be the most energetic and well-spoken cheerleader I’ve interviewed yet. She takes her job as an NFL Cheerleader very seriously as she semi-jokes about the mental preparation she put in before this interview.

As we talk about work and all the commitment that goes into being one of the illustrious “Sweethearts of the Horseshoe,” Allie walks me through a typical day, which looks a little something like this:

7:45 a.m. Arrive at work (She’s an office manager of a home lending company)

Lunch Hour: Head out to a workout with the trainer, then back to the office

Various Work Breaks: Practicing dances in the supply closets (she isn’t kidding either)

6-9:00 p.m. Cheerleader practice, which includes dance and fitness training (but of course, there’s practice before practice, so this is probably more like 5-9 p.m.)

Yay for Colts Cheerleaders!

10 p.m. Finally head home to prep and do it all again

As she almost runs out of breath explaining such a hectic day to me, she can see my questioning look, like she’s been down this road before. “Sounds fun doesn’t it?” she laughs. “But I love every second of it,” she finishes before I can even ask the question she knows I’m going to ask.

We talk a little more about her workouts and the time commitment that goes into it. “I would dare anyone to come try a high-intensity interval training class with our official trainer. I might even go so far as to say a few of the players in the league would struggle through these workouts (excluding Colts players of course). In a normal week we spend an average of 14 hours dedicated to fitness training and practice. Time management is critical as most of us are employed full-time or are full-time students,” she explains.

Yeah, I have to admit. I’d love to see a big ole offensive lineman next to these ladies trying to do the same workout. It would be entertaining on many levels, maybe even worthy of a few prop bets.

In her third season as a Colts Cheerleader, Allie was by far a perfect representation for not only the other women on the team, but the organization as a whole. Every question led right back to the same topic: the fans.

Allie J from the Colts

I asked Allie to tell me about Lucas Oil Stadium since I’ve yet to experience it. “How can I describe a building where every square inch is designed with the fans in mind? It’s an explosion of state-of-the art high-tech sights and sounds! Our stadium was recently voted #1 overall in the league. It was opened in 2008 and holds just over 64,000 fans,” she says. At the last second she adds, “A perfect venue to host Super Bowl XLVI!”

And those 64,000 fans are exactly why Allie loves her role as a Colts Cheerleader.

We talk about how crazy and fun the atmosphere is, which always leads to asking if she still gets nervous performing in front of all those fans? “What’s the term for feeling excited, energized, pumped, awe-struck, your heart beating wildly, anticipating the win… Is that euphoric? That’s what I get!” she says.

You might be surprised to learn that Allie’s best experience as a Colts Cheerleader didn’t happen on the sidelines, but rather mid-field. “My best experience is without question the honor of singing our National Anthem with two of my teammates last season at a home game. It was so surreal! I don’t know if anything will ever top that!” she reminisces.

Originally from Centerville, OH, where she attended The Ohio State University, we talk about her “stats.” I mean, we always talk about the weight and height and size of the players, but shouldn’t this topic be reserved for the ladies? Allie is a little taller than me, standing at 5’4 and weighing 115. We talk about my sport’s column, The Blonde Side and she adds that she’s a natural blonde, unlike yours truly. I still firmly stand behind the fact I’m a natural dirty blonde, which is almost as good. And yes, Allie and I are both living proof that blondes do in fact have more fun.

Allie is the rare kind of girl that A) hates shopping and B) can throw a “beautiful” 35-40 yard spiral. A beautiful girl throwing a beautiful spiral? What more could guys want? Why isn’t there a movie with that exact title? Her perfect date night would include a double feature scary movie complete with popcorn and chocolate-covered raisins followed by a seafood dinner.

Her knowledge of football extends well beyond the Colts current roster and your standard quarterback stats. “My high school lays claim to three well-known college and NFL players so naturally they would have been my favorites: AJ Hawk, Mike

It may be cold but these Colts Cheerleaders are HOT

Nugent, and College Gameday commentator Kirk Herbstreit!” she gushes.

Allie’s got the perfect Colts-centric answer for everything, truly selling me on the organization from top to bottom. Another popular question I ask NFL Cheerleaders is to describe their favorite music to dance to. Past answers have included Rihanna, salsa, hip-hop, but not Allie. Her favorite music to dance to? “Definitely ANY song played immediately after a Colts touchdown!”

“There’s no doubt we rank #1 in dedication and commitment to our fan base. The serving opportunities I’ve experienced as a Colts Cheerleader continue to be life-changing. It’s critical that we support our community not only from a fan standpoint, but helping anywhere there might be a need,” the blonde bombshell says.

