The Red WireThe Bradentucky Bombers Official News Magazine

July, August, September Issue!

Last Issue

of the 2013

Season

Photo by Ken LeBleu

From the Red Wire StaffStay Connected With Manatee County’s Original Women’s Roller Derby Team During the Off Season! Like Us Follow UsBe InformedNetwork with Us Get Behind the Scene AccessWrite us a review on Yelp!

Hi Bradentuckians! This is the last issue of the Red Wire (for 2013). It’s been a blast publishing the Red Wire this year! I hope you’ve enjoyed it and it pro-vided more insight into the world of the Bradentucky Bombers.

Thanks to all of our fans, sponsors, and community for all the support! We’ve had a successful 2013 season! During our off season we are excitedly planning for our 9th season and we look forward to providing the fans with more opportunities to get in on the action. So be sure to stay con-nected until we start back up in February!

Until 2014, xoxo! -Nikita Dy-No-Mite #818,Designer

Thanks for showing up at the bouts and supporting the team. I hope you've enjoyed reading and following things this year.

-Fall Risk,Content Manager

Sound Off!So what did you think about our 2013 sea-son? Suggestions? Something you want to see? Let us know by filling out our one ques-tion survey! We hope to utilize your input when planning for the 2014 season! Bradentucky Fans Sound Off Survey!

Keeping Up with the Bombers: EventsSeasoned Bomber: Dita von Cheats #6ft2inRising Bomber: Sarbanes Foxie #sec404Derby 101: Stand by Your Wo(man)Recap Central 7/13 Home Bout: Coastal Derby Empire 8/17 Home Bout: Miami Vice City Rollers 9/7 Home Bout: Ocala Cannibals Roller Derby SupportersLetter from the Editors

Hint: Click on the article

name and it will take you

to that page.

Line Up

Look forward to seeing this new group of betties (rookies) on the track next year! From l-t-r: Milfshake, Butters, Dirty Shirley, Sassy Ink SlayHer, Beast Infection, Fly by Birdie

Bradentucky @ SCF Womens Volleyball MatchTuesday, October 1, 20135840 26th Street WestBradenton, Florida 342077 p.m.http://www.scfmanatees.com/sports/wvball/index

Bradentucky at Sarasota Rugby MatchSaturday, October 12, 2013Lakewood Ranch Premier Sports Facility 5895 Post Blvd Lakewood Ranch, FL 342112:30 p.m.www.facebook.com/sarasotarugbyclub

Visible Men Academy KaBOOM!Playground BuildSaturday, October 19, 2013921 63rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 342039 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.www.vmacademy.org/

Tomato RunSaturday, November 23, 2013http://tomatododge.com/

Keeping Up with the BombersPhoto by Joshua DeSario

Adopt a Highway Clean UpSaturday, December 7, 201314th Street (Bradenton) beginning at Best Buy8 a.m.

Manatee Children’s Services Country NightSaturday, December 7, 2013Bradenton Area Convention Center1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto, Florida 342216:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.www.facebook.com/pages/Manatee-Chil-dren-s-Services/460133834028991

Dita von Cheats#6ft2in

RedWire: You’ve been in the league for how long now? What are some of the ways you’re a different person now than when you started?

Dita: Wow…next season will be my sixth season with the Bombers! I’m definitely more mature, both emotionally and as an athlete. When I first started playing derby it was so different. We wore flashy outfits, painted our faces, wore fishnets…it was such a spectacle. We practiced twice a week and went out drinking after every practice. Nowadays I wear leggings and little to no makeup. I practice twice a week with the Bombers, twice a week with Ft. Myers, and I go to the gym everyday. Five years ago I lived and breathed the idea of derby, the persona of it all; nowadays I just plain live and breathe real derby.

RedWire: In the same vein of thought, what are some of the ways the game has changed for you over that time?

