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2009/10/06
Facebook and Social Networking - and your team's reputation
What is your team's reputation? How do you know? What builds it? Your fans, sponsors and opposing teams build your reputation with the video, pictures, write-ups, reviews they put up. Your league members build it by what they post on faceboo, myspace, twitter, ping, and the rest of the social networking sites. Your referees and visiting referees and volunteers build it based on what they say about you after a bout. Your own league members build it with their actions and posting online while representing your league. So when are you representing your league? Anytime you are using your derby name, wearing a derby logo, are known as a member of your league, you are representing your league. Why is it important to leave people with good feelings about you? Because if they like you, they will like your league, and liking your league equals either: The new fan that spends on merch and tells their friends and brings more new fans, the sponsor that wants to partner with you and promote you or give you money or gifts, or someone that might want to join your league as a skater or ref. What does that mean? It means: 1) Don't edit video's or photos to make another team look really bad if they lost to you. There is no reason for that. They played hard and did their best, and you won. You may not win next time, because they may have learned a lot from you, so stay professional and friendly. I've moved to 3 derby cities in 3 years. I trained with all 3, played with 2. If I had bad blood because of something I did, and then tried to join, do you think I would have been welcomed to train with those teams and been chosen to play? No. The person you hate today may be your teammate tomorrow. I know we gossip, but do it in private. 2) Be a good winner. The other team played hard, gave you those bruises you are sportin and maybe just had a bad night. Cheer for yourselves, and then cheer for them. They just got defeated. Make sure they know you appreciate them playing and what you learned from them. Don't hole up in team groups, mix it up with the visiting team and make some new friends! 3) Be a good loser. You just played an awesome game of roller derby and if you lost, you know when you review, you'll see why and it won't happen again, so there's no reason to beat yourselves up about it, and no reason to be unhappy. Stay positive! Make friends with the team that beat you. That girl that knocked you down all night might be able to teach you how she did it. 4) If a fight happens, get over it. Don't go away mad, as they say. What happened on the track was a track thing. Off the track, we all play roller derby and we're all strong women. Sometimes tempers flare. Accept or give an apology when you have gone too far and let it go. 5) Remember, you never know who's watching, and everything you do and say as a player, member, volunteer, coach, representative of your league reflects on your league. Did you post a comment about someone sucking? Maybe your league has worked for months to setup a sponsorship that you don't know about, you write a bad thing about that company not knowing, you could lose your league a really good opportunity. Maybe you make a team member mad who then shares with her league, and now your team has a cancelled game for the next season. They refuse to play you because you were an ass. You start a fight, or play dirty, and the league never plays you again because it sucked. You don't make sure they have fun, hate your city, they never want to come back. So step away from the facebook and twitter posts for a second and think about what you are doing. Are you inciting positivity and roller derby promotion, or are you being a douchebag? Are you putting up a photo or video to show an awesome strategy, hit or pack move, or are you promoting the drama of that fight that broke out, or to point out a flaw in the other team? You represent your league as a member of it, so make sure what you put out into the world is what you want the world to remember when they see your next event poster. Labels: media, reputation, roller derby
2009/01/07
Roller Derby Girl Tips - 21 Ways to be Tough, Yet Feminine
My friend from ACRD, Trigger Mortis, and her ACRD girls (many who are Derby Luv Rollergirl interviewees) have written a piece on " 21 Ways to stay tough, yet feminine". It's on the Dallas/ Fort Worth CBS 11 local news site, along with another one of those "roller-derby-is-making-a-comeback, reporter puts on skates" interviews as a related video on the side - I don't know when it was done, but if it's recent, I have a comment. I love roller derby leagues getting press, but I look forward to the day that I see a story on mainstream TV (MAV TV's airing of WFTDA games notwithstanding) that is post-"making a comeback" for roller derby and maybe says - Roller derby aloready came back, if you missed it, it's here, now here's your local league, check'em out! But anyway, I digress, maybe it was an old video, and I haven't been actually searching for news videos around the globe and I may be missing the whole f'in point. So to carry on, how can we be tough and yet, feminine? My own personal tough, yet feminine advice? I don't know. Wear lipstick when you're being aggressive and stern with your employees? Fight in your fishnets? Don't forget the deodorant after practice? Oh, Oh, I know! ... slap your lover while wearing your derby skirt commando! Or is that just slutty? hahaha Well ACRD girls give ya 21 ways. My favorite is: 17. Never give up. "Real women fight to the finish. Don't let frustration stand in your way. Roadblocks are only temporary, and if you fall 50 times, get back up 51 times. Nothing feels as good to achieve if it wasn't worked hard for." ~Fresh Meat Nicole
Labels: ACRD, media, rollergirls
2008/10/07
A really good read, and a hard time getting into roller derby, that is all worth it...
