Give Me a C...an H...an E...an A...a P...

Clearly I should be grateful that my high school years as a cheerleader did not lead me to seek professional employment as one. Though the job is meant to be part time, the glory--and opportunity for paid appearances--evidently does not quite make up for the grind. This week the San Jose Mercury News  reported on a suit filed by current and former Oakland Raider cheerleaders, claiming the team  “withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until after the season is completed, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses." The Raiderettes' attorney said he'd never seen an employment contract with so many illegal provisions.

I imagine Raiders players will demand to be paid only after the season, in solidarity.

But as the Atlantic reports, the Raiders are not even the worst in the cheapskate department:  the San Diego Chargers cheerleaders get $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass.  The Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders make $100 for each of 10 (mandatory) performances at home games, which includes showing up five hours before the game starts, and practicing twice a week for three hours 

We will not mention the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, legendary for their extreme audition process, but it is detailed here in the Dallas Morning News, beginning with the question: "How much would you give up for a part time job, one that’s only guaranteed for a year and pays as little as $150 a week? What if that job involved stars and white boots?" -- B.B.