Dita: The game has gone though a lot of changes in the past year or two. The

rules have been changed dramati-cally. Some of it I like, some not so much. I hate slow derby! Luckily teams are finding ways around it and ways to counteract it. Some cool new strategies have been

emerging that are exciting. Still being able to learn new things after

five years is exciting. For instance, when I first started you weren’t al-

lowed to skate backwards on the track. Now you can, and some of the hits that come from that are pretty impressive. I want to keep learning and growing along with the sport.

Seasoned Skater Profile

Photo by Ken LeBleu

RedWire: The derby life can be a grueling one with tons of practices, activities, committees, and more; what keeps you coming back year after year?

Dita: It’s tough. Sometimes I hit a wall and have to take a break. But I can never stay away for too long. I love the exercise. I love the sisterhood. I love the game.

RedWire: Over the course of your skating career, you’ve done taken on multiple roles jamming and blocking but you seem to find yourself blocking much more these days. Is that a role you prefer and why?

Dita: It’s not a secret that I hate jamming. I feel I’m so much more effective as a blocker, specifically as a pivot. I am constantly trying to find ways to learn new strategies and implement them on the track.

RedWire: Now you’re a member of the training commit-tee, right? Working to help train the Betties and to help train the team as well. What is it about that role that draws you in? Do you find it helps you to become a better player and teammate as well? How?

Dita: I’m a teacher, so teaching is what I love to do. I’ve been the Betty trainer for a couple of seasons now and I love it. I also really like putting practices together for the team. It helps me personally because I’m reading up on drills, going to boot camps to learn new things, so my skating definitely benefits. I’ve also been the Captain all season, which has been awesome. That’s really helped me learn the new rules so I can help my team during a bout. I’m hoping next season to take on a larger training role.

RedWire: In thinking about your Betty days, what are some favorite memories? And how do you use some of those good, and I’m sure, bad, memories to help the new recruits work through their paces?

Dita: The story I always tell the Betties is how I feared turn stops. I couldn’t do it for the life of me. When I first started we were kind of thrown to the wind. There wasn’t an in-depth Betty training program like there is now, so turn stops were never really taught to me. Any-time we would practice them I would all of the sudden need water, or have to go to the bathroom. I think I avoided them for a good solid year! Then in a bout one time I just did it without thinking about it and it finally clicked. So that’s what I tell them, that one day a skill they may not have down now will finally click. Unfortu-nately for them I don’t let them avoid it though!

RedWire: Roller derby culture has changed a lot over the past couple of years as more and more people have been drawn to the sport. What originally drew you in and are you happy with the changes the sport is experiencing? Why or why not?

Photo by Joshua DeSarioPhoto by Ken LeBleu

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Stalker Texas Stranger

Dita: I used to manage the Hot Topic in Desoto Square. The girls would always come in to buy socks and tutus and they were always trying to recruit me. At the time I was a backup singer and dancer for a band and was terrified of getting hurt. But after my mom passed away I really felt alone and wanted to be around strong wom-en. Derby saved me. Like I said before, derby used to be more about the shock of it all, and I’ve loved watching it turn into more of a sport. I hope it continues to do so. There is currently a petition trying to get derby considered for the 2020 Olympics, which is really exciting.

RedWire: It’s hard to believe that this season is almost to a close, with only a bout or so to go. What are your thoughts about this past season, particularly as the team looks toward the post-season and the future? What were some highlights for you?

Dita: This past season was definitely one of learning and growing for us as a team. We lost half our team early on, which was really hard, but it’s helped us as a smaller group because we’ve been able to really pull together. People are being held accountable for their actions. They get a nasty phone call if they miss practice! It’s also helped us figure out what has been working and what no longer works. I’ve really enjoyed being Captain all season; that’s definitely been a highlight personally. We also have a rather large group of Betties coming in, so rebuilding the team will be exciting. New girls always bring such excitement to the team and it helps light a fire under the vets.

RedWire: Lastly, do you have any words for the fans and any hopes or predictions for the Bombers future?

Dita: Be patient with us and the dealing of slow derby*! We’re trying to figure a way around it! Also, we have some pretty exciting things lined up for next season, so stay tuned!

