Wayne's Derby World: 02/01/2004

Sunday, February 29, 2004

Roller derby success: How do we measure?

Roller derby success.

What is it? If we can possibly ever agree on what that success would be, could we ever measure it?

Many older roller derby fans, and the skaters they loved, remember the glory days of roller derby. They recall vividly the days when the Seltzer operated Roller Derby and the later Griffiths run Rollergames were the toast of the entertainment world.

Roller derby was huge. It was everywhere. The sport in all of its glitz, glamour, and guts was all over the television airwaves.

Those days are long gone; faded into the memories of those who skated them and those who watched. Like the flickering black and white televisions, that featured the weekly matchups, the sport has slipped into the history of Americana.

Can the sport be revived?

The topic of roller derby's return to glory is often discussed and even more often, hotly debated.

Because of the disagreements on formats, game styles, and league presentation, the supporters of roller derby have split into various camps.

Those conflicting factions often consider their opinions to be the true religion and all other ideas of roller derby are heresies, to be burned at the nearest stake. That burning would preferably take place in the infield of a banked track near you.

I don't think the groups are that far apart. They have more in common than they believe. One thing they do agree upon, is a desire to see roller derby rise from the sports landfill, where it has been languishing.

With that revival comes new problems.

No one is certain what the measure of a successful roller derby league would be. Some people consider the need for sold out arenas. Some pundits look at national television contracts as the true test of real success. After all, they say, the sport was there before. It should tread that ground again.

I think the sport should take a more measured approach to success, and take the advances one step at a time. There is no need for a startup league to run before it can walk.

Start a league on a smaller basis, and rebuild the fan support gradually, building a firm foundation for the future. The fan base is badly eroded and requires a renewal from the ground up.

A successful league can be measured by its ability to place games on the track on a regular basis. The games skated as promised is a tremendous first step toward regaining the trust of the fans and skaters.

We can measure the success of the new leagues by their game quality, their treatment of their fans and skaters, and their profitability. Without all of these ingredients in the mix, there will be no long term success for any league.

That success doesn't rely on television, but on building a fan base for the sport by providing an entertaining and exciting game.

That is real success.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 6:12 PM

Comments

Saturday, February 28, 2004

Teamwork: Another voice

Recently, I mentioned that roller derby is not only a team sport on the track, but requires teamwork off the track in the management suites as well.

I am not the only person who doubts the single saviour theory of business. My business experience, in the corporate world, has been where the company was dependent on one person, the company was in trouble.

Thoughtful writer David St. Lawrence shares my experience and opinions.

Discussing the failure of companies in the food industry, David St. Lawrence says:

"They have been single-handing instead of building a team. Single-handing works well on a small boat or a small company, but there is no relief when the wind or business picks up to gale force."

David understands the need to build a strong management team, as I do.

Regardless of the business, and that includes roller derby, total dependence on a saviour is a road to business failure.

Despite the business evidence to the contrary, many people still believe that one person is going to come down from on high, and save roller derby.

It won't work that way. It never does.

The best method for building a successful business, roller derby or otherwise, is to build a strong management team.

If you agree or disagree with me, check out David St. Lawrence and study his practical business experience too.

It's always good to have another opinion.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 2:57 PM

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Friday, February 27, 2004

Texas Rollergirls bout results

For those who missed them, here are the scores from the Texas Rollergirls Sunday, February 22 matches. Both games were skated, as always, at Playland in Austin, Texas.

The Hotrod Honeys drove right past the Hell Marys by a final score of 80 - 48.

In an unexpected upset, the Texas Rollergirl Champion Hustlers saw their dico destructed by the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers to the tune of 70 - 55.

For more information on the games, team photos, and other upcoming action, skate on over to the Texas Rollergirls official website.

A reminder for those fans seeking Texas Rollergirls season tickets, the women are reporting on their message board, that all the available season tickets have been sold.

I guess season ticket buyers will have to act early in the future if they want Texas Rollergirls season tickets.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 7:19 AM

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Thursday, February 26, 2004

Bill Nagy health update

A few days ago, I reported that roller derby fan Bill Nagy of Pittsburgh, PA had suffered a stroke.

The good news is Bill is back at his computer keyboard, and contacting his friends, in the roller derby community. He says he is still feeling weak, but that is fully understandable, considering he suffered a full stroke.

