So I went to a Roller Derby match over the weekend. These things are shockingly fun.
Near as I can tell they've taken the best parts of various other sports.
Professional Wrestling: All the players have completely absurd self-generated monikers (my personal favorite that's jazzfanz publishable was "Chantilly Mace"). Several had elaborate face painting and tattoo schemes. Playing to the crowd seemed to be encouraged.
Basketball: Hilarious jawing at the referees at all times. All fouls and penalties are met with an immediate claim that they've never fouled anyone in their whole life.
Hockey: There's a penalty box. Teams with a man advantage take part in a "power jam."
Football: It's seriously full contact (lots of elbows thrown and tons of nasty spills) and most of the game action appears to revolve around tactics very similar to run blocking while one designated player from each team tries to pass "the pack." As a result all the blockers are simultaneously trying to defensively block the other team while offensively pushing out space for their teammates. Lots of jukes, fast diagonal cuts, and even a few stiff-arms.
Baseball: To be honest, I only like going to baseball games for the concessions. Roller Derby was sponsored by Maker's Mark and PBR. This made the event 27% more fascinating.
Underground boxing: You want a seedy venue? The event was held in an industrial neighborhood in the East Bay at a warehouse in an abandoned shipyard. You can't make something like that up. They claimed it was called the "Craneway Pavilion." I've been there, it's a ****ing warehouse.
Also, they had some great swag. I definitely purchased a t-shirt for the Richmond team bearing this logo:
And the tickets were only $12.
Couldn't recommend more highly.
Near as I can tell they've taken the best parts of various other sports.
Professional Wrestling: All the players have completely absurd self-generated monikers (my personal favorite that's jazzfanz publishable was "Chantilly Mace"). Several had elaborate face painting and tattoo schemes. Playing to the crowd seemed to be encouraged.
Basketball: Hilarious jawing at the referees at all times. All fouls and penalties are met with an immediate claim that they've never fouled anyone in their whole life.
Hockey: There's a penalty box. Teams with a man advantage take part in a "power jam."
Football: It's seriously full contact (lots of elbows thrown and tons of nasty spills) and most of the game action appears to revolve around tactics very similar to run blocking while one designated player from each team tries to pass "the pack." As a result all the blockers are simultaneously trying to defensively block the other team while offensively pushing out space for their teammates. Lots of jukes, fast diagonal cuts, and even a few stiff-arms.
Baseball: To be honest, I only like going to baseball games for the concessions. Roller Derby was sponsored by Maker's Mark and PBR. This made the event 27% more fascinating.
Underground boxing: You want a seedy venue? The event was held in an industrial neighborhood in the East Bay at a warehouse in an abandoned shipyard. You can't make something like that up. They claimed it was called the "Craneway Pavilion." I've been there, it's a ****ing warehouse.
Also, they had some great swag. I definitely purchased a t-shirt for the Richmond team bearing this logo:
And the tickets were only $12.
Couldn't recommend more highly.