*Slow derby-Instead of fast teams and hard hits, it’s more strategic and positional especially, with the power jams. Everything stops. It’s boring to watch and boring to play.

Photo by Ken LeBleu

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSarioPhoto by Joshua DeSario

[Rising Bomber]RedWire: Let’s begin by talking a bit about who you were in your pre-derby life. Were you into different sports? What’s your professional/educational background?

Foxie: I played softball for eight years, through middle school then field hockey in high school, but nothing beyond that. My education - I have a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Taxation. I also am a CPA, Certified Public Accountant. I started college the same year that my son started kindergarten and I received my Master’s Degree the same year that he graduated high school. I am nothing if not persistent!

RW: And what was the catalyst that made you decide to try derby? How has the reality of what derby is met with what you anticipated?

Foxie: I had moved to Bradenton from Port Charlotte; I didn’t know anyone. New job, new home, new life. It was my first day at SCF and I had finished my first day paperwork so I was reading an article in the Bradenton Herald that was about the Bombers and their open recruitment. I have a friend in California that played so I thought, “If she can do it, so can I.” From day one, I was hooked.

The only thing I did not anticipate was the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. When you are new to the sport and team you don’t realize what it takes to keep things running. It is a business and there is a lot of work that must be done to keep things running.

RW: What do you recall of those “betty” days? Any fun stories you can share with us? What were your biggest chal-lenges early on? What helped you to overcome them?

Sarbanes Foxie#sec404

Photo by Stalker Texas Stranger

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Foxie: My betty class bonded so well. There were ten of us that started and nine of us finished. I miss how close we were as a group. But I can see that with this new incoming class we have the opportunity to recreate that closeness. We have started going to dinner after practice on Monday nights; big thanks to Dita (von Cheats) for suggesting it! It really makes a difference to get to know each other off the track and find out who we are as people, not just team-mates.

RW: Now how long have you been playing? Are the things that initially pulled you to derby the same things that keep you coming back now? Why or why not?

Foxie: This is my second full season of derby and I still love the game as much as I did the first time I got to bout. I think I am still here for the same reasons; I have made some great friends, I have

progressed more than I thought I would have in two years. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when the drama gets to be too much but I just take some time away, usually a day or two is all it takes, and I am back. I love to see the new girls, their excitement and frustra-tion at the learning process. I look at them and remem-ber where I was not so long ago.

RW: How do you feel that you’ve progressed as a skater? What do you feel most successful at right now? What areas are you still seeking to improve?

Foxie: Progression is an ebb and flow. There are prac-tice days when I think I have mastered a skill and then I try it in a bout and I’m flat on my face. I am a work in progress and hope that I will always be striving to improve on my skills. I still want to be a more effective jammer; maybe that will be my lesson for the off season.

RW: You also serve the team on the other side of the rink, so to speak, serving on the league’s board, helping to keep things organized. How do those duties contrast you’re your duties on the floor? Foxie: I think they are a bit similar. I have a leader-ship role in the business of the Bombers and on the track as a pivot. I am a natural hostess and I am the oldest on the team so I tend to take over, even when I had no intention of doing so.

RW: Now, on the track, you’re generally tasked with blocking duties but we have on occasion seen you take the panty as a jammer. Of the two, which do you prefer? Why?

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Foxie: Blocking all day! I love to bait the jammer and then go for a big hit. I enjoy being able to help our jammer get through, protecting her on one side and maybe getting in a whip on the other. Maybe it’s because I think I am more effective as a blocker than a jammer. It was a surprise this year to even get to be a jammer, I welcomed the opportunity but I do really prefer to be a blocker.

RW: When you’re not doing derby, what’s your life like outside of the bubble?

Foxie: Ha! When am I not doing derby? Seriously, you have to take time to do things other than derby. It does try to take over every aspect of your life. When I am able to put derby aside I spend time with my family. My son is a senior at USF so anytime we can be together is important. He is a foodie so most of the time we are doing some-thing food related, cooking, shopping, eating. My boyfriend plays on a softball league and I enjoy supporting him at his games. We also go fishing and to the baseball games at McKechnie Field.