Let me leave you with Allie’s favorite quote. It’s a Vince Lombardi quote and really applies to every aspect of life and probably every NFL team out there: “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Allie says these wise words have helped her all the way back in her high school days, and look where she is now.

Follow my favorite Colts Cheerleader on Twitter: @Alliej_CC

To read this original article on CBS Man Cave Daily, click here.

November 7, 2013/by Jayme

Rockets Opener

Basketball

Welcome to H-Town D-12

Everyone sitting at home, raise your hand if you’re as excited as I am about the NBA season back in action? Although I do love me some basketball, I never thought I’d say those words, especially in week 9 of the NFL, but given the way baseball and football has played out here in Houston this year, I’m ready to see some W’s put on the board.

And the Houston Rockets are looking as if they may not give us a hat trick in the disappointment department.

As you all well know, the Dwight Howard era has officially begun in H-town. This year’s slogan, A New Age, promises a different team, and those all around the NBA have quickly noticed, thanks in part to the drama king himself and the $88 million that got him here.

You may have heard of James Harden and Dwight Howard (or seen them on those awkward billboards where it looks like Harden is telling Howard how to say Houston), but Daryl Morey scripted two of the most notable back-to-back offseasons to bring each of us THIS TEAM. And it’s damn exciting.

The NBA Season is here, and thankfully it’s a long one. The Rockets ran the Bobcats up and down the court to start the season with a 83-96 win over the team who has most recently come off an NBA-worst two-year record of 28-120 (sounds a little like an Astros record, doesn’t it?).

No surprise, Howard shined in his Houston debut with 17 points and 26 rebounds, tying his career high. He also added 2 assists and 2 blocks for the night. But a win over Charlotte and some of these lesser NBA teams doesn’t say much. After all, the highest scorer for the Bobcats was Josh McRoberts with 15 points for the night. The Rockets had three (THREE!) guys top that: Howard (17), Harden (21) and Garcia (19). The game felt a little like David and Goliath, so you can’t put too much stock in it.

Here are a few key things I’m personally going to keep an eye out for:

1. Potential Drama. For the first time in a long while, the Rockets have multiple big names; it’s no longer a guessing game of the roster. I think there are a few elephants in the room with this team, so we’ll see how that plays out as we get a little deeper into the season.

A New Age

You do recall just two seasons ago where ESPN announcers didn’t know a single name on the team, with K-Mart being our biggest name? My how times have changed in just two years.

2. The Rest of the Division. The Rockets play in the West, notably the toughest in the league. It will be interesting to see how the team plays, but equally to see how the other big teams will do. That will dictate our Playoff changes just as much as anything else. To put it simply: the Western Conference is stacked, like Pamela Anderson kind of stacked.

3. Back to the Drama (I am a girl, remember). Howard took his drama straight from Orlando to LA, and we’re all crossing our fingers he left it just outside Kobe’s locker. The Rockets are quite frankly boring on the drama front, which is probably a good thing. The team jells quite nicely and I’ll be interested to see if Howard left his dramatic ways and doesn’t drive a rift between this team.

4. Defense. This team has been so focused on offense, that’s just another reason Howard was such a key pickup. Last season the Rockets ranked 28th in the league (2nd worst in the league), allowing 102.5 points per game.

5. Patrick Beverly vs Jeremy Lin as Starter. I think Kevin McHale was genius in starting Beverly over Lin on opening night, but it’ll be interesting to see who wins that starting battle, who stays healthy and who can lead the team on offense better.

6. I’m certainly going to miss Carlos Del-THREENO. This team has got to find another perimeter shooter and clutch guy to keep this team going. As of opening night, it looked like Garcia may step up to those shoes behind the arch.

7. I will not miss: Royce White. Sorry buddy, but peace out.

The 2013 Houston Rockets Led by Dwight Howard

8. Where to Watch? I’m deeply saddened that on Howard’s highly anticipated debut, even in torrential downpours, the Rockets couldn’t sell out the home opener. The seats, especially the pricier ones the cameras kept panning around, were wide open for the taking. Furthermore, this Comcast-only option-Monopoly-nonsense to watch games will prove a little trickier this year with fans wanting to be more involved watching D-12. It’ll be interesting to see how involved fans can stay throughout 82 games of mostly watching at bars. Could prove to be interesting weekday nightlife of getting hammered, right Houston?

Oh, and if you thought a Dwight Howard / Wilt Chamberlain comparison seemed ludicrous, there’s this:

Howard is only the 4th different player in the last 50 seasons with at least 17 points and 26 rebounds in a season opener, the first since Wilt Chamberlain did it 43 years ago, where he had 31 boards (via ESPN Stats & Information).

October 31, 2013/by Jayme