This weekend brings one hell of a tournament, Midwest Brewhaha up in Milwakee has some of WFTDA’s heavy hitters. The need for BRRG All-Stars to take home two victories is pivotal in our WFTDA Power Rankings. In our first bout, we face the Brewcity All-Stars who will have a major home court advantage. The last time we played Brewcity, we had a strong lead; many had felt we had the game won, but we got lackadaisical and let the lead slip out of our hands. If this happens again, I will freaking kill somebody!

Brew City All-Stars vs Burning River All-Stars
Looking at both teams line up, it is clear to see that both teams have not lost any of their aces. However, I feel we have extra player cards in our deck. I am so excited to see this bout, I love All-Star bouts, I really wish that I could be there. Knowing that Eva will not be skating this bout saddens me, although I feel this is a great opportunity for some of our other jammers to showcase their skills. I really hope that everyone is on the ball and ready to fight. I see a lot of opportunity for us to use this bout to make a statement. We can beat this team, we will beat this team, actually we will destroy this team. Our jammers are better, our blockers are better, our teamwork is better.
From watching the last game, I remember their defense sucked, they were a fast team, but they just could not stop our jammers. One of our biggest problems was our penalties, especially our jammers. This bout we will have to ensure we stay out of the box, and force them to make penalties. But do not forget, home court advantage could make for hesitant to call penalty refs. Hacksaw and High Voltage are great skaters, do not let them get momentum, shut them down. I am not going to say anything more, you guys know what you need to do, you know who needs to be where. You have all the tools to win this bout, now go do it!

I will post Arch Rival bout tomorrow night, to be honest I am not worried about them either!

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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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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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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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On July 11th, I want nothing less than total annihilation! On the surface this appears to be an easy bout for us; that doesn’t mean we take it lightly. Remember there is always something to learn, the only real competition is yourself! I have hopes that our new all-stars will get some shine in, our All-Star team is looking mighty mean. Killamazoo has had some decent games, and I’m sure they have some talented skaters.

Unfortunately, the Turn Two Boys will not be at this bout; personally I have taken an additional work load on Saturdays, which hinders my ability to make it to many away bouts. i will be awaiting to hear how this bout went, how everyone played, mistakes that were made, and skills that were gained. I always hate missing these games, the away games are my favorites. I am actually sad that there is not a home All-Star game; then again, I wouldn’t want to play us on our home turf either, we are just too vicious! Good luck to all the skaters, be safe , kick some ass, and have fun!

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The trip out to Fort Wayne was not an easy one; cars were off the road in ditches, semi’s jack-knifed, and every weather station telling us not to travel. But, in the harshest of environments, members of the BRRG braved the elements and traveled to Fort Wayne Indiana.

First up the Xanadont’s with secret new weapons known as The Killustrator and Chrissie B. Hynde; came out with a strong effort but finished just shy of a win. Punk’d Pixie, Margarita Mayhem, and Vix Smackey showed an intense preview of what the ’09 season is going to look like (look out everyone, Pin-ups are contenders for the Cup). The Xanadont’s played well, but allowed fundamental mistakes to occur, fouls to hurt them, and fatigue to play a factor. It came to the last jam, but with a large crowd pumping the S.W.A.T. Team, the Xanadont’s were unable to come out on top.

I learned a lot sitting between Magic Lee Malicious and Quarter boy (GRRG) about personal styles and where working as a team is needed. I also learned a lot about inexperienced referees, and bad calls. I thank you both for your knowledge and friendship.

Now onto the All-Star Rematch; Burning River steps onto Fort Wayne turf missing a few key elements. One- The Validator: a major factor who scored many points in our first encounter with the Bomb Squad. Two- Slaughterama Mama: an incredible blocker who seems to gain energy when most others begin to feel fatigue. And three- Pain Austen: who yes did not play but has an expertise in observation when play a dirty team like the bomb squad. And yes I said Dirty! I know accidents happen and mistakes get made, refs do not see everything, but something’s you just cannot turn a blind eye to. I also understand that there will always be biased referees, and dirty skaters; and that will never change.

It was a treat to see you girls playing like a team out there! I did not see what I have seen in previous bouts; huge talent with no communication, every girl out there trying to get hers. A saw a major group effort and every girl knowing her role on the track. We had a rough start, with our first three jams, only scoring two points. But we started playing with good strategy and started nickel and dime jams. Then in a reverse of roles we started putting up major points and shutting down there jammer. By the end of the second half it was a one point game.

Unfortunately, it was becoming extremely apparent the referees from Fort Wayne had total disregard for WFTDA rules, especially when it came to fouls committed by their own players. I could go off on an hour tangent, about dozens of instances where I saw blatant fouls (by the bomb squad) with no call, or no foul or legal move being called as fouls (by BRRG). I believe this hurt the team in a way where we lost focus of the game; having to spend time and energy showing referees the fouls, and paying back the one who fouled, this is where there Jammer was able to break through the pack quick and leave our jammer fighting to get through. But in reality this is a situation we knew we were getting into, before we walked in the arena. Even speaking with members of GRRG I heard of dirty players in the bomb squad. We needed to be able to beat this team despite these hindrances. But when I look back at this bout, the team work that I saw out of the All-Stars, the moments where we every player on the track was just playing the game with such skill, technique and grace; for that I account the victory despite the score. This bout was a heck of a learning experience for me and I am sure many times over for the skaters.

Big ups go out to Slambassador for winning best blocker during the first bout; and Halochic during the All-Star bout. I must say special thank you to both Ivanna Destroya and Professor Booty for being concerned with my well being on my trip back (I made it safe!). Mad props to Gonnolea, just cuz she freakin rules! And last but not least Magic Lee Malicious for all her wonderful company and conversation there and back!

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