Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Decisions
I miss derby. Mostly.
Like this morning when I dropped my kids off at school, amid the other crazy SUV- and mini-van-driving moms. Those who refused to follow the rules set by the school on how to properly drive in the correct area to drop their precious children off, those people almost got ran into by MY crazy mini-van-driving ass!
I was completely enraged! I couldn’t believe that they weren’t following the simple rules set forth by the school! What made them think they’re so damn special? Where were the refs here?
Had Team Zebra been there, surely the other moms would have gotten penalties for cutting the track, stop blocking, clockwise driving, and illegal procedure. And one would have gotten a major blocking out of bounds (not me, BTW).
I came home and realized that I had my derby vision back! You see, when I retired several months ago, I was so burnt out on derby that I didn’t think I would ever think of day-to-day in derby vision ever again. I just wanted to be a mom, wife, worker, and student. I wanted to get my laundry done (still hasn’t happened), do a bunch of fun things with my kids (one trip to the zoo and one vacation to West Virginia that was literally a disaster), and just be home at night (apparently to just sit and watch TV).
I didn’t want to worry about derby drama, schedules, making the roster, washing my pads and jerseys, clipping my finger and toenails, or how much longer my knees would hold out. I mean, I had done that dance for three years. THREE YEARS! Three whole years of my life that I had practiced, traveled, and beat up my body. Three years of smelly wrists, because no matter how much you scrub, that smell never ever comes out if you regularly wear those wrist guards (which you totally should). It took two months after retirement to get that stench off of my skin! That shit should be used in negotiation tactics. Shut off the power, blare the Spice Girls “Wannabe” and filter in derby stench through the ducts. I don’t think even the most hardened, psychopathic criminal could withstand that!
As the stench and time have passed, I find my mind going to all places derby more often. I miss the exercise that derby gave me. My ass can no longer have a quarter bounced off it and I notice that I now get winded just drudging laundry up and down the stairs. I miss the actual game, strategy and the excitement of bouting. While I still see my closer friends who were also teammates, I miss the ones that I don’t get to see regularly. It’s almost like I have been removed from the inner circle of a big group of friends I once had. Sure, they are mostly still friendly, but it’s not the same. I miss being a part of something bigger than myself. I miss the release of aggression from practice and that moment where something I have been working on is finally perfected and then used in a bout. I miss the feel of winning and the sadness of losing. I miss being able to be proud of my bruises, since now it’s just because I am clumsy off skates and not because I went up against a bigger or better opponent. I guess to sum it up, I miss my passion for derby and sharing that same passion with so many others. Being a fan is fun, but it’s not the same.
As much as I miss derby now, I missed my family more then. The time that I gave to derby was time away from my four sons and now husband. I have gotten to know my kids and their friends. I have been an ear for them, a cheerleader, a shoulder to cry on, and a safe place to stay. I know that they were impressed and proud of their derby mom, but I think they like their stay at home mom even more. This is my oldest son’s last year of high school, and I get to be here for that. And I know when he graduates, our extended derby family will still be here to help celebrate. Then, after that, who knows….maybe I will decide to play again.
For now I take it day by day. When I stop to think about the balance of what I miss most, yes it sucks all the way around, but I know I made the right decision for my husband, sons, step-sons, and “adopted” kids (aka whichever kid walks in my door). My blood still runs hot with derby, and the fire is slowly getting stronger but that’s a fire for the backburner for now.
In the meantime, say a prayer for those idiot drivers, moronic slow-movers in the store, and anyone who comes between me and my families.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Derby Jeopardy
And the Answer is:
Lawyers
Psychologists
nurse
scientist
head hunter
company VP
Several Stay at home moms
chemical landscaper
casino hottie
school bus driver
several educators
several management folks
several waitresses/bartenders/bar backs
business owners
office workers
parents
wives
girlfriends
husbands
boyfriends
someone's kid
photographers
journalists
disc jockey
behind-the-scenes media people
students
Asians
Indians
Realtor
graphic designers
IT peeps
Do de doo doo do dee doo doo dee do do duh duhdadadada..(Jeopardy music)
Lawyers
Psychologists
nurse
scientist
head hunter
company VP
Several Stay at home moms
chemical landscaper
casino hottie
school bus driver
several educators
several management folks
several waitresses/bartenders/bar backs
business owners
office workers
parents
wives
girlfriends
husbands
boyfriends
someone's kid
photographers
journalists
disc jockey
behind-the-scenes media people
students
Asians
Indians
Realtor
graphic designers
IT peeps
Do de doo doo do dee doo doo dee do do duh duhdadadada..(Jeopardy music)
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A World Without Minor Penalties?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!
