How important are Cheerleaders to sports?

I have always known that cheerleaders can impact the way a game turns out. When a crowd is fired-up and cheering their team on-that team plays with more intentsity.

Yesterday a cheerleader from my alma mater, The University of Louisville, almost impacted the game against #4 Pittsburg in a negative way.

My #16 UofL Cardinals were on the verge of upsetting the Big East leaders Pitt Panters. With less than a few seconds, one of the Louisville players (Kyle Kuric) got the ball and went down court to score making it a five point lead. The clock continued to run down and with .5 of a second left the cheerleaders began to celebrate on the court. One male cheerleader picked up the basketball and tossed it up into the air-prompting a delay of game techincal foul.

Pitt scored both of the free throws and had possession of the ball with .5 seconds on the clock. They inbounded the ball and made a full-court shot which missed.

Many people are calling for the male cheerleader's head. I like what UofL Basketball coach Rick Pittino said in his press conference-"It was an accident, a mistake, but he needs to learn the rules of Basketball."

I agree Coach Pittino-he made a mistake in the heat of the moment and I believe he has suffered enough-just don't let him near the ball! Go Cardinals!!!!