Archive for September, 2009
By BRETT SOKOL
Published: September 20, 2009
“YOU Gotta Be Tough” was a popular T-shirt slogan worn by Clevelanders during the 1970s, a grim period marked by industrial decline, large-scale population flight and an urban environment so toxic the Cuyahoga River actually caught on fire. These days it still helps to be at least a little tough; a fiercely blue-collar ethos endures. But instead of abandoning the city, local entrepreneurs and bohemian dreamers alike are sinking roots; opening a wave of funky boutiques, offbeat art galleries and sophisticated restaurants; and injecting fresh life into previously rusted-out spaces. It’s a vibrant spirit best exemplified by Cleveland’s new all-female roller derby league, whose wry name, the Burning River Roller Girls, and home, a former GM auto factory retooled into a 60,000-square-foot sports facility, say it all.
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The nineteenth amendment of 1920 granted women the right to vote (US Const. 19th Amendment, 1920). English common law did not allow for married women to retain any property rights. A series of Married Women Property Acts passed in varying forms through every state in the union throughout the 1900’s (Congress). Rights had been granted but equality still not yet gained. In 1950 34 percent of women were in the workforce in 2000 that number has soared to sixty percent (Toosi). At any rate while our rights grew with equal force we were reminded to be a lady. The Burning River Roller Girls have opportunity to be my new heroes.
Read the full article here!
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Fox Searchlight has announced today a national sneak preview for Whip It, this Saturday September 26 at select theaters nationwide. Tickets are available at Fandango.com.
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What a busy weekend in derby for the All-Stars, on Friday with Back to back bouts against Grand Raggidy, and Detroit Derby Girls, then on Saturday; a rematch with the Brew City Bruisers.
Imagine my excitement when I first see Primp Daddy skating on the track for BRRG, life is good! Then I realize that I have not seen Stroker Ace, Dagney Taghurt or Soul Eater on the track….GASP! Luckily I texted Tonya at half time to find out that they were benched to have fresh people on the track for the Detroit match.
First bout Grand Raggidy
I Knew we had this bout before it ever began! As a team we have be growing and have been so solid. Friday was by far the best extended lunch I have ever had! It was wonderful to see a wide array of Jammers during this bout; Killy, Eva, CoCo, and Garguilo as main, then Destroya, Primp, and Booty on an occasion or two. Everyone did really well this bout, I was so proud of the team work and communication on the track.
Second bout Detroit
Wow I have never witnessed a more powerful team then Detroit, they’re blockers are some of the most strategical in the game. They are extremely good and panning the lane and stifling our blockers from taking major shots at there jammers. This bout had to be the hardest bout we have ever played! Killbox and Cookie Rumble were absolute monsters on the track. Unfortunately, we went back to the “only Jam 3″. Though I understand the reasoning, and never agree with it. I feel at times other skater may have a easier time with a team like Detroit if given the opportunity. I would have really liked to see the same dynamic rotation that I saw against GR. We had a real tough time getting any groove, it almost felt like we had too many players out there, making it extremely hard for us to get comfortable.
Third bout Brew City
This was the painful one, to have this pretty much in the bag, and then fall apart. It wasn’t that we were out played, we fell apart! I missed the first half due to listening to Boots and not tuning in till 6! But from the minute I tuned in we were putting major points on the board. We secured a thirty point lead, and I felt we had won the game. But as everyone knows thirty points is nothing in derby. Brew City stuck to their guns, and put momentum back on their side. The final jam in regulation had Brew City screaming victory, but impressively Erin Gargiulo managed to squeak in just 2 points to tie the game 109-109. But in the end , overtime was not in our favor Brew City kept that momentum into the last Jam and pulled out victorious.
I must say that I felt we played very well overall, though we lost two, won one. I feel our times when we were playing well far surpassed the time we let slip by us. A lot of insight was gained in this tournament that we will be able to pull from for next year. Thanks to all Burning River All-Stars, you girls made some major accomplishments this year!
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ST. PAUL, MN — The four weeks of WFTDA Regionals continue up North this Friday, September 18, as the Minnesota Rollergirls host the second event in the cycle, the North Central tournament — a/k/a the Brawl of America.
After years of a binary East / West structure, WFTDA has split into four regions, meaning it’ll take four tournaments to determine who goes to November’s Nationals this year. 10 teams from each region will go to the tourneys this year, as opposed to the 12 from last year.
Read the full article here.
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So lets get this started; Brawl of America is right around the corner, and we got some scores to settle. Unfortunately, I will be unable to come up to St. Paul; However, I will be setting up a 42 in. flat screen and streaming the bout cast off my T1 line at work!
First up on the firing squad: Grand Raggidy All-Stars. Now for us a lot has changed since November 8th 2008, not only did we learn so much from this bout, but as a team we have grown. Grand Raggidy has a powerful team, but I feel they think they’re playing 08′ All-Stars, they are in for a rude awakening. Last time we played them, they had an easy time spreading out our pack, and blowing through our walls. This will not happen this time! I remember them to be very whip heavy, 2-3 whips in a single pass at times! Dot Matrix and Jackie Daniels are impressive Jammers but not infallible I personally would like to see a Destroya, Bitter, Stroker, Booty or Eva Jam rotation, but I don’t always get my way! We need speed and agility, these team is very beatable. Last time we faced them our blocking was average, I have seen exceptional growth in many of our blockers, I feel we will not be overwhelmed in this dept. as we were last time! This going to be a tough match but not as tough as Detroit Derby Girls will be.
