Last night was the second Minnesota RollerGirls bout of the season and we arrived earlier than usual to reserve spots #1 through #3 in line to avoid any possible issues with line jumping jerks. We passed the time by reading, playing on the iPhones, or chatting. Eventually security staff began setting up the barriers, much closer than usual and MNRG staff began posting signs which asked that people be courteous and not line jump. I wasn’t able to come through on my promise that I would confront any line jumping jerks with a live video feed of their rudeness because I didn’t see anyone acting like five year olds. Either I was too far removed from where it was happening or the signs were working. Either way, it was nice to see that people were following the rules of common decency.
We picked up our t-shirts and headed to our seats. Kevin commented that he thought that things were setup a bit differently this time and Kim agreed. I took a look around and it appeared as if they have reinstated the buffer between trackside seating and the general admission seating behind it. I know that there were some problems last week with people sitting in aisles and crowding the exits. A combination of that and the regular walk throughs by the security staff, I’d guess this was due to safety issues.
The opening act was put on by the Twin Cities Unicycle Club who have performed at MNRG before. They ranked 1st in the nation and 4th in the world in 2008 which I must say is pretty fucking impressive. I enjoyed their show and videoed some of it with my favorite part being when they did an imitation of the Roller Derby on unicycles:
The bout started with the “Punk” vs “Disco” teams. Honestly, this bored me to fucking tears and based on the fact that Kim left to go look at merchandise for the second time in a short period, I’d guess that it wasn’t interesting to her at all. We did get a kick out of the “Punk” team mascot who was dressed more like a Scot than anyone doing punk but hey, he did a better job than I could have :)
The main event was the Minnesota RollerGirls All-Stars vs the Madison Dairyland Dolls. The two teams just met recently and Minnesota got their asses kicked by Madison. In fact, the Minnesota RollerGirls All-Stars have never beaten Madison before in the five years they have been around. It was obvious that tonight the All-Stars really wanted to end that streak but it was obviously affecting their play. The penalties were high, although that was partially due to the unbelievably terrible officiating (three times with both jammers in the penalty boxes, officials in the penalty boxes dramatically waving their arms, and no one in the center notices — please), but some of it was due to new rules and probably nerves and adrenaline.
While we started off the first half very well, we ended up behind at the end of the 30 minutes. I was slightly discouraged at this point knowing that it would be difficult to overcome that deficit. During the second half we were treated to some absolutely awesome playing with the MNRG picking up on tricks used by the Dairyland Dolls to cause penalties to create their own advantage. Long story short, the MNRG brought it down to the final jam with excellent skating by all members but especially Suzie Smashbox and Jawbreaker. Using the breaks caused by Madison penalties, Jawbreaker was able to skate out and get an 11-0 run that had the crowd on their feet, screaming, and rushing towards the track as the score was read off with the MNRG winning by two!
As soon as the final score was read the All-Stars went nuts, the crowd was in an uproar like I have never seen in three years, and everyone ran to the track to get high-fives from the girls as their did a victory lap. People were cheering together, congratulating each other, and I really felt as if we were watching a Vikings win over the Packers. Fucking unbelievable night! Congrats go out to the Minnesota All-Stars for their rocking victory and first win in 5 years over Madison! Great job!
While I wasn’t recording the final jam, man am I kicking myself for that now, I do have a nice one which ends with Jawbreaker coming out of the penalty box and nearly overtaking the Dolls before the chickenshit Madison jammer calls off the jam before Jawbreaker can score any points:
Anyone else at the bout last night? What did you think of the final minutes?!
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November 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Chickenshit? It’s called strategy, dickwad. Preventing the other jammer from scoring when you have lead jammer status is sorta, y’know, part of the game. I like this fun team rivalry stuff… For example, I’m only calling you a dickwad, because you called our jammer a chickenshit. I’m sure in real life we’d be total BFF’s!
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
heh.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Last night’s bout was wonderful. Suspense, action, booing from the audience, & redemption against a long-time rival. I was waiting in line with some roller parents, and your blog post was mentioned. :) I got there at 5:30 and sat in seats behind the tracksiders. Was 6 feet from the guy who didn’t spill his beer & got rewarded for it. Good times.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I’m sure they had nothing but warm and fuzzy things to say ;-)
Yes, it was an awesome bout and one that I hope will be repeated time and time again for the rest of the season. I’m sure those Wild fans that came in during the last 20 minutes got to see what MNRG action is all about. Think we’ll get any permanent converts?!
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Perhaps a few might come in to give it a try. The whole place was packed. I haven’t seen it so packed since “Rollergirls” was on A&E. Several MNRGers used to play hockey in earlier days. Either way, there’s skates & penalty boxes.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
And beer :)
November 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Really loved the bout between the MN Rollergirls and the Dairyland Dolls. Great high level action and athleticism. It was a great competition. I have noticed that as the skill level of play has increased, It seems there are less fights, and less of the entertainment type aspects of the game. I wouldn’t mind seeing the sport go completely serious. I brought a first time spectator along, and it was very hard to get him to take the sport seriously, for instance, because he was too busy laughing at the names of the skaters. If that aspect of the game is fun for the skaters, so be it. However, the crowd was not out of thier seats and going nuts Saturday night because of the funny cool nicknames or costumes or anything else. It was all about the talent. Maybe I’m just taking the sport too seriously. Hell of a game for the MN Rollergirls All-stars.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:22 am
sui g, at the first bout I overheard someone say that they are no longer permitted to have planned fights as part of their insurance policy. I am unsure if this is rumor or an accurate statement.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I hope it is accurate. If the fights are planned, you have to ask what else is “planned” and it ventures too far towards “sports entertainment”.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Sorry Elle Machete, it is only strategy when OUR team does it. When any other team does it, it falls under the category of chickenshittery. ;)
November 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I am good friends with a roller girl, and I can tell you nothing is scripted. There have been instances in years past where some girls have gone out to start fights on their own, but the leage has been doing everything they can to keep fighting out. It’s a safety issue, and it takes away from how good the competition has become. I believe it’s now written into the rules that fighting is an automatic ejection.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Yep, 6.2.14 of the WFTDA rules clearly states: “Fighting is an automatic ejection for all participants and may result in a suspension…”
This is fine by me. As I said, the fighting and the stuff for show is an unneccessary crutch. The skill level is at a point where it isn’t needed for the bouts to be entertaining, and is more of an annoyance than anything.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I doubt that there will be no more fighting. I was at a game last year that had a lot of fighting. The whole thing just ended with fight after fight. It was like watching some male chauvinistic wet dream. Just busty girls fighting, and I don’t remember anyone getting ejected. It was stupid and boring. I have no idea who won, and I bet most people there didn’t know either.
I’ve been to several roller derbies, both Minnesota and a couple North Star. This was the best of them all because it wasn’t about girls with overflowing cleavage, pulling each other’s hair out. If there’s no more fighting and asses hanging out all over the place, then I’m all for it. Women need a legitimate sport to put up there with all the male-dominated ones, not a softcore tease on roller skates.
You can say that fighting is against the roller derby rules, but it is in hockey as well. That doesn’t mean that it’s not glorified and encouraged. I personally hope that there’s never another roller derby fight, but I’ll believe it when I see it.