ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 10, 1996 TAG: 9611080115
SECTION: ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER PAGE: RCC-6 EDITION: METRO
The Bud Light Daredevils soar, flip and slam. The world's most exhilarating slam dunk act will perform at the Roanoke Civic Center Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The high-energy, eight-minute basketball routine is packed with high-velocity trampoline dunks, breathtaking flips, amazing acrobatics and comedy antics.
This year's brand new show will feature the use of a double minitrampoline that allows the team members to execute the "Three-Point-Slam" from the top of the key. Last year, the team introduced the "Super Slam Tramp," which enables them to do a three-point slam. This year's act also includes several other brand new dunks as well as a few all-time crowd favorites.
The Bud Light Daredevils have received acrobatics and gymnastics training. The returning members are Mark Odgers, Dillon Ashton, Ray Henderson, Erik Heikkila and Kyle Heikkila.
During the 1996-97 season, the Bud Light Daredevils have three teams touring full time. One team only performs internationally. The other two teams perform at approximately 150 events in front of more than 1 million fans.
It started in 1979 when Jeff Hubbard, who was a mascot at the University of Mississippi, dared fellow cheerleader Ty Cobb, who is related to the baseball legend, to do a flip off a minitrampoline and slam dunk a basketball through the hoop. Cobb did it and delighted an astonished crowd.
Cobb then recruited several other cheerleaders and created a short routine of precision gymnastics and ball handling that was performed throughout the NCAA's Southeastern Conference.
The cheerleaders turned professional during the 1980-81 season and took their act on the road. In 1983, the team was known as the Dixie Daredevils, and Cobb approached Anheuser-Busch Inc. about sponsoring the team. They became the Bud Light Daredevils in 1984.
Seventeen years later, they're still doing it. The team has performed in front of more than 8 million people at 385 colleges and tournaments, 26 NBA teams, 28 CBA teams. They have taken the show to 74 cities in 20 foreign countries.
Video highlights of their performances have been shown on such TV shows as "America's Funniest Home Videos," "NBC Nightly News," "The Tonight Show," "Late Night with David Letterman," "Good Morning America," "George Michaels Sports Machine" and "The Today Show." A 30-minute special about the team titled "The Right Stuff" aired on ESPN.
Who are these Daredevils?
The 1996-97 Bud Light Daredevils team:
nMARK ODGERS, 25, originally from Columbus, Ohio, now resides in New York City where he pursues an acting career during the off-season. After attending the American Academy in New York, Edgers has done television commercials and made brief appearances on several daytime dramas. This is his sixth season with the Daredevils.
DILLON ASHTON, 26, of Perrysburg, Ohio, is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Ashton was the 1988 U.S. Gymnastics Federation national still ring champion and placed seventh in the Big Ten All-Around Championships in 1990. This is Ashton's third year with the Daredevils.
RAY HENDERSON, 27, of Toledo, Ohio, is a graduate of Kent State University where he made the regional gymnastics team three years in a row. Henderson also qualified for the USGF nationals for six years. This is Henderson's second year with the Daredevils.
ERIK HEIKKILA, 28, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, is also a graduate of the University of Iowa. He was awarded the bronze medal on the high bar at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico. Heikkila earned the bronze medal on the floor exercise and silver medal on the high bar at the Big Ten Championships in 1991. This is his third season with the Bud Light Daredevils.
KYLE HEIKKILA, 25, also of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, was a member of the 1992 and 1994 Olympic luge team. He carried the flag for the 1994 Opening Ceremonies. He begins his second tour with the Bud Light Daredevils this season.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: MICHAEL VOSBURG. Ray Henderson, a Bud Light Daredevil,by CNBsoars to great heights to drive home his high-powered slam.