Detroit Derby girls will be fresh, due to this being their first bout of the day. Hope fully all the sitting and watching will make them lethargic! We will be coming off a gruesome bout between GR so, we will need to be rested as much as possible between 1 and 5. Detroit Derby Girls are Ranked Second in the nation for very good reasons. They are a solid team leaving little to exploit. Let’s take it one jam at a time.
First let beat Grand Raggidy, then we’ll focus on Detroit! Best of luck to you all!
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I have been wanting to upload this picture for quite awhile (actually I have a bunch of pictures that I have been wanting to upload). This is the wonderful view I have all day long. Just look at some of my wonderful items. From my HellBombers Sign (made by Damegerous (the first girl to actually have a conversation with Turn 2)) to my Ruby Red Take-Out box which actually had two fortune cookies in one wrappper! Of course there are a number of items which are not in my cubicle for instance my 8×10 Professor Booty Autographed Picture (no joke) and my blue hand clapper from black & blue 3 which was thrown to me by Ivanna Destroya, even though she knew I was cheering black are in miscellaneous places out in about! Anyway there is my view, hows yours!
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FARMINGTON HILLS — Actress and director Drew Barrymore is coming to Farmington Hills Sept. 11 to promote her new movie, “Whip It.”
The public can roller skate at an event Barrymore will host from 3-6 p.m. at BonaVenture Skating Center, 24505 Halsted, north of Grand River.
Read Full Article Here
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By Mike Ondolences
CHICAGO, IL — “I feel overmatched,” Tommy Lee Jones’ character says in “No Country for Old Men.” Also fighting an unstoppable and unforgiving force, the Windy City Rollers’ “B” team knew the feeling Saturday night. The Second Wind warmed up the UIC Pavilion crowd by hosting the Burning River Roller Girls prior to the main event between the Windy City All-Stars and Charm City. The Second Wind, formed just earlier this summer and playing its first home game ever, played hard but c ame up short in a 80-38 loss to Cleveland’s A travel team, seeded tenth in the upcoming North Central Regional Tournament.
Read full article on DNN.
 Monster showing the good things come in small packages! Way to go everyone! Big Ups to UG looking like a total Stud too!
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Derby Name: Take-Out, TO, Token Asian
Number: Takeout Box, 10 for travel
Team(s): Cleveland Steamers, Burning River All-Stars
Position(s): Jammer, Blocker
How did you first learn of Roller Derby? My softball team had a bet with Dita’s team that the losing team had to go to the other team’s bar. I wasn’t there, but Dita convinced my friends to come to last year’s July bout. I was only able to see the second bout and I was hooked. I went that next Wed to creepy organ music night to see if I could skate, watched a league practice on Thurs and bought my skates that Sat!
You have a huge following at the bouts, what do you say to that? I can’t thank my friends enough for coming. It means so much to see/hear my friends when I’m skating. I’ve kept everything they have made for me. The awesome signs and the Take-Out hats made this season unforgettable. Thank you Jamocha for making the Take-Out hats.
Was Take-Out your first choice derby name? My first choice was Tsunami, but it was already taken in 1 form or another. I was torn between Take-Out and Thai-Phoon. I decided that peeps probably would not like it if I threw buckets of water on them when they announced my name.
What do you feel you need to improve on the most? I need to work on a lot. I just started skating last Aug. Thank goodness our league is so helpful training all of us and the rookies have a lot to teach us.
You actively play in some other sports as well, correct? I heart sports as much as I heart food. Besides being born with Karate & Muay Thai skills, Tennis was my first love and I have then branched out to soccer, vball, basketball, dodgeball, darts, football, softball, bowling & of course ping pong. Damnasty and I were on the same football team that had games on the morning of our bouts. The morning of our first bout, she got nailed by a crazy guy on our team and I twisted my ankle. We decided it would be best not to tell Primp.
What skates/equipment are you currently using? Rich & Matt helped me pick out my new blue suede skates! They are blue suede with red leather trim. They are super Steamie.
What are your Season 4 goals? Have fun and get to know more about all the skaters in BRRG and our fans.
What has been your best derby moment so far? Learning how to stop! I didn’t know how to stop when I first started and ran into the wall really hard during a relay race during Rookie Sept. I also slid so hard down the hill at Edgewater park that I still have grass stains on the inside of my underwear from where my shorts and my underwear rolled up.
Have you ever had a roller derby dream? What happened? All the time. I’m such a derby nerd. I dream about drills and how to make them fun.
What do you feel will help propel the sport of Roller Derby? The derby movie coming out soon is going to help a lot. Every year our sport gets more recognition. We need to keep working our heinys off to make it more exciting for you guys. We also couldn’t make the magic happen without all the volunteers that put in so much of their time to help put our bouts on. Eric films all of our bouts so that we can watch what we need to work on. I can’t forget our announcers, refs, stats crew, & photographers. Sorry for the shout out, but we really couldn’t propel our sport without this whole crew. wRECk also allows our fans a chance to get in our skates even if they aren’t a lady.
How do you feel about the Turn 2 boys? Love you guys of course! Thank you so much for coming to all of our bouts.
If you could be an animal, what animal would you be and why? Monkey. They always seem to be happy.
Season 4 Steamers…. thoughts, feelings, predictions? I heart my sTeam and we’re all excited for the new sTeamies that are going to join us.
When you are not playing derby, what do you do for fun? Eat. Drink. Hang out w. friends. Eat. Drink. Eat.
How has derby changed your life? I knew nothing about derby a year ago. I’m having so much fun pushing myself to learn new skills. I have also met so many awesome chicas that I normally wouldn’t have had a chance to meet.
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