The performs and supports for the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball

The Laker Girls are an all-female National Basketball Association Cheerleading squad that performs and supports the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball team in home matches. They also perform at many other events and venues. The Laker Girls hold auditions at the Staples Center for new recruits on the third Saturday of July of every year. Each girl auditioning needs to be 104-130 lbs. (135 lbs. is considered if the audition goes very well) and must come with a resume of their previous jobs and gigs. It is required that each girl auditioning comes prepared with her own routine and is taught two routines that each girl must perform for the current Laker Girls as well as some judges.

They call it El Superclasico - Boca Juniors v River Plate - and claim it is the biggest and best derby in world football. But . . .

They call it El Superclasico - Boca Juniors v River Plate - and claim it is the biggest and best derby in world football. But how does it compare to an Old Firm clash? Sportsmail’s columnist, in Argentina on business, went along to find out for himself.

There is something different about the giant Coca-Cola logos that adorn La Bombonera,Boca’s atmospheric stadium.

The red and white branding, instantly recognised the world over, is not acceptable around these parts because the colours are those of River Plate, which explains why the logo has been changed to black and white.

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Ticker-tape reception: Boca fans hail their team before kick-off, as a cheerleader (below) adds to the colour

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No historical religious divide involved here - instead there is a supposed class distinction, with Boca being the team championed by the working classes.

As ever, the game sold out weeks in advance, with River Plate going into the match as league leaders, four points ahead of their rivals.

Local advice was to get there early, easier said than done with four security cordons to be negotiated.

Barbecues were breaking out all along the route to the ground and we made a pit-stop for some fluid. Alcohol is banned anywhere near the ground on match days, so water, rather than beer, had to be the order of the day.

The last security check involved a body search - an attempt to keep weapons and fireworks out of the volatile mix.

The 58,000-capacity stadium was a riot of colour and noise - the only empty seats being in the ’safety zone’ between the 5,000 visiting fans in the top tier at one end and the effervescent Boca followers everywhere else.

Pre-match, the rival supporters exchanged insulting chants, with the Boca lot behind the goal enjoying the support of sundry drummers and trumpeters.

The reserve squads of both teams tried to keep the fans amused by playing two periods of 30 minutes before the real deal started, but little attention was paid to them.

As you would expect, the noise level reached deafening proportions as kick-off approached and the concrete structure of the stadium was put to the test as the fans bounced up and down.

Boca fans behind the goal unveiled the biggest banner I’ve ever seen - it stretched from the third tier all the way down to the ground some 100 feet below and almost covered the entire end.

Then the home team’s cheerleaders emerged and they attracted more attention than the reserve squads had managed - and their dancing wasn’t too shabby either.

The two dressing rooms are in different parts of the ground and the teams enter the pitch through separate tunnels.

The away dressing room is under the popular home end, so a 25-metre inflatable tunnel was needed to see River Plate to safety outwith missile range of those Boca fans who were lobbing anything and everything over the 30-foot high barbed wire-topped security fence - upon which some of their number were perched!

Health and safety considerations in the almost vertical stands with narrow passageways blocked by seated fans were noticeable only by their absence.

Ten minutes before the start, Boca emerged to an ear-splitting ovation with ticker tape and paper cascading on to the pitch. Predictably, River Plate’s entrance was greeted by jeers and catcalls.

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Claiming the spoils: Battaglia, scorer of the only goal, is embraced by team-mate Riquelme (above), prompting an ecstatic response from the Boca fans (below)

The game itself was a disappointment and never measured up to the unique atmosphere in which it was played. Boca won 1-0, thanks to a goal from midfielder Sebastian Battaglia, whose powerful header from a corner resulted in an explosion of noise and another avalanche of ticker tape. More frantic tidying up required.

Juan Roman Riquelme, known to us from his time at Villarreal, orchestrated most of the home attacks but he lost interest and ran out of steam in the second half, as did his opposite number, Ariel Ortega, who had been at the heart of things for River Plate.