WFTDA is testing out not implementing minor penalties in bouts.
I do think this is a good idea to keep the bout going and have less official time outs that last five, ten, fifteen minutes or more. These timeouts make a LOT of the crowd antsy and some even leave.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for rules for the players' safety...like hitting outside of the "good touch" zones. A hard hit to the forehead from an elbow could potentially leave the recipient of such a hit in a vegetative state being fed through an IV and basically being reverted back to an infant-like state. Maybe that sounds a lot better than having to be out in the real world, go to work, take care of kids and pets, wipe your own ass, and make mortgage payments...but you wouldn't be able to play derby and that would not be cool. Not at all.
There has been a lot of noise in the derby world for a while now about all of the rules WFTDA puts out and how complex they can be. Many believe it slows the game down and that the subjectivity of what constitutes a minor penalty by various refs makes it difficult to know from bout to bout what constitutes a major or a minor.
Obviously if a jammer slams into your back and knocks you over, that is a MAJOR back block. But what if a smaller jammer, like Pocket Panda from D3's Crash Test Dolls (who stands about 3 feet tall) slams, full-bore into the back of a much larger stature of a player like Old Capital City Roller Girls player Bat R Up from Iowa City (who is about 7 feet tall) At first one might say, well obviously Panda would just take Bat's knees out from under her and incur a low block. Not necessarily so. Bat likely won't move. So that means Panda won't get a major, or even a minor. But that also depends on the referee's view of what happened and understanding of the rule. And that's just one of many, many scenarios in which the difference between a major and minor are subjective.
Then there's the delaying of game for official timeouts. If a penalty tracker, wrangler, whiteboard NSO, etc was not able to let the ref know that a player had 4 minors before the jam is over and that player is off the track, then a timeout has to be called. If there is a discrepancy between the refs and NSO's about how many minors a player has or if they served a major based on four minors or a major for a major call, then the whole world ceases to rotate and oh my gawd please don't cross the streams!
So what about the jammers? How ticked off would you be if the jammer got by with a MINOR CUT? Every single time? With no penalties. At all. None. The ONE person who can score points for the the team can get by with going one foot outside of the track and will get no sin bin time for it.
Go back to the Panda vs. Bat situation. If Bat was jammer and Panda was the blocker, Bat would take Panda out if she ran into the back of her. So where's the happy medium here? This is where minors come in handy, to discourage Bat from running into Panda and killing her. Or maiming her into the vegetative state discussed above.
Poor, Panda.
WFTDA is testing out not implementing minor penalties in bouts.
I do think this is a good idea to keep the bout going and have less official time outs that last five, ten, fifteen minutes or more. These timeouts make a LOT of the crowd antsy and some even leave.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for rules for the players' safety...like hitting outside of the "good touch" zones. A hard hit to the forehead from an elbow could potentially leave the recipient of such a hit in a vegetative state being fed through an IV and basically being reverted back to an infant-like state. Maybe that sounds a lot better than having to be out in the real world, go to work, take care of kids and pets, wipe your own ass, and make mortgage payments...but you wouldn't be able to play derby and that would not be cool. Not at all.
There has been a lot of noise in the derby world for a while now about all of the rules WFTDA puts out and how complex they can be. Many believe it slows the game down and that the subjectivity of what constitutes a minor penalty by various refs makes it difficult to know from bout to bout what constitutes a major or a minor.
Obviously if a jammer slams into your back and knocks you over, that is a MAJOR back block. But what if a smaller jammer, like Pocket Panda from D3's Crash Test Dolls (who stands about 3 feet tall) slams, full-bore into the back of a much larger stature of a player like Old Capital City Roller Girls player Bat R Up from Iowa City (who is about 7 feet tall) At first one might say, well obviously Panda would just take Bat's knees out from under her and incur a low block. Not necessarily so. Bat likely won't move. So that means Panda won't get a major, or even a minor. But that also depends on the referee's view of what happened and understanding of the rule. And that's just one of many, many scenarios in which the difference between a major and minor are subjective.
