I was fortunate enough to get a press pass to the 1996 Oilers-Redskins preseason game in Knoxville. Seeing the pro cheerleaders was amazingly strange. On television, they look normal, but up close I could see the thick layers of make-up and hairspray. Plus, you'd be surprised to see the effects of a couple years of sun, rain and sleet on some of their faces.

It gave me a deeper perspective on what these ladies go through every weekend on the sidelines while we keep track of silly sports statistics. next