Both were hooked after 75 minutes and the game petered out, despite the frantic efforts of coach Diego Simeone to rally his River Plate team.

Boca were deserved winners. The ball control and passing was sublime at times, but I have to say that the game lacked the intensity and physical edge that Celtic and Rangers manage to serve up on most occasions.

Referee Gustavo Bassi handled the game well, although I’m not sure his emerald green and white top would go down well at Ibrox.

His approach was to play as much advantage as he could and it paid off. There was far less diving, feigning and cynical fouling than I had expected. Only three yellow cards were needed and one of those was for the Boca keeper’s time-wasting.

There was some blatant wrestling in the penalty areas at set-pieces and the odd attempt to persuade the referee to issue a card to an opponent but, by and large, the game itself was tame by comparison with some Old Firm encounters in which I was involved.

Having said that, I don’t recall seeing a riot policeman in Glasgow having to hold his shield over a player’s head to protect him from missiles during the game, which is what happened every time River Plate had a corner at the Boca end.

Cheerleader and thoughts of big hair, pleated skirts and cheesy all

Say the word ‘cheerleader’ and thoughts of big hair, pleated skirts and cheesy all-American smiles will no doubt spring to mind. Depending on your age, you may even think of Olivia ­Newton-John as the unsullied Sandy in the 1978 film Grease — before she was vacuum-packed into those spandex trousers at the end.

And pom-poms. Everyone thinks of pom-poms.

But mention them to the Ascension Eagles, Britain’s most successful cheerleading team, and you’ll get short shrift. Pom-poms (or the ‘P word’ as they’re called around these parts) are frowned upon, as I discover when I join the squad for a training session.

Julia Lawrence practising with the Ascension Eagles, Britain’s most successful cheerleading team, at the ExCeL Centre

As the troupe will soon be hoisting me in the air and (hopefully) returning me safely back to earth, I’m rather grateful no one is shaking anything.

This East London group hates the public’s perception of them as a bunch of pom-pom-waving Barbie dolls — an image which was fuelled when the sport received a very ­British belittling in the media following an Ofsted report highlighting its growing ­popularity.

News that it’s now on the PE curriculum in 58 per cent of schools prompted howls of ­derision from traditionalists, who dismissed cheerleading as a whimsical pastime for touchline tottie.

Arriving for one of the Eagles’ training ­sessions in London Docklands’ ExCel centre, I can quite categorically state that there’s not the merest hint of a rustling pom-pom.

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What I do hear is a lot of laughter and ­camaraderie from the teenagers, who live in one of the toughest boroughs in London.

They’ve chosen to spend their Friday nights practising highly-skilled backflips, tumbles, handstands and dance routines. They even take heaving a Daily Mail writer into the air with good cheer. Most surprisingly of all, many of the cheerleaders are boys.

Watching over us is the woman who made it happen: Shara Brice, a Texas-born vicar’s wife, who arrived in Britain 21 years ago. She’s seen her idea bloom into one of the most successful youth projects in Britain, earning her an MBE along the way.

Popular culture: Cheerleaders are regularly portrayed in U.S. TV shows, with Glee (pictured) being a prime example

The story behind the Ascension Eagles reads like a Disney script, and has caught the eye of production company Big Talk Pictures, which has plans to turn it into a film.

Shara, 41, met her ­husband Jonathan, 49, while studying psychology at Oxford and decided to stay in the UK. But when Jonathan was given a parish in 1996, the Church Of The Ascension in Newham, East London, Shara admits that she questioned the wisdom of her decision. Driving down those streets for the first time and hearing about the high levels of violence, muggings and the gangs of youths in the area, Shara’s initial reaction was one of horror.

She says: ‘At first I wondered what I had agreed to, but then Jonathan and I realised all these kids needed was something positive to do, so we set about trying to provide that.’

Jonathan organised a football tournament, and Shara, after wondering whether the girls of the parish would be interested in learning cheer­leading routines, posted flyers.

