OT “weight Of Gold”

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Ok, watch this trailer and switch out a few key words. Then tell me it doesn’t sound like AS cheerleading:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzGdIh3ciSk

1. You don’t get a normal childhood
2. You only get a few minutes to determine your fate
3. You don’t have a way to turn your skills into a real world job when your career is done (at least not one that is both athletic and lucrative, like “mainstream“ athletes do)
4. People look up to you
5. People want to see you fail

It completely floors me why cheer doesn’t get more respect when you really realize all that we’re asking of kids.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

The average all star cheerleader does get a normal childhood, though.

Those with abnormal childhoods (homeschooled, no other activities, in gym 24/7.) are the 1%.

Think about it, gymnasts LEAVE gym for cheer because they are looking for a less intense setting that requires less time in the gym and allows time for things like school.

You never hear a cheerleader say they're switching to gymnastics.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

The average all star cheerleader does get a normal childhood, though.

Those with abnormal childhoods (homeschooled, no other activities, in gym 24/7.) are the 1%.

Think about it, gymnasts LEAVE gym for cheer because they are looking for a less intense setting that requires less time in the gym and allows time for things like school.

You never hear a cheerleader say they're switching to gymnastics.

Yeah, I just meant in the sense that we ask kids to flip themselves over their heads and then land on their feet. The sheer audacity of that really, when you think about it. It’s a weird skill that requires a mind/body connection that’s inherently different from other sports. It’s an expensive skill that requires specialized training. It’s a skill that goes against every common sense instinct you have. And I really think it’s a different breed of kid that says, “Yeah, THAT’S what I want.”

So by virtue of cheer asking for non-normal things, I think cheer childhoods can’t help but be a little left of center.

 

[ErinS]

Doesn’t sound like all star cheer at all.....


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[quitthedrama]

My kid got a very normal childhood even competing at a high level in allstar. She was involved in several school activities and even got to play high school lacrosse (spring sport). She had to sit some games and/or play JV because of missed practices when she went to worlds and she missed a fair amount of time hanging out with friends and her junior prom, but that was the extent of the "lost" normal childhood.
You can certainly continue a career in cheer if you choose, but more importantly just like any other disciplined sport or activity, cheer teaches you to take direction and make corrections, to be on time, to not bang out sick when you're not, to be accountable and productive - all things very important in the workforce (and often times lacking).

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

My takeaway from that trailer was less about the sacrifices made and more about struggling with identity when they retire; like seeing yourself as "X" for so long and then having that no longer be a part of how you see yourself/how you fit into this world/how you or the world defines yourself.

When kids are passionate about their sport, when they eat, sleep, and breathe that sport, when their whole life is devoted to that sport, simply because they truly love it, it does make it hard to transistion out of it and to find a way through life without that world and without that defining part of them. Especially when sports offer you the foundations of life like team work, time management, discipline, etc. When every part of who they are was shaped by sports, there can be an identity crisis, of sorts, that happens.

I think you also see it frequently in people who have lost careers or communities or even long term relationships. We define ourselves a lot by what we do for work and what communities we belong to. Sports can be both of those sometimes, which makes that transition harder.

Im sure there are a lot of kids in cheer who can and will relate to that message. I think starting a conversation about it, like this doc is, is important.

Im interested to see it.

 

[Cheermom1979]

I think most allstar kids have a pretty close to normal childhood. Sure my daughter misses some sleepovers and can’t hang at parties on comp weekends, or lounge around after school doing nothing. But she wants to do it. We ask every season as the stakes get higher if she wants to make. change and she doesn’t want to. She knows what she is missing out on and it’s not that important to her. What cheer has taught her is far greater than what she is missing out on in my opinion- Discipline, dedication, a great work ethic (the work is worth it!) punctuality, commitment, time management skills, Teamwork, The importance of proper sleep and nutrition.
And cheer or any competitive sport should not be your whole identity- regardless of how much time energy and money you put into it.

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Also, is anyone watching The Last Dance on Netflix about the Chicago Bulls’ reign and the strategy behind it? Very very good.

I guess it’s good (or bad?) to see that political corporate BS also haunts even the best athletes on the planet.

 

[ErinS]

Also, is anyone watching The Last Dance on Netflix about the Chicago Bulls’ reign and the strategy behind it? Very very good.

I guess it’s good (or bad?) to see that political corporate BS also haunts even the best athletes on the planet.

Yeah I started it when it came on ESPN in April and finished the other day. While a talent, I’ve never been a MJ fan. Never owned Jordans, can’t recall watching him play...but I do remember being fascinated by Rodman as a kid. I was more interested in his supporting cast—-like Kerr.


Can’t wait for the Magic Johnson documentary. He has a good 30 for 30.

Also the “political corporate bs” is a small...small...small...dang near forgotten part of his career.


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[Sterling von Shimmer]

Yeah I started it when it came on ESPN in April and finished the other day. While a talent, I’ve never been a MJ fan. Never owned Jordans, can’t recall watching him play...but I do remember being fascinated by Rodman as a kid. I was more interested in his supporting cast—-like Kerr.


Can’t wait for the Magic Johnson documentary. He has a good 30 for 30.

Also the “political corporate bs” is a small...small...small...dang near forgotten part of his career.


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We all owe Rodman an apology. He was maligned in the media as “weird” when he was just wearing what he felt like: big hats. Looking back, he was so inoffensive. But the media treated him like there must’ve been something wrong with him because costumey clothing counted as a controversy back then. Simpler times.

 

[ErinS]

We all owe Rodman an apology. He was maligned in the media as “weird” when he was just wearing what he felt like: big hats. Looking back, he was so inoffensive. But the media treated him like there must’ve been something wrong with him because costumey clothing counted as a controversy back then. Simpler times.

We?

Ahht ahht. I’ve never found him “weird”

I’ve always appreciated people who were themselves and bis “behavior” in an athletic arena was amazing to watch when I was kid. Literally my sister and I were not taught to view him as weird lol


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[Sterling von Shimmer]

I found this article about him which I absolutely love.

How Dennis Rodman, '90s Outcast, Became Dennis Rodman, Style Godhead | GQ

 

[cheerKT]

So did anyone actually watch the documentary on HBO? I knew of a lot of their struggles (Phelps, Gracie Gold, Steve Holcomb) but a lot of the other stories were surprising. It's shocking that there's no real help or support system in place who truly don't lead normal lives.

 

[Eyes On The Prize]

So did anyone actually watch the documentary on HBO? I knew of a lot of their struggles (Phelps, Gracie Gold, Steve Holcomb) but a lot of the other stories were surprising. It's shocking that there's no real help or support system in place who truly don't lead normal lives.

I watched it this past weekend. The story of the skeleton(?) athlete who couldnt go see her dying dad bc they "needed her medals" was absolutely heart breaking.

Good doc. Not super surprised by a lot of it, just because you see the same stuff across a lot of different parts of life, but still disappointing that it continues to happens.