The Washington Redskins' cheerleaders are spending a couple of weeks in India on a goodwill tour to help create a cheerleading squad for a cricket team that the team says will be the first cheerleading squad in Indian history.The reception they're getting is mixed. The Washington Post reports that some fans welcomed the cheerleaders enthusiastically:
But the Post also reports that some think women should dress more modestly, adding, "Some TV pundits pointed out that the Redskins cheerleaders are showing more skin on the cricket pitch than most Indian men will see before marriage.""The cheerleaders are heroes in their ability to make people excited," exclaimed the merry Kerala, a 30-year-old doctor of traditional ayurvedic medicine, as friends crowded around him, cheering in agreement. "They have great spirit."
"They're the only reason I am here. I wanted to treat myself," declared Setty Bishum, 55. The crowd swept him along, but he shouted back one more observation: "It's a new era for cricket -- hooray for American cheerleaders!"
Those opponents aside, is there any doubt that this will catch on? Said Indian sports commentator Boria Majumdar, "Sexuality and cricket is the way forward."
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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 05: The UCLA Bruins cheerleaders perform as their team takes on the Memphis Tigers in the first half during the National Semifinal game of the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Alamodome on April 5, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Streeter Lecka, Getty Images)
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A Kansas Jayhawks cheerleader performs in the first half of their NCAA Men's Final Four semi-final basketball game against the UNC Tarheels in San Antonio, Texas, April 5, 2008. (Jeff Haynes, Reuters)
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North Carolina Tar Heels cheerleaders perform during the second half of their NCAA Men's Final Four semi-final basketball game against the Kansas Jayhawks in San Antonio, Texas, April 5, 2008. (Jeff Haynes, Reuters)
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A Memphis cheerleader smiles during the first half of this semifinal game against Memphis at the college basketball Final Four, Saturday, April 5, 2008, in San Antonio. (Charlie Neibergall, AP)
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DETROIT - MARCH 28: Cheerleaders from the Wisconsin Badgers perform against the Davidson Wildcats during the Midwest Regional Semifinal of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Ford Field on March 28, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan (GregoryShamus, Getty Images)
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DENVER - MARCH 20: The Washington St. Cougars cheerleaders perform during the first round game of the East Regional against the Winthrop Eagles as part of the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Pepsi Center on March 20, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Cougars defeated the Eagles 71-40. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 08: The mascot and cheerleaders from the Tennessee Lady Volunteers celebrate after their 64-48 win against the Stanford Cardinal during the National Championsip Game of the 2008 NCAA Women's Final Four at St. Pete Times Forum April 8, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 07: Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders smile after their team defeated the Memphis Tigers 75-68 in overtime during the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 7, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 07: The Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform while their team takes on the the Memphis Tigers during the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 7, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 07: The Memphis Tigers cheerleaders perform before the start of the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championship game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Alamodome on April 7, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-20-2008 @ 11:57PM
George B Vieto said...
And people wonder why foriegners call us Ugly Amercans? The Redskin cheerleaders should know the customs in other countries where the religion of the people is more strict than it is here.
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4-21-2008 @ 12:41AM
alejandro de Castro said...
I am sure they were well aware of the customs, and I also know that no one was forced to go to the game, or even watch the cheerleaders. It is very easy to look the other way to show disapproval.
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4-21-2008 @ 6:24AM
Mark said...
Ever try a back flip in a burka?????
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4-21-2008 @ 6:44AM
Jo said...
Ever try a back flip in a burka?????
Good one Mark. I just had a visual of that. LOL
The human body is beautiful .... Well, some are.
Some need burkas.
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4-21-2008 @ 7:23AM
Mark said...
Agree...It's no wonder that we Americans are not favorably looked upon around the world. We dont need to send "strippers" into other coutries...regardless of what a few males think.
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4-21-2008 @ 8:16AM
Cathy said...
I hate to disappoint the men with the negative comments, but you should do some investigating before you make blanket statements. Apparently none of you have ever seen an Indian music video. If you did, you would know that the most popular Indian music videos have dancers that show just about or maybe more skin than the cheerleaders do. In fact, walk into an Indian dance club, and you may not even realize you're in India.