Then there's the delaying of game for official timeouts. If a penalty tracker, wrangler, whiteboard NSO, etc was not able to let the ref know that a player had 4 minors before the jam is over and that player is off the track, then a timeout has to be called. If there is a discrepancy between the refs and NSO's about how many minors a player has or if they served a major based on four minors or a major for a major call, then the whole world ceases to rotate and oh my gawd please don't cross the streams!
So what about the jammers? How ticked off would you be if the jammer got by with a MINOR CUT? Every single time? With no penalties. At all. None. The ONE person who can score points for the the team can get by with going one foot outside of the track and will get no sin bin time for it.
Go back to the Panda vs. Bat situation. If Bat was jammer and Panda was the blocker, Bat would take Panda out if she ran into the back of her. So where's the happy medium here? This is where minors come in handy, to discourage Bat from running into Panda and killing her. Or maiming her into the vegetative state discussed above.
Poor, Panda.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sorry, Sweets...there are MANY MORE than 5 Reasons why there should be men's derby....
This ignorant "article" was posted on a Phoenix News Times Blog by Niki D'Andrea. Maybe it was meant to be toungue-in-cheek; but it just comes across as stupidity at it's finest. It is fairly clear that this girl has not even SEEN a men's derby bout or even seen a women's bout since Roller Jam. So I have copy and pasted this fluff and my responses to each "point."
1. There are already enough sports filled with brawny dudes beating their chests and throwing each other around. Guys have hockey, football, basketball, boxing, wrestling, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (not to mention drunken bar fights). We get that roller derby is a new way for guys to move fast and hit hard, but it doesn't sound fun to watch. We just hope they're wearing cups, or they might be trying rhythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming next.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Um, okay. The men don't "throw each other around." They use the same WFTDA rules that the women use, which (had this "writer" done her research like MOST journalists do, she would have read up on the WFTDA rules) BAN the throwing of anyone...but I bet an exception would be made for Ms. D'Andrea.
The guys who are moving fast and hitting hard are having to learn a new sport just like the girls did. Most of them are ex-hockey players, world champion speed skaters, AND competitive artistic skaters (READ: GRACEFULNESS). As for the whole cups comment, obviously Ms. D'Andrea has never taken a skate to the vag or been skate raped. Just sayin.
2. The possibilities of men's roller derby outfits are horrid. Obviously, the skimpy shorts, skirts, fishnets, and low-cut tops of derby dames won't do for the dudes. So what if they're actually wearing baggy knee-length shorts (watch out for butt cracks) and T-shirts? For us, just the thought of men on skates in leg-hugging 1960s basketball shorts makes us cringe.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Who is us? Do you really think that you share the opinion of others? Or do you just have a turd in your back pocket? Or in your skull? The men that DO wear the shorty shorts are doing it to be tongue-in-cheek (no pun intended), something YOU, Ms. D'Andrea, could stand to learn about from the guys.
3. The smell. Any men's locker room emits a certain odor that's a combination of dirty feet, sweaty arm pits, and for some reason, the rubber on new shoes. We can only imagine the olfactory horror that would come from adding sweaty, dirty roller skates to the mix.
NEURO SIS SAYS: FIRST OF ALL, the smell is NOT from the skates, it's from the PADS. Secondly, it's mostly from the wrist guards, not any type of rubber. Finally, the women smell WAY worse than the men.
If you had done ANY type of due diligence, you would know that. But isn't it more fun to just write about things you know nothing about? You, Ms. D'Andrea, wouldn't begin to know the hard work that men AND women put into this sport that cause them to sweat and smell so bad. You also wouldn't understand how the teams give back to their players, communities, and other teams. I always heard it was better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass....you are definitely the latter.
4. There are enough pun names in the world already. The women in Arizona roller derby have names like Ginger Mortis, Nova Kane, Gwen Steponya, and Kat Von Double D's. The guys are donning similar pseudonyms, like Arth Riddick, Bombs Onya Moms, Girth Brooks, and Skip Play. It's cute and kind of vicious when the girls take such monikers, but the guys sound like Garbage Pail Kids.
NEURO SIS SAYS:
No there really aren't enough. I have met girls who pick names that MEAN something to them, but find a way to make the names punny or marketable. I met one girls (sorry, can't remember where she plays, (but I met her at the WFTDA Champinals) named something like Six-Tofu because she was born with six toes (HILARIOUS), Bat R Up (because she literally knocks girls down who come up against her), and my name which lets you know I am neurotic but also a sister-type. The mens names are just as punny, more feminine, and marketable (and, really, why should the girls have all the good ones) like: Seahorses Forever, Skittles, Tripod-whose number is o1o (FUNNY STUFF), and Merby Dick.
