I am Lymarie Jackson and Cailyn is my daughter. When CEA was approached about the article it was proposed as a look into the youngest athletes in a sport growing in popularity and legitimacy. Because the publication was ESPN the Magazine rather than say, Good Houskeeping or Glamour, we thought it would be a great opportunity to dispense with the tired uneducated sterotypes of all star cheer to focus on the athletisism and dedication these athletes show day in day out and the positive life lessons they learn by participating in the sport. We were convinced that this team would be a good focal point because it includes first year athletes with seasoned vetereans (Cailyn is only 8 but this is her second year competing with a level 5 team. Last year she was on Youth Elite out of Kernersville and this year she is on Raleigh's Small Jr 5. Because of her talent she is generally placed on teams with athletes that are far older than she is. I wanted for her to compete with athletes her own age and younger, where she could be in a position to be team leader and where she would learn to base rather than her traditional position as a flyer). When Ms. Shapiro came to the gym over the course of a number of days, we worked hard to educate her on the sport. She had no absolutely no background knowledge and we worked with her so that she would be equipt to show the world why all star cheer deserves a spot among other youth sports in the country. It was clear when I read the article that Ms. Shapiro came in with stereotypes in mind and just plugged people's names into the ideas she had in her head about what cheerleading is. The situations and conversations were taken out of context and edited to pieces in order to paint the picture she wanted to describe, rather than taking the opportunity to focus on the real story of the athletisism and talent with which these kids have been gifted. She omitted information and descriptions which would have contradicted her world view. The majority of the piece was sensationalized rather than factual. I could go down the line, sentence by sentence and tear the piece to shreds. For example, her descriptions of a team that was falling all over the floor only to miraculously hit a "passable" routine is dishonest. This team is consistent. Our training as coaches would not allow us to place anything on the competition floor that was wasn't. Moreover, to describe me as having "mascara painted lids" is laughable. I wear very little makeup... and I have very little time to "shriek" during routines, especially a glitter stars routine, because I am busy shouting out reminders, counts and encouragement to the athletes. The caricature she chose to portray me with is so unlike my actual values and personality that I can only hope that it creates suspision about the entire article for those that know me. It was not a true picture of our gym and the values we teach through this sport. She was looking to paint the industry as "Toddlers and Tiarras" regardless of what she saw in front of her. Did you notice that with the one male coach she chose to mention she also included his sexual preferrence and his hairstylist boyfriend? Just like the mention of the naked doll and flat-chested girl, it was unnessesary but to perpetuate sterotypes and to color the sport with the crayons that she had already picked out.
I am sorry for the rant, but to say that I am extremely unhappy with the piece is an understatement.