TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014 SPORTS Cheerleaders spring to life ahead of NFL season

BALTIMORE: It’s Saturday morning in a swimsuit calendar-on top of holding endeavor, conceived in the late 1800s to The Ravens, two-time Super Bowl (The NFL is the most lucrative pro cavernous Baltimore gym where 200 or down a day job or attending college full- whip up spectator enthusiasm at college champions, are unique in that its 50- sports league in the world, according so young women and men are hard at time. football games in shivering fall weather. strong squad includes 16 to 18 men to Forbes business magazine. Its 32 work polishing their basket tosses, back- “Talent, beauty, fitness.... We’re look- In its infancy, it was a strictly male who literally play a supporting role teams are worth, on average, $1.17 bil- flips and dance moves. ing for a well-rounded participant and preserve-presidents George W. Bush, hoisting aloft their female stunt coun- lion each, thanks in no small part to the The start of the American football we usually get that,” Ravens cheerlead- Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, terparts with the palms of their hands. sale of network television rights.) season is five months away, but the ing coach Tina Galdieri told AFP before and Franklin D. Roosevelt were all Their repertoire also features the “I definitely think they could get Baltimore Ravens are wasting no time taking her place on the 10-member pan- cheerleaders-before women took up basket toss, in which four men launch paid more,” said Stephanie Prosenjak, a selecting the only co-ed cheerleading el of judges. It’s just not rookies at the pom poms in big numbers in the 1940s. 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of cheer- former Denver Broncos cheerleader squad in the National Football League tryouts, either. It veered towards glamour in the leader into the air to perform a spin or whose dance school in Colorado offers (NFL). In black T-shirts with glittering Ravens 1970s when the Dallas Cowboys a toe touch before falling back into a specialist class in cheerleading that “I’ve been working all year for this,” logos are veterans who must prove, famously put its cheerleaders in skimpi- their collective arms. “We do a lot of draws about 50 students. “However, all said Ali Tripple, 24, taking a break from every year, that they’re still worthy of a er outfits and drafted a Broadway cho- weight training,” concedes Deon J., 28, dancers are underpaid-we’re talking rehearsing an eight-step dance routine place in the squad. reographer to inject more sizzle into a high school science teacher by day professional ballerinas and dancers in set to rapper Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty to “There are girls here in fantastic their half-time gridiron moves. who’s looking forward to a sixth year LA who are out on tour” with big-name Me” that she’ll soon be performing shape who are ready to take your spot. Cheerleading today has an global with the Ravens. “It’s usually easier for pop singers,” she told AFP by tele- before a stern panel of judges. It makes you really work harder,” said dimension, with its own governing the stockier guys-and I’m not that phone. “It’s my ultimate dream,” added the Stephanie B., a petite stunt specialist body, the 105-nation International stocky.” Nobody does it for the money, That doesn’t faze Aia Evans, 23, as tall blonde elementary school teacher who, like some of her peers, opts not to Cheer Federation, hosting world cham- even if the Ravens since last year have she emerges from her four minutes in and dance instructor, kitted out like her give her full name out of privacy con- pionships in Florida on April 21-25. been paying its cheerleaders better front of the judges showing off her fellow female hopefuls in a bright sports cerns. There’s no weight or age limit-the “Because it’s a quintessential than Maryland’s minimum wage of standing tuck and ground-up, keen for bra and tight black shorts. oldest NFL cheerleader is in her 40s but American thing and it has this aura of $7.25 an hour for everything from prac- a Ravens berth even if it means pulling If that dream comes true, it’ll require rules are strict: across the league, there’s innocence about it, it’s something peo- tices to game appearances. up roots in New Orleans and relocating a commitment to turn up for each and no slack for tardiness, good grooming is ple from other countries can love Some NFL teams pay as little as $90 to Baltimore. “It’s a great opportunity every Ravens game in front of 71,000 mandatory, and fraternizing with players about America that’s non-political and per game, and nothing for practices, to stunt,” the one-time gymnast said, fans, plus three-hour practice sessions verboten. sort of pure,” said Mandy May prompting cheerleaders at the Oakland before going back to the basketball twice a week, a three-day training camp Cheetham, a Canadian in Los Angeles Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals earlier court turned rehearsal studio to work and community appearances. ALL-AMERICAN SIZZLE who’s trained cheerleaders in China this year to file class action lawsuits in a ever harder on her professional cheer- Oh, and a week in Jamaica to shoot a Cheerleading is a classic all-American and Finland. bid for better pay. leader dreams. —AFP Barca opens up title race