The stroke occurred at around 7:15 am on Friday, February 20. The stroke has affected Bill's right side and he reports that he still has some slurring of speech. The stroke was a result of a blood clot on the left side of his brain.

While Bill is tired, he says he is recovering and looking forward to seeing some roller derby action in the near future.

Bill Nagy will always be a major roller derby fan.

Bill, via telephone to Alex Jurow, would like to thank everyone for the many cards, letters, and words of encouragement he has received. To everyone in the roller derby community, Bill Nagy sends his gratitude for your concern.

Keep on the road to recovery!

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 3:49 PM

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Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Roller derby: No one person saviours

Roller derby is a team sport.

On the track, whether a flat one or the more traditional banked version, the skaters must work together as a team. Without support from the rest of the skaters, the big name stars would not be successful.

That fact is usually accepted as standard thinking in roller derby circles. It is a truism that we all appear to share.

The same thinking is not generally discussed regarding league ownership and management.

All too often, there is credit given to one person in a league, whether the owner, or a league manager. The concept of a single messiah type saviour is all too prevalent. As my regular readers already know, I believe a strong management team approach is required.

In fact, I am completely mistrustful of anyone who says they have all the answers. I doubt that anyone can say they have the ability to handle all aspects of a league. In fact, if they do make that claim, they are also a bad manager.

A bad manager attempts to control all aspects of a business, and fails to delegate. In business circles, that problem is referred to as "micro managing". It is not a compliment.

The owner or manager in question is making a number of managerial errors. One of them is displaying a lack of trust in the rest of the management team. If a person has a staff they mistrust or don't believe can do the job, the problem is not really the staff. The problem is the person who hired them in the first place.

While we can all make mistakes in the hiring process. I have hired many people in past jobs that I later had to fire. On the other hand, the good ones were given free range to provide ideas and even openly criticize mine. Those employees understood they were part of a team, and they did what they did best.

I simply let them do it, and their results were outstanding in their success.

Anyone who believes that they have all the answers, either isn't asking the right questions, or is deluding themselves.

Baseball writer Spencer Fordin of MLB.com and bluejays.com agrees with my assessment:

"You're only as good as the company you keep. No matter how good you are at your job, you can't do everything by yourself. If you have the most brilliant plan on the planet and nobody can help you execute it, it's irrelevant. Or worse, it's a waste."

Spencer Fordin understands that not one individual can make a great sports organization.

I agree with that point of view.

Forget about saviours and messiahs. One person can't save roller derby. It takes far more people than one.

Think about building great management teams.

They are what successful roller derby leagues require.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:37 PM

Comments

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Roller derby fans search for their sport

Roller derby fans are out there.

I know I have written about that before, and some of you may remain skeptical.

The proof is in my visitor records.

The visitor logs show that I receive heavy traffic, of brand new readers, from the various internet search engines. By that, I mean roller derby fans are searching for roller derby, various skaters by name, and many roller derby related topics and leagues.

The main search engines, that lead to this roller derby column are Google, Yahoo Search, and to a lesser degree Microsoft's MSN Search. Note that AOL Search, and a number of others, also use the search results provided by Google.

Since Waynes Derby World is on the first page of results, for a huge variety of search topics, many roller derby fans often wind up here.

Because those seekers of all things roller derby land here, I know that there are fans out there. Many of them are actively searching the internet for information on our sport.

Thanks to my visitor records, we know there are still a lot of roller derby fans out there, on the internet. That doesn't count the many more fans who lack an internet connection.

There are are roller derby fans.

We simply have to reach out to them.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 4:55 PM

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Monday, February 23, 2004

Roller derby fan Bill Nagy ill

Roller derby fan Bill Nagy, who many of you know as "Bill from Pittsburgh", is seriously ill.

At the very young age of 42, Bill has taken a stroke and has been hospitalized. He is still having problems with his speech and movement, but is expected to be leaving hospital in a few days.

I received that distressing information from Alex Jurow, and that is all of that I know at the present time.

Bill Nagy has always been a strong supporter of all roller derby leagues. He has been known to travel to roller derby games all over North America. He was usually a regular visitor at the RollerJam tapings in Florida.

