HERE SHE COMES-MISS RAIDERETTE

RAIDERETTE- REBECA GUERRERO

By Larry Garcia (Raider Drive Larry) and 
Paul Turse (Samurai Raider)

Area Chica Pro Sports and Raiderdrive.com Staff Writers.

11/2001  

A very special thanks to "She Maverick" Mary Barnes, Director of Raiderettes, and Rebeca for making this interview possible.

While she may not wear a crown, carry a scepter, or walk a runway, when a Raiderette takes the field with her silver pom-poms and white boots, she is just as much an inspiration as any beauty queen.  In fact, the regimen and rigorous life style of a Raiderette parallel those of a Miss America—right down to her smile!

 It should be obvious that it takes the same discipline and dedication to be a Raiderette, but not many realize the contributions that a Raiderette makes to the community.  While it is obvious that a Raiderette is a cheerleader, it is not always so noted that she is also a leader of cheer—“good cheer,” that is.  In other words—like a Miss America—she works to enlighten the state of mind and uplift the heart of everyone she meets.

Meet Raiderette Rebeca, who is now in her 3rd year as a Raiderette.  It’s hard work to become a Raiderette.  What most of us fans see are beauties with shapely figures in silver & black, wearing "high-stepping" white boots, waving pom-poms, and dancing to the music with a smile that lights up the Coliseum.  What does a Raiderette have to do to become a Raiderette?  Once you’re a Raiderette, are you guaranteed to stay a Raiderette for the following year to come?

"Once a Raiderette, always a Raiderette" is true but only in spirit.  There is no guarantee from year to year whether a young lady will be selected again.  Her “contract” and “commitment” is for one season only, and after that she is on her own in future tryouts.  On Sunday, May 20, the finalists for the 2001 season were assembled at the Hilton to compete for the honor of being an Oakland Raiderette. Good thing Coach Jon Gruden never went out for cheerleading; although he may have been voted one of the 50 Most Beautiful People, his “smile” would not put him in the top 50 Raiderette finalists.  But we still luv ya, Jon.

Rebeca:  “I diet and exercise and want to look my best for the day of tryouts. Every year there are going to be  younger girls coming in at the ripe ages of 18 to 20. They are very lean and ripe young girls, so you can honestly get bumped,” says Rebeca. 

Now being a Raiderette is something that a lot of young girls out there dream about, and some try out several times to become a glamorous Raiderette. Even when these Raiderettes wear that little swimsuit that most girls wish they could fit into and diet most of all their early years to fit in one--if they can--they still strive to reach that goal.  Is it just diet and exercise that make any one of these “NFL Fabulous Females” a Raiderette?  Rebeca goes on to say, “Mary Barnes and staff always tell us it’s not what you wear but who you are and how you perform with the girls next to you. I don’t give these girls a "glitch" to miss a double take on me.  I want to “wow them” when I walk in with a bright dress or a gown that’s so skin tight that I can’t even put a pin in between my body and the dress.”  

Now before we go on, let me guess.  You're thinking she just said that what you wear doesn’t matter and then she wants to “Wow them"  Oh, but it does matter; that is, when you put all the factors together of what it takes to become a Raiderette.  “When you try out to be a Raiderette, there’s no right and wrong answer; it’s all about performing well,” say’s Rebeca. “They want to know your speaking ability and they want a very brief and short interview.  When you're in for tryouts, you have to keep a positive attitude.  You can’t go in there saying it’s in my hands, because it’s not!  I’ve seen the best of the best not brought back on team.  You never take it for granted that you’ve made the team; there’s always someone that can replace you, just like the Raider players.”

Mary Barnes ("She Maverick" Director of Raiderettes) explains that it is a must, a necessity to have good grammar, good speaking ability and to carry yourself well because even when you're not in your Raiderette outfit, the fans know who you are.  Even when the girls walk into a 7-11, people will recognize them.  So what Mary Barnes is saying is that being a Raiderette means you represent the Raider family and Organization at all times.

What does Rebeca have to say about the girls, about becoming a Raiderette?  Does she have the eyes, smile, and beauty to be a Raiderette?  Is this her only goal? 

Being A Raiderette Is Glamorous, But A Raiderette has Other Priorities As Well-- “We have unique individuals, we have girls with college educations, girls with professions and careers, and we’re not just a pretty face. They can make the girl look beautiful, but they can’t give the girl brains.  It’s the poise, being able to conduct herself in public in a manner that makes her very different from other individuals,” said Rebeca. 