I know lots of girls try to get their significant others involved in derby as much as possible but I am just the oppo-site. I love that he supports me and will help any time I ask, but I also love that he doesn’t want more. It helps with the life/derby balance.

RW: We always like to ask, because we know there are several out there considering it, what words of wisdom, advice, or encouragement would you offer to those contemplating trying out for derby? Foxie: I would encourage anyone that even has the slightest interest to try it. It is addictive and expensive; it takes your money and your time. But you will get out of it double what you put in. What do you have to lose? And you get to tell your grandchildren, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I was a kick ass derby girl!”

RW: Last but not least, do you have any words for your fans and, as the season eases toward a close, any hopes and predictions for the season to come?

Foxie: There are currently some big things in the works; I don’t want to jinx them so I won’t mention them now but trust me, if they come through you will be seeing the Bradentucky Bombers name in lights!

Photo by Joshua DeSarioPhoto by Ken LeBleu

Bradentucky BombersCoastal Derby Empire

On the night of July 13, 2013, two roller derby leagues came together in a battle of youthful eagerness versus time-tested experience. Coastal Derby Empire, having travelled from Savannah, GA, represented the youthful exuberance of a league in the midst of it’s first ever season. And having lost to Bradentucky earlier in the season only provided more fuel for Coastal, leaving these ladies primed and ready to go. The Bradentucky Bombers, however, entered into this battle of women and wills with a long history of tried and true experience and it was that experience which would make the difference.

That’s not to say that Bradentucky was missing anything on the energetic side either, which was evident from the first whistle where Crash Test Barbie took lead jam right from the start, racing to a five-point lead early. League founder, Gigi RaMoan took the next lead position, aided by some solid blocking from Pinky before Coastal would steal their one and only lead position on the next jam out.

Then Bradentucky really turned it on.

Barbie took the panty and added twenty-two to the Bombers lead while RaMoan stepped up again and, not to be left out, upped the ante by adding thirty of her own, Sarbanes Foxie doing a fine job of clearing the way. T-Recks Her stepped up and added a few but it was Barbie who scored the privilege of pushing Bradentucky to their first 100 of the night, holding the lead at 100 – 14.

Clearly in control, the Bombers opened up the door to their jammer squad and their skaters lined up, offering fans a look at many new faces and folks who otherwise are doing the work on clearing paths rather than looking for a way through. Among them were jammers like Sarbanes Foxie and CupSkate, who see limited time from the line as well as growing fan favorite, Sookie Smackmouth, who had a time battling the Coastal line. Pinky took the lead for Bradentucky just before the half and the half ended with the Bombers in the lead, 186 – 37.

The second half was much more of what the first half delivered, seeing the Bombers hold strong from the jammer line while their walls held strong against the fledgling Coastal squad. Bombers stars like Dita Von Cheats and Guinness the Menace kept the Coastal jammers at bay while Bradentucky continued to see its jammer lineup fluctuate, seeing eight of Bradentucky’s eleven rostered ladies take the jammer line, not to mention lead jam status.

In the end, the experience and poise of the Bradentucky squad was simply far too much for the Coastal Derby Empire and the last whistle rang out with the score in Bradentucky’s favor, 407 -78. It was the first time in the league’s history that they had ever broken the 400-point threshold and was one these ladies will soon not forget.

Bout Recap:

Recap by Fall Risk

Photo by Joshua DeSario

July 13, 2013

v.

Photo by Ken LeBleu

Bradentucky BombersMiami Vice City Rollers

When Bradentucky travelled to Miami earlier this year, it was a frustrating affair as the Bombers found themselves staring at the wrong end of the scoreboard by the time the bout was done. So it was no surprise as the Miami Vice City Rollers rolled into Bradenton on August 17 that the home team was primed and ready to return the favor.

