The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 99

mm Wmmm Dec. 28. 1983 S.F. EXAMINER zEEl Infobits Christine Winter Milfilliiliiliiii Euminty pholot by Kurt Rogart 49er cheerleaders tackle a stereotype By Leslie Goldberg Examiner staff writer HOT PANTS, no fringed halter tops and no hite go-go boots. That's not the Gold Rush Mi image.

Like San Francisco itself, the 49er cheerleaders have, it seems, a touch of class. Unlike certain pro cheerleader squads which come from a certain large Southern UJ hs There hat long been talk of a new male contraceptive in the making, but after decades of such promises, no great miracle drugs or devices ever made it out of the laboratory. Now a researcher at Johns Hopkins University Baltimore may be close to bringing a potential contraceptive into the final atages of testing (it will be a while, however, before you find the product in your local drugstore.) Environment magazine reports that the new contraceptive is a hormone salve that is rubbed onto the stomach for quick absorption into the bloodstream. contains testos-' terone, the primary male sex hormone, and estradiol, a form of estrogen. This combination apparently confuses the brain and causes it to halt sperm production, without any other effects on the body or libido.

The patent holder on the salve, Dr. Larry Ewing, has conducted 2 years of animal tests with the salve and aays he has never had a failure or aeen any health hazards. He has applied to the FDA for approval to conduct clinical tests on humane. Trig) Wise travelers check things out before they de- part for foreign shores. What could be worse than atumbling into a month-long rainy season or a civil war when all you wanted was to sunbathe and sight-see? Well, we can think of one thing that might be worse: How about happening onto a plague or a local pestilence? Or what about discovering that there is no place to receive adequate treatment for a condition you might have.

According to Industry Week magazine, you can get tips on health hazards and conditions abroad before leaving by calling Health Care Abroad, a Washington, D.C.. company that insures Americana traveling overseas. Health Care offers a toll-free hotline called the Worldwide Health Forecast, a two-minute recording that warns, for example, that there is a drug-resistant atrain of malaria in Kenya and Uganda and an outbreak of polio in Taiwan and that diabetics traveling in Mexico shouldn't be surprised border guards confiscate their syringes and needles, even if they have the proper documentation for them. (The recording points out, however, that disposable ones can be purchased in most Mexican pharmacies, and that insulin does not require a prescription south of the border.) The advice also includes the best precau- lions to take if you still intend to travel in the stricken countries. The number is 800-168 353 1.

Wdrdpsts Well, there are times when people really do want to buy a duck, or maybe a pheasant or even a zebra. Most of us probably wouldn't know where to begin, but there are places to get such things, and one case, you can order all the fowl and other unusual creatures you want through a catalog. The firm is Stromberg's Chicks 4 Pets Unlimited, headquartered at Pine River. Minn. 56474.

The catalog, which calls Hseif a Pet Book and sells for St. includes everything from Reeves pheasants at $65 a pair to young bear cubs at $650. zebras at $4,750 and plenty of chickens, puppies and rabbits. There are a few too many pigeons for our taste, but Stromberg's variety is impressive, and the selection of equipment offered for getting into the breeding business, specifically for gamebirds. is extensive.

(Sawy is taking a vacation this week. See you the New Year KMORfTCt David Steinberg offers soma tips on positive thrtung. rOJOWHAJg) Mare dreeeee up the holiday vacation with eome fun kids' activities. rCLCCZ reader ia reminded of the importance of giving. The Gold Ruth (above) practicing before the 'big game'; Cheerleader Terry Hatcher (right) keeping In ahape kj "T' if state, the Gold Rush emphasizes polished dance routines over (I low shall we put this?) a certain brassiness.

"The Gold Rush strives to put on a quality performance and we've had a lot of compliments, many of them from women," says Laurie Ryan, head cheerleader for the Gold Rush. "I think they appreciate the fact we're not Just down there in sexy outfits or whatever trying to appeal to men." The 14-memtxT Gold Rush is Just finishing up its first year and the team's promotion department has been pleased. "We haven't had one negative comment," says Williams is studying business administration at UC Berkeley; Alicia Thompson is studying physical education with a dance major at Cal State Hayward; and Laurie Ryan works full time for United Spirit. All the cheerleaders seem to agree, it's a lot of work. And most don't have much time left over for a social life or other activities.

The payoff does seem to have something to do with thrill of victory and the heartbreak of defeat and performing out in front of 60,000 peoile. Apparently the rush isn't for gold. there in front of 60,000 people! Cheerleader Alicia Thompson says, "1 don't think about It too much. I enjoy what I do. If I could play football, I would probably say it was sexist." Truly, cheerleading, does have sexist connotations.

Like the Miss America pageant, the phrase, "Who gives this bride?" and 59 cents on the dollar, one senses that here's a situation where women are getting the short end of the stick, so to speak. Certainly cheerleading isn't an occupation ith much of a future. Most of the Gold Rush members are students. Mona 7)7) ii entertainment director, Michael Olm-stead. "We haven't had any of the controversies that have plagued other teams." The 49ers are one of the last pro football teams to signon cheerleaders.

There was some apprehension as to how a city like San Francisco would respond to cheerleaders. Certainly San Francisco is not Dallas. "San Francisco does not have the football culture that Texas does. It's different down there. There's a big emphasis on a certain kind of look and women are involved in football in a different way," says Olmstead.

Forty-niner management decided early on that that "certain kind of look," I hot pants and go-go boots was not going to work for San Francisco. But the look wasn't going to be Birkenstocks and overalls either. The Nlners selected a designer from the San Francisco Fashion Institute and chose from several submitted designs. The uniform that as chosen has some western touches but is modest by Texas standards and at least one Rushette thinks that's fine. The thing that bothers me about a lot of the professional cheerleader uniforms is that they expose quite a bit of skin," said cheerleader Mona Williams.

"I don't think that it's necessary to be half -dressed. If you go out there and put on a good performance people will like you regardless of hat you have on." And rules are rules. The Gold Rush to also forbidden by 49er management to smoke or drink in uniform, nut Laurie Ryan, head cheerleader, putt on quality mist practice or fraterniie with the players. "Any of those things," says Laurie Ryan, "would get you kicked off the team." The Gold Rush members aren't allowed toeven talk with players and Ryan says that rule eliminates checrtead-ert from Joining for all the wrong reasons. That kind of thing has caused problems in the past It gives the team a bad name.

It's something you want to stay away from. You'd be amazed at how many women try out for this because the) want to meet the players. We cae eliminate them Immediately," says Ryan. So far the Gold Rush, unlike the other pro football team cbeerlejMlers, has not had an "open tryout," where anybody and everytody is invited to shake It on down an hopes of making the squad. Currently the Gold Rush Is made up of cheerleadinf teachers for a company calied United Spirit Association The company cerates theerleading ramp.

OtmsUad entertainment director, fc abo ner of United Spirt. Fay fur Gold Rush members is nothing to cheer about. Members receive MO per game an addition to traveling expenses. They arent paid for the six to eight hours of practice lime or for their traveling time The argument Is that the Gold Rush Is paid highest In the league and says Otmstead, It's exciting for then la be out there In front of 60,000 profile." But aval exciting for the footbal players to be out Miami (ton) and AIcK Tkompwa eMog tt 4dri hand.