Call Her Dream Girl
Tony Mercado
Friday April 21, 2006
Last year, Alisha Phillips was in Las Vegas rooting on her close friend and SaberKitten teammate, Karen Benge, who was representing San Jose on the Arena Football League's Dream Team, an All-Star cast of its best cheerleaders and dancers.
This time around, it's Phillips' turn to shine.
Earlier this week, the AFL began announcing the members of the 2006 Dream Team as voted on by fans of the league. Phillips, a three year veteran and one of the SaberKittens' line captains, will represent San Jose at promotional activities leading up to the June 11 ArenaBowl and will also perform during the game.
"I am so happy and can’t wait," she said upon learning the news. "Just the experience, being known as an All-Star and joining another whole team is always so exciting. I wanted it really bad this year."
While a trip to Vegas sounds like a sweet deal, don't be fooled. There's a lot of work involved with being an All-Star, rewarding as it may be. Promotional events begin at 6 a.m. and often run through 10 p.m. over several days. You have to keep your game face on constantly while meeting and talking with hundreds of fans. And don't forget squeezing in time to learn new routines to entertain the throngs at the ArenaBowl itself.
But if there's anyone who can handle all the pressure, it's Phillips, says Benge, who's pretty sure she voted 100 times for her friend on the AFL Web site and is more than proud to pass on to her the torch.
"I joke with her that only the best follow in my footsteps," said Benge. "Really though, there is a lot involved with this. It's not just fun and games, but in the end, it's all worth it."
Being selected to the Dream Team culminates a 15-year journey for Phillips, who overcame initial shyness about performing as a professional cheerleader to mature into one of the two line captains on this year’s SaberKittens team.
"I wasn’t at ease with myself that first year being so young and new at it," she said. "But I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself and become more comfortable with my body and who I am as a person."
Indeed, as one of only four returning veterans on this year’s squad, Phillips has grown into a leader on the team. She’s often the one looked to for answers and advice and will sometimes arrive early before practice to help a teammate who isn’t quite as experienced with some of the more complicated dance moves.
And as one of the two line captains with three-year veteran Itza Sanchez, Phillips has embraced the role and responsibility that comes with calling the routines during the second and fourth quarters of game day.
"Everything’s on me. I have to start every routine, think about which one will go best with that music and be on top of it quickly," she said. "As I get going, I’m, ‘Yeah, I like this. I can call what I want.’ And I like to spice things up a bit."
No wonder Phillips is such a crowd favorite. And the fan’s support is one of the things this licensed cosmetologist values greatly. Looking into the stands, she knows who the die hard fans are and realizes they make every home game special. And she also knows that it was you, the fans, who made her selection to the Dream Team possible.
So this week, when you see her run onto the field, give her an extra loud cheer. This year, she’s our Dream Girl.
Tony Mercado holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Jose State University and spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter in the Bay Area. He now works in the public relations field, but continues to enjoy writing about the local teams and the positive impact its players, coaches and dance squads have in their communities.
