[Queerasfck]

Originally Posted by Bob

Interesting. How do you define 'purism'? My researches indicate that the cheerleading/football symbiosis dates back to 1898.

("Princeton graduate Thomas Peebles introduced the idea of organized crowds cheering at football games to the University of Minnesota. However, it was not until 1898 that University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell directed a crowd in cheering "Rah, Rah, Rah! Sku-u-mar, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah!”, making Campbell the very first cheerleader and November 2, 1898 the official birth date of organized cheerleading."-see 'Cheerleading' at Wikipedia.)

The game we currently known as (American/gridiron) football did not appear until 1892. (See "Walter Camp" ('Father of American Football') entry at Wikipedia.)

So by purism I assume you mean you're a fan of the game as played between 1892-1898?

I must clarify. I compared today's NFL cheerleaders to hip hop dancers. I was wrong I think they are actually more like strippers. Dancers and strippers are fine. I just don't think they have anything to do with the game as basic as I would like it to be. If you have to have cheerleaders how about the ones like Will Ferrell and Shari Oteri on SNL?? They are great and far more entertaining.
I know the NFL is all about money and flesh sells, so there you have it. I would be remiss if I didn't mention not all teams in the NFL have cheerleaders though. Maybe it has to do with a teams's history of poor ticket sales?
I would rather watch the game the way it was made to be played. Less gear, no indoor stadiums, real grass, all the elements and intangables. Who cares if it's too foggy, muddy, rainy, windy to see the ball--destroy the competition! Players hurt??? Tape an asprin on the injury and go back in!!! Decapitate and mame whenever possible. Blood sport.
That is all I think.