To send get well wishes to Bill, he can be reached at:

Bill Nagy
P. O. Box 23364
Pittsburgh, PA
15222

Everyone in the roller derby community is pulling for a speedy and safe recovery!

Get well soon Bill!

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 3:37 PM

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Kathie Fry of Skatelog adds a blog

Those of you who are recreational skaters might want to check out Kathie Fry's new blog.

My daily roller derby column is referred to as a blog. It is a daily updated column on a specific topic; in this case our sport of roller derby.

For those of you, in the roller derby community, who don't know Kathie, she is a California based inline skater. Her columns on skating related topics are found all over the internet. Her advice is widely sought and respected by recreational skaters around the world.

She is also a roller derby supporter.

She publishes some of my columns on her website. They can be found here:

My roller derby articles

By adding a blog to her skating website, Kathie Fry is helping to raise the profile of roller derby, among the casual and recreational skating communities.

Roller derby should be welcoming that type of wide ranging support.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 12:09 AM

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Saturday, February 21, 2004

Roller derby family news

Roller derby has a long history of internal squabbles; infighting, if you prefer.

The sport is full of petty jealousies, and self centred egos.

We all know that.

After all, the roller derby community is a family. As we all know, there are no greater battles and grudges than within a family structure.

We see operating and non-operating leagues bad mouth one another. We see league owners, or wannabe league owners, claiming they have the only only true religion. Their ideas are the only ones for making roller derby a success in North America once again.

The facts are simple, however.

No one has the true secrets, despite their personal delusions of grandeur.

We can not accurately say, that roller derby fans want only traditional roller derby, any more than we can say the fans would prefer a "circus". There is no reason to say that all female flat track derby is the be all and end all of roller derby either. Yes, it's one currently successful game style. That in no way precludes other game types from being equally successful.

Or even more so.

Those who believe the tradtional game is the only way may be correct. They may also be entirely wrong. We simply don't know for sure.

Before everyone, within the roller derby community gets back to fighting among themselves over the proper way to present roller derby, they should think of the sport first. Their own preferences should come second.

There are more ways to present roller derby than we can count. Some possible ideas are not yet even formulated.

We have to think of the sport, the fans, and the skaters. We also have to think of creating leagues that are financially viable.

Infighting and destructive criticism won't rebuild roller derby.

Working together will.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 8:10 PM

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Friday, February 20, 2004

Texas Rollergirls roll Season II

After a hugely successful first season, the Austin, Texas based flat track Texas Rollergirls are back for Season II.

Sunday, February 22 at Playland in Austin, Texas hosts the first Texas Rollergirls game of 2004.

The Hell Marys roll out against the Hotrod Honeys in one match.

The Honky Tonk Heartbreakers will try to outskate the League Champion Hustlers in the other bout.

Doors open at Playland at 6:30 local Austin time.

As always, there will be some great music, fast jamming, hard blocking, and of course the Texas Rollergirls.

Tickets are $10 in advance, and $12 at the door.

For more information, jam on over to the Texas Rollergirls newly updated website.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 7:04 PM

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Thursday, February 19, 2004

Roller derby trivia requests

Gino DiCarlo, who was once an integral part of Bill Griffiths' Rollergames league management team, has been seeking some help.

He e-mailed me a couple of questions. He is asking for some assistance, from the roller derby fans out there, in answering them.

His questions are:

"In 1972, the Western Season Championship was won by the NY Chiefs. They defeated the Bay Bombers. As I recall (I did see the game), the score was rather lopsided in the Chiefs favor. I think the Chiefs scored something like 8 points on the final jam. I also recall (I am getting older) that Lydia Clay was playing for the Chiefs."

"My first question: Does anyone know the final score to this game, and was Lydia Clay in fact playing for the Chiefs?"

"Secondly, in 1971, before the expansion season, the Bombers won the 1971 Championship with Buddy Atkinson Jr. and Bob Hein at the helm."

"My question, who did the Bombers defeat, and what was the final score?"

There you have it. Gino's questions.

If anyone out there was in attendance at the games, or simply knows the answers, leave a message on my Comments.

Thanks.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:27 PM

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Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Texas Rollergirls roll out website update

It's out with the old and in with the new, for the Texas Rollergirls.

A spiffy new new Texas Rollergirls official website has jammed its way to the internet.

