
*I think I should at least until noon to start drinking again*
- For this first cheerleading year, LIFE WAS AWESOME!!!! I was still coaching the sorority girls in basketball and baseball and having a full social calendar associated with that, and I was dating Pochahontas.
She was a great athelete, and quite strong. Let me give you an example. I think you have seen this gymnast move. They have two feet on the floor, spring forward into a handstand, then back to two feet on the floor, and they keep going. Have you seen this? Well, a complete 360 counts as 1. I believe this moved was called a flip-flop(at least that is what we called it). This was freaking amazing to me.
I really don't know how it was arranged, but at a basketball game, one person from each squad would compete. She wiped everyone off the floor. I know it is gymnastics, but I appreciated this because this wasn't a "beauty pageant" event. All that would count is how many you did. It was objective. No style points. You either completed the a revolution or you didn't.
I remember it vividly(for another reason that I will share in a moment). The visiting team would start. It was versus the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Their girl was petite and
cute. She starts and she does four. Four may not sound like much, but the athleticism involved is quite impressive. Pochahantas responds and does five. Now the crowd starts getting into it. The Golden Eagle then eeks out six. Pochahantas responds with seven. It is not intentionally a step-up to build tension, Pochahontas was a competitor and did as many as she could to demoralize the opposition. These things are freaking difficult. Also, this is not being done on a gymnastics mat, which as some give to it.. This is done on a basketball court with its extremely hard surface. Now, the crowd is into this full swing. Half-way thru Pochahontas 2nd attempt, the crowd is counting the revolutions out loud.
Somehow, the Southern Miss cheerleader barely manages eight. Her last two revolutions are slow and deliberate. The crowd is counting her entire run. The place was rocking. Hell, this is more exciting than the basketball game, and its
freaking gymnastics. Now it is time for Pochanatas. The gym is not that large(I think capacity was 1500) and I usually sat somewhere near the cheerleaders. I remember her glancing at me, and just as a nervous gesture, I pat my left hand to my mouth(just a tick, nothing suggestive) and give her a warm smile. She winks at me and then starts her run.
She is freaking flying!!!! The crowd counts....one, two, three, four, five..six...seven.....eitht.......nine!!!!! Freaking nine!!! The crowd goes absolutely wild!!!!
The other girls comes out and gives her a hug, a symbol that the competition is done. What excitement!!! What a performance!!!
*It is past noon.....cracks open the beer*