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| -Lurid Crime Tales- | ||
| Cheerleaders get fired up about Salahi | ||
| 2009-12-03 | ||
Salahi performed at FedEx Field during halftime of the Redskins-St. Louis Rams game Sept. 20 with a group of 150 former Redskins cheerleaders. Salahi's rehearsals with the group were filmed by a crew that has been following Michaele Salahi and her husband, Tareq, for possible inclusion on a cable TV reality show, "The Real Housewives of D.C." Several former cheerleaders said in interviews that Michaele Salahi's presence at a rehearsal drew attention because of the TV cameras, but also suspicion because no one seemed to remember her as a cheerleader for the team. Their doubts were heightened when Salahi couldn't perform some of the basic cheerleader routines, including the standard choreography for the team's fight song, "Hail to the Redskins." But it wasn't until stories about the Salahis' White House incident last week that the cheerleaders decided to follow up on her credentials as a Redskins cheerleader. "She was never at an audition, never at a game and never performed" as an original cheerleader, said Sheryl Olecheck, a Redskins cheerleader from 1986 to 1996 who choreographed the team for seven years. "When I saw her, I had to ask around: 'Who is that?' " Another former cheerleader said she asked Salahi who her choreographer was when she performed. "She couldn't answer," she said. The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association lists Salahi on its membership roster and indicates that she was a cheerleader during 1991 season under her nickname and maiden name, Missy Holt. However, when asked by the group for proof of her participation, Salahi was unable to supply any. The group's president, Terri Lamb, said Wednesday, "We have no record that she ever was a Redskins cheerleader. She was listed on our 1991 roster at Ms. Salahi's request and based on her misrepresentation to us." That alleged misrepresentation enabled Michaele Salahi to become a dues-paying member in 2005 and to perform with the group at two other Redskins games at FedEx in 2005 and 2007. Neither of those appearances raised any concerns at the time. Salahi didn't return calls or e-mails seeking comment Wednesday. A spokesman for the Redskins said the team was not aware of her participation in the cheerleader events. A local video company, Half Yard Productions, showed up to film Salahi at the practice Sept. 18 and subsequently asked the cheerleaders to sign agreements granting their permission to appear on the "Housewives" program and binding them to confidentiality. Salahi arrived late to the practice, and caused some disruption when a videographer scrambled into place to film her emerging from a Range Rover. At one point, a producer directed Salahi, who was wearing a wireless microphone during the rehearsal, to make small talk with members of the group in order to film the interaction.
At another point, a producer asked Olecheck, who was directing Salahi's group, if she could move Salahi to the front row in order to film her better. Olecheck declined. "I already had the formation, and besides, she was too tall and couldn't dance," she said. The cheerleading group also turned down the crew's request to film the halftime performance that included Salahi. But photographs posted on some of the former cheerleaders' Facebook pages show Salahi on the field, often out of time with her line. Olecheck said she was "unnerved" by the episode. "It takes a lot of time and heart and practice to be a Redskins cheerleader," she said. "It's really a privilege to wear the burgundy and gold. So I'm resentful. . . . For her to get out there and think she can just shake her pompoms is upsetting." | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Oh oh. Va. launches probe into business entity run by Salahis The state of Virginia today began a formal investigation into the America's Polo Cup, the business entity run by Michaele and Tareq Salahi that the couple says raises funds for their charitable organization. Tareq Salahi told the Post last year that the 2007 event raised about $250,000 for charity. But in paperwork he filed with Virginia regulators, the foundation reported it received $18,608 in 2007, and donated $15,000 to its stated causes. Amounts that low are not subject to detailed federal tax reporting. There is no documentation of any further donations. The foundation failed to register with state regulators for four years, leading the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to warn earlier this year that contributions "to such an organization could be used for non-charitable purposes." The foundation registered two weeks ago. Your 15 minutes of fame are up. Let the years of legal proceedings begin. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-12-03 17:40 |
| #5 File in the category of "Balloon Boy, Milli-Vanilli, Global Warming, and other hoaxes." |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-12-03 15:47 |
| #4 I think that another "contact" of Ms. Salahi also thinks |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-12-03 13:54 |
| #3 Let's go back to Upton Sinclair, who observed the jungle out there and reported on how ugly it can be to watch sausage production. Since we've mastered sausage production, I suppose this is what we're left to watch. The Range Rover is a nice touch, though. |
| Posted by: halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-12-03 11:43 |
| #2 For her to get out there and think she can just shake her pompoms is upsetting Shaking her pompoms appears to be this con's entire gig. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-12-03 06:50 |
| #1 Well, their friend managed to pull a much bigger one---we're still finding out how much bigger. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-12-03 06:04 |