Editor’s note: Longtime sports photographer and friend of community journalism Mike Longo Jr. will bring you a new column where he expands his field of vision from behind the camera lens. For this installment, he’s focusing on the unsung heroes of each and every game he attends.
A short time ago the powers that be – aka, my bosses at the West Hills Gazette – reached out and inquired if I would be willing to pen a column.
My forte, as those of you who have followed my rather lengthy (35 year) career know, is photography, mainly on the sports scene. I have dabbled in photojournalism as many have seen. When writing, I follow two simple guidelines: Write what you see and write from the heart.
With that in mind, it’s my pleasure to present to our new, along with our faithful, readers the first installment of “Behind the Lens: a Different View.”
There are many facets to the sports world as we know it. Many times all we notice are the athletes, be it elementary, junior or senior high school, college or the pros.
Let’s look at some true behind-the-scenes participants, who for many in attendance at various events bring us just as much joy and entertainment as the athletes themselves.
I’m speaking of the unsung stars of the game: cheerleading squads, marching bands, dance teams. Those individuals go relatively unnoticed, game after game, receiving minimal accolades at best.
These young men and women climb the ranks just as the athletes do. They start at a young age developing and then perfecting their given skills. Be it their gymnastics ability on the cheer or dance team or their ear for music in the marching band, they endure all the rigors and hardships associated with their endeavors.
They start very early in life, as their dedication knows no age boundaries. From the ranks of youth sports through high school, even into college and beyond, their efforts require countless hours of their so-called free time.
Parents and grandparents know this all too well, as their free time is burdened with shuttling non-drivers to practices, camps and the necessary but dreaded fundraisers. For the most part their summer months are gone. They attempt to squeeze in family vacations or subtle weekend getaways.
Each of these entities — cheer, dance and band — have a core group of devoted people behind them, known simply as boosters. That even applies to the college level of any division within the NCAA. Professional teams with such entities are not exempt; even though the cheerleaders make minimal money, they remain steadfast and diligent to said duties of the organization.
On the junior circuit, they work tirelessly planning fundraising events the likes of car washes, hoagie and bake sales, raffle tickets, working in concession stands, T-shirt sales and outright cash donations. Theirs is the never-ending job of raising capital to supply all that is needed on a yearly basis to outfit, feed and transport participants of each entity.
On the college and professional level, there are only slight variances. Those teams have a more accessible supply of cash; however, they still hit the fundraising trail as well. They give up their free time just like the members of each group, putting in as many if not more hours of work than those previously mentioned.
The mission is twofold: to mold the character of the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow, as well as provide the ultimate gameday experience for the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of fans in attendance
From the young to middle age to the old-timers, hats off to all. Your efforts, dedication, work ethic and talents will never go unnoticed from behind this lens.
Photos by Mike Longo Jr.
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