Derby, derby, derby. It seems as if my life has become consumed by this fast growing phenomenon we call roller derby. I joined Crossroads City Derby the summer of 2010 just for exercise. I really didn’t put too much thought in to it; it was just something for me to do that would get me off the couch and away from the refrigerator. I didn’t know that like everyone else who has found this sport and made it a part of their lives, I’d be bitten by the derby bug. It’s been three years since that day, and my passion for derby has grown with each game. So when the opportunity arose to play in El Paso’s Block ‘N Roll Mash Up on July 20th, 2013, I jumped at the chance. My league would have the opportunity to play with and against women from El Paso Roller Derby, Tall City Roller Betties, Safford Roller Derby, Derbal Remedy Roller Derby, Marfa Roller Derby, 575 Roller Babes, and Liga Roller Derby. These ladies were coming from all over Texas, New Mexico and even Juarez Mexico to compete against one another in three thirty minute themed bouts. I’d never played an actual game with players from another team so this was going to be interesting.
Bout day. Morning. I wake up and the first thing on my mind is the game. I was on Team 80s, aka The Breakfast Club. We were in the second game of the day and were playing against The Pink Ladies (Team 50s). Although I had an entire day before the game itself, I was already jittery. At work all I could think about was the game: Will I fall? Will I get too many penalties? Will I look like a fool? What if I do everything wrong? By the time Lady Longlegs came to pick me up at 3:15pm in her 80s inspired blinged out shoulder pads, I was ready to go and get this over with.
After picking up Fearless Foxy Fighter, we were off! We chatted excitedly on the 45-minute drive to El Paso TX., each of us wondering what to expect, all of us expecting (wanting) to win. We arrived at the venue, Nations Tobin Park, and as we walked inside the large square building, the parking lot was already beginning to fill. Once inside, there were derby ladies of all shapes and sizes walking around in their themed outfits: pink beauty school tops (Team 50s), rocker t-shirts (Team Rock Scars), and our 80s fluorescent green/yellow t-shirts (The Breakfast Club) were the outfits that stood out as we made our way to our change area. There we met some of our teammates, ladies from various parts of Texas and New Mexico. The three of us then did a quick look around the venue. There were a few vendors and a snack area. In the center of the room, there was sport court surrounded by folding chairs for the coming crowds to watch the games.
After saying hello to some of our fellow Crossroads City Derby (CCD) folks, Foxy left us to go ref the first game:Rock Scars vs. The Achy Breaky Hearts. Lady Longlegs and I found seats towards the back and caught a few minutes of the first game. The skill on the court was obvious as the women from Texas and New Mexico battled it out! Penalties were handed out so fast I couldn’t keep track. In the middle of second half, we had to leave to get ready for our own game but we heard it was a close match with the Rock Scars taking the win: 113-70. I am proud to note that many of CCD players walked away with Most Valuable Player Awards. Boozeberry Pie took the MVP blocker for the Rock Scars; RX Bex was awarded MVP Jammer for the Achy Breaky Hearts; and Goldy Blocks snatched up MVP overall also for team Achy Breaky Hearts.
Then it was my turn, Pink Ladies vs. The Breakfast Club. I took to the court in the first jam. Nervous, I waited for the whistle. “Next whistle starts the jam!” yelled the ref. Tweet! After that, every thing is a blur. Hitting, twisting, looking for team mates and trying to hold a wall were the only things on my mind. The Pink Ladies pulled ahead quickly in the first half as their bench coach Goldie A Go Go lined them up and made the calls. As usual, I don’t really remember much (derby amnesia) but I do remember that I had fun. Lady Longlegs jammed like a champ and in the second half, Foxy showed her leadership skills by organizing some of the lineups. Not having a bench coach had hurt us but we weren’t going to give up. We did manage to pull it together and make some of our points back but the Pink Ladies stayed ahead for the rest of the game. Final score: 132-82.
I didn’t really care. I played derby to the best of my ability and it was amazing! I still smile when I think of the bright spots that I managed to remember: Lady Longlegs and I actually held the fast moving Puncher Villa as she tried to score points; I actually spun completely around to avoid a hit; and Notorious TIJ and I went shoulder to shoulder a couple of times as she broke through our line to score points. Lady Longlegs was awarded MVP jammer, and I somehow managed to score MVP blocker for The Breakfast Club!
The night wasn’t over. In the last game of the evening,The Misfits vs. Club 54, I sat on the floor with my fellow Crossroads City crew to cheer on the last of the CCD ladies to play that night: Injur-Venous and Vicious V. As new players, this would be one of their first games against opposing league players. They made us proud. In the end, Injur-venous was awarded MVP over all for the Misfits who pulled out a win against Studio 54. Final score: 183-100.