I just read an amazing article by a writer that tried out for the Minnesota Roller Girls. Wow. Not only a good read, but an amazing tale of heartbreak and pain, work and sweat for fresh meat girls with the dream of playing roller derby. As a player that started out as one of the "Come one, Come All" girls, the last or next to last member to join Les Contrabanditas in Montreal in 2006, I didn't have the experience of having to train like a madwoman for months and then have to try out in front of a league and screaming coaches to see if I made the cut. And then being sent home because I sucked more than half the other girls, and am not worthy to play for the team. If I had, I probably wouldn't have done it. Why? I was never into sports or doing anything in front of people I didn' t know before roller derby. I was too shy, too reserved, too scared... it was roller derby that made me willing to wear a short skirt, to skate in front of people and try to jump, fall, hit, move, skate faster, get up and sweat with confidence and even...glee. After Les Filles started up, and La Racaille, our 2008 recruitment in Montreal before I left was more organized, with training, boot camps, draft picks and all that, but I don't think we told any girls no, and I don't think anyone was turned away..."until next year's tryouts" except for those that were just learning to skate and could not safely stay up yet. I am so hard on myself that I doubt I would make it onto a team like MN if I were to go to tryouts, even if I were to go after the next 8 months in the gym I am spending, after over a year playing and training in Montreal behind me, because I would have to compete against all these skaters that I would think were better than me, and that would probably be better than me, with the huge insurgence of true, hardcore, Olympic-gold, hyper-competitive athletes that are getting into roller derby. And having never had that All-Star player, winning jammer, award-winning blocker experience, I have no personal grounds to build my rollergirl confidence. Roller derby still seems to welcome women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, but I think I am correct in that we're hearing the first groans of a labor pain, that will birth a new era of today's roller derby, that will make it start feeling more and more like all the mainstream sports I never joined. I hope I'm wrong. I hope that if I am right, I'll be happy for roller derby. I hope if it does, that we keep some grass roots, amateur-style, come one and all, we love roller derby leagues that maybe become the farm teams for all the high rollers. I could train on a farm team until I'm good enough for the big leagues., sure I could! I heart roller derby. Labels: media, MNRG, roller derby, training
2008/10/03
Feeling the love
Thanks Uncle Leon, for this nod to Derby Luv in your Interderby interview recently.... http://interderby.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/inter-derby-interviews-the-famous-uncle-leon/And I'd have to say that your best parties choice of the Mad Rollin' Dolls MIGHT have a runner up in Montreal - but I'd have to party in Dairyland to test that theory - but I hear my alma mater roller derby league is getting the rep for being quite the party league. I'm serious, you should get passports and work out something with Georgia W Tush, cause I bet the party would be fabulous! I'd even take a trip back to Montreal to see that! Country cover songs of "Baby Got Back", you say? Labels: Derby Luv, media, MTLRD
2008/02/01
Ok, what's up with THAT?
A local weekly mag The Montreal Mirror, is a huge promoter of shows and events in Montreal. I love the MIrror, I read it every week, and it's a great place to see upcoming concerts and to hear about artsy shows and city goings-ons. They promoted my team last year and I thought they were awesome for being into roller derby! This week, a reporter named Chris Barry did a PEOPLE profile of Ashley Thudd, the co-captain of La Racaille, a team for MTLRD. The questions were all cool, and then he asked Ashley Thudd how hard it was to secure a spot on the in the league. She told him it was pretty easy for her, (she is an awesome skater), but that it does have some basic requirements. His next question made me gasp in shock. I apologize if you are offended by reading this, but you won't understand the level of my outrage without the question. He said: "Is one of them [meaning the requirements] superior cunnilingus skills?" I wrote him this calm and un-offensive response. Hi Chris!
Thanks for including Ashley Thudd in the Mirror this week, she is an awesome roller derby player. It's great to see someone paying attention to the rollergirls of Montreal!
Personally though, why were you asking if a requirement to play is "superior cunnilingus skills"? What does personal sexuality have to do with playing roller derby?
Your interview was of a woman who happens to be an accomplished business woman, dancer, and athlete. Ashley Thudd is plenty awesome and interesting all by herself, and I don't know what sexuality she is.