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4-21-2008 @ 8:12AM
rjbigun said...
i wonder what would happen if they saw real cheerleaders...........the Cowboy Cheerleaders
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4-21-2008 @ 8:17AM
Tom said...
Cheerleader requirements:
1) Wear as little as legally possible.
2) Stretch legs apart.
3) Watch men turn back into prepubescent, entranced, salivating children.
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4-21-2008 @ 10:59AM
Dr Bob Niewoehner said...
Why not, seems we send everything else to India.
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4-21-2008 @ 3:20PM
Kim said...
Burkas? Do you know they are talking about India? I have no problem with US cheerleaders. Yes, I live in the US. You should consider the country you are visiting. This is the country that wanted Richard Gere arrested for kissing an Indian actress at an AIDS awareness rally. Somethings other countries are not willing to accept about the US culture. We should not force it upon them
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4-21-2008 @ 9:08AM
S321Saint said...
Cathy...very good points. Its very easy to make blanket statements about the "ugly american" without any research into it. Just like some very conservative people in the US complain about cheerleaders (and Hooters girls, strip club girls, etc)so will some of the very conservative citizens of India. Cathy is right that clubs, movies and such in India are right up there with US "decadance". Too many US citizens have been educated by liberal "histories" that portray many countries as their folk history identities instead of their current modern histories. Time for people to grow up.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:27AM
JOHN said...
WOMEN ARE JEALOUS ANIMALS THAT ATTACK ANYTHING THAT LOOKS TO HAVE A WEAK SPOT. ANY WOMAN THAT KEEPS HER SELF IN SHAPE HAS THE RIGHT TO AND THE ONES THAT DON'T JUDGE.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:29AM
michele said...
These NFL "cheerleaders" are more show-girl than cheerleader. Go to an All Star cheerleading competition and see REAL athletes in action. Also, I'm sick of people getting their shorts in a twist over what cheerleaders wear. Have you seen what competitive swimmers wear? How about transparent thong swimsuits ( designed for speed. ) Nobody is screaming about THAT.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:37AM
Grammartized said...
Men are men no matter what country they live in, what religion they belong to or what the customs are. If there is a chance that they can see a woman half-naked, they will.
Sad, but true.
And trust me, it isn't "curiosity" that made them come to take a look.
As for Jo, whose comment about the human body being beautiful and some needing to wear burkas; believe me there are just as many short, bald men with paunches who are drooling over the half-naked women and should be covering themselves up instead of worrying about covering some women.
No wonder women rule the world. All you have to do is cook, clean and show some skin and you will have them in the palm of your hands.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:38AM
John said...
They knew what American cheerleaders look and dress like before they invited them. It would be no surprise.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:49AM
Jeff Ogden said...
Grow up. there are bigger issues today. The economy, global warming, iraq, the hapless Cubs
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4-21-2008 @ 9:58AM
klonewoof said...
TOTALLY agree with John! They knew exactly what they were doing, and what they were getting when they hired these babes.
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4-21-2008 @ 11:14AM
missorhana said...
hey all!
As an Indian, I felt it is my duty to repsond to some of the ignorance posted on this wall.
1. EVERYONE does not wear a burka in India. We are primaril Hindu country with muslims and christians and jews as well making us very diverse. Burkas are worn by very conservative muslims and thats about it. So, get your fats straight before you make your ididiotic comments.
2. Cathy, thak you for making the point that India is not as conservative as American portrays it to be. Our films are the same standards as an American one in terms of women, and now even plot. I do not understand why the media focuses so much on the miniscule amount of radical conservatives of the country, while the rest of us are advancing in leaps and bounds.
3. Every country has their radical conservatives who scoff at things like this, but its just sad that like the 3 out of 300 people in India are apparently the mass perspective. It frustrates me and I have to let you know that you really need to know your stuff before making claims like " ever trying doing blackflips in a burka" you just look like an idiot to anyone educated.
Thanks.
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4-21-2008 @ 10:40AM
FLLady said...
If that is what they want to be known for, then just stand there naked. Nobody respects these "girls" & could care less about them.
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4-21-2008 @ 10:40AM
mark said...
"too much skin?" i wonder how that comment be justified coming from the area of the world that gave rest of us the the Karma Sutra, belly dancing and harums.
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