Orlando Magic Cheerleader Suffers Injury During Knicks Game
NBA cheerleaders aren't usually the focus of attention, but that wasn't the case in Tuesday night's game between the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks.
This frightening fall took center stage before action really got going:
New York Newsday reporter Al Iannazzone had the news after the fall:
"Knicks-Orlando game delayed because a cheerleader fell and hit her head. She's been placed on a stretcher.
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) November 14, 2012"
Iannazzone followed that up with this:
"The cheerleader waved to the crowd as she was wheeled off on the stretch, and blew kisses.
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) November 14, 2012"
MSG studio analyst Alan Hahn notes that the fall occurred when she fell off the shoulders of a teammate in the first half.
It's good to hear that she was alert as she was taken off the court. Head injuries have become commonplace in the sporting world, but people don't always anticipate the cheerleaders to be at risk on the sidelines.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how dangerous some of the stunts performed by cheerleaders can be. Whenever you're flying through the air or standing on top of another person, bad things could potentially happen.
The stretcher could simply have been a precautionary measure, as most head/neck injuries are, and hopefully she makes a speedy recovery. Head injuries are scary, regardless of how they occur. Hitting the floor as hard as she did had to be enough to frighten spectators in attendance.
We wish her the best. Stay tuned for updates.