I am old enough to remember and have owned an extensive collection of GPK trading cards. They had some clever names too like Georgeous George (crickets are now chirping and some random guy is coughing in he background). But not nearly as clever as the merby names I have the privilege to laugh at while I am watching a bout.
5. There are no illusions of grace. When a woman gets on a pair of skates and glides around a rink -- even if she's kicking people in the gut the whole way -- there's an inevitable feminine grace to what she's doing. And no, it has nothing to do with boobs bouncing, because men can have boobs, too. There's just something about the image of a big, hairy guy rolling around on eight wheels that makes us think less about lithe athletes, and more about Mack trucks.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Boobs? How old are we? Anyway, as I said before: COMPETITIVE ARTISTIC SKATING CHAMPIONS. There are also many jam skaters (those who dance on skates), and competitive speed skaters. All of which comprise the Des Moines, Iowa mens roller derby team: Your Mom. Not to mention that at least three of their players coach the Des Moines Derby Dames League. Tinkerbelle (jammer for Your Mom) has taught us girls more about agility and grace and balance and center than we ever thought we needed to know. Also, Ms. D'Andrea, if you had bothered to watch a dangle derby bout, you would know that the majority of the players are not hairy (most shave due to their past in competitive skating) and are skinny. Being bigger is not necessarily an asset for agility on the track. Some can make it work very well (see MOAB and Bat R Up) but it is not something that seems to be commonplace.
[This blog has been edited for accuracy since publication]
NEURO SIS LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY AT THE NOTION THAT THIS BLOG EVER CONTAINED ANY FORM OF ACCURACY
1. There are already enough sports filled with brawny dudes beating their chests and throwing each other around. Guys have hockey, football, basketball, boxing, wrestling, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (not to mention drunken bar fights). We get that roller derby is a new way for guys to move fast and hit hard, but it doesn't sound fun to watch. We just hope they're wearing cups, or they might be trying rhythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming next.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Um, okay. The men don't "throw each other around." They use the same WFTDA rules that the women use, which (had this "writer" done her research like MOST journalists do, she would have read up on the WFTDA rules) BAN the throwing of anyone...but I bet an exception would be made for Ms. D'Andrea.
The guys who are moving fast and hitting hard are having to learn a new sport just like the girls did. Most of them are ex-hockey players, world champion speed skaters, AND competitive artistic skaters (READ: GRACEFULNESS). As for the whole cups comment, obviously Ms. D'Andrea has never taken a skate to the vag or been skate raped. Just sayin.
2. The possibilities of men's roller derby outfits are horrid. Obviously, the skimpy shorts, skirts, fishnets, and low-cut tops of derby dames won't do for the dudes. So what if they're actually wearing baggy knee-length shorts (watch out for butt cracks) and T-shirts? For us, just the thought of men on skates in leg-hugging 1960s basketball shorts makes us cringe.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Who is us? Do you really think that you share the opinion of others? Or do you just have a turd in your back pocket? Or in your skull? The men that DO wear the shorty shorts are doing it to be tongue-in-cheek (no pun intended), something YOU, Ms. D'Andrea, could stand to learn about from the guys.
3. The smell. Any men's locker room emits a certain odor that's a combination of dirty feet, sweaty arm pits, and for some reason, the rubber on new shoes. We can only imagine the olfactory horror that would come from adding sweaty, dirty roller skates to the mix.
NEURO SIS SAYS: FIRST OF ALL, the smell is NOT from the skates, it's from the PADS. Secondly, it's mostly from the wrist guards, not any type of rubber. Finally, the women smell WAY worse than the men.
If you had done ANY type of due diligence, you would know that. But isn't it more fun to just write about things you know nothing about? You, Ms. D'Andrea, wouldn't begin to know the hard work that men AND women put into this sport that cause them to sweat and smell so bad. You also wouldn't understand how the teams give back to their players, communities, and other teams. I always heard it was better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass....you are definitely the latter.