To her surprise, 30 girls of all ages turned up at the church and Shara coached them through basic ­routines, which they turned into a display for the football tournament. At the end of it, they wanted to carry on so the Ascension Eagles was formed.

One of the girls who knocked on the parish door 14 years ago was Natalie John-Baptiste, now a 28-year-old mother, PE teacher and enthusiastic Ascension Eagles coach. Shara fondly remembers Natalie as being full of attitude: ‘She was far too cool to even look at me.’

Jumping for joy: The High School Musical franchise also involves cheerleaders

The ­following year, the group decided to enter their first cheerleading tournament in Bognor Regis. ‘We came last,’ Natalie laughs. ‘We were even awarded a consolation prize of a wooden spoon for being good sports. It was embarrassing, but it spurred us on and we decided to never ever come last again.’

You can guess what happened next. Inspired by their defeat, and urged on by Shara, this tough group of kids decided to get serious. They started looking for sponsorship, drafted in coaches and invested in impressive kit to replace their cheap leggings and netball skirts. And it happened. ‘Natalie was always one of those girls who was convinced she couldn’t do anything and wouldn’t even try. Then, ­suddenly, she found she could do anything she wanted.

‘It’s been the same with all the kids — being in this team has inspired them,’ says Shara.

Four Ascension Eagles teams, divided by age and skill, entered the following year’s competition and all won trophies, some gold. Today, there are 130 cheerleaders in the squad aged from three to 24.

Their elite squad, Legacy, is ranked 6th in the world and in July retained its top British title for their 12th ­successive year. Natalie’s seven-year-old daughter Lariah is now in the Ascension Eagles, having followed in the footsteps of her mother.

Boys have joined the ranks, too. Among them are Jaiden Odle, 9, and Tristan Sotonye, ten, both of whom have been with the Eagles for six years. They don’t shake pom-poms; in fact, give a pom-pom to Jaiden and he’d most likely kick it elegantly into the back of a football net, as he plays for West Ham FC youth team.

‘My mates thought it was funny that I did cheerleading until I showed them one of my moves in the playground,’ says Tristan. ‘They think it’s wicked now.’ After all their achievements, it’s easy to see why the group gets exasperated when they’re ­dismissed or ridiculed.

University student Tovonya Raybe, 20, who was part of this year’s ­winning elite squad says: ‘We don’t get the respect we deserve. What people don’t realise is there are two types of cheerleading. The one most people think of is called collegiate. It’s dance-based and linked to U.S colleges. These are the groups with pretty girls and pom-poms, there to engage the crowd. Then there’s allstars cheerleading, the competitive side of the sport, which is what we do.

‘It’s one of the best things I have ever done. It’s given me an amazing life and taken me all over the world, which I really don’t think I would have done otherwise.’ I’m in no doubt that I’ve left my cheerleading career a little late, ­nevertheless I am keen to find out for myself whether this is the hard-core sport everyone’s been describing.

Cheerleaders for the Washington Redskins proudly waving their pom-poms

I’m not sure whether to be insulted or relieved when Natalie tells me that 12 cheerleaders have been ­chosen to support my weight for the lifting part of the routine. Natalie, Bailey, Susanna, Ellie, Sherelle, ­Khiera, Joanna, Laura, Kimberley, Jaz, Aisha and a very brave 15-year-old boy called Rui, are the unlucky ones to whom the task has fallen.

We start with some star jumps — easily done on your own, but not so simple when you’re aiming to get everyone landing on the same beat. I’m soon apologising.

Then, we’re instructed in lifting 12-year-old Sherelle into the air, where she’s spun before landing in a ‘basket’ made of our arms.

With Sherelle back on her feet and living to see another day, I think all is going well — until the floor routines begin.

As I have the agility of a wardrobe door, the team put me to shame. They are amazing — nimble, athletic and strong. When it comes to the big finish, a human pyramid, I pray I’m not going to cause any of them an injury. Suddenly, I’m standing on the strong, uncomplaining thighs of Rui and Bailey, while supporting the feet of team mates beside me.

