Laker girl profile: Dara used to be a Cowboys cheerleader
Laker Girl name: Dara
Hometown: Friendswood, Texas
Area of Residence: Thousand Oaks, CA
College/High School: I am currently enrolled at Santa Monica College with a major in Communications.
What prompted you to want to become a Laker Girl? I wanted to become a Laker Girl because it is a job that would give me the opportunity to get paid to do what I love to do which is dance! Also I would have the chance to be a part of the wonderful Lakers organization.
What do you think stood out to the judging panel, about you, regarding your audition? I honestly am not sure, but I am more than grateful that something I did was noticed.
What do you think makes a good Laker Girl? I think a good Laker Girl not only possesses great dance ability, but is a “people person”. She has to be an individual that is not afraid to interact with a crowd or speak in public. I feel that Laker Girls are well rounded young ladies, that carry themselves with class and represent the Lakers' organization well on and off of the court.
What is your dance experience? I started dancing when I was 8 years old in a competitive dance studio back home in Texas. I competed in dance competitions from the age of 8 until my senior year in high school. Once I graduated from High School I auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and made the team for two seasons straight. After my two years of fun filled memories and experiences in Dallas – I then decided it was time to move to Los Angeles and tryout for the world famous Laker Girls! I am happy to say, this is where I have been since the summer of 2009.
Favorite dance routine, while being a Laker Girl? As of right now there are two routines that I consider my favorites. One is to the song "Higher Ground" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the other routine is to "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar. I love the song and I think it will be a crowd pleaser!
Favorite uniform? My favorite uniform would be what we call our White “L.A.” uniform. This is the uniform that we usually wear at Sunday games to match the players white uniforms. I like it because I think it looks flattering on everyone and matching the players in their traditional white uniforms feels like we are all united as a team and a city.
Favorite Lakers Player? My favorite Lakers player is Derek Fisher. I love the character that he shows on the court and off the court. (in our community)
Favorite Laker Girl memory so far? The greatest memory I have so far would have to be game seven last season against the Boston Celtics. That night you could just feel the unity of all the Lakers fans in Staples Center! Not to mention, the heart of the city beating! It gave me such an adrenaline rush the whole game. The entire experience was so surreal and truly felt like a dream come true.
What do you like most about being involved, as a Laker Girl, at local charity/community events? Taking part in charity events and getting involved in our community is one aspect of this job I truly enjoy. I think that this is the time where we get to spread our love and joy for life to others. We also get to show that we are more than just a “dancer” or “pretty face”. I love that I get the opportunity to touch someone’s life in some way, whether it be with an autographed photo or just a simple smile. It allows me to leave each event knowing that somehow I made a difference and I couldn't ask for more than that!
What would you say is your beauty secret? I wouldn't really call this a beauty secret, but I do try to get a good night’s sleep so that I do not wake up with huge bags under my eyes the next morning. (because that is never fun) Other than that, I just have fun and attempt to live each day without stress. I think life without stress keeps you young.
What diet/workout tips do you have? In order to stay fit and be healthy, I encourage others to try to eat right. Also, try to do some kind of work out or activity a day. I try to make sure I have at least one good meal a day that consist of fish or chicken with two different types of vegetables. I also try to substitute my unhealthy snacks with things like fruit. As for my workout, I personally enjoy running because it gets my heart rate going…..and it can be a great stress reliever.
What are your hobbies? Aside from dancing, I love to read, write, go shopping. In addition, I enjoy a nice day at the beach.
Career aspirations? As of right now I am not exactly sure what career I would like to hold, but considering that my major is in Communications, a job involving Public Relations is my interest. I am young right now, so I am simply taking each day as it comes!
--Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
pfunk: I have an interesting equation too.
Kobe Bryant - Phil Jackson = 0 rings
Michael Jordan - Phil Jackson = 0 rings
Posted by: Mark Medina | April 15, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Medina,
That twisted logic is like saying
Michael Jordan - Nike Shoes = 0 rings
It's a true statement but come on dude.