Afterwards, a few of us headed over to Chili’s to refuel and discuss the days events before making the drive back to Las Cruces. We were all tired but happy as we chatted and laughed over our burgers and fries. It’d been an excellent night of derby with women from all over doing what they loved. Who could ask for anything more?
-ZDestroYA, #0
Bout day. Morning. I wake up and the first thing on my mind is the game. I was on Team 80s, aka The Breakfast Club. We were in the second game of the day and were playing against The Pink Ladies (Team 50s). Although I had an entire day before the game itself, I was already jittery. At work all I could think about was the game: Will I fall? Will I get too many penalties? Will I look like a fool? What if I do everything wrong? By the time Lady Longlegs came to pick me up at 3:15pm in her 80s inspired blinged out shoulder pads, I was ready to go and get this over with.
After picking up Fearless Foxy Fighter, we were off! We chatted excitedly on the 45-minute drive to El Paso TX., each of us wondering what to expect, all of us expecting (wanting) to win. We arrived at the venue, Nations Tobin Park, and as we walked inside the large square building, the parking lot was already beginning to fill. Once inside, there were derby ladies of all shapes and sizes walking around in their themed outfits: pink beauty school tops (Team 50s), rocker t-shirts (Team Rock Scars), and our 80s fluorescent green/yellow t-shirts (The Breakfast Club) were the outfits that stood out as we made our way to our change area. There we met some of our teammates, ladies from various parts of Texas and New Mexico. The three of us then did a quick look around the venue. There were a few vendors and a snack area. In the center of the room, there was sport court surrounded by folding chairs for the coming crowds to watch the games.
After saying hello to some of our fellow Crossroads City Derby (CCD) folks, Foxy left us to go ref the first game:Rock Scars vs. The Achy Breaky Hearts. Lady Longlegs and I found seats towards the back and caught a few minutes of the first game. The skill on the court was obvious as the women from Texas and New Mexico battled it out! Penalties were handed out so fast I couldn’t keep track. In the middle of second half, we had to leave to get ready for our own game but we heard it was a close match with the Rock Scars taking the win: 113-70. I am proud to note that many of CCD players walked away with Most Valuable Player Awards. Boozeberry Pie took the MVP blocker for the Rock Scars; RX Bex was awarded MVP Jammer for the Achy Breaky Hearts; and Goldy Blocks snatched up MVP overall also for team Achy Breaky Hearts.
Then it was my turn, Pink Ladies vs. The Breakfast Club. I took to the court in the first jam. Nervous, I waited for the whistle. “Next whistle starts the jam!” yelled the ref. Tweet! After that, every thing is a blur. Hitting, twisting, looking for team mates and trying to hold a wall were the only things on my mind. The Pink Ladies pulled ahead quickly in the first half as their bench coach Goldie A Go Go lined them up and made the calls. As usual, I don’t really remember much (derby amnesia) but I do remember that I had fun. Lady Longlegs jammed like a champ and in the second half, Foxy showed her leadership skills by organizing some of the lineups. Not having a bench coach had hurt us but we weren’t going to give up. We did manage to pull it together and make some of our points back but the Pink Ladies stayed ahead for the rest of the game. Final score: 132-82.
I didn’t really care. I played derby to the best of my ability and it was amazing! I still smile when I think of the bright spots that I managed to remember: Lady Longlegs and I actually held the fast moving Puncher Villa as she tried to score points; I actually spun completely around to avoid a hit; and Notorious TIJ and I went shoulder to shoulder a couple of times as she broke through our line to score points. Lady Longlegs was awarded MVP jammer, and I somehow managed to score MVP blocker for The Breakfast Club!
The night wasn’t over. In the last game of the evening,The Misfits vs. Club 54, I sat on the floor with my fellow Crossroads City crew to cheer on the last of the CCD ladies to play that night: Injur-Venous and Vicious V. As new players, this would be one of their first games against opposing league players. They made us proud. In the end, Injur-venous was awarded MVP over all for the Misfits who pulled out a win against Studio 54. Final score: 183-100.
Afterwards, a few of us headed over to Chili’s to refuel and discuss the days events before making the drive back to Las Cruces. We were all tired but happy as we chatted and laughed over our burgers and fries. It’d been an excellent night of derby with women from all over doing what they loved. Who could ask for anything more?
-ZDestroYA, #0
