When we were told the Sucias would be participating in the San Angelo tournament on August 17 we were thrilled. It was going to be a derby filled couple of months but the more play time the better. The week before the tournament a family emergency called our coach, Jesus H. Coach, and captain, General Grant Slam, away. Worry and fear for our leaders and the struggles they were facing spread like wildfire through the league. In true derby fashion several skaters stepped up to fill in by running practice and assuring everyone that we were going to work harder than ever to prepare for the tournament. In that same week more tragedy struck as our beloved BoozeBerry Pie broke her arm during a scrimmage. Our hearts were further dampened.
We continued on, practiced hard, and nervously prepared for the upcoming tournament. It was not until the president of our great league offered to coach us in San Angelo that we calmed down enough to regain clarity of mission.Puncher Villa stepped up and not only kept us reassured and focused but also showed every participant in the tournament what true professionalism looks like. I am certain that no one, especially the refs, anticipated that the hundred pound Pantene model on the sideline was our fiercest asset. She educated the refs from the “box of shame” with an unparalleled confidence. Our tournament started out with an inspirational talk from La Punch. She told us she had just spoken to our captain and coach and they were heartbroken to not be with us. She told us that the people we trust most in this world fought hard to get us ready for this tournament. She reminded us that we are never alone with our sisters on the track. We knew what needed to be done. We knew that perhaps winning this tournament would bring a smile to the face of someone lying in a hospital bed fighting cancer hundreds of miles away, if only for a minute. So we tied purple ribbons to our helmets and did what we do.
We got first in the tournament and left one hell of an impression. I wish I could don my sports commentator alter ego now and tell you about specifically epic plays that occurred, or regale you with details of all the heroism I witnessed. Unfortunately, I have long suffered from derby amnesia. I would like to say it is due to being hyper focused on the task at hand when I am in the game but I believe it is my fear induced adrenaline shock that deletes the details. The one detail burned into my brain from our San Angelo adventure is that we did indeed bring a smile to the face of the now dubbed “Quad-Father.”
-The Venomous DiMilo, #1023
We continued on, practiced hard, and nervously prepared for the upcoming tournament. It was not until the president of our great league offered to coach us in San Angelo that we calmed down enough to regain clarity of mission.Puncher Villa stepped up and not only kept us reassured and focused but also showed every participant in the tournament what true professionalism looks like. I am certain that no one, especially the refs, anticipated that the hundred pound Pantene model on the sideline was our fiercest asset. She educated the refs from the “box of shame” with an unparalleled confidence. Our tournament started out with an inspirational talk from La Punch. She told us she had just spoken to our captain and coach and they were heartbroken to not be with us. She told us that the people we trust most in this world fought hard to get us ready for this tournament. She reminded us that we are never alone with our sisters on the track. We knew what needed to be done. We knew that perhaps winning this tournament would bring a smile to the face of someone lying in a hospital bed fighting cancer hundreds of miles away, if only for a minute. So we tied purple ribbons to our helmets and did what we do.
We got first in the tournament and left one hell of an impression. I wish I could don my sports commentator alter ego now and tell you about specifically epic plays that occurred, or regale you with details of all the heroism I witnessed. Unfortunately, I have long suffered from derby amnesia. I would like to say it is due to being hyper focused on the task at hand when I am in the game but I believe it is my fear induced adrenaline shock that deletes the details. The one detail burned into my brain from our San Angelo adventure is that we did indeed bring a smile to the face of the now dubbed “Quad-Father.”
-The Venomous DiMilo, #1023
