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Jan 16, 2009 11:55 pm US/Eastern
Fla. Marlins To Recruit Plus-Size Male Dancers
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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They danced, cheered, and jiggled their beer bellies.
CBS
A special team of men who do more than just root for the home team are looking for new recruits. The Marlins baseball team is holding auditions to sign up new members for their all male cheer leading team, and in this case bigger is better.
"Hey look who is here. What's up Manatees," said
CBS4's Jorge Estevez as he shook hands with a few members of the current team at the Miami Seaquarium. The four guys that came out to meet our cameras had such a blast during home games last year, they are going out for the team again.
"What is it about the manatee that most resembles you guys," asked Estevez. "They are big and so are we," said Serafin Heredia, also known as "Bull Dozer." After the bonding session at Miami Seaquarium between the Manatee cheerleading team and actual manatees, we found out what it takes to be a Manatee.
"If you go to grandma's house this weekend, eat up and come out and try out Sunday," said Nelson Clark, also known as "Tiny."
"Fat and jolly it's a great requirement," said Jose Marquez.
But it's not just the face. "Having a big gut doesn't hurt either," said Tim Koteff, also known as "Flash." His theory is that the Manatee cheerleading team is made up of "bigger chunks of hunk," said Koteff.
The Marlins are looking for bellies with the biggest jiggle, big feet with the best dance moves and enthusiasm that will rock Marlins fans out of their seats.
The Marlins Manatees will perform at Friday and Saturday Marlins home games throughout the 2009 season. Manatee hopefuls do not need prior dance experience, just the willingness to learn routines and have a great time dancing and cheering in front of thousands of fans.
They are sending a message to the public. "If you are active you are still being at least you are doing something get off the couch," said Serafin Heredia.
The Manatee open auditions will take place at the U.S. Century Bank Arena at FIU on this Sunday, January 18th, at 12:00 p.m.
Manatee hopefuls should:
• Arrive in Marlins attire
• Be 18 years or older
• Be prepared to learn a choreographed routine
The Marlins already have a cheerleading squad, the considerably more svelte Mermaids.
Men selected for the Manatees won't be paid. They'll get tickets to games they perform at, and the honor of dancing in front of the crowd.
For more information, visit
www.marlins.com or call
305-626-7332.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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