While many of you have already seen notices on various Yahoo groups, about the updated Texas Rollergirls website, here is another notice about the new and improved look.

With even more smokin' hot photographs of your favourite Texas Rollergirls, the site sees new additions every day.

Virtually every Texas Rollergirl has her own personal "biography" included, for your reading pleasure.

With the updates, the Texas Rollergirls website scores the points, as the best roller derby league site on the internet.

I had seen a few top secret pre-release versions of the site. The current version is much improved over the beta versions that I saw. That's just one of the perks of being a daily roller derby columnist.

Jam on over to the Texas Rollergirls website and see what everyone is talking about.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:48 PM

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Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Roller derby catching up

I will be doing a bit of catching up on the happenings in the roller derby arena.

I'm sure I missed some roller derby news here and there, while I was sick.

I'll be back with regular columns.

Soon.

I promise.

Really I will.

That almost sounded like someone promising to bring back a roller derby league, didn't it!

Yikes!!!

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 9:47 PM

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Monday, February 16, 2004

Thanks to everyone

Thank you to everyone who was so supportive during my recent illness.

Thanks to everyone who left comments on my commenter, to those who sent me get well e-mails and e-cards, and to those who expressed concern on the various Yahoo groups.

Despite the fact we often disagree on the details, the many members of the roller derby family are always there for one another. It is greatly appreciated.

While I'm still not 100%, at least I can sit up at the computer, without feeling much pain and nausea.

I had one of those weird strains of flu that are talked about on the news. I had such head to toe aching that I was unable to get out of bed for any length of time. When in bed, I couldn't find a comfortable way to lie there.

The worst is past now, and I am only tired and experiencing some aching.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 8:31 PM

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All Scars were All Stars in Texas

The All Scar Army were All Stars in the faces of the BGGW Calvello Cup Champion Rhinestone Cowgirls.

The All Scar Army, composed of select skaters from the other three Lonestar Rollergirls (formerly BGGW) teams, skated past and roughed up the league chanps by a final score of 81 - 75.

The All Star game kicked off the Lonestar Rollergirls banked track season in style in front of a reported packed house at the Thunderdome in Austin, Texas.

The league promises photos and stats from the game to be posted on their Lonestar Rollergirls website very shortly.

Roller derby in Austin, Texas is off to a flying start in 2004.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 8:03 PM

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Sunday, February 15, 2004

Where I have been

Roller derby fans and skaters who have tuned into this column, and found a blank space where there is usually some writing, may want to know that I am very ill.

I hope to get over it soon, but whatever it is that I caught, it's bad.

I'll be back posting as soon as I can.

Thanks.

Wayne

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 9:05 PM

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Friday, February 13, 2004

BGGW Lonestar Rollergirls All Star Game

Roller derby returns to Austin, Texas on Sunday February 15.

The Lonestar Rollergirls (formerly known as BGGW) take to their banked track for their first ever All Star Game.

Always popular with roller derby fans, All Star games showcase the league's greatest skaters. In this matchup, the BGGW Calvello Cup Champion Rhinestone Cowgirls skate against the All Scar Army.

Doors at the Thunderdome in Austin, Texas open at 6:00 pm local Austin time.

As always, there will be a rockin' lineup of great bands to keep your toes tapping.

All female All Stars, lots of bands, a banked track, and the Lonestar Rollergirls hospitality, all add up to a great roller derby night deep in the heart of Texas.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 3:56 PM

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Thursday, February 12, 2004

The last IRDL Champions

Roller derby trivia, courtesy of Richmond Joe, for those who want to win a few wagers:

The last IRDL Championship Playoffs were held on Sept. 8th, 1973, at
the Cow Palace, in San Francisco, California.

According to Richmond Joe, those playoffs were to cap off the west coast roller derby season.

In that final IRDL roller derby matchup, the Bay Bombers defeated the Midwest Pioneers in a close one, by a final score of 40 - 39.

The victory would make the Bay Bombers the final IRDL champions.

Don't say we don't have roller derby trivia!

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 7:57 PM

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Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Roller derby: Keeping the skates on track

When I first saw RollerJam, two things about the show caught my eye. The first thing was the obvious talent of the skaters, and their tremendous star potential. The other was their inline skates.

