Blood On The Track

I am SO happy to introduce to you The Rebel Yell's newest writer, the fantastic Fresh Blood Marcy. Below you will find the first entry for her new column, Blood On The Track. Check in weekly as FB Marcy takes us through her experiences as a new skater for the Roller Rebels.

BLOOD ON THE TRACK: A Fresh Bloods Journey Into Roller Derby

Chapter One – FEAR & 40

July 3rd, 2008 was the day that I turned 40. This was also the day that I decided to stop being afraid. Afraid of failing. Afraid of succeeding. Most of all, afraid of living.

The day I turned 40, I went skydiving.The week I turned 40, I started riding motorcycles.

During my 40th year I met a girl named Jill – You know her as J-Bone.

In the Spring of 2009 – J-Bone started talking about Roller Derby – All derby ALL the time! Every time I saw her – Derby. Meeting up for coffee – Derby. While she was doing all of my tattoos – Derby. DERBY, DERBY, DERBY!!! I didn’t really get it. My only knowledge of Roller Derby was an old Charlie’s Angels episode from the 1970’s, banked track and a lot of clothes lining and elbows to the face. Still, J-Bone was my friend and she was clearly excited about her new endeavor. Never one to slow down, the life of a Derby Girl really seemed to suit her. In fact, I’d never seen her so happy. I was happy for her.

Then it started.

“Marcy, you should come to a bout”

“Yeah, sure, I will”

“Hey Marcy, when are you coming to a bout”

“Soon Jill, soon”

“Marcy, you’re athletic – you kickbox and play soccer, hockey etc – You should try out for Derby!”

“Um, huh??”

There was that nagging fear again. Me, play roller derby? I’m in my 40’s!! I’m too old – too busy – too tired – too…you get the idea.

I suppose I could have come up with a thousand and one reasons why NOT. The truth was, I was afraid. Afraid of falling down, afraid of not being able to skate, afraid of looking silly, afraid of (insert illogical reason here)

Then I went to a Roller Rebels Bout – It was the Intra-League Championship Bout – and I had an amazing time – and I didn’t understand ANYTHING!! I made J-Bone give me a tutoring session a few days later to explain what the heck you ladies were doing out there. What does a Jammer do? How do you score points? Why the heck was everyone getting sent to the penalty box?

Then I went to another bout – LIRR v. Molly Rogers Roller Girls – THIS was the psychic change moment for me and Derby – By the 2nd half of the bout, I.Just.Got.It – It all made (sort-of) sense. I was on my feet, screaming, cheering and getting hoarse! My heart was pumping and by the end of the final jam, I was a little veklempt (that’s Yiddish for choked-up).

I went to the after party and took in the pride of a bout well played, and watched all the girls languish in the “Sisterhood” that seems to permeate from Roller Derby. And at that moment I knew I wanted to know what that felt like. So, on November 17th, 2009 – all 41 years of me stopped being afraid and showed up at United Skates in Seaford, checked my fear and my pride at the door, laced up a pair of rental quads, and pushed off on my journey into Roller Derby. Fresh Blood Marcy was born.

More to come.

Decisions, Decisions

I used to own a T-shirt with a pulp character of a woman on it. There was a speech bubble over her head, which read “I used to be indecisive, now I’m not sure”. This pretty much summed me up in one sentence. Frankly said, decision-making has not been my forte over the years.

Last week my boyfriend and I hung out after one of his Jiu Jitsu classes. Often times at the end of his class, his Renshi gives a bit of a life lesson. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you will know that I’m pretty big on this stuff. I am admittedly, slightly corny, but hey, that’s me. Anyway, Renshi’s words of wisdom for that day were that often times in life we find ourselves confused and the reason for that is due to lack of making a decision. This can sometimes lead to anger, unhappiness and arguments. His theory is that once you make a decision and go with it, you will no longer be confused and thus will feel better.

I was really happy to have learned this. I know some of you are saying, "Etta, that’s SO simple, how could you not already have known that!?!?" Well, sometimes it’s the very simple theories or lessons that I tend to overlook and being such a pro at indecisiveness, this wasn’t the easiest thing for me to grasp. After all, some decisions are really difficult, right?