So girls, are you starting to have second thoughts about being a Raiderette?  Hmm, let’s see now.  So that would mean hard work, good speaking ability with good grammar, carrying yourself well with poise at all times, trying out to make the team and being judged on all your talents. 

I’m Proud To Be Latina-To Have A Door Opened For The Next Latina To Come In

Rebeca is one who is proud of her ethnic background as a Latina woman in the community. “If you look at Hispanic history, there are not very many Latinas to be part of opening the doors for the next Latin women to come in.  I think it’s a plus because there are not many of us on the team, but there is a very large diversity on the squad,” said Rebeca.

HELPING OTHERS COMES WITH THE TITLE “RAIDERETTE"

“Mary Barnes has a list where she keeps track of and writes down all our promotions. We have to do 10 charities a year.  When we get hired for an event, the customer fills out a form that reports how we fared and if the individual or individuals would hire us again.  But it’s not too  candid. I can honestly say that the girls do go out and do a very good job.  Mary Barnes finds everything out; she finds out something before you even do it.” 

Rebeca has a job that interacts with charity and helping those out that need help. Rebeca works with people on a daily basis, especially those in the Hispanic communities.  As Rebeca was being interviewed, she paused to talk to someone in Spanish.  The word  “bilingual” describes Rebeca's skill, which gives her an edge on most of today’s working women.  Rebeca has excellent English, grammar, and Spanish abilities that help her and her employer help others.

The service activities of a Miss America and a Raiderette are far too numerous to give a complete coverage, but  suffice it to say that their service activities, from charity drives to public appearances, parallel each other.  In short, both of  these all-American girls touch the lives of all they come in contact with

Finally, Miss America has an objective to achieve during her year.  In her platform statement, while emphasizing the importance of “teaching values and valuing teachers,” she stated that during her reign she would “dedicate” her “efforts” to the fulfilling of her goals.  In other words,  like a Raiderette,  she has made a commitment to excellence in terms of her mission.*

Although Miss America did not cheer for any of teams, it is no accident that during Super Bowl week she was on hand to “cheer on” a number of civic and charitable events sponsored by the NFL.  Well, whether a Raiderette will ever get to go to the big one or not, she, along with her fellow Raiderettes, is still super with her fans.

The critics of pro-cheerleading and pageants say that these events glorify beauty, often a false value that goes only skin deep and that can never be realized by every young woman.  Well, tell that theory to those artists who always aspire to such an ideal and to every all-American young girl who strives to emulate her icons, even if such a quest cannot be realized.  That is what an ideal is—something that may never be achieved but nevertheless strived for.  What these critics most sorely miss, however, is that while these women are beautiful, something more lies beneath the surface.  And unlike many of their beautiful counterparts in society, they do not attempt to get over with just good looks.  These young women study, train, and push their minds and bodies to the limit in order to achieve perfection.  Most people know that a Miss America has talent and intelligence, since it is a scholarship program, but many may not be aware that a Raiderette shares these attributes. 

 Raiderette Director Mary Barnes is quite excited about this year’s squad and knows that--seasoned veteran or rookie--each will approach the season with the regality of a Miss America and with this traditional Raider philosophy:  “Just win, baby!”

 Back in 1984, Kim Jobe wrote a poem for Miss Iowa Tammy Truit.  It is a tribute to both a friend and to the concept and ideals of the Miss America Organization.  She urges her friend to be mindful and worthy of the mission to stand as a role model for future generations.  In the final lines of the poem, Jobe summarizes the essence of a Miss America’s responsibility.

  In word, in action, in deed

 Touch a heart, change a life

  Make a difference

  Walk worthy of the crown.**  

When she wrote these words, Jobe could very well have had a Raiderette in mind.  So when your favorite Raiderette enters the field this coming season, although it won’t be via a runway, she will be inspiring not only our team but future generations as well.  She will indeed walk worthy of the Silver and Black and—just like a Miss America—she will do it all with a smile.

* Angela Perez Baraquio, “Character in the Classroom: Teaching Values, Valuing Teachers,” Platform Statement (www.missamerica.org).

** Cited in the Journal section in The Official Site of the Miss America Organization (www.missamerica.org).

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