Cheerleaders Don't See The Humor In Detroit Lions April Fools' Joke
MADISON HEIGHTS (WWJ) - The Detroit Free Press website had quite the April Fools'Day joke - Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand supposedly announcing the creation of an all-male cheerleading team.
"We've decided that the way to go was ... male cheerleaders," said Lewand.
It was obviously a joke -- complete with dancing men in sneakers and basketball shorts -- but not everyone was laughing.
Reporting from the Wild Cheer Zone in Madison Heights, WWJ's Kathryn Larson spoke with young athletes about the prank.
"It's like discriminating against male cheerleaders and male athletes," said 14-year-old Brandon LaFrance, in between drills.
Brandon and his twin brother Robert spot and then lift about a dozen girls in the air, and it's just a small part of the training for the boys as male cheerleaders.
"There are lots of boy cheerleaders and anybody can do it, and we work hard," said Robert.
Robert had an idea the Lions could make good on the joke. He'd like to see them actually create a pro co-ed cheer team.