Miami struck first, Tallygator taking lead jam and putting a few points on the board but Bradentucky rallied behind the strong skating of Esther Gin ‘n Juice. Tallygator again hammered the Bradentucky wall but Crash Test Barbie was right behind her, muscling her way through the Miami line, working a power jam for all it was worth and pushing the Bombers to a 14-6 lead. Not to be outdone by her teammate, league founder Gigi RaMoan took the panty next and accrued a thirty-four point jam, the Bradentucky wall comprised of Sookie Smackmouth, Pinky, Cupskate, and Skate Invader clearing the way.

Tallygator showed the competitor she is on her next jam, scoring thirty for Miami but Bradentucky was playing things slow and steady, working their teamwork for all it was worth. That teamwork saw Guinness the Menace deliver a punishing blow to Gwenifear, leading her into a track cut that would free the home team to add seventeen more to their lead. And so it went, Crash Test Barbie benefiting from Sarbanes Foxie’s solid blocking, T-Recks Her taking advantage of the way plowed ahead by Pinky, and Gigi benefiting from a big takedown by Bradentucky newcomer, Hailey Explosive.

And while Miami continued to fight, Tallygator and Gwenifear trading jammer duties as Nauti-Seacups, joined by teammates Divine Thrash, Killah V, and De La Ruthless, tried to hold off the Bradentucky jammers, the Bombers were proving too much, evidenced by more fancy skating from Esther who just danced around Seacups and Barbie who continued to press her way through the walls. That persistence led to a halftime score of 126-69 in the Bomber’s favor.

Miami wouldn’t go down without a fight though. Tallygator just hammered her way through to start the second half, adding nine but Foxie and Coupon Clip-Her would get the best of the

Bout Recap:

Recap by Fall Risk

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Photo by Joshua DeSario

August 17, 2013

v.

Photo by Joshua DeSario

Miami jammer the next time out before the two squads hit a near stalemate, the jams starting and ending without any team hardly scoring. T-Recks Her finally broke the spell, adding a few against Killah V who snagged two for Miami as well but Dita von Cheats and Foxie continued to give her troubles throughout. Tallygator showed her sheer power, adding twenty on a jam that saw her level both Gigi and Pinky but Barbie rebounded for the Bombers behind the solid wall of Clip-Her, Guinness, Esther, and Foxie.

The next jam saw the home fans catch their collective breath as Esther and Gigi both went down with injuries but, thankfully, Esther would return quickly and, while RaMoan wouldn’t, she would later cite her injuries as minor. Another stalemate began, the jammers having trouble making it through the lines before Foxie took the panty and hammered home ten for the Bombers, thanks to a solid hit from Dita on Tallygator. T-Recks Her would add a few more, working a soon to be patented move to the outside right off the jammer line to snag lead while Skate Invader, in her only jam of the evening, worked behind a great blocking squad that sucked Tallygator into a penalty, giving Skate a power jam which she took full advantage of, scoring fifteen.

The next few jams were in and out and it was T-Recks Her, fighting behind the furious blocking of Sarbanes Foxie, who scored another fifteen, setting up the highlight jam of the night for the team as Hailey Explosive took the panty for her first ever live jam, scoring lead jam. And as the team celebrated with their rising team-mate, they had even more to celebrate as the game clock ticked to a close and the Bradentucky Bombers experienced sweet victory over the visiting Miami Vice City Rollers, 223-136.

Bradentucky BombersOcala Cannibals

The past couple of years have seen the Bradentucky Bombers and the Ocala Cannibals trading wins like heavy-weight brawlers in the big fight trading punches. And with the tally standing at 2-2 between the two squads heading into their tie-breaking bout on September 7, the energy level was high and the crowd was pumped for some great derby.

And these two squads delivered.

Bradentucky struck first as Gigi RaMoan pushed the Bombers ahead to a quick ten-point lead following the formi-dable wall of Skate Invader, Coupon Clip-Her, and Cupskate while crowd favorite, Crash Test Barbie, gave them plenty to cheer about, adding fourteen points of her own and delivering some big hits to boot, bringing the Bombers lead to 28-4. Yet when Esther Gin ‘n’ Juice was sent to the box right after the starting whistle on the next jam, Ocala’s Lil’ Looney took full advantage, aided by two more Bradentucky fouls which left only two blockers on the floor and rode it to a 34-28 Ocala lead.