A few things have come up in the last few months that have made me question whether or not I wanted to play derby this upcoming season. I was definitely confused. I knew I still wanted to be involved with the league, but wasn’t sure to what capacity. To play or not to play? Not an easy choice let me tell you. After mulling it over and over and over, I decided to give this decision making thing a try. It was simple, make a decision, go with it and the confusion will be no more. After re-evaluating my issues; unexplained back pain for months, increase in expenses and finally, many new creative projects that would require a lot of time, I decided to take this season off. I typed up an email to Captain Morgan letting her know that I’ve decided not to play, but would like to continue on coaching and being a PR committee member and of course, writing the blog. I read the e-mail, re-read it and re-read it again and with some trepidation pushed the send button. Panic hit for a brief moment, but then after thinking about it some more, I was happy with my decision. I will still be a part of the league, I can give my back some time to heal, work on my new projects and I can always return to play again some day. The decision was made, the confusion ended and I was calm.

After this experience, which I understand, may seem very silly to many of you, I decided to become a better and more firm decision maker. And when my thoughts are on that see-saw of do or don't and they are having trouble getting off of it, my close friends can feel free to remind me of my decision to make decisions.

I am lucky to be a part of a league that is a family. While being part of this family made my decision to not play all the more difficult, it also felt great to know that I can continue to participate and be a part of this wonderfully rewarding sport!

Thanks to my Roller Rebels for all that you do!
xo
Etta

A Second Helping of Inspiration

I received an e-mail from Farmer's Slaughter of CNY Roller Derby. She wrote in response to my post about inspiring athletes and a favorite Nike commercial of mine. Farmer's Slaughter shared with me another inspirational commercial from Nike. Though not the one I saw as a kid, this one is still representational of the Just Do It message. Slaughter, thanks so much for sharing this!! Take a look:

Anyone else have anything inspirational you would like to share?

Thou ART Dedly

When watching a really talented actor play a role in a film, it's difficult to see them as a real person outside of that character you're watching on the big screen. Much is the same when you watch your favorite sports player. People tend to see them as The Quarter Back, First Base Man and so on. For actors and sports players, the film you watch or the game you cheer for, is just another day at the office for them. They are people like you and me. Ok, maybe not exactly like us, but what you see on TV, in the movies or at a stadium is someone at work, doing their job to make money.

While roller girls do not get paid to play derby, fans tend to have the same sort of idea in their heads about their favorite skaters. A fan goes to a bout to watch a skater perform or play and unless they know one of the skaters personally, it's really hard to see them as anything other than a roller derby player. The truth of the matter is, even though roller derby takes up a lot of time, us skaters do have lives off of our skates. Off the top of my head I can tell you that our league consists of police officers, radiologists, bartenders, musicians, chefs, administrative assistants, college students, mothers, and so much more!

So, I thought it would be cool to show you some of the lives our girls live off of their skates. After all, we do have to pay to play and that's where jobs come in handy.

Today I am happy to feature the amazingly, talented Dedly Weponz.
Art teacher, artist, graphic designer, photographer and of course, derby player.

She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Adelphi University and a Masters in Art Education from The School of Visual Arts. She creates and sells her amazing creations and writes her own blog. Her clients include, Paula Abdul, Kmart, Betsey Johnson and so many more.

A few months ago in her Etsy shop, she premiered handmade derby wallets. The wallets are made of her original art, covered in vinyl and cost only $15.

Also for sale are some of her prints. The characters illustrated in her art jump off the pages with real expression, bold color and movement.

Here are some images from her sketchbook:

All images copyright Renee Michele Andolina

It's not very hard to see that this girl's got talent and the Roller Rebels are proud to have her on their team. For more information, please visit Dedly's website: http://www.reneemichele.net/

Stay tuned to learn more about what some of the other Rebels do while they're not skating........

Endlessly Inspiring!

When I was younger, Nike introduced the most inspiring commercial as a part of their Just Do It campaign. The ad showed various individuals each of whom had what most of us would look at as a disability. Some of these athletes had no legs, or one arm or were in a wheelchair and each were shown competing in a sport or exercising. As they flashed each person across the screen doing their thing, phrases such as "I'm too tired" or "I'm not strong enough", followed by "Just do it" would coincide with each athlete. The phrases, such as "I'm too tired" were excuses that the average person might make to not exercise, while the athletes proved to make the impossible, possible. This advertisement stayed with me in my mind over the years and to this day, I still continue to think about it. I've searched for it on YouTube, but didn't have success finding it. Anyone remember this? or know where I might find it?

Athletes time and time again prove the amazing things we as humans are capable of, the limits to which we can push our bodies and the strength we have. I came across this article the other day on BUST's website and thought I would share it with you. Please take a look here at how this remarkable woman breaks records and continues to stay strong no matter what she is up against.

Photo grabbed from website See Amy Run

The Best of 2009

I didn't get a huge response to my request for achievements/events of 2009, but with these responses, quality makes up for quantity.......

"I think our recruitment night was amazing! Also, beating the Molly Roger Roller Girls is something I'll never forget." - Baby Bop Yo Face

"Me skating the last 30 seconds of the Wicked Wheelers vs. Ladies of Laceration bout with both hands on Chest Blockwell's boobies. And I didn't get a penalty." - Eve L. TacoThere are just so many amazing things that happened this year, but I tried to narrow the list down. In no particular order, here are some of my favorites from 2009:

- Seeing Cyanide Kisses, Eve L. Taco and Cheeter Steele stay strong, brave and positive after breaking bones. These girls are amazing!!

- Forming our three teams again for the first time in a few years

- Amaretto Sourpuss appearing in Blood and Thunder

- Pete recovering from his heart surgery

- Our fabulous commercial

- Our attempted trip to Suburbia's bout

- The Heartless wedding

- Our trip to ECE

And two very personal things for me:

- Finding the person who always keeps me rolling

- Winning the Best Jammer award for The Ladies of Laceration

Feel free to add anything from your lists in the comments here.

Good luck to all in accomplishing everything you set out to do this year!

For Sale!!

I’ve said before that roller derby is one of the few sports where you can really express your personality through fashion. When it comes down to it, skill is what’s important, but knowing that you can be creative with your gear and clothing adds to the spirit of the sport.

And speaking of clothing, I’m happy to announce that our online shop is finally open for business! Click here to score your favorite Long Island Roller Rebel merchandise. Sweatshirts, T-shirts and so many other goods are available for purchase.

List, Set Out, Achieve

Image from Wikipedia

It’s a new year, a fresh start, a time when many people create new goals for themselves. We make lists, mentally or on paper and we try and cross things off as we go along. If you’re committed to a sport like roller derby, it’s likely that some of your goals will be related to improving your skills or bettering your position within your league. To become a faster jammer, a stronger blocker, to pass your skills test, to be voted the head of a committee…..the list goes on.

One of my goals for 2010 is to make this blog more successful. Already, just a few days into the new year, The Rebel Yell has gained two new followers. Which in derby terms is comparable to taking two seconds off my time trial; a major accomplishment.

Though I bring the news to all of you, I wouldn’t have a successful blog without my loyal readers. I want to thank you all for continuing to read, comment and spread the word about The Rebel Yell. I would also like to ask you, my readers a couple of questions. What would you like to read about in the world of The Long Island Roller Rebels? In the derby world? Email me and tell me what you want to see more of on here and also, let me know some of your resolutions for the new year. I love to hear about your interests and I think that sharing goals can sometimes help others come to realize things that they might want for themselves. One more thing, I'd like to hear some of the goals you've achieved in 2009. I think it would be really interesting to list them all here as a way to give everyone credit for the great things they have done.

Wishing you all the best of luck on achieving your goals this year and every year to follow.

Look forward to hearing from you,
Etta

Would you like some toast with that JAM?!

Tripsy Rose Lee is back with another post. Last time she shared her personal derby experience with you. Today, she writes to explain more about how the game is played. Read on to learn some of the rules and find out what position on the track might suit you best.

Starting out in roller derby gives you the opportunity to experience all positions in order to find your place in 'the pack'. I wanted to take some time here to analyze the difference in positions from both a technical standpoint as well as a personality/characteristic point of view. For those of you unaware of the type of positions in derby, I will break it down for you a bit. A derby bout is broken up into two 30-minute periods. These periods consist of smaller segments, referred to as 'jams'. Each jam may last up to 2 minutes at a time. During a jam, each team will have up to four blockers and one jammer out at a time (mind you, less if there are any players in the penalty box). Each blocker is assigned to a position, whether it be pivot, inside, outside, or back. I will analyze these particular positions a bit more in depth later on.

First off, you may be asking yourself.. What does it mean to be a 'jammer'? And furthermore, what does it taketo be a 'jammer'? A jammer can be identified on the rink by her helmet 'panty'. A helmet 'panty' is a spandex cover placed over the player's helmet. The jammer will be wearing a star on each side of her head. So now that you know how to identify a jammer, I will discuss the attributes a jammer may have. From a technical standpoint, a jammer should be fast. The reason being is that a jammer is the only player during a jam that can score points. Points are accumulated when a jammer passes through the pack, however, no points are scored the first time through. Jamming requires speed, endurance, stealth, and the ability to think and react quickly and efficiently. As a jammer, you need to get from point A to point B in the quickest way imaginable. Having said that, you have the obstacle of moving your body through a pack of blockers. Blockers from the opposing team are trying their damnedest to prohibit you from attaining your goal and blockers from your own team are there to assist you. With that being said, I want to mention the personality traits that jammers tend to have. First and foremost, I feel it is necessary to be trustworthy. You are depending on your teammates to 'have your back'. They are there to clear a path for you, help you through, and knock over any bitch that gets in your way!! Jammers also tend to be adventurous, strong-willed, and passionate. I have played as a jammer a few times and I can't elaborate the rush of it all. When I have jammed, I felt like nothing else mattered. I had a goal in mind and every other thought in my head disappeared. I would love to be an all-star jammer, like C-Roll or Amaretto Sourpuss, for example. But I have a long way to go to build up my endurance and speed!!

So, as I said earlier.. when starting out in derby, it is normal to play and practice all positions in order to get a feel for the overall game. So, I have played as a jammer and a blocker as well; two very different types of positions. From a technical standpoint, blockers are normally strong players with good aim, balance, and the ability to multi-task. It is vital to be able to multi-task as a blocker because you are required to know where all players are at all times. You must be able to differentiate between whether to play offense or defense. If your jammer needs assistance traversing the pack, you are on offense. If your jammer is through and the other jammer is attempting to break through, it is a defensive game. It is also vital to communicate well with your teammates. I have found that as a blocker, eye contact and conversation can go a very, very long way as far as derby goes. At times you will need to devise strategic plans on the fly, be able to fill in when your friend gets knocked out (aka waterfall), and be overall 'badass'. I find that blockers are generally more aggressive players; tough, resilient, and strong.

Under the general umbrella of 'blocker' as a position.. I can break it down a bit further for you. As previously mentioned, there are up to four blockers out at a time. The first blocker on the line will most likely be the pivot. She will be distinguished by a designated helmet 'panty' with broad stripe going from the front to back of the helmet. The pivot is generally responsible for controlling the pack, or more specifically, the speed of the pack. The pivot should be in tune with all players as well as, and especially, with the captain or coach of their team. It is pertinent to keep your eyes open for directions from the bench... speed it up or slow it down is generally where it's at for the pivot! The inside blocker will most likely be working with the pivot and is responsible for holding the inside line. Many jammers look to take the inside line to get through the pack, as it is the shortest distance to their goal. A good inside blocker will prevent the opposing team's jammer from getting through. The remaining two positions are outside blocker and back blocker, which may work together. As an outside blocker, I feel you need to be a bit fast and a bit aggressive. Back blockers can either work with the outside blocker defensively or assist their own team's jammer offensively. Now, I have vaguely generalized each blocker position, however, specific responsibilities for each position will be dependent on strategic plays.

Whether blocking or jamming, if you are playing roller derby... you are pretty stellar. If you are an observer of the sport, I hope this blog post has served you well and given you a bit of insight on what it means to be a roller girl or guy. There is an unimaginable amount of skill and compassion comprising every single position on that rink at a time, during each and every jam and during every single bout! Learn it, love it, and get your ass on a pair of skates!!

This Christmas

I've been involved with The Long Island Roller Rebels for over two years now. From as long ago as I can remember, I've wanted Riedell 265s. My current skates have hurt my feet from day one and though the type and place of the pain has changed, there is still pain. Unfortunately, I was never able to afford anything better than what I had.

Well, somebody special *wink, wink*, listens to me and knows me oh so well, because this Christmas I finally got them! A brand spankin new pair of Riedells that has yet to come out to the retail world (my other half has some great skate connections) complete with new wheels and bearings!

Get anything derby related that you would like to share? Send me an email with some pics and I'll post em' up here for all to see! Last year I received a great entry from Doc Block and I'd happily post some more!

Hope you all had a great holiday.

xo
Etta