I get rousing applause and, most importantly, everyone walks away unharmed. I feel like I’ve been hugged by a big, noisy family.

So united are they, that Shara boasts she had to create a second junior team for the 12 to 15-year-olds as the first grew too large. ‘This is at an age when girls’ attention starts wandering away from sport and towards boys. I tell them, “if you’ve got time for boyfriends, we’re not working you hard enough”.’

The boys, she finds, tend to drift away around ten, and then return as teenagers where they form an essential part of the lifting side of routines.

At 15, Rui is an exception: he has been cheerleading for four years and has no plans to quit. ‘I really enjoy it,’ he says. ‘My mates thought it was a bit wussy until they came to see it. Now they want to try it.’

Shara and Jonathan have since moved to a new parish in Essex with their children Crichelle, 15, and 13-year-old Joel, but Shara still travels back to London regularly to run her teams.

She puts in 60 hours a week seeking sponsorship for the Ascension Eagles charity and promoting Talent Central, the business side of the team, which organises corporate team-building events and displays.

The night ends with the Ascension Eagles’ chant: ‘The red, white and blue. Back and better. Ascension Eagles champions forever!’ their London accents ringing out.

‘That always gives me a thrill,’ says Shara. ‘Sometimes you find European squads cheering in ­American accents.

‘This team is coached by locals, putting a British stamp on cheerleading. This is their own unique blend, and that’s what makes them so brilliant.’

With a movie on the way, it’s also what may yet make their story into the next Billy Elliot. Could the Ascension eagles do for cheer­leading what Billy did for ballet? I wouldn’t bet against it.

Cheerleading is gaining in popularity as a sport in its own right

Schools are overlooking traditional team games in favour of cheerleading, yoga and circus skills as sport.

Netball, hockey and rugby union are losing their appeal as schools tempt pupils with alternatives such as juggling, boxing, trampolining, skateboarding and angling, a survey of PE lessons has found.

Nearly four in ten schools - 37 per cent - now offer cheerleading as a sport, it emerged, up from 32 per cent in 2008/09.

Cheerleading is gaining in popularity as a sport in its own right

Its boom is ironic given there is little team sport to be cheered for, with ministers warning that levels of competitive games in schools remains ’disappointingly low’.

Fewer than four in ten youngsters regularly play competitive sport, with four million missing out, the poll of all schools in England showed.

Seventy-eight per cent of youngsters played in some internal school leagues and fixtures.

But only 39 per cent did so ’ regularly’ - three times or more a year at primary school and 12 times or more at secondary.

Just 49 per cent had some experience of inter-school competition and only 21 per cent did so regularly.

Meanwhile some 22 per cent of schools are laying on yoga classes, with the same proportion providing trampolining lessons, and 18 per cent offer circus skills.

Football, offered by 98 per cent of schools, remains the most popular sport, followed by dance, offered by 96 per cent, and cricket by 89 per cent.

Netball is played at 79 per cent of schools, and 66 per cent offer rugby union - down from a high of 74 per cent in 2005/06. Rugby league was offered by 35 per cent.

Participation in school sport has risen steadily since monitoring began seven years ago, the poll by independent researchers TNS-BMRB found.

Other sports which have gained popularity include skateboarding, boxing, mountaineering and martial arts, while cycling enjoyed a particularly sharp rise.

But 21 per cent - some 1.4 million youngsters - still do not receive the recommended minimum of two hours of PE lessons a week. A recent report from watchdog Ofsted warned that some schools have no choice but to offer alternative sports because they lack the facilities for competitive games.

Earlier this year Education Secretary Michael Gove revealed plans to revive competitive sport in schools with an Olympics- style national school sport championship in 2012.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said: ’It’s great to see more pupils taking part in school sports.

’However, young people’s involvement in competitive sport remains disappointingly low.’

’We aim to spark a competitive school sport revolution by giving them the chance to compete at the Olympic-style competitions in 2012.’