Cheerleaders Sometimes Clip NFL Players in Drama, Lawsuits
Amid the run-up to the mid-term election, football began in earnest last week. The NFL is a nice respite for all who hate politics and political ads and yet still enjoy the primal pleasure of watching millionaires ripping each other to shreds. And now, some NFL teams are untangling themselves from lawsuits alleging poor working conditions and inadequate pay brought by former team cheerleaders.
Last week the Oakland Raiderettes settled with the team for $1,250,000 --- or, as their lawyers told them, a quarter million dollars. The settlement gives past Raider cheerleaders about $3,800 each and the lawyers Bentleys. Such is the nature of class actions lawsuits in -- where else -- the People's Republic of California.
There are large pay differences for cheerleaders among NFL teams. The Jets "Flight Crew" cheerleaders were paid the most, about $150 per game. But they had to watch the Jets games, so things have a way of balancing out.
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The Buffalo Bills cheerleaders, the "Jills," did not get paid Jack. They did get tickets to the game and parking passes, plus all the STDs and out-of- wedlock babies from the players they wanted. To be fair, if New York City has the most beautiful women in the U.S., Buffalo would be the sketchy tattoo you didn't know about.
Among other classy distinctions, OJ Simpson played for Buffalo. If you had told me 15 years ago that a famed NFL running back who played at Southern Cal would murder his wife and a jury would let him go, I would have bet all I had that it would be Frank Gifford.
Making matters worse, Donald Trump tried to buy the Buffalo team. Trump clearly loves football; why else would he wear that helmet hair?
Some teams do not have cheerleaders. The Pittsburgh Steelers had problems having a cheerleading squad on the field as it violated the 100-feet-away- from-women restraining order against their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. His is the only NFL jersey deemed worthy of hanging in the Clinton Presidential Library.
After winning the right to make minimum wage, the lead plaintiffs of the Raiderettes' suit said, "Now we can go back to dancing, being respected and taking down the 'Niners." Nothing garners more respect than semi-stripping in front of 50,000 folks in Oakland for minimum wage.
The team that pays its cheerleaders the most is the Dallas Cowboys. Those cheerleaders are iconic and, much like the football team and the Kardashians, have minimal talent, are famous for being famous, and involve a lot of dated players.
So what happens when lawsuits such as these happen? In Buffalo, the Jills were disbanded. It is not up to lawyers and the court system to price labor, and certainly not volunteer work. I no longer have interns because similar litigation made hiring them a hassle. This denies kids opportunities to learn and to showcase their talents. Warren Buffet famously worked for his mentor, Benjamin Graham, for free.
The suit upsets most sensible, former NFL cheerleaders. Lori Marino, who cheered 13 seasons and two Super Bowls in the 90's and is president of the Jills alumni group, said they are disappointed in these girls suing. "They were well informed going into tryout that the cheerleader squad wasn't a paid job; it wasn't a job at all. It was a sport to be enjoyed," said Marino.
Can the folks who volunteer at the Masters or any local PGA event to support their community and get close to the action of the sport they love now sue for their time? Can Boy Scout leaders or Little League coaches now sue for back pay?
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady makes $19 million a year, less than half of what his spouse, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, earns. Plus, her income stream is safer; no NFL team ever locked out a top model. Yet Brady doesn't get his panties in a "bundchen" and sue over it.
Being an NFL cheerleader is an honor. Most have other jobs. Cheering supports the local team, is a civic hometown volunteer activity, opens doors, and gives the women sideline seats to the biggest show in town.
If these ladies do not like what cheerleading for their NFL team entails, they can take theirs elsewhere. And if they don't want to cheer, there are 500 willing women lined up behind them. They shouldn't ruin it for everyone.