With that question you just trivialized all the blood, sweat and tears rollergirls are putting into their leagues across the country. Roller derby leagues are skater owned, skater operated, and the talents of the rollergirls are what keeps the organizations running. It has nothing to do with their personal sexuality
There are some great skaters and great atheletes playing roller derby, and rollergirls come in all shapes, sizes, religions, colors, careers and flavors. The one thing they have in common is that they are all awesome, mentally and physically stong women that enjoy playing roller derby.
I hope you re-think this question in the future.
Thank you, But inside, I have to say I am completely outraged at the level of crudeness and disrespectfulness displayed. The Mirror may be a free mag and it's focused on the music, arts, alternative, and club scenes; there is plenty of LBGT subject matter, but this was just crossing some invisible line with me. Am I being prudish? Homophobic? I don't think so. Let them think I'm gay, it'll keep lame guys from hitting on me, but let's leave the smut out of it, okay? Maybe it's the southern belle in me, or I'm vibing some Aretha Franklin, but all I am asking for is a little respect. Labels: interview, media, roller derby insulted, rollergirls
2008/01/06
Roller Derby (TORD) on CBC Sunday
I just finished watching a piece on CBC Sunday about Roller Derby. They were present at the Chicks Ahoy vs Gore Gore Championship game in Toronto. It was a great piece and look at roller derby, and they talked alot to G-Force, a Chicks Ahoy jammer that I met at one of our MTL Roller Derby games last year. Toronto is the largest league in Canada (and maybe North America) with 6 teams. My favorite part though was seeing my teammates, Bon-Bon Scott and Trash N Smash as well as our head ref Null PTR Ref, in the crowd. MTLRD is awesome, and I was happy with the CBC look at roller derby.... The shots of the game were cool and I hope to see mre press like this across Canada in 2008. Good for CBC for taking a look at roller derby and that was great press for TORD. Way to go! Labels: media, roller derby
2007/11/14
Roller Derby Resurgence - ON CNN!
2007/11/10
MavTV roller Derby National Broadcasts in US
Found on HaveDerbyWillTravel - I love Hurt Reynolds for his inside scoops, and check out the embeddable derby promo for your own site if you have one! MavTV WFTDA broadcasts begin tonight
Written by Hurt Reynolds
Saturday, 20 October 2007
The long wait for televised flat track derby sportscasting ends tonight, per this derby blogger news flash from the WFTDA:
Mav TV airs the first episode of Heartland Havoc tonight!This week's episode will be the full- length first game of Heartland Havoc, Windy City vs. Atlanta!
Episodes are an hour and a half long, and will air weekly, in order of the tournament games, at the following times:
Orig. airs will be Saturdays beginning 10/20, 10/27, 11/6, etc. at 11:00pm. Re-airs will be Sunday (lt. Sat. night) at 1:30am
Mon. at noon and Mon. at 5:00pm
Don't have Mav TV on your cable or satellite provider?
(harass them for it, but...) Watch online at
MavTV.com - here:
http://www.mavtv.com/pages/public_watch.asp (Derby Luv -the promo clip and list of episodes is: http://www.mavtv.com/pages/Public_show_rollerderby.asp And check out HaveDerbyWillTravel for instructions on how to watch episodes! )
-xxxooo Mercy
Less, Duke City Derby, Marketing/PR Chair, WFTDA
All times are Eastern. MavTV will broadcast every bout from the 2007 WFTDA East Regional and Championship Tournaments, one per week, in the same order the bouts were played in. Yes, that was a preposition I ended that sentence with.
Labels: media, news, roller derby, WFTDA
2007/11/02
Montreal Photographer exhibits Roller Derby
A local Montreal Photographer has made her latest exhibit all about Roller Derby. The subjects: MTL Roller Derby girls, as well as Lehigh Valley girls from our All-Star game of 2007. The enlarged best photos in frames, are available from the exhibit at Blizzarts at 3956A St-Laurent in Montreal... but be prepared to pay for K-Dawgs' face planting, legs-up fall, Jess Bandit's cutoff shorts, or Boxcar Bethy's face to be hung on your living room wall. The book of the entire collection of full-color photographic masterpieces? Only $50. Susan has captured everything from the anxiousness of a team waiting to play, to the tiredness and anger in a game, to the party and celebration of an excited crowd. She even caught some falls that can make you cringe. Not to forget the fishnets, and crotch shots. The Montreal Gazette said:
Her latest exhibit, Roller Derby, captures the grit and beauty of the sport
she describes as "burlesque on wheels." Moss has created a crazy, sexy
kaleidoscope of pink laces, neon green fishnets, blue mouth guards, red lipstick
and purple rollerskates.