4. There are enough pun names in the world already. The women in Arizona roller derby have names like Ginger Mortis, Nova Kane, Gwen Steponya, and Kat Von Double D's. The guys are donning similar pseudonyms, like Arth Riddick, Bombs Onya Moms, Girth Brooks, and Skip Play. It's cute and kind of vicious when the girls take such monikers, but the guys sound like Garbage Pail Kids.
NEURO SIS SAYS:
No there really aren't enough. I have met girls who pick names that MEAN something to them, but find a way to make the names punny or marketable. I met one girls (sorry, can't remember where she plays, (but I met her at the WFTDA Champinals) named something like Six-Tofu because she was born with six toes (HILARIOUS), Bat R Up (because she literally knocks girls down who come up against her), and my name which lets you know I am neurotic but also a sister-type. The mens names are just as punny, more feminine, and marketable (and, really, why should the girls have all the good ones) like: Seahorses Forever, Skittles, Tripod-whose number is o1o (FUNNY STUFF), and Merby Dick.
I am old enough to remember and have owned an extensive collection of GPK trading cards. They had some clever names too like Georgeous George (crickets are now chirping and some random guy is coughing in he background). But not nearly as clever as the merby names I have the privilege to laugh at while I am watching a bout.
5. There are no illusions of grace. When a woman gets on a pair of skates and glides around a rink -- even if she's kicking people in the gut the whole way -- there's an inevitable feminine grace to what she's doing. And no, it has nothing to do with boobs bouncing, because men can have boobs, too. There's just something about the image of a big, hairy guy rolling around on eight wheels that makes us think less about lithe athletes, and more about Mack trucks.
NEURO SIS SAYS: Boobs? How old are we? Anyway, as I said before: COMPETITIVE ARTISTIC SKATING CHAMPIONS. There are also many jam skaters (those who dance on skates), and competitive speed skaters. All of which comprise the Des Moines, Iowa mens roller derby team: Your Mom. Not to mention that at least three of their players coach the Des Moines Derby Dames League. Tinkerbelle (jammer for Your Mom) has taught us girls more about agility and grace and balance and center than we ever thought we needed to know. Also, Ms. D'Andrea, if you had bothered to watch a dangle derby bout, you would know that the majority of the players are not hairy (most shave due to their past in competitive skating) and are skinny. Being bigger is not necessarily an asset for agility on the track. Some can make it work very well (see MOAB and Bat R Up) but it is not something that seems to be commonplace.
[This blog has been edited for accuracy since publication]
NEURO SIS LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY AT THE NOTION THAT THIS BLOG EVER CONTAINED ANY FORM OF ACCURACY
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Awareness in Life & Derby
Look around! Turn your head! Do you see that other colored jersey or penny? Do you see that star panty coming 'round the bend? LOOOOOK! OHMYGOD-WOULD-YOU-JUST-LOOK-BEHIND-YOU-FOR-THE-LOVE-OF-ALL-THAT'S-HOLY-IN-DERBY!?!?!
I mean it's basic derby; yet we all seem to forget from time to time. Looking around. Seeing who is around us and what the hell they are doing. BUT don't forget to look forward too. I know, it seems a bit oxymoron-ish. But really no one is saying JUST look over your shoulders.
I know I have gotten so caught up in looking back and seeing what my teammates/jammer/other team/opposing jammer is doing that I have been known to run right into the back of someone in front of me at full bore. In fact, Des Moines Crash Test Doll's blocker Wackagawea KNOWS that girls do this and take advantage of it by creeping along at a snail's pace on the track in front of the poor unsuspecting sap and just waiting for someone who is not paying attention to ram into the back of her. And subsequently making said person feel like a complete dumbass for having done it. AND the obvious trip to the sin bin for a major back block. Gee, thanks Wack!
I think this goes along with the way I view life as well. I can be going along, looking forward ALL THE TIME with my nice, safe blinders on and then....BAM! Something important creeps up on me without me even seeing it coming.
Or else I take some time to look back and get caught up in the past and fighting over things or for things or ruminating over issues or indiscretions that I forget to look ahead of me and WAM, there's Wack with her booty in my gut and then me on the floor and then to the box. Damn you, Wack!
I mean it's okay to set sites on a goal in front of you. In fact, it's more than okay. And it's a good idea to glance behind you to make sure you aren't repeating mistakes or missing something that is coming up to bite you square in the ass.