That was a lead that wouldn’t last, however, as T-Recks Her took the panty for the Bombers and, despite getting popped with some powerful hits, jumped to lead jammer and pulled the squad back into the lead, drawing help from a strong wall consisting of Barbie, Guinness the Menace, Dita von Cheats, and Sarbanes Foxie, who delivered her own share of big hits. RaMoan and Barbie subsequently continued to push the lead ahead and the game took on something of a stalemate as the teams defensive squads held strong.

Bout Recap:

Recap by Fall Risk September 7, 2013

Photo by Ken LeBleu

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Cupskate was the one to break the lead back open, outskating Bombshell Brawler to the lead behind Gigi, Skate, and Esther who set up a strong wall but penalties would plague the Bombers and Ocala took advantage of power jam opportunities, Looney and Militant Bulstrode tacking a few onto the Ocala scorecard. And so went the half, each team biting off a bit of the lead while the other fought back on the next jam, eventually closing out the half with the Bombers in control, 136-79.

Barbie struck first for the Bombers, adding four, but Looney jumped at the power jam opportunity provided her when jammer RaMoan headed to the box and Clip-Her joined her, grabbing 19 points and pulling Ocala closer. Yet, in true Bradentucky fashion, Dita and Guinness held Grenade O’Connor off, aided by Clip-Her out of the box, and Gigi burst out and added 25. T-Recks would then battle through BoneSaw Betty for a few, followed by Gigi who continued to impress.

With the Bombers leading 193-113, Patriotic Pixie struck back for Ocala, riding the advantage when three Bomb-ers headed to the box, and narrowed the lead followed by more big skating from Lil’ Looney. The teams again traded proverbial blows from jam to jam, adding a few points here and there, when Looney again took the panty with the score at 223-166 in the Bombers favor. Fueled by some great skating and a few Bomber penalties, she pulled the Cannibals to within 33, bringing some quiet to the crowd as the clock ticked down. But it was all for naught as the Bradentucky lead would prove to be too strong and the Bombers rolled to the win, 227-206.

Photo by Ken LeBleu Photo by Ken LeBleu

Photo by Ken LeBleu

Derby 101: Stand By Your Wo(Man): The Life of a Derby Widow

By Fall Risk

So, your significant other has decided they’re going to play roller derby, huh?

Well, if you’re like the rest of us, you’re probably anticipating something along the lines of Whip It, scantily clad women espousing the glories of sisterhood and female power while having a lot of fun. And, to some degree, you’re absolutely right.

But the real question is, where does that leave you?

Welcome to the world of derby widows, where men and women worldwide learn to step back into the shadows while their loved ones emerge into the spotlight. Sounds glorious, doesn’t it?

It can be but there are some things you’ve got to understand about roller derby.

Roller Derby Isn’t Just a Hobby, It’s a Way of LifeI’m sure you’ve seen those T-shirts around here and there that read, “(Insert your sport here) is life. The rest is just details.” Like everyone else, you smile and think to yourself, “That’s a little over the top, isn’t it?”Until you encounter roller derby.

For, when your lover hits the realm of roller derby, your world will be forever changed. For when you enter that world, you’ve got to understand that it’s not as simple a thing to just pick up and put down. Rather, when you engage in the roller derby culture, you enter a new world. There’s a new set of friends, who, due to the time she’ll be spending with them, will become more like family, a new dialogue, and yes, a new schedule.

Before, your schedule was based around work and family. Now, work is there as is family but striving to insert itself in between the two is roller derby. And roller derby is a difficult mistress, oftentimes stealing away your lover when you least expect it. For, not only will your loved one be engaged in practices three to four times a week, they will also be honing their skills in other ways, constantly wanting to hit the gym to work on their endurance or heading off to an open skate to rock out to Radio Disney tunes while further developing her T-stops.