MADRID: La Liga is set for one of the most excit- potentially tricky game at Sevilla tomorrow, ing finishes in years after Barcelona blew the title when Barca host Celta Vigo and Atletico are at race wide open with a win at Real Madrid in home to Granada. Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ that left Atletico Madrid the “The league is starting again from scratch and masters of their own destiny. we are back in the battle for the title,” Barca Not since Real and Barca finished tied on 76 coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference points in 2006-07, with Real crowned champions after his side’s success at Real, the Madrid club’s by virtue of a superior head-to-head record, and first defeat in 32 matches in all competitions. Sevilla stayed in the hunt down to the wire has “I always thought the three teams would be there been such a close three-way fight for the up there until the end and that’s how it has title. turned out,” added the Argentine. “Today was Barca’s 4-3 victory at the Bernabeu means our last chance and we did not want to be Real and Atletico both have 70 points with nine knocked out of the race.” A win for Real on games left, with champions Barca, chasing a fifth Sunday would have restored their three-point La Liga crown in six years, a point behind. lead over Atletico and all-but killed off Barca’s Atletico’s impressive achievements under challenge but instead they are licking their Argentine coach Diego Simeone have shaken up wounds after suffering only their second home a league increasingly dominated by Barca and defeat this term. Real, the world’s richest clubs by income. Captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in the 63rd Atletico have about a fifth of their wealthier minute for tripping Neymar when he was rivals’ resources but the inspirational Simeone through on goal and the centre back and his has managed to mould his unfancied squad into team mates criticised referee Alberto Undiano genuine contenders in Spain and on the Mallenco, suggesting he had not been entirely European stage. objective. If they finish level on points with Real, ITALY: Juventus’ Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez reacts after missing a shot during Atletico will win the title, their first since 1996 KEY MATCH the Italian Serie A football match against Catania. —AFP when Simeone was a player there, as they have a However, coach Carlo Ancelotti, like Martino better head-to-head record thanks to this in his first season in Spain, refused to be drawn month’s 2-2 draw at the Calderon and a 1-0 win into the debate and urged his players to focus Conte wary despite at the Bernabeu in September. on regrouping for the Sevilla game. SPAIN: Barcelona’s Sergio Likewise, Barca have a superior head-to-head “Now we need to forget this match and think Busquets steps on the head of Real Madrid’s over Real after beating them 2-1 at the Nou about the one tomorrow, which could be a key Portuguese defender Pepe (left) during the Juve’s title charge Camp in October, the last time the Madrid club match for the season,” the Italian told a news Spanish League ‘Clasico’ football match on lost before Sunday. conference. March 23. —AFP MILAN: Juventus host Europa League Coach Rafael Benitez remained defiant. Atletico and Barca drew 0-0 at the Calderon in “Luck was not with us but the team showed missed a good opportunity but not to worry. chasers Parma tomorrow in the first of two “Even though we’re now six points behind Madrid in January and play each other at the good physical condition and we are hopeful and “There are nine games left and it will be very Serie A games this week that could see the Roma, I still believe we can do well enough Nou Camp on the final day in what could turn capable of quickly putting this game behind us. intense for everyone. The league is open for the champions move closer to a record-setting to challenge them,” said Benitez. out to be a nail-biting climax to the campaign. “I have said many times that this league is open three teams and each match could be deci- third consecutive scudetto. Fiorentina, meanwhile, will host Milan In the next round of matches, Real face a until the final day. We are not happy because we sive.”—Reuters Antonio Conte’s side had Carlos Tevez’s brimming with optimism and confidence strike to thank for a fiery 1-0 win away to after what coach Vincenzo Montella hailed 10-man Catania on Sunday which restored as “an extremely positive day for us”. the Bianconeri’s 14-point lead on Roma. But despite an overall positive perform- But with Juve still in contention for this ance which has restored La Viola’s dream of Blunder referee Marriner season’s Europa League title-they face Lyon a third-place finish and next season’s over two quarter-final legs on April 3 and Champions League, Fiorentina are likely to 10 — and a difficult trip to Napoli on the be without Mario Gomez after the German horizon on Sunday, Conte remains on ten- striker hobbled off with a sore left knee on escapes EPL demotion terhooks. Juventus are aiming to become Sunday. the first Italian side to win the scudetto Gomez only recently returned from LONDON: Referee was spared demotion from the with at least 100 points and although Roma injury but could be sidelined for several are a distant 14 points off the pace with a weeks, meaning he would also miss list for his mistaken identity blunder at Stamford game in hand, Conte is wary of how their Sunday’s trip to Sampdoria. Bridge when it was announced yesterday he would be in charge of the endeavours in Europe could affect their Ailing Milan will travel to Florence with match between Southampton and Newcastle at St Mary’s on Saturday. scudetto push. the tag of underdogs despite showing In the midst of Premier League leaders Chelsea’s 6-0 thrashing of “We’ve taken another step forward, but signs of improvement in a 1-1 draw away to London rivals Arsenal last Saturday, Marriner sent off the Gunners’ compliments to Roma. They’re having an Lazio on Sunday when coach Clarence for handling a goal-bound shot on the line when it was incredible season,” said Conte. “Being in the Seedorf left Mario Balotelli on the bench in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had committed the infringement. Europa League means we will be playing place of Giampaolo Pazzini. Eden Hazard duly put Chelsea 3-0 ahead from the ensuing penalty. every three days and Roma have shown Balotelli did not appear until the 54th Marriner later apologised for his error, which led victorious Blues man- they’ll keep fighting until the end, so we minute when he replaced Japanese inter- have to remain