Sports Week: Back Page

All heart. 110%. Playing through the pain. You hear all of these sayings when referring to people who participate in football, hockey, cheerleading...

Yeah, you heard me. Cheerleading.

Last weekend, Kristi Yamaoka, a cheerleader for the Southern Illinois Salukis (it's a dog...look it up) fell while performing a routine during a timeout. The difference is that this wasn't your ordinary fall. She fell while on someone's shoulders who was on someone's shoulders. That's right folks, a triple decker. Kristi fell about 12 feet onto a hardwood floor on her head. Ouch.

She was fastened to a gurney with a head and neck restraint. But this is when it gets crazy. As she's being wheeled from the court, the band started to play the school's fight song. Whether it was a subconscious reaction to get the fans excited or if it was intended to show the crowd she was okay, she continued to cheer by doing the arm movements that went along with the song. Either way, the crowd went nuts and SIU went on to win the game.

Later it was found out she broke her neck. Fractured vertebrae to be exact. She's expected to make a full recovery. While in the hospital, she repeatedly asked if anyone had taped the game. Not that she wanted to see the accident...she wanted to know who won the game.

Cheerleaders are tough chicks.