While RollerJam had a lot of faults, ranging from ridiculous storylines, to terrible management, to dreadful treatment and waste of the skating talent, it had some interesting new ideas. One of those new ideas was inline skates.

When I first saw the skaters, skating the roller derby track on their inline blades, I was hooked on the concept. That was in 1999.

If I were to operate a roller derby league, I would put the skaters on inlines.

Traditionally, roller derby has been skated on quad roller skates. The two all women's leagues in Texas, the Texas Rollergirls and BGGW, use quad skates. The new additions to all female flat track roller derby in the Cayman Islands, Arizona, Carolina, New York and Los Angeles use quad roller skates, along with other similar formulas.

The two traditional leagues in California continue to skate on quads as well.

I think that a variety of skates would add a lot to the sport. Some leagues using one form of skates, and different leagues using the other, would add to interest in the sport.

Quad skated games are different from inline employed games. The sport needs several alternative on the track products, to provide choices for both the skaters and the fans.

I dislike the use of both types of skates in the same game, as each has strengths and weaknesses that do not complement one another at all.
The different actions of the skates, and the differing blocking systems required, precludes their blending together.

That detracts from the game. It also increases chances of injury, and that by itself is a reason to not mix quads and inlines on the same track.

One thing is certain, however, there is no one correct skate choice for roller derby. While my absolute preference, if I were to operate a league, is inline skates, that does not make it the only right answer. A league employing all quad skaters is equally a great idea.

The idea has been floated that inline skates are more "modern". That is simply one opinion. The various women's leagues, both skating on quads, are extremely modern; in fact ultra modern in many ways. That skate argument is a red herring.

Inline skates are faster, but speed is not the only factor in roller derby. Good skaters also need power, finesse, strategy, team work, trust of the other skaters, and knowledge of the plays. Neither type of skate has a monopoly on those factors.

What roller derby needs, along with several strong leagues all over North America, is a wide variety of on track products. Different styles and types of games will attract additional and different fans to the sport. Roller derby needs all the new fans it can get, right?

Changing skates, from league to league, is simply one way that variety can be achieved. There are many others, but that is one more for the list.

Roller derby needs variety.

There is more than one way to skate.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:09 PM

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Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Roller derby needs new team names

Let's play the name game.

Every roller derby league requires great team names.

Throughout the history of the sport, there have been memorable teams. Their names are icons of roller derby history.

Just hearing the names Chiefs, T-Birds, Bombers, Warriors, Jolters, Hawks, Cats, Enforcers, and Hot Dice, and fans are transported back in time to great teams from the various eras of the sport.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone.

The greatness of those teams should be preserved and remembered in all of their glory. Those names should now be retired, and replaced with brand new team names, for a new generation.

The sordid court dispute before the March 2003 Los Angeles game, over the use of the T-Birds name, should never have taken place. Roller derby does not require that sort of infighting and anti-marketing.

The league management would have better served the fans and the sport by creating entirely new team names, logos, and colours.

Yes, the T-Birds and Bombers names were great once. Those days are over. Let the past glories of those legendary names pass into the history of the game.

No revival of roller derby can take place by constantly looking back to the past. There is no way that any new league, using the old names, can compete with memories of the past.

In the memories of skaters and fans, all of the skaters were better, stronger, and faster. That memory phenomenon is not restricted to roller derby either. It is commonplace in every sport. No new league can ever compete with those memories, whether tricks of the mind, or whether grounded in fact.

New roller derby leagues need to place their eyes squarely on the future. One place to begin that movement, toward future roller derby greatness, is to create brand new team names, logos, and team colours.

Build some brand new legends for the new century.

Let the glorious teams of the past enjoy their wonderful history, without their great names being dragged through the mud.

The skaters and teams of the glory years have earned that right.

Let's respect those memories by creating some new team names.

While not everyone will be convinced that new roller derby team names are needed, I'm sure a few of my readers will agree with me.

New names are needed for new teams in a new league. It seems rather obvious to me. Of course, it could, and probably will, be argued that the older names have some magical "drawing power". I personally do not see that as true.

The younger fans in particular, are not likely to be as impressed with the names from the past, as the game's management seemed to believe. I have had teenagers write to me about my column who know absolutely nothing about roller derby. The sport is a completely blank slate to them, and probably to the generation just preceeding them as well.

