Arizona Derby Dames ~ View topic - hello all..a small favor....help a grrl get an "A"

Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to introduce myself-
I am Tamn8r, a new security guard, I am looking forward to the bouts, do not have a favorite team as yet, and am totally loving the derby...

I would like to ask a small favor of anyone that would be interested in
assisting me.. I have to write a paper for my english class, and I would
like to profile the Derby Dames.
This would be a combination of research of girl roller derby and interview(s)
with any one here that is willing to respond.

Below is a short list of questions....
I thank you ahead of time, I really appreciate any help anyone is able to give...

Tamn8r

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS-

How/why did you become interested in the Derby

How much time does it take to be involved

How expensive is it to be a part of the Derby

How did you realize your derby persona

What do you like most or least

Most exciting about the Derby

Again, I appreciate any help offered,
I will check back here or if you would like you
can email me at msgilbey19_@hotmail.com

Thankx !!!!!

Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 997 Location: Tempe, Az

I just sent you a PM. Very Happy

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Shoving shit into peoples heads and turning them into zombies ...all in a days work.

-Dr. Botomy
#81
Coffin Draggers

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 18527 Location: Phoenix

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS-

How/why did you become interested in the Derby
I became interested in derby when I saw a game at The Castle Sports Club on a Saturday evening. I used to play indoor soccer there for 7 years. I was playing a game and I went inside to go to the bathroom and they were in the middle of a derby game. I stayed and watched for a few minutes and I was hooked. I remembered seeing the game on tv when I was younger. Then a reality show aired on A&E called Rollergirls. I started watching that and then I really wanted to play the game. I started telling my friends and family that I was going to loose a little bit of weight, get skates and start practicing before I went to tryout. Then my sister met Hedy LeMorgue. Hedy came to our league from AZRD and she was trying to get my sister to join. My sister quickly introduced me to her and the rest is history.

How much time does it take to be involved - For me it takes a lot of time. I'm pretty involved. I am the Captain of the newest team, The Runaway Brides. I am a "Manager" that helps run the league doing various duties but my number one duty is Art Director. I design all of the flyers for the bouts, events, fundraisers, programs, posters, some logo's, some t-shirt designs, etc. I am also on the travel team, The Lady Lux. Not to mention I am the number one poster on this forum. Not that I am proud of that Embarassed

I just have a lot to say I guess. I work on my computer so the forum is normally on in the background. Needless to say, it can take up a lot of time sometimes.

How expensive is it to be a part of the Derby - We'll the dues are $30.00 a month, equipment to get started is about $300 but we all know it doesn't end there. You have your uniforms, your leggings and knee high socks, other accessories and most importantly the cost of getting together with your skater friends for your sometimes weekly drinks.

How did you realize your derby persona - My husband came up with my name for me. I loved it.

What do you like most or least - Mostly I like to hit girls and make them fly out of the rink. Secondly, I like to make sure they can't pass my booty when I'm booty blocking in front of them. The thing I like the least is the bitching that can occur after a bout.

Most exciting about the Derby - Of course bout night. It's pretty exciting when there are 700+ fans waiting to watch what you do. And to hear the crowd cheer with excitement and or even boo you is pretty exciting to me.
_________________
Ann Thrash, Ref
2006:Best Pivot, Rink Rash, Biggest Lush, Ball & Chain
2007:Best Pivot, Best Blocker, Most Feared, Hardest Hitter
2008:Best Pivot, Best Blocker, Biggest Lush, Biggest Bitch
2009:Best Pivot
2010-12:The Regulators Ref Team - Mount Up!

Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 3722 Location: queentuckey

Me and thrash have similar answers, weird. I don't even like her.

how and why interesed in derby

my husband saw the A&E reality show and knew I'd like to play derby so he suggested it. We went and checked out AZRD and I wanted to run out on the track and attack the skaters so I knew I wanted to join immediately. I've always played sports and did kickboxing and karate so i was used to hitting and getting hit. I enjoy the full contact part. My daughters teacher at the time played derby with azdd and told me and gingermortis where to go join. we tried out and were placed on the coffin draggers in I think jan. or feb. of 2006

how much time
ALOT technically we're only required to do 5 practices a month to skate but I usually try to do more. Plus ALL I think about is derby,talk about dream about it"s a disease. I imagine playing in a bout all the time. Different scenarios and how I can block jammers or get through the pack if I'm jamming.
I'm the captain of the coffin draggers so that takes time above just practice. Plus I'm always on this damn forum. Once i was on the forum and the team myspace for three hours, I would have sworn it was maybe 1 hour but my hubby confirmed 3 with a guilt trip.
I'm on the travel team too.