I'm quite sure if Phil Jackson had never been born the great Jordan and Kobe still would have found a way to win rings
Remember:
A great player without a coach is a great player.............but a coach without great players...............is a homeless person!
Posted by: pfunk36 | April 16, 2011 at 09:23 AM
Then how come great players like Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and John Stockton all have combined for 0 rings?
Posted by: Mark Medina | April 16, 2011 at 09:25 AM
Medina,
Because Unfortunately for them their careers paralleled the Jordan Era in basketball.............It's the same reason Dr. J only has 1 ring............his NBA career paralleled the Magic-Bird Era. Who by the way weren't coached by Phil Jackson nor did they run the triangle............in fact they didn't even wear Nikes
Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd all are great players.............with 0 rings...........Why? They all came up in the Decade of Duncan and Shaq-Kobe and now the Kobe era
Posted by: pfunk36 | April 16, 2011 at 09:38 AM
Bob-Dude the space is FREE and it's costing you nothing, PFunk makes a GREAT case.
Posted by: G.Money | April 16, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Sweet girl, going to be college educated, someone's beloved daughter! It's ALL good!
Posted by: D(erek)J(eter) | April 16, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Dara- Nice profile, keep up the great moves, you make Lakerholic PROUD.
Go Heat:The next NBA Champs
Posted by: G.Money | April 16, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Phil Jackson is an incredible basketball coach. Phil has had talent. Hell yes, he's had talent, you don't win titles without talent. But you don't aways win WITH talent. And no one else seems to be able to win as consistently as Phil. 3 in a row 3 times. Another back-to-back. Riley became a genius by winning back-to-back ONCE. And over the years he had Jabbr, Johnson, Worthy, McAdoo, Scott, Nixon, Wilkes and so on. THREE BACK TO BACKS? Incredible.
Phil undertsands the game but he also understands the ebb and flow of a season, and the difficulty of sustained exellence. So he has been able to coach through it. No other NBA coach has been able to that in the last 40 years.
No, he doesn't leave a "school of coaches." Interestingly, neither did Wooden. That is because their greatness wasn't just in x's and o's that could be passed on. It was in their ability to lead men to victory, day in day out and year in year out. You can't teach that. It's easier to look involved by runing out on the floor to yell at refs and players and to overeact to show you are in charge. The guys who have had sustained success, Wooden and Jackson, both let their players figure it out, both coached more in practice than in games, both were low in technical fouls, both had a longer term view.
It's no coincidence. It's the best way to coach. But most guys don't have the balls or the job security to coach that way.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | April 16, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Hang Up Your Hang Ups Evereyone, it's the Playoffs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqtki6I-VTY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
KOBE BEAN BRYANT IS "THE LOGO OF PROFESSIONALISM!"
LAMAR ODOM IS "THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE!"
"AND THE BEAST GOES ON..."
Posted by: The Triangulator | April 16, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Well it's Playoff Time. The REAL season is upon us. And if anyone knows what it will take to make it through and come out victorious on the other side, it's Phil Jackson. True he doesn't have to do it on the court. He's not actually playing the game. But what he did do is make sure the guys on the court have not only the confidence but the mind-set to get it done.
Talent is needed, of course. Even confidence is needed. Look at any of the past great players who never won it all. They had these things. The difference is mind-set. They didn't have it. The Lakers do. That's why they'll 3 peat. Because Phil Jackson has made sure they have the mind-set needed to be victorious. As he has done so many times in the past. To question this is to beg another question - do you even know basketball? Because you're not recognizing the greatness right in front of your eyes.
GO LAKERS!! This is the Rick Friedman Season. Bring it home in style.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 16, 2011 at 10:54 AM
I love sunsets, walks on the beach and I'm for world peace...
