Derby Name:  Morbid Cherub

Number:  916

Team(s):  Hellbombers, All-Stars

Position(s):  pivot, blocker

First question, how is the back?  Much better, thank you!!  It was actually a combo back/hip issue, but both are much better, and I am back to my old self again….but faster and stronger.  I can actually skate without pain now.  Who knew?

When are you going to Jam a game? When the Browns win the Superbowl.  No, really.  I actually HAVE jammed in 2 games – once as a Hellbomber in Season Two against the Pinups, and once as an All-Star against the Black-N-Bluegrass Rollergirls of Florence, KY.  I actually grand slammed their jammer in that one.  I told the All-Stars I would jam if we were ever up by 100 points, and they called my bluff.  I have learned to shut my mouth about things like that.  If my team needs a ‘bully’ jammer to jam, I will, but don’t tell anyone.  It’s a secret.

What inspired the name Morbid Cherub?  That was actually a screen name of mine for about 3 years before the BRRG ever started up.  Alot of people had already known me as Morbid, so I decided to just keep it that way.

What has been your greatest derby moment so far? Winning the Hazard Cup in Season One was the greatest so far.  We skated with a roster of 10 all season long, and there were about 4 of us who skated more than 75% of the jams in every bout.  I learned endurance the hard way that year.  We had already lost to the Hard Knockers twice that season (by a 3 point margin each time) and we worked really hard as a team in the month before the championship.  Repeating it the following 2 years has been phenomenal, but nothing can replace the high of that first one – except maybe winning Regionals one day (dare to dream?).
My second greatest moment was my All Star comeback against Brew City.  Even though we lost the game, it was great being back on the track with the team.

Is it hard to have to take yourself off All-Star for an injury? It stunk.  I missed playing Cincy, I missed ECE last year, and most sucky, I missed participating in Regionals last year.    Being taken off the charter absolutely sucked, but it forced me to get my hip and back issue addressed.  It took almost 6 months for me to get back to where I was skillwise before my back and hip starting flaring up, and then it took me another 5-6 months to get to where I am now.  Even in that depressing situation, everyone on the All Stars was super supportive and played a big role in my improvement.  They continue to force me to push my limits and get better.

What was your favorite All-Star bout? I really enjoy playing the higher level teams, so Detroit and Madison were 2 of my favorites.  We lost both of those bouts by a good margin, but we learned so much from those teams that the score ended up being a moot point.  You don’t get better by playing teams that are on a lower skill level than you.  My second favorite All-Star bout was our home bout against Ft. Wayne where we won in overtime.  Getting that first WFTDA win was awesome!

Do you enjoy All-Star or Interleague Bouts better? I like them both for different reasons.  All-Star bouts are always harder games.  You skate faster, work harder, and you aren’t familiar with the other skaters like you are at intra-league bouts, so you really have to be on your game.  I love the challenge.  I love our Intraleague home bouts because there is nothing like playing in front of your own fans. I like to crack wise on the start line, and you can’t do that as much with people you don’t know from other leagues.  No one ever boos me at All-Star bouts though – what’s up with that?

What are your Season 4 goals? To win another Hazard Cup, of course.   And it would be great if the league were able to hit a new attendance record before the end of the season. Personally, I am always working to improve my skills.

Who is your favorite person to hit on the track? I don’t know if I really have a favorite person to hit.  Vix Smackey and I have had a good time cracking wise while knocking each other around over the last 3 1/2 seasons.  Anyone else who gets in my way or screws with my jammer deserves to get hit.  I am not sorry.

Talk to us about how the league has changed since you started? The league has evolved with the game.  We had a lot more rocker-chick types when we first started up, but as the game has become more sport and less spectacle, the mix of women joining has really grown.  The days of being able to look cute in your uniform and fishnets and get by are over.  Now you have to bring it every game in order to compete.  The league has really gained a lot of respect as a legitimate sport, whereas we used to be thought of as a novelty.   It’s been a great experience to be a part of.

Who pushes you the hardest in the league? When I was recovering from my hip and back issues, Mommy’s Little Monster was always good for pushing me through All Star practices when I thought I wouldn’t be able to do any more.

You are always good for one brutal hit (and penalty), why you think that is? I think sometimes refs think that if a hit is really big and brutal looking, it could not have possibly been a clean hit.  I’ve seen some of the other big hitters in the league get tagged similarly, so I know it’s not just me or my imagination.   That being said, I do not go after people with the intent of hitting them big.  I have the advantages of being solid and hard to knock over, so my hitting a smaller person may occasionally cause them to fly into trackside seating, or go airborne.   I’m not sorry.  I never hit people with the intent of hurting them, and I don’t play dirty.

What is your favorite thing to do, when you are not skating? I read a lot.  When it’s nice, I like to go to the park and read in the sun or by the lake.  In bad weather, I have been known to spend weekend evenings at Barnes and Noble reading in the cafe.  I am a nerd.

What is it like having Quag as your brother? Is this a trick question?  He was my brother long before he was Quagmire, though he did choose a pretty fitting name for himself.  He is always getting himself in one predicament or another.

How has roller derby changed your life? I used to come home after work and sit in front of the television.  I was out of shape, bored, and I had no friends.  Now, I am none of those things!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

mor·bid – suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme, etc.

cher·ub – a member of the second order of angels, often represented as a beautiful rosy-cheeked child with wings.

Morbid Cherub – One of the most fierce Hellbombers, the one you do not want to meet in a dark alley way (or try to pass on the flat track). A hard shell wraps her warm heart, and her infectious laugh warms your soul. May you birthday be filled with laughs, happiness, friends, and excitement.

Happy Birthday Morbid Cherub!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

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!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites