OUR STATE.. OUR DERBY!!

Derby lovers,

The derby goddesses have forcibly yanked this Michi out of retirement for a short time, especially for this weekend because we have a TON of roller derby action throughout the state.

ARIZONA DERBY DAMES

The monumental event this Saturday night will be the season 5 opener of the ARIZONA DERBY DAMES.  Last year, they moved from the CASTLE SPORTS CLUB to the VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM.   Last year, the Dames played a flat track game.  This season, the Dames are introducing banked track roller derby to a new generation of Arizona derby lovers.  From what I could gather, the last time there was banked track roller derby in Arizona was back in the 1960’s with the Arizona Raiders of the National Skating Derby, a professional circuit.

But keep in mind, even with a banked track, the game is still real, even more real.  What is also real was the sweat, ambition and motivation of this group of ladies who have been working hard to bring banked track to reality.  When the Arizona Derby Dames was founded in 2006, one of the intentions of the league was to eventually skate on a banked track.  Some of the pioneer leagues in this sport such as the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls (Austin, TX) and the Los Angeles Derby Dolls skate on banked track.  Actually, it was a report about the LADD in 2006 that made me aware of the resurgence of roller derby.  A couple of years ago, the Dames actually had access to a banked track that was being stored.  Unfortunately, there was no venue available for it.   The banked track that is being introduced on Saturday as a brand new Kitt Track design.  Earlier this month,  the Dames gave us a preview of the track at Jobing.com Arena.  When the track is not being used at the Coliseum, it is constructed in a nearby warehouse and is used for team and league practices.

The banked track game will consist of 4 12-minute periods and 60 second jams.  Saturday’s bout will be a double header.  First, we will see the SCHOOL YARD SCRAPPERS with team captain ROWDY ROULETTE take on new team captain RED ROCKER (you heard me right derby lovers… I did say Red Rocker) and her BRUTAL BEAUTIES.   The Scrappers are still a pretty consistent team from last season, many of your favorite names are still there.  What I do find interesting though is that many members of the former ARIZONA BRUISERS have made their way over to the Scrappers.  BAD BETTY, CRUELLA DE MILLE, MINK STOLE, MIZZ NASHTY and NURSE RATCHET were once their own team at one time. It’s nice to see them skating together on the Scrappers.   For the Beauties, did I mention Red Rocker was the team captain?  Red Rocker and I go back even before I knew about Arizona derby leagues.  This is an interesting lineup including ex AZRD skaters BRICKHOUSE, JUNKYARD BARBIE and HOOKERELLA.  Other familiar faces on this year’s Beauties include co-captain SALLY WHACKER and former Bombshell EMBER WAVES.  Noticibly missing  is CELESTE who is now on the Bombshell roster.   This is going to be a very interesting Beauties team.

The second bout will pit the COFFIN DRAGGERS against the RUNAWAY BRIDES.  The Draggers will be skating short GINGERMORTIS and co-captain DOLLY DE LOS MUERTOS.  But the good doctor, MARY LU BOTTOMY is back for another season as well as team captain LORA STABS, KATIE KILLS, TRAN SYL VANIA, NACHO GIRLFRIEND and WENDY O. KILLEMS.  There are some faces that are new to this Michi.   To be fair, I was pretty much in retirement during AZDD’s 2009 season so I did not get a chance to follow last year.    For the Brides in the post-(ANN) THRASH generation, it’s nice seeing ELLIE MAYHEM as team captain.  Ellie is a very fast and agile jammer on the flat track, I can only imagine her on banked.  GWEN STEPONYA is the co-captain and other familiar faces include KILLIN MAE SMALZ, LEX MOSH, MIGHTY MENACE and veteran PHENOMENON.

I know what you are asking, predictions.. Michi??  Here’s the deal.  Red Rocker has been a long time friend and has supported me through a lot of personal issues.  Rowdy has re-earned my respect as a leader and team captain.  This bout just has so many people who are very important to me I really do not want to pit these two teams in the heart and mind of the Michi.  Therefore, I will abstain from making any predictions.  I also feel that the Dames have been working hard to make banked track become a reality.  Between public comments and private conversations with people inside the league during my retirement, I have a great sense of the dedication and accomplishment and this night will symbolize.  I feel that this is a night for the skaters and they should not have a prediction by a washed-out 41 year old obnoxious derby lover looming over their head.   DAMES THIS IS YOUR NIGHT!  ENJOY YOUR NEW TRACK!  YOU DESERVED IT!  My only prediction is that the fans are going to love the new banked track as much as the ladies enjoy skating on it.  But I will say with some level of confidence, the Scrappers will win the afterparty!

Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum (19th Ave & McDowell). Box Office opens at 5pM.  Doors open at 6PM.  Bout starts at 7PM.  The Dames have sold an extremely large number of presale tickets for this bout.  You will still be able to get General Admission to the bout, but I think that VIP seats and the floor will sell out early (if they have not sold out in advance).   The Dames have to beat an attendance of 5,158.   This record attendance for a resurgence roller derby bout was set earlier this month by Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle.

http://www.azderbydames.com

ARIZONA ROLLER DERBY

AZRD is also hosting a bout on Saturday night.  This bout will also be a doubleheader.  We will see the women of the BRAWLARINAS take on the SURLY GURLIES.  Also on the card will be a men’s derby bout between DRY HEAT DERBY of Phoenix and Tucson as they take on the COLORADO BIG HORNS.   This flat track fun will be played at the Castle Sports Club on Saturday with doors opening at 5:30.  The men’s game starts at 6PM and the ladies take the track at 7:30PM.

Last month, AZRD sold out the Castle Sports Club. This is something they have not done in years.  Congratulations to AZRD for that.  I am very concerned that this bout will be substantially overshadowed by the Dames bout.  I am a supporter of AZRD but what’s going on at AZDD is a historical event.  Remember derby lovers, the Castle Sports Club is at 19th Avenue & Cholla and they have free parking.  I wish these ladies and men the best this evening.  No matter if there’s only a few fans or a sell-out, AZRD puts on a great game.  Please support them!

http://www.azrollerderby.com

TUCSON ROLLER DERBY

Interleague derby returns to the Tucson Indoor Sports Center (formerly Bladeworld) as the TUCSON SADDLETRAMPS takes on the GOTHAM GIRLS WALL STREET TRAITORS from New York City.  Doors open at 6:30 and the bout starts at 7PM.

http://tucsonrollerderby.com

DESERT DOLLS ROLLER DERBY

Phoenix has a new league, the Desert Dolls!   There are three teams including the PRETTY H8 MACHINES, THE SHOTGUN SHIRLEYS and the COSMIC KILLAS’.  The Pretty H8 recently had a benefit car wash but this weekend, the Cosmic Killas will be playing Sloshball.  A game that combines kickball and drinking.  Please come out to Madison Park from 2-4PM.  Madison Park is at 1440 E. Glenrosa Ave.

Your Michi will be making a public appearance as a member of the announcing team for two DDRD demo bouts on April 24 and May 22 at Castle Sports Club.  Please keep those dates open and come check out Arizona newest league.  These girls have been practicing hard.  Please support them.

A lot of derby love this weekend!  If you can’t make one league’s bout that night, please make a note to support them when they have another bout.  Visit the league websites for information on the next bouts.

For now, SKATE HARD.. SKATE SAFE.. DERBY LOVE!

First of all, for the record.  I am still around.  I have had to put derby aside because of some major shifts in my life, plus I had a major project with one of my other operations, J1FM, my Japanese popular music webcast.

Even though some of you have figured it out, I will be making a major derby related announcement soon.   So watch for that soon.

But even though I have ducked out of derby after that spectacular Surly sweep back in May, I have still kept an eye on our teams here in the Grand Canyon State.

With the AZDD semi-finals done, we saw the Brutal Beauties easily (and expectedly) trample the Coffin Draggers 55-37.  In more of a surprise, the Runaway Brides barely slipped by the Scrappers 63-57.    Not counting the mini-bouts, this 6 point victory by the Brides was the tightest margin ever for an AZDD bout.  It beats the previous record that was ironically set by these same two teams in July of this year where the Brides beat the Scrappers 62-51.

While all of the leagues had delivered some great derby this year, AZDD in particular has really made that $20 VIP ticket really worth it by giving us a lot of tightly contested bouts.  Not once did AZDD have a “super lopper” bout this year.  Their biggest margin this season was the 41 point margin that the Brutal Beauties had over the Coffin Draggers in April with a final score 77-36.   Compare this to three TRD bouts that had margins of 152, 110 and 99 points.

So now with all of that, let’s take a look at the ARIZONA POWER RANKINGS for August, 2009:

1. Vice Squad (TRD/89.69)
2. Runaway Brides (AZDD/52.45)
3. Copper Queens (TRD/48.25)
4. Brutal Beauties (AZDD/45.05)
5. Bad News Beaters (AZRD/27.12)
6. Surly Gurlies (AZRD/17.42)
7. Bruisers (AZRD/-15.38)
8. Iron Curtain (TRD/-18.41)
9. School Yard Scrappers (AZDD/-28.34)
10. Brawlarinas (AZRD/-32.72)
11. Coffin Draggers (AZDD/-40.63)
12. Bombshells (AZDD/-77.43)
13. Furious Truckstop Waitresses (TRD/-129.25)

Coming up next:
9/19 ~ AZDD Championship Bout ~ The (AZ-2) Runaway Brides will try to defend their title that they took from the (AZ-4) Brutal Beauties last year.  This will be an exciting championship rematch by these two very serious teams.  I believe there will also be a “battle for the bronze” undercard that will pit the (AZ-9) School Yard Scrappers against the (AZ-11) Coffin Draggers.  This will be at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.   More information will eventually be available at http://azderbydames.com
9/20 ~ AZRD Derby Summit Expo Bout ~ AZRD is inviting skaters from Tucson’s Dry Heat as well as from Northern AZ Roller Derby to play some fun Sunday derby in a place where we have not seen a full bout in years, Mesa Skateland.   More info will be avaialble at http://azrollerderby.com

For now, I will take a backseat but I will still be watching.  I may show up at these bouts.

As always… SKATE HARD, SKATE SAFE, DERBY LOVE.

＜３　ミチちゃん。

Saturday is truly a derby night in Arizona as three of the state’s biggest leagues will all be holding events on the same night.   This will make things a little frustrating for Phoenix fans as there will definitely be a test of loyalty.

ARIZONA ROLLER DERBY
ALL-STAR BOUT
Take the best of the best in AZRD and put them on two teams and you have an all-star showdown to close out what some may call AZRD’s most exciting season ever.  The two teams will be divided into Blue and Red teams.  The Blue team will including Gratuitous Violet, Loca Lena and Hacker Too Pieces.  They will be facing the Red team that will include Rayna Rage and Deez Nutz.  Both teams are pretty much equally matched from a jamming and a blocking perspective.  I am not going to call this one.  Here are the rosters and I will let you be the judge:
Blue Team: Yellow Fever, Gratuitous Violet, Loca Lena, Hacker Too Pieces, Candy Cannons, Knockout Knicko, Jugs Bunny, Rum Bunctious, Book-em Betty, C Ductive, Bea Naughty, Chachi Patron.
Red Team: Dirty Dutchess, Rayna Rage, Deez Nutz, Domiskatrix, Messy Missy, Joby Wan-and-Only, Kidda Kilah, Destructo Kitty, A Whacks Queen, Diabolique, Pokaheiness.

IF YOU GO:
Castle Sports Club - 11420 N. 19th Avenue, Phoenix
Doors open at 7PM, bout starts at 7:30PM.  $12 at the door.
http://www.azrollerderby.com for more information

ARIZONA DERBY DAMES
(2)BRUTAL BEAUTIES VS. (8)SCHOOL YARD SCRAPPERS
(7)COFFIN DRAGGERS VS. (5) RUNAWAY BRIDES
With 4 very powerful AZDD teams also playing on Saturday, fencesitting derby lovers have a very hard choice here.  The Bombshells take the bye for this bout (and trust me, they need a rest after the beatings they are taking this year) and leave the skating to the powerhouses.

First we have Beauties and Scrappers.  The Beauties have been showing some vulnerability this season.  While the pinks squeezed by the plaid 29-15 in the January mini-bout, their performaces against the Brides have proven that the team is showing potential for another team to slip by them.  While I know Red Rocker will give me a hiney-whooping the next time we meet when I say this, I think this is the one when Rowdy’s Scrappers will slip by the Beauties, but not by much.  SCRAPPERS BY 1-20.

Next we have Draggers vs. Brides.  The Brides under the leadership of Ann Thrash has the structure necessary to win games, they beat the Beauties.  The Draggers have this interesting brand of teamwork that may work in their favor but the Brides’ record speaks for itself.  BRIDES BY 15-35.

IF YOU GO:
Veterans Memorial Coliseum - 19th Avenue & McDowell
Doors at 6:30PM, Bout at 7:30PM. General and Floor: $12, VIP: $20, Parking: $7.
http://www.azderbydames.com for more information

TUCSON ROLLER DERBY
(1)VICE SQUAD VS. (3)COPPER QUEENS
(11)IRON CURTAIN VS. (13) FURIOUS TRUCKSTOP WAITRESSES
In Tucson, TRD will have their championship bout where their two powerhouse teams, VICE Squad and the Copper Queens will fight for the TRD title.  In addition, the Iron Curtain will take on FTW for third place. Last month, the FTW saw the return of Skeletor and they gave the Copper Queens a run for their money.  The Iron Curtain has been busy schooling other teams and have been getting their team more together.  So who will tak Tucson?  I say VICE SQUAD BY 40-60 and IRON CURTAIN BY 40-60.