Posted by: The Snake | April 16, 2011 at 11:05 AM
@LROB … Nice job on predictions. In the West, we parted ways on Spurs and Thunder. I still think the Spurs experience and big stars will prevail. In the east, we parted on Miami and Boston as I had the chowds all the way. Both our predictions foretell a boring first round and the Lakers all the way. And while I think beating the Celtics would be the best way to end this season, whomping Miami and LeBron, Wade, and ESPN in 6 would be a lot of fun too. LOL.
………………………………………….
@MM ,,, Excellent response to Edwin. A dozen posts a day does take the wind out of our sails but we do understand that we are just part of the larger landscape that is the blog. You’re doing a great job and I liked how you shot back a couple of nice equations to pfunk. If you hadn’t already realized it, it also would be an effective way for you to focus the blog comments back to the subject or issue of the thread. Bottom line, most of us are pretty persistent about making sure what we wrote gets read or at least scrolled by and I would bet most of us keep windows open for all the active threads.
…
One recommendation that I think would really help would be to automatically have any links to other stories or posts or threads open in a new window. That would make it easier to navigate where you wanted to go without leaving whatever thread. I know you can right mouse click in Windows and have the link open in a new thread but that means you have to click again to return where you were, which is a pain if you don’t have a T-1 or very fast web connection. Most people discover there is a new thread when they post on an old thread. You might also give them an option when they click post to post it on the current thread or new thread. Anyways, your doing the best you can with it.
…………………………………………
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | April 16, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Smart woman, leaving the hell-hole that is Dallas (I lived there...I know what I'm talking about) to come to LA. Welcome to my hometown! And her favorite Laker is my favorite, too, Derek Fisher. I like this Laker Girl!
Posted by: SmartAssProducts.com | April 16, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Lakers spokesman John Black said "What happened in Tuesday night's game is not representative of what the Lakers stand for."
Let's see, Kobe cheated on his wife, tried to throw Shaq under the bus, got involved in a rape trial, and is now insulting a percentage of the Laker fans.
Boy, this guy is not too bright, is he?
Posted by: Rob in L.A. | April 16, 2011 at 11:27 AM
LMAO The Big Geriatric is out for Game 1, failing a running test...
Chowds looking for Shaq to be their savior...But still healing on company time...might miss the whole first round...
Great Job Danny!!!
Posted by: LEWSTRS | April 16, 2011 at 11:49 AM
I grew up in Agoura Hills.
It's nice to see another beautiful resident of the Conejo Valley!
What do we play for RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 16, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Jordan played for the Bulls for 7 years and got his ass kicked by BOTH the Celtics '84, '86 and the Pistons '89 & '90. The Lakers won in '85, '87 & '88. Jordan LOST with OTHER coaches (including Doug Collins who was fired for Phil) than Jackson. The VERY FIRST THING Jackson did was MAKE JORDAN POINT GUARD. Give him the damn ball. That's coaching. Keep It Simple Stupid. That's WHY he is the zen master. ALL NBA coaches know X's and O's. Duh... It's knowing how to communicate. Get your way without compromising your coaching integrity. Ask his players what they think. Jordan, Pippen, Horace Grant, Shaq? Currrent playrs? They all hate him? Even Artest learned to win. If that didn't take PhD in Psychology what else would you call it. Haters hate.
Posted by: Dick Bigster | April 16, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Little Dick Bigster-Dude you make a pretty good case also, Why don't you a PFunk36 debate on the Zen Master.
Posted by: G.Money | April 16, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Dara's a pretty girl, Phil Jackson is a great coach and Michael Jordan is still the greatest player to play in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls now have Derrick Rose who more than likely will be the MVP this year and if he keeps going the way he is, he'll soon be up there as one of the greats. Also, the Bulls new head coach, Tom Thibodeau, is doing a great job this year and we'll just have to see how the future unfolds in his coaching career. One thing is for sure, talent alone doesn't win it,. You still have to have a very good head coach with great players. Calls in a game, the starting line up and a very good bench makes the difference and it's the head coach who decides which players are starters and who the role players will be in certain game situations.
Posted by: Doug | April 17, 2011 at 02:12 AM