Their only explosure to roller derby would be from RollerJam. While many purists derided the RollerJam product, it did create a new generation of fans. The names they recognize are not T-Birds or Bombers! Those new fans remember the Hot Dice, Enforcers, and Quakes.

Why not take advantage of that lack of roller derby background, as an opportunity to start over fresh?

There is an unlimited supply of potential brand new team names out there. All that is required is a little imagination to capture them. Of course, we all know it is easier to take the path of least resistance. The tried and true names of the past require less effort. Of course, they provide fewer results too!

If we ever really want to take seriously the challenge of reviving the sport of roller derby, we have to accept and embrace change. That means brand new leagues under fresh new management. That new management must be prepared to bring new team names, logos, and colours to the fans.

Let's let the great names of the past retain their glory, and embrace the future together, with some exciting new names.

The younger fans, who are the fans of today and of tomorrow, will accept nothing less.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 3:25 PM

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Monday, February 09, 2004

Texas Rollergirls Awards

The popular all female flat track Texas Rollergirls held their annual Whammy Awards on the weekend.

Consideration was given skaters on a league wide basis, and for each individual team. There are currently four teams in the league.

The awards ceremony was a private Texas Rollergirls function. Fans were invited to join the festivities once the awards presentaion was over.

2003 Texas Rollergirls Whammy Awards Winners:

League Awards:

Best Spirit: Cheap Trixie

Most Improved: Dagger Deb

Best Rookie: Loose Tooth Lulu

Most Feared: White Lightnin'

Best Blocker: 8-Track

Best Pivot: Mean Streak

Best Jammer: Dinah-Mite

Best Ass: Misty Meaner

Best Rack: Melicious

Biggest Fan: Clif Taylor

Crowd Favorite: Anna Mosity

Best Bruise: Deadly Cyn

Best Fight: Rose Royce vs. Crazy Duke

Best Take Out: Dinah-Mite vs. the Hell Marys

Most Valuable Player (MVP): Dinah-Mite

Miss Texas Rollergirl (TXRG): Melicious

Team Awards:

Hell Marys:

Blocker-Mean Streak
Pivot-Mean Streak
Jammer-Strawberry

Heartbreakers:

Blocker-Sparkle Plenty
Pivot-Sparkle Plenty
Jammer-Trouble

Hotrods:

Blocker-White Lightnin'
Pivot-Hydra
Jammer-Cat Tastrophe tied with Lucille Brawl

Hustlers:

Blocker-8-Track
Pivot-Sedonya Face
Jammer-Dinah-Mite

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:22 PM

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Sunday, February 08, 2004

Roller derby and rock music a tradition

Roller derby has had a strong relationship with rock music since the Rock-n-Rollergames of the late 1980s.

The new all female leagues have kept that tradition alive by featuring bands as an integral part of their entertainment package. After all, roller derby and music are both part of the entertainment industry.

My friend and business associate Heather Burke has been doing some marketing and publicity work for the 1980s hard rockin' band Tesla.

For those who are unaware of Heather's abilities, she has done a lot of publicity work for well known bands and has a long list of media and music industry contacts.

She informs me Tesla has a new CD on the way, and are looking for a new rebirth of their career. Sounds a bit like roller derby doesn't it!

One really interesting thing about Tesla, in my opinion, is where they derived their band name.

They use the name of the brilliant, but often overlooked early Twentieth Century genius Nikola Tesla (1857-1943).

From the Tesla website biography of Nikola Tesla:

"Few people realize the impact Tesla has made on our current existence. He changed the face of the world with his inventions beginning with his alternating current motor… the heart of modern convenience."

Rock on over to the Tesla website and see who is receiving Heather's talents in publicity.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:41 PM

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Saturday, February 07, 2004

Roller derby disagreement

Roller derby fans and skaters disagree on many things.

Some say the future of roller derby is the all female leagues.

Many consider roller derby to be forced to use the flat floors of roller rinks, because of the high cost of building, storing, and moving the banked track.

Traditionalists believe the sport is best served up in the manner of the 1950s and 1960s.

Supporters of Bill Griffiths and Rollergames, disagree with those who believed that the Seltzer version of the game, was the only one to be worthy of the name.

There are those who will always believe roller derby is best skated with both men's and women's teams.

Debate about whether skaters should wear inline or quad roller skates continues to take place.