IF YOU GO:
Tucson Indoor Sports Center (formerly Bladeworld) - 1065 W. Grant Rd.
Doors at 6PM, IC vs. FTW @ 6:30,VS vs. CQ 8:00.  $10 admission.
http://www.tucsonrollerderby.com for more info.

This past Saturday was a night with overlapping bouts in Phoenix and Tucson. In Phoenix, the Arizona Derby Dames were skating at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. Honestly, this was my first AZDD bout in over a year and I will say that league has been able to make the most out of the Vet and put on one impressive presentation. The 0-2 (AZ Power Rankings #11) Bombshells would take on the 1-0 (#5) Runaway Brides. In addition, the 1-0 (#8) School Yard Scrappers would take on the 1-1 (#7) Coffin Draggers. Meanwhile down in Tucson, the 4-1 (#1) VICE Squad would take on the 2-3 (#9) Iron Curtain.

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Derby fans, welcome to May.  We’re at a point where two league’s seasons are starting to come to an end and one is very much in full swing.   This is definitely a month where most of Arizona’s leagues have something going on  I know it’s going to keep this Michi-chan very very very busy.

This month, there’s something for everyone, including those who are more artsy than sportsy and for those who want to strap on the quads and have a chance to bump hips with other dedicated women, you will have a chance.

If you can make it to one or more of these events, including the Tucson ones if you are so adventuresome, please do so and again, thank you for supporting your local roller derby and community sports in Arizona.

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Well, it’s that time of the month again.  Every Sunday after the last Saturday in the month, I complile and release the Arizona Power Rankings, the only measurements of the 13 roller derby home teams from three different leagues in the state.

This has been a crazy month that included an indoor rainout and two huge upsets.  This definitely made some twist and turns in this month’s Power Rankings!

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In Tucson, the Iron Curtain, a team that has not won a full bout in regulation play (they won a mini-bout which counted towards standings earlier this year) has won their first full bout in an unexpectedly lop-sided bout against the faltering Furious Truckstop Waitresses, 113-14.  The Copper Queens take out the state’s highest ranked team, Vice Squad, 60-47.  With 5 bouts played, Vice and the Copper Queens both have 4-1 records but Vice is ahead through point spread.  Iron Curtain is in third at 2-3 and the FTW is in the cellar at 0-5.

Expect some major movements in the derbydata.com Arizona Power Rankings which will be released next Sunday.

Both Arizona Derby Dames and Arizona Roller Derby skated at this last weekend’s Phoenix Pride Parade displaying the diversity that our sport entails.  Reports that we received said that both AZRD and AZDD were placed back to back by parade organizers.

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Derby lovers, get set for a very interesting doubleheader bout at Bladeworld this Saturday night. Tucson Roller Derby presents two bouts featuring very evenly matched teams and what will likely be a preview of the TRD Championship Bout in June.   While in Phoenix, three leagues are doing something this Saturday.

DOUBLE THE HITS IN THE OLD PUEBLO

One of the bouts will pit the #3 ranked 1-3 Iron Curtain (AZ Power Rankings #11) against the #4 ranked 0-4 Furious Truckstop Waitresses.   Some of the IC skaters recently took a trip up to Alaska to take on Rage City Rollergirls, an up-and-coming league and gave them a workout that they were definitely thankful for.  The IC has so much going for them this year with LUC3F3R, Punchkisser and Bianka Trohl most likely taking the jammer line for this bout.  With the entire team taking life lessons from Helen Wheels, expect some interesting things to happen.  The FTW, with a fairly new roster has been going through a very hard trial this year as the rookies continue to develop.  I sure hope that Skeletor is back to help on the line with Peaches Rodriguez.  That last defeat to the VICE Squad could have been lessened if either Skeletor was good to skate or substitutes are allowed to jam at TRD.   While the FTW has a pretty strong pack, they need more point scorers.  I would expect this one to go IRON CURTAIN BY 40-60.

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It’s that time of the month again derby fans, time to use some basic math to rank all 13 of Arizona’s home teams.

First of all, the AZRD Bruisers will be unranked for this period.  This is because the Bruisers have not had three bouts in the past 365 days. They will return to the rankings after their bout on April 11.

These Power Rankings are up to date as of 3/29/09 and do not include the Arizona Derby Dames doubleheader bout on 4/4/09.

So with that, let’s start at number 12 and go to number 1:

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