expence for derby
same as thrash said

how did you realize your derby persona
like thrash again my hubby came up with my name cause he knew i loved dia de los muertos

what do you like most or least
I love the full contact. The strategy it takes to win. The adrenaline rush of it all. Its great when you knock somebody on their buttocks.
I hate when people bitch too. Everyone is playing a game its rough and extremely aggressive as far as I know nobody on our league is intentionally trying to hurt someone but people think that sometimes. hell i could be wrong, hopefully nobody really wants to hurt anyone.

most exciting about derby
bouts are the highlight of it all. thats when everyone plays the best game they got. plus we get all dressed up for our fans. the fans are Great. It kinda makes me a little nervous with so many people watching but once the bout starts you forget about that.
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Dolly de los Muertos
#1112
Brutal Beauty
you suck

Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 140 Location: Phoenix

You've got mail. Razz

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Tran Syl Vania 6-5000
The Regulators!!!!

Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 716 Location: Tempe AZ

I'm going to take these questions from the viewpoint of someone who does not skate for the league but is very involved in the derby scene in Arizona. There may be some interesting similarities:

How/why did you become interested in the Derby?
Back in 2006, I saw a news report on KTLA in Los Angeles about the Los Angeles Derby Dolls, a banked track league. Being someone who was raised in the Los Angeles area, I was exposed to a lot of the old school roller derby (LA T-birds, et al) so seeing the banked track game coming back and this time with tattoos and a much keener fashion sense (lol), it looked interesting. I really did not think much about it until early 2007 when my next door neighbor came over to use one of my computers to get on the net. She gave me her MySpace URL and I checked it out. It turns out that the page had all of these graphics and pics from AZDD and the Coffin Draggers. My neighbor was former AZDD skater Miss Dawn of the Dead. That got my interest peaked. Then I started to research AZDD and noticed one of the places to purchase tickets was CageWorld. I am familiar with CageWorld because I used to raise parakeets/budgies and I used to sell my stock to CageWorld. I went down there one day to ask what was the connection between CageWorld and roller derby. Turns out the owner, who I have always considered a good friend is no other than Red Rocker of the Brutal Beauties. I got into the Scrappers because I liked the school-girl look. I eventually bought a ticket for the April 2007 bout (Scrappers vs. Draggers when Rowdy was carried out by ambulance) and since then, I have been hooked on derby.

How much time does it take to be involved?
Unlike skaters, I do not need to devote a lot of time in practice, etc. Almost every weekend or at least every Saturday is dedicated to derby. A trip to Tucson to cover TRD will usually take most of both Saturday and Sunday. I get very few bye weeks (my next one is on 5/3).

How expensive is it to be a part of the Derby?
Most of my expenses related to derby can also be attributed to my other businesses since I share those resources and my "subsiduary" Michi-chan Roller Sports Productions is a part of my bigger company, REC Networks. Due to my involvement in providing the leagues with publicity, video, etc. and my work on the Arizona Derby Report (which will be coming back soon), I get complementary access into bouts for most but not all leagues. Many leagues invite me to come to their bouts to cover them. I have media agreements with all Arizona leagues with the exception of AZDD. I will still do stuff for AZDD, but it is more at my own expense. I am willing to help out this league mainly because I feel that this is the best league in Arizona (with TRD coming in a close second). Therefore, it does not cost me much to cover derby.

How did you realize your derby persona?
The name Michi-chan is a play on my interest in Japanese pop culture. The word "Michi" is strictly a play on the name Michelle. There are also valid japanese definitions of the word "michi" but my use is strictly a play on the name (hence why when it is written in kana that "Michi" is written in katakana). The "-chan" portion is a Japanese honorific given to children but also to young women in an affectionite way. It is also acceptable for young women in japanese culture to refer to themselves by their name with the -chan honorific on the end.

What do you like most or least?
LIKE: I like being involved with leagues where the skaters are encouraged to interact with the fans. I like leagues that are fan friendly and who do a good job in fan communications.
DISLIKES: I don't like the politics that could surround some leagues, especially when all of the decisions seem to be coming from one or two people without the voices of the skaters OR THE FANS being heard. I don't like when fans are left in the dark under the assumption that the fans just come to see the games, they really don't care about the individual teams or the skaters on those teams.

Most exciting about the Derby?
While the bout night is very exciting. I think what is also exciting for me is everything that leads up to the bout. Reporting on various news items and giving predictions. I think the most exciting thing about the derby is not the bout itself but the PEOPLE who make the bout happen. The skaters, refs, security, merch bitches, stats geeks, sponsors, superfans, etc. THEY ALL ROCK! THEY MAKE DERBY EXCITING!

OK.. It's a bit belated, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

=m
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with derby love...
Michiko Ota aka
Michi-chan
http://www.michichan.com

PURE JPOP J1 - http://j1fm.com ~ what Michi has been up to lately! Japanese pop music radio!