It looks like the disagreements may never be settled.

Some people doubt if the various factions, in the roller derby community, will ever agree enough to co-exist and work together.

The time has come for these disputes and disagreements to end.

Once and for all.

Let's all agree that we have different visions of the sport of roller derby.

You have yours.

I have mine.

The next person has his or hers.

It's time to find some common ground where we can agree.

We all love the sport of roller derby. That is a given.

There may always be some variation on how the game is formatted. We have to be prepared to accept the differences in the game presentation.

Is it not better to have roller derby skated in some manner, than not at all?

I fully understand that many people object to roller derby becoming a "circus". On the other hand, other fans prefer a game that features a lot of colour and storyline.

My suggestion is we count our areas of agreement and try to minimize our areas of departure.

Counting our losses will not develop roller derby for the future.

Working together, even with those whose vision we may not share personally, can lead to many great things for roller derby.

Fans created by one form of roller derby may become fans, of other visions and presentations of the game, as well.

The more leagues the better. The more fans the better.

None of us has all the answers. No one has the "secret".

Only the fans can decide that, by paying for their tickets.

Or not.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 7:23 PM

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Friday, February 06, 2004

Carolina RollerGirls: Newest all female league?

The latest addition to the all female flat track trend is the Carolina RollerGirls.

The proposed league is already requesting potential skaters appear for tryouts.

Carolina RollerGirls lists a proposed schedule for tryouts and practices, but has no announced game schedule as of yet.

An interesting part of their website is a presentation of roller derby rules. As I have pointed out many times, a league can not take it for granted that everyone knows and understands how roller derby is played.

Part of a league's marketing effort must include an educational element. Information about the sport is essential to rebuild the fan base.

For more information on the Carolina RollerGirls, visit their website at:

Carolina RollerGirls Official Website.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 4:26 PM

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Thursday, February 05, 2004

Roller derby: Seeking the Answers

Roller derby can be skated in many ways.

Too often, in the never ending debates about how roller derby should be presented as a sport, that simple fact is forgotten.

There is no single right answer. That seems to be the point that most observers are missing in their arguments.

The traditionalists say the throwback style, skated by both genders on quad skates, with the traditional rules, is the answer. They are right.

To a point.

The modernists suggest a more aggressive skating game, with both genders on inline skates. They are correct.

To a point.

The single gender, all female, flat and banked track supporters are correct as well.

To a point.

Those who say they know the true hidden secret, unknowable to the unenlightened mere mortals, are right too.

To a point.

The fact is no one can say with 100% certainty, which form of roller derby will catch on with the fans, over the long term, and what styles will fall by the wayside.

At the moment, the all female leagues are in vogue. Their staying power, and ability to grow as businesses, is still in question, in the minds of many fans.

In my opinion, roller derby needs to have several different products available to the fans. The focus on the "one true religion" is misguided at best, and outright damaging to the sport at worst.

What is needed are many new leagues, putting forth several different and even widely different game styles. The fans may like one, and really love another.

Without the choice in the marketplace, no one will know for sure. The business of roller derby should not be about limiting options for fans and skaters, but about widening them, to include everyone.

The more variety of games offered the fans the better.

Remember, not everyone out there knows about roller derby.

The game is new to most of the potential fan base.

Who are we to say which style of game they will prefer.

Let the market decide.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 7:05 PM

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Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Roller derby: Carnival of the Canucks selection

A popular Canadian blog roundup series called, appropriately enough Carnival of the Canucks has selected Wayne's Derby World as a featured site.

This roller derby blog was the only selection from my home province of Manitoba.

The host blog Darren Barefoot describes my selected entries this way:

Wayne offers "Roller Derby, RollerJam, RollerGames, and Rollergirls news, views, and opinions". Here he discusses how the Arizona Roller Derby is keeping stats on, among other things, "how many jams girls skate per period". I need to bone up on my roller lingo. In the next entry, he provides an update on an injury, which includes the terrifying phrase "her eyeball has continued to become dislodged."

The one thing I noticed about Darren's description of my posts, is how little he claims to know about the sport of roller derby.

As I have noted in the past, any marketing efforts for roller derby in the future will require an educational element.

We simply can't make the unwarranted assumption that everyone knows and understands what roller derby is all about. The good thing about the sport, however, is it lends itself to relatively straightforward explanations.

