• FAN IQ vibrates its approval of the “ButtKicker”, a device that NHRA and NASCAR are testing that vibrates seats based on cues.

• PRO FOOTBALL TALK reports the Steelers have released everyone’s favorite dump truck, Najeh Davenport.

• The ZWANNEUS REPORT gives us some very nice photos of Russian cheerleaders. Da!

• HASHMARKS notes Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson getting a laugh by naming his toughest opponent.

Read more…

Let me close my portion of things today with some words about CHEER, a new book that chronicles a year in the life of several cheerleaders. Seriously, Brooks: asleep at the wheel.

NPR recently interviewed author Kate Torgovnick about the book, which follows several different college cheerleaders at a close distance. The book description, while interesting, also reveals a world of missed opportunity. Read more…

Would you like to see Ashley Benson starring in an awesome, raunchy movie about five Texas cheerleaders who are out of control?

Well, too bad. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER indicates such a movie has been given the go-ahead … by Lifetime. Read more…

Per STEROID NATION, the STAR-NEWS (N.C.), alerts us to a book that examines the use of performance enhancing drugs in college cheerleading.

Author Lisa Torgovnick is a former contributor to JANE who now writes for the NEW YORK TIMES. She spent an entire season following cheerleaders in competition. While much of the book has to do with the boring documenting of cheer culture, it also reports on cheerleaders’ usage of PEDs. Read more…

The NFL never rests. Need proof? Wasn’t last week the Pro Bowl? And now we’re, what, a few days away from the NFL Scouting Combine? And don’t even get me started about cheerleader mini-camp. That’s already in full swing in Dallas, apparently.

Yeah, you heard me correctly.

The Cowboys’ cheerleaders had a mini-camp on Saturday at South Plains College. They apparently taught folks their moves. More likely, they cured the hangovers of more than a few middle-aged men.

Read more…

THE SACRAMENTO BEE is all over their beat, reporting today that sources close to the program are saying the Kings are on the verge of dealing Mike Bibby to the Hawks for guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue and forwards Lorenzen Wright and Shelden Williams.

It’s your basic deal. One team (Sacramento) looking to rebuild, while the other team (Atlanta) is young and looking for proven veteran leadership in an effort to make a push for the playoffs. But I can think of one truly heartbreaking reason for Bibby to not leave Sacramento.

Read more…

Most professional sports teams hire hot girls to prance around the field (and court) to keep crowds *excited*. The Florida Marlins, on the other hand, bring in the girls to increase attendance.

Not from the extra fans the girls will lure to the ballpark, but by including the number of girls on the field to the overall attendance count.

Actually, we’re not sure the club does that, but how do you explain the team drawing in the triple digits on weekends?

HOME RUN DERBY has a penchant for posting pics of the Marlies (whoops, that’s a team in Toronto), and has footage of recent tryouts for the cheerleading positions at a local Miami mall.

That’ll teach us not to check the Dolphin Mall events calendar next time we head out for a Tony Roma’s BBQ chicken-stuffed baked potato at the food court.

Earlier today we posted on hypocrisy of Dwight Howard’s devout christian brethren mindlessly continuing to embrace him after he had a child out of wedlock.

But after seeing photos of his baby momma, a former Orlando Magic cheerleader named Royce Reed, we now completely understand Howard’s break with the Lord. (Pointer from INSIDE HOOPS)