Is it not relatively painless?

So the top .3% of players get accepted, and this justifies paying them tons, while the top 6% of women get accepted and this justifies them getting paid gas money. No, still not seeing it.

Really? I had no idea big guys who could slam into other big guys on command were in so much shorter supply than young, conventionally attractive women who could meet an insanely stringent guidebook full of requirements for their appearance.

Cheerleaders are Public Relations Specialists, Brand Representatives and Entertainers. Both they and the mascots should earn reasonable salaries plus benefits and expenses. You can't tell me the expense would break the NFL. Their median player salary is over a million dollars. Heck, let's say with wages, benefits and…

Part-time jobs are real jobs. The football team is also a unit, yet each individual gets paid. It is clearly not a voluntary position, as it comes with auditions, restrictions and requirements.

And again, lots of people contribute to the economic value of the team and the entertainment experience even if the ticket…

The team creates economic value by delivering entertainment to a mass audience. The cheerleaders are part of that entertainment experience. They are, therefore, contributing to the economic value created. If they do not contribute to the entertainment experience, then by all means, don't pay them - but then also do…

I find this POV fascinating. What makes it a hobby, rather than work? What makes this labor undeserving of economic enrichment? It seems to me for most owners, the team is a hobby, one that enriches them massively.

I did read about the situation of the cheerleaders and feel mild sympathy.

A) I completely agree that the majority of Deadspin commentors were on the side of the cheerleaders, and in no way intended to imply otherwise. My comment was solely focused on those comments I have seen that defend the underpayment of cheerleaders (that are inapplicable to the underpayment of mascots), as this was…

Ugh, I've heard that, as well as "No one's forcing them to do be cheerleaders. If they don't like the terms, they can just quit."

Cheerleaders do just as much work as the mascot at games and other public events. They have practices and routines. Oh, and last I checked, the NFL doesn't make money off of mascot calendars. Cheerleaders should at least be paid as much as the mascot.

Well, damn, I didn't know I could pay my electric bill with status. You learn something new every day. Thanks, NFL!

Mascots are an intriguing comparison, but the problem isn't a direct comparison of wage rates. Currently, that's comparing apples and oranges.

Mascots stand around and dance. Cheerleaders get thrown into the air—and they're the ones who should be paid less and not have health insurance? Meeting exacting physical standards, spending time training and practicing, and performing physical stunts that are both risky and difficult in front of crowds isn't a real…

I guess you haven't read any of the articles about this so far. It's not just about having slightly lower wages than the mascot—many of these professional cheerleaders are barely paid at all, and are required to pay for monthly salon visits out of pocket. They have gratuities taken from them, their management…

I fucking died when he said that cereal was "arguably better than starving".

Actually he didn't encourage you to go to the website, and print out labels and put them on products. Then he DIDN'T encourage you to send them the pictures. He was very clear about NOT telling you to do this.

It confuses the fuck out of me, too, and I've lived here all my life. Most people would change it if they could, but our stagnant two-party political system makes that practically impossible.

So... They're somehow considerate enough to cover a dude/lady who dresses up in a costume for them, yet these women get paid pennies & no health coverage despite the fact that they do stuff like physically-demanding dance routines including backflips & being thrown about in the air?

As great as this segment was, my favorite was the second one, regarding the false claims food manufacturers are allowed to make. John encouraged viewers to make up labels with false information about food items, stick them on the food items in the grocery store, and post a picture of doing same to the This Week…