Part of the future mission for all league owners, skaters, and fans will be to spread the word about the greatness of roller derby. The other part of the mission will be to describe the action, the rules, and the object of the game.

Not everyone knows about roller derby.

There has been at least one, and perhaps even two, entire generations that has grown to adulthood without sharing in the excitement of roller derby. Those missing fans have to be brought into the fold. We also have to return any prodigal former fans to the stands as well.

If anyone thinks that roller derby knowledge is a given, they are sadly mistaken.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 6:49 PM

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Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Roller derby: Fans are out there

As the 2004 roller derby season begins to skate into focus, we are getting a much clearer image of the future.

Roller derby's future is in the hands of the skaters and the fans.

As much as some people would like to think the sport has some mythical saviour, that is not the case. In fact, the supposed rescuers of roller derby have been the ones to do the sport the most harm.

Before anyone gets all worked up, and defends their favourite white knights, remember this fact. Roller derby skated in front of crowds of about 200 fans for a decade. The sport had truly lost its way.

By thinking that roller derby was not a business, that if it were derby the supposedly psychic fans would come, and that roller derby was somehow different, roller derby almost dropped off the sports map. That thinking still remains today, in the minds of many roller derby league owners, it's sad to say.

The sport will return, as it is now, because of the skaters and the fans.

There is no great saviour, armed with a special secret, winning over the fans to the all female leagues. That is hard work and determination by the skaters themselves, to provide great entertainment. The fans are out there, searching for roller derby excitement.

Providing the thrills is not enough alone, however.

The women also tell the fans about their upcoming games, through every avenue they can find. Not waiting for an unlikely television contract, the leagues are making the sport profitable by live games.

One of my ideas, by the way, is a league has to be financially viable without television. If a league is dependent on being televised, like WSL RollerJam for example, it's doomed when the cameras stop rolling.

A television contract should only be a luxury. Not a necessity.

The fans are out there for live roller derby, even without television.

Let them know about a great roller derby product, in every way that you can.

They will come.

And support your roller derby business.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 6:13 PM

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Monday, February 02, 2004

Ann Calvello's Surgery Takes a Turn For the Worse

Ann Calvello, one of the legendary red shirted bad girls of roller derby, had recently undergone eye surgery.

I have been providing skaters and fans with updates, on her condition, in this column.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news to report.

Ann Calvello's recent surgery was not as successful, as was originally thought. Her eyeball has continued to become dislodged. The operation was performed, in an attempt to keep the eyeball in place.

I'm sure nothing would brighten her day, and cheer her up more, than to hear from her many friends and loyal fans.

Ann can be reached for cards and letters at:

Ann Theresa Calvello
2200 Princeton Drive #105
San Bruno, California
94066

She appreciates all of your many cards and letters.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 5:27 PM

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Sunday, February 01, 2004

Arizona Roller Derby Keeps Stats

In a return to one of the past traditions of roller derby, the Arizona Roller Derby women are keeping records of scoring statistics.

As the skaters score points on jams, the jammer and her points scored total are recorded.

The league also intends to add assists to their scoring, probably based on whips and pushes.

In the past, roller derby leagues recorded "kills", where the blocker ended the jam by knocking down the jammer. In that way, there are defence statistics recorded, along with totals for the offence.

In a widely posted message on various Yahoo groups, Ivanna Pankin of Arizona Roller Derby has offered some ideas for scoring summaries for the future:

"For the future, we're also going to track how many jams girls skate per
period so that an outside observer can see who skates the jams and in which
positions, and break the points down to per jammer per jam instead of just
per period, as well. Which will also show how often the jam gets handed off
to the pivot, assuming they both score."

The Arizona Roller Derby women are adopting some "old school" roller derby ideas, like scoring records, that are commonplace in other sports.

I know I shouldn't compare roller derby to other sports, as roller derby is supposed to be "different", but keeping track of statistics is part and parcel with every sport. All of the major sports record scoring and defensive statistics. Roller derby should maintain good records as well.

The women of Arizona Roller Derby recognize that fact.

The league also welcomes suggestions from fans and skaters as to how to improve their scoring summaries, to help make the numbers more meaningful.

Roller derby posted by Wayne Hurlbert at 4:57 PM

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