Like that time I dreamed I took my final exam in Intro to Film class and never really checked to make sure I did. And then I had to take it in, like, 15 minutes and pretty much got a worse grade in the class because of it. All because I was so busy looking forward to the week off of school and all the derby stuff going on.
Bad move on my part there.
Maybe that's not the best example, but you get the idea.
Being aware of all things in life and on the track is always a good idea. Learning from what's behind you and setting the goals ahead of you at the same time can only lead to success. You don't even really need to dwell so much on what's back there.
Is the girl behind you wearing a different colored jersey or a star on her helmet?
Are you getting ready to drink that same drink that you drank last time you got wasted on and then ended up puking your guts out from?
Same concept.
Be aware in life and on the track and be sure to thank Wack for the reminder when you forget.
I mean it's basic derby; yet we all seem to forget from time to time. Looking around. Seeing who is around us and what the hell they are doing. BUT don't forget to look forward too. I know, it seems a bit oxymoron-ish. But really no one is saying JUST look over your shoulders.
I know I have gotten so caught up in looking back and seeing what my teammates/jammer/other team/opposing jammer is doing that I have been known to run right into the back of someone in front of me at full bore. In fact, Des Moines Crash Test Doll's blocker Wackagawea KNOWS that girls do this and take advantage of it by creeping along at a snail's pace on the track in front of the poor unsuspecting sap and just waiting for someone who is not paying attention to ram into the back of her. And subsequently making said person feel like a complete dumbass for having done it. AND the obvious trip to the sin bin for a major back block. Gee, thanks Wack!
I think this goes along with the way I view life as well. I can be going along, looking forward ALL THE TIME with my nice, safe blinders on and then....BAM! Something important creeps up on me without me even seeing it coming.
Or else I take some time to look back and get caught up in the past and fighting over things or for things or ruminating over issues or indiscretions that I forget to look ahead of me and WAM, there's Wack with her booty in my gut and then me on the floor and then to the box. Damn you, Wack!
I mean it's okay to set sites on a goal in front of you. In fact, it's more than okay. And it's a good idea to glance behind you to make sure you aren't repeating mistakes or missing something that is coming up to bite you square in the ass.
Like that time I dreamed I took my final exam in Intro to Film class and never really checked to make sure I did. And then I had to take it in, like, 15 minutes and pretty much got a worse grade in the class because of it. All because I was so busy looking forward to the week off of school and all the derby stuff going on.
Bad move on my part there.
Maybe that's not the best example, but you get the idea.
Being aware of all things in life and on the track is always a good idea. Learning from what's behind you and setting the goals ahead of you at the same time can only lead to success. You don't even really need to dwell so much on what's back there.
Is the girl behind you wearing a different colored jersey or a star on her helmet?
Are you getting ready to drink that same drink that you drank last time you got wasted on and then ended up puking your guts out from?
Same concept.
Be aware in life and on the track and be sure to thank Wack for the reminder when you forget.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
It's a Sad Day...When I Have Nothing To Say!
I know, mark it down on the calendar. My goal is to write something AT LEAST once a week. BUT these past couple I have been...well...speechless. Which, as anyone that has met me for two seconds, knows it pretty unusual.
Since I got the all clear from my doc and knee (which decided to finally go back into the groove in which God intended it to slide up and down instead of sideways)...anyway since then I have been throwing myself back into derby mode, research, etc. So here are some interesting tidbits I have come across in my searches:
Queen of the Rink
A site devoted to all things derby-related. From a Roller Derby Dictionary to Derby Quotes tweeted by followers and such to derby news.
And you can follow on Twitter!
Derby News Network (DNN)
All access to roller derby! Watch live and archived bouts, find rankings for the regions, and see what's new in the world of derby!
Surviving Derby Drama from Derby Helper
and Part 2 here
It's always nice to see that ALL leagues go through drama. I think these two posts are totally on it with the problems and resolutions to common issues in a league. Now if ALL league members from ALL leagues would read and apply it, then rinse and repeat: that would really be a different story!
PS I will definitely be using "cheaterbutt douche" in my vocabulary from here on out!
PPS Be sure to read the comments on these as well!
Every Bunny Loves Derby
This is a really great blog! Bunnie Low-Browski shares her lessons learned about derby. Lessons that all derby people can use!
Finally:
Swede Hurt Rambles
While I don't know her personally, she seems to encompass today's roller derby athlete. She shares her excitement, travels, ups and downs with the sport she loves.
