04/03/11 Final auditions for the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders – the “First Ladies of Football” – were held Sunday afternoon at the State Theatre in Fairfax, Va. The field of 60 women trying out was cut to a squad of 40 members. Judges were looking for dancing ability and “calender ready” physique, hence the bikinis.

They have their own set of rabid fans. I was standing next to a group of guys who screamed the names of each returning cheerleader on the squad before they were introduced by the MC and loudly booed one woman tryout when it was announced she’d previously been a Baltimore Ravens cheerleader.