vigilant.” national forward Keisuke Honda. Amid ager Jose Mourinho to re-iterate his plea for officials to be given access With nine games remaining, Juve sit top what is one of Milan’s worst seasons of the to video technology. on 78 points, 14 ahead of Roma and 20 modern era, Seedorf admitted he is happy However, that cut little ice with Clive Thomas, one of British foot- ahead of Napoli, whose bid for the runners- to forego a beautiful game for collecting as ball’s most respected referees. It may be more 30 years since the 77- up spot and the second automatic many points as possible. The Rossoneri year-old Welshman, nicknamed ‘The Book’ for his strict adherence to Champions League place suffered a set- have dropped to 12th, and are now 32 football’s rules last controlled a senior match, but Thomas was in no back in a 1-0 home defeat to Fiorentina. points behind Juventus and 11 off Parma doubt that Marriner and his linesmen should all face a lengthy ban. Having pushed Juve all the way, Catania who sit fifth in the first available Europa “It was the most disgusting, shocking decision I’ve seen,” Thomas welcome Napoli on Wednesday hoping to League spot. “We always try to perform told the BBC before Marriner was appointed to the St Mary’s fixture. reproduce a similar fighting spirit as they well but right now the priority is to be a sol- “In my opinion these four wouldn’t officiate another Premier League continue their fight to beat the drop. The id and effective unit and to try to limit the Sicilians are rock bottom but only four scoring opportunities of our opponents,” game this season,” added Thomas. However, Dermot Gallagher-a more points from the safety zone. said Seedorf. recently retired referee-disagreed with Thomas and said a lengthy ban But Napoli, reduced to 10 men on Roma kick off the midweek fixtures was the last thing the 43-year-old Marriner needed. Sunday when Faouzi Ghoulam was sent off when they host Torino on Tuesday while “I can’t see how that would do Andre any good,” Gallagher told the on 37 minutes, will be desperate to get Inter, whose Europa League qualifying BBC. “You’ve got one of the leading referees in not only but in back to winning ways after defeat to hopes suffered a setback in a 2-1 home Europe, and you’re going to stand him down? That doesn’t do the Fiorentina left them six points behind reverse to Atalanta on Sunday, host Premier League any good because he is a top top-flight referee-he’s Roma and only seven ahead of La Viola. Udinese at the San Siro on Thursday.—AFP made one mistake and his confidence would be shattered if that hap- pened,” added Gallagher, also speaking before Marriner’s latest appointment was confirmed. Nott Forest sack manager Davies In a statement released after the game, Professional Game Match Officials Limited said: “Andre is an experienced referee and is obviously LONDON: Nottingham Forest have sacked announcement in due course.” British disappointed that an error of mistaken identity was made in this manager Billy Davies, the English second- media reports on Monday linked veteran case...He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made tier club announced yesterday. The Scot’s English manager Neil Warnock with the second spell in charge of the Midlands side vacancy at the . aware of the issue.” came following a poor run of results and a The 65-year-old has been out of man- Marriner was in charge when Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0 in last reported breakdown in his relationship agement since leaving fellow year’s FA Cup final at Wembley. with the club’s owner, Fawaz Al Hasawi. Championship side Leeds in April last year. And Roberto Martinez, Wigan boss that day but now the manager Saturday’s 5-0 defeat by arch-rivals Davies returned to Forest in February 2013, of Everton, came to the referee’s defence while distanc- Derby County saw Forest’s run without a having twice taken the team to the ing himself from Mourinho’s plea for officials to be given greater tech- win extended to eight matches-a sequence Championship play-offs in his first spell in nological help. which saw the club knocked out of the FA charge before falling out of favour with Cup by third-tier Sheffield United and drop then-owner Nigel Doughty. Forest enjoyed “I think goal-line technology was a really important breakthrough out of the Championship play-off places as remarkable success under the late Brian but from that point on I think we need to allow referees to do their they try to return to the Premier League. Clough, being crowned champions of job,” Martinez said. “Andre Marriner has incredible experience and it “Nottingham Forest Football Club have England in 1978 and winning back-to-back was one of those situations that happens in football. “Errors are part of confirmed the termination of manager Billy European Cups in 1979 and 1980. the game and there will be errors, misjudgments and mistakes but that Davies’ employment,” said a statement on But the celebrated English manager’s is part of football and you need to accept it because that is what the club’s website posted Monday. final season in charge saw Forest relegated makes football what it is,” the Spaniard added. Marriner won’t be the “The club thank Mr Davies for his efforts from the Premier League in 1993. They only one in the spotlight at Southampton’s St Mary’s ground this week- during his second spell as manager since were back among the elite from 1999 to his re-appointment in February 2013 and 2004 but dropped down to third-tier LONDON: Arsenal’s English defender Kieran Gibbs reacts after being end as Saturday’s match is also set to see the return of Newcastle man- wish him well for the future. League One before being promoted to the sent off by referee Andre Marriner during the English Premier League ager Alan Pardew, with the Magpies boss now having served his three- “Nottingham Forest will make a further Championship in 2008. —AFP football match against Chelsea. —AFP game stadium ban for headbutting Hull’s David Meyler.—AFP