Okay well that's my cop out of a post for today. I have to get ready for practice...
Since I got the all clear from my doc and knee (which decided to finally go back into the groove in which God intended it to slide up and down instead of sideways)...anyway since then I have been throwing myself back into derby mode, research, etc. So here are some interesting tidbits I have come across in my searches:
Queen of the Rink
A site devoted to all things derby-related. From a Roller Derby Dictionary to Derby Quotes tweeted by followers and such to derby news.
And you can follow on Twitter!
Derby News Network (DNN)
All access to roller derby! Watch live and archived bouts, find rankings for the regions, and see what's new in the world of derby!
Surviving Derby Drama from Derby Helper
and Part 2 here
It's always nice to see that ALL leagues go through drama. I think these two posts are totally on it with the problems and resolutions to common issues in a league. Now if ALL league members from ALL leagues would read and apply it, then rinse and repeat: that would really be a different story!
PS I will definitely be using "cheaterbutt douche" in my vocabulary from here on out!
PPS Be sure to read the comments on these as well!
Every Bunny Loves Derby
This is a really great blog! Bunnie Low-Browski shares her lessons learned about derby. Lessons that all derby people can use!
Finally:
Swede Hurt Rambles
While I don't know her personally, she seems to encompass today's roller derby athlete. She shares her excitement, travels, ups and downs with the sport she loves.
Okay well that's my cop out of a post for today. I have to get ready for practice...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
A League of OUR Own
I have watched A League of Their Own (ALOTO) twice in the last week now and once about a month ago. Before derby it was just a silly movie about girls playing baseball during the war while the men were away.
Now I can relate in so many ways. Yet another way derby has changed my thoughts. The league starts out with very few fans so that the girls have to use sex appeal and tricks to attract more people. I suppose that's what the pioneering Texas Rollergirls down there in Austin did. If anyone has watched Hell on Wheels, then you know what I am saying here. If you haven't seen it then shame, shame, shame on you! I mean it's free all over the damn internet. And I KNOW you have internet because you are reading this! Just Google it. Seriously. Here is a link to the info just to make it easier for you.
And here is a link to the Netflix streaming edition
After getting asses in the seats via promoting the whole girls-on-skates-hitting-each-other; roller derby began to make its comeback and people started coming for the sport. Just like in ALOTO!
The emotions running high, the different personas of the players, the bruises...the socks! The devotion. Long bus and car rides.
The Peaches remind me a lot of my own team and some other players from other teams as well.
Dottie reminds me of Elbow, with her unassuming beauty that makes her viciousness on the playing field a surprise!
May and Doris remind me a lot of Minnie, Cosmo, and Megger.
Marla reminds me of a culmination of girls...not from her homely looks in the beginning...but her huge transformation from the sport. I am not sure which on i identify with...maybe Kit...I don't know.
They fought for their leagues, fought amongst themselves and got into a couple of pickles.
But when they were older, when they looked back...it was the best time of their lives. Just like derby is now to me...to us.
Derby love.
Now I can relate in so many ways. Yet another way derby has changed my thoughts. The league starts out with very few fans so that the girls have to use sex appeal and tricks to attract more people. I suppose that's what the pioneering Texas Rollergirls down there in Austin did. If anyone has watched Hell on Wheels, then you know what I am saying here. If you haven't seen it then shame, shame, shame on you! I mean it's free all over the damn internet. And I KNOW you have internet because you are reading this! Just Google it. Seriously. Here is a link to the info just to make it easier for you.
And here is a link to the Netflix streaming edition
After getting asses in the seats via promoting the whole girls-on-skates-hitting-each-other; roller derby began to make its comeback and people started coming for the sport. Just like in ALOTO!
The emotions running high, the different personas of the players, the bruises...the socks! The devotion. Long bus and car rides.
The Peaches remind me a lot of my own team and some other players from other teams as well.
Dottie reminds me of Elbow, with her unassuming beauty that makes her viciousness on the playing field a surprise!
May and Doris remind me a lot of Minnie, Cosmo, and Megger.
Marla reminds me of a culmination of girls...not from her homely looks in the beginning...but her huge transformation from the sport. I am not sure which on i identify with...maybe Kit...I don't know.
They fought for their leagues, fought amongst themselves and got into a couple of pickles.
But when they were older, when they looked back...it was the best time of their lives. Just like derby is now to me...to us.
Derby love.
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