Mid butt grab and shake..geesh.
(And anyone else who wants to read this), Whoever decided it was a good idea to bring in the LA Clippers Cheerleaders/Dance Team to entertain our elementary students…well, that was a boneheaded move. Not just boneheaded, but uncomfortable and do I dare say…contrary to the self esteem and self-respect sports in general teaches our young boys and girls? The reason I say this, is not because they were the cheer/dance team, nothing wrong with cheer or dance teams, but because of the manner in which these women danced for our children.
I’m normally someone who sees any glass more than half full. As a matter of fact, I have a hard time reviewing anything in a negative light, because I just choose to see the bright side in whatever I can. (Thank you, mom) But this past Saturday, my daughter and her basketball team went to the youth basketball program awards to accept their team sportsmanship award (which they had to wait an hour and 15 minutes to receive, when all other teams were gone…you know, sportsmanship award? The one that’s probably more important than any other award in sports…but that’s another letter, I presume)
Don’t worry, I’m calm.
As we sat in the gymnasium at McCambridge and waited, the girls thought they were headed to some kind of LA Clippers Party. Now, I know things change behind the scenes, and sometimes plans have to adjust to meet the needs of the situation. Maybe that was the case? Maybe? Did not one person say, ‘Maybe we could find a former NBA or WNBA player?’ Maybe you did and they couldn’t come?
Now, before I move on, let me make it clear, I understand the women who choose to cheer or dance for teams like these are grown women and make their own decisions. But in the wave of all the hard work that women (and men) have put into getting women the right to vote, the jobs that they’re capable of and deserve, the respect to stay home with children and rock it, and most recently closing the wage gap, a choice like this from the sports administration in our city was disappointing.
Our girls will not see themselves as more than sexual objects if we don’t stop flaunting women as sexual objects in their faces. This goes also for all men and women who are undermining the work done by these people in history. Don’t even get me started on the latest issue of Sports Illustrated.
And also just as important…what in the world is this teaching the young men in that room? You know the 7-15 year old boys who were all walking around with signed posters of these women?
Elementary students. These are elementary students. My 4 year old daughter was sitting next to her sister watching.
I adore you Parks & Rec. I think Burbank has one of the best, if not THE best, departments in the area. I am just a mom who’s asking you to reconsider allowing something like this to happen again.
And really, thank you for a wonderful season of basketball, all the work your team puts in to scheduling, ordering awards, organizing officials, scorekeepers, opening gymnasiums and everything else you do.
Jessica Cribbs
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If you have nothing nice to say please shut the f&^% up!! There is never going to be equality when women like you are putting other women down..
What a classy and educated comment to leave. If you’re a woman, you are truly a wonderful example to every single one of our daughters. Your use of the English language is colorful to say the least. *insert sarcasm heavily* If I could roll my eyes any farther into my head I’d look like Linda Blair.
Dear “L,”
Why not step out from behind the veil of anonymity and say what you want to say while using your real name. You are a coward.
“If you have nothing nice to say” and “Shut the $&@@ up”
Um. Take your own advice!
Jessica- I TOTALLY support this. If I had been there with my son & daughter- I would have left. Talk about “@ steps back”. Wow. It’s the millennium, people. Saddened by BP&R choice here. Like you – I do not want to “hate on/shame” these ladies- but they are suited for adult venues. I can only imagine how AWKWARD that entire affair was. At least we can applaud all those parents who encouraged & supported their DAUGHTERS to pursue a (usually) male dominated sport. Good for you.
Oh, and ~L we know that all “Trolls” like yourself only have this kind of hubris online/anonymously… From your mom’s basement. Where you interrupt your current high score on Grand Theft Auto to toss out chickens*#t comments you can never back up or say IN PERSON. Enjoy being single.
B.P.
My 6 year old son had his last practice that day for the instructional basketball league for Burbank parks and recs. We got all the emails to go see the Clippers girls at McCambridge. Now first let me say…those women are beautiful, talented, extremely hard working women who push every day to stay trained and endure hours upon hours of practice and stress…just like in any job. It’s a hard sport and one that takes a whole lot of sacrifice and dedication.
BUT! when I got the emails, an immediate red flag went up in my head. As a mother of two young boys, one who has just entered into elementary school, I just didn’t feel comfortable taking him there to stare at a bunch of women dancing around. No offense to them…that’s their job and they don’t have a choice…but this was for the basketball kids…shouldn’t they be meeting basketball players? or coaches? Anyways, needless to say we didn’t go so I could avoid the hours of questions that would have been thrown at me afterwards about them. I already have a hard enough time passing by the fitness magazines on the rack in the supermarket with women in bathing suits and my son asking why they’re in underwear and almost naked, and he is embarrassed when he sees it. I don’t want me kids to feel embarrassed and I don’t want them to have these images in their heads when they grow up because in the end, they will be one day be a boyfriend and a husband and all I can strive to do is make sure they treat them with the utmost respect.