Roller Derby is About More Than SkatingThat just sounds crazy, doesn’t it? I mean, isn’t the game played on skates? Of course it is and don’t worry, your wife will spend more than enough time and money on them. But roller derby leagues are like small businesses and, as such, they’re going to require more than just your lover’s good looks and speed skating ways.

Enter the land of committees. While each league tailors things to their own, most boast models consistent with

conventional businesses with a board and sub-comittees that tend to the daily needs of the league. And what are those needs, you ask? Consider that the successful con-tinuation of a league consists of everything from the skating related, requiring a set of trainers to both run practice, provide evaluations, safety, and train new skaters (Betties) in the ways of the derby to setting up bouts and offering promotion and publicity through events, charity events, and more.

It’s an expansive world that is never ending.

And Then There’s More…So now your significant other is locked into every prac-tice, has chosen her role on a committee, and is making the appropriate attendance at the requisite number of pro-motional opportunities for the league. And you breathe with a sigh of relief, thinking to yourself, “Whew! Now we can spend some time together!”

Not so fast! Because your lover isn’t content with her skills and, let’s be honest, she loves the game. She wants to get better and this sport has lit her competitive fire and she wants to compete! And roller derby, particularly as it gains in popularity, offers no few opportunities to indulge in those competitive impulses as various leagues host open scrimmages and fun local events like Franky Panky and national and international events like Roller-Con step forward to fill in those gaps.

Don’t Despair!With all of these things taking place, from the required elements of derby to the ones that simply come from your lover’s joy in the game, you may now be looking around, arranging documents, and getting ready for the

50/50 split that is sure to come. Yet, do not despair because, day in and day out, couples manage to make a mutual life of derby work and emerge on the other end loving each other and happy.

The list of how that is accomplished will be found in just about any successful relationship self-help book out there but the short answer is this: Find your involvement level.

For some of you, this will mean diving in wholeheartedly where you can. You may enjoy skating yourself and want to try entering the world of refereeing. And perhaps you’re just so taken with the sport that you can’t help but try it out yourself; whatever your desire to participate, it’s there for you. (Just be careful about how hard you dive in; the name Fall Risk came honestly with two broken ribs and a quick retirement from actually trying to play the sport!)

But, for those who aren’t wanting a less hands on approach, there are places for you too. Maybe you want to help from the sidelines and please know, there is no shortage of need for consistent and willing NSO’s (non-skating officials) at every bout. Maybe you want to help with bout production, helping to sell tickets and merchandise at bouts. Hey, maybe you have a gift for graphic design or writing and want to help by using those gifts. Let me tell you, they won’t turn you down.

And lastly, for some, the best you’ll be able to offer is simple support. You’ll be the babysitter, the lawn service, the housecleaner, the chauffeur, and more and you’ve got to know that that level of support is something that is critical at every level. Your lover is going to be putting herself out there, day after day, hoping to succeed at this crazy ride that is derby. And there will be down days and she will question just about everything to do with the sport. You can’t overestimate the impact of looking into the stands at a bout and seeing a familiar loving face. Be there for her and the rest will work itself out.

Photo by Ken LeBleu

A Final Word to Derby PlayersFinally, a word to derby players far and wide. Ladies and gentlemen, please remember that, as important as roller derby is to you, it is not, in fact, life. At the end of the day, when you’re spent from practice, worn out from work, and you trudge home weary, smelling of death from pads in need of a desperate cleaning and the sweat of hard work still clinging to your brow, pay attention to that face that greets you at the door. And if they have days that they question your dedication to this crazy ride, be patient with them. Not everybody understands but the simple fact that they’re sharing their discontent with you shows that they care and that they love you. And some days, it will require a compromise but, as this writer has learned, if you’re willing to bend, so are they.

Just take things in the simple words of Bonnie D. Stroir, “Live. Love. Derby.”

The rest will take care of itself.

CAPS BarbershopCut Above Personal Satisfaction3102 Manatee Ave W Bradenton

Many thanks to our sponsors this year! Interested in becoming a sponsor for our 2014 season? Contact us at sponsors@bradentuckybombers.net