"It's all about strong, independent, tough, hot
chicks," Moss says.
I was at the vernissage with other MLTRD girls, including Georgia W Tush last night, and I have to tell you, the photos are awesome! And being devoted to roller derby? Well that wins my heart right there. Your very own Nia Capps did not play in the games that were shot and usually shies away from the camera so you won't find her there, but Miss Georgia W Tush shows up for sure... Thanks to Susan for the book, and to Blizzarts for hosting the exhibit for the month. You can find Susan Moss Photography at http://www.susanmossphotography.com/index.html She does great work, and she likes Roller Derby! Labels: media, roller derby art
2007/10/18
Derby La Vida Loca
Hey derby luvvers! I lost my glasses a few weeks ago so extra hours on a computer have been a little tough lately, but I'm replacing them this week, so I should be able to get back into the swing of things. In the news: Check Georgia W Tush's post about the MTL All Stars team playing down in NY at the end of the month. A roller derby girl and female football player was on "Deal or No Deal" last night. I am hunting for her name and contact info. And Ken Sikes, Founder of the OSDA has been invited formally to blog with Derby Luv about OSDA news. I hope to see him join us soon, and that you enjoy an old-school view of roller derby! Have a great derby day! Labels: media, MTLRD, osda
2007/09/24
Video Vault: Crash Bandicoot Plays Roller Derby
2007/09/07
short films from rollercon 07
check out the site http://defining.com/to download some videos from rollercon 07! there is a small fee to download the films, but the film makers put a lot of time and effort into these. the first film out of five is ready to download, which is of the east vs west ref challenge. a challenge that was 20 minutes of pure black and white striped entertainment. of course don't forget to return to the site and download the team world vs team usa film, with ahem..yours truly. i am sure you will see my butt at least once. heck, maybe even twice if you're unlucky! xo, georgia w tush Labels: media, Rollercon 2007
2007/06/07
Wrap up for this week - NY, TORD, Rat City, and Derby luv to all
PoughkeepsieJournal.com - Roller derby league to debut June 17: "Roller derby league to debut June 17 The Hudson Valley Horrors will battle Western Mass Destruction in the area's first women's flat track roller derby competition June 17 at 6 p.m. at Hyde Park Roller Magic on Route 9." Mistresses of mayhem - the Toronto Sun gives some much deserved press to the Toronto Roller Derby League, also called TORD that kicked off this month. A couple of my leaguemates were at their game. Looks like anyone that would have travelled to see us in Montreal will not be headed out as their next two games are June 16 and June 30, like ours, so check them out at the George Bell Arena if you are in the TO area! That's the wrap up from the news on google today, I'll be on a long drive or two this weekend thinking up better ways to entertain and educate you... so come back! Oh, and did you hear about the Aleve commercial with the Rat City Rollergirls? If anyone has a way to record and post that, please come on over because I am in Canada and haven't seen it yet - little time for TV lately too... Labels: bouts, media, rollergirls, wrapup
2007/05/15
Roller Derby Comic at Small Market Sports!
Bill Charbonneau, who donated the artwork for the derbyluv wallpaper and part of the images in the top banner of derbyluv.com, has become a fan of roller derby. (He's also my husband, btw). Visit smallmarketsports.com to view the latest installment of Small Market Sports, and check out this roller derby reference. It made me howl! Just thought I'd share! Labels: media
2007/05/02
San Antonio MissyFits Win and their league gets some good press
Thanks to Angela for this submission. There's a roller derby rundown on My San Antonio website, and the roller derby league in San Antonio ( Alamo City Rollergirls) have a great media partner here. You can watch video from the April 15th Missyfits win over the Prim Reapers (a wonderful underdog makes good story) and from the March 18th, Dragon Divas vs Missyfits games - I just had a great break doing that! Congrats, Missyfits! Labels: bouts, media
2007/04/06
Chico Enterprise Record - Police report: Stolen roller derby skates, fake doctor's excuse among reports
Chico Enterprise Record - Police report: Stolen roller derby skates, fake doctor's excuse among reports: "A roller derby skater reported having her skates, pads and other equipment stolen from her vehicle on West Fourth Avenue Wednesday afternoon. A credit card was also taken. " Roller Derby is popping up even in crime reports... I don't know who the skater is, but I feel for her. That sucks! Hey speaking of roller derby popping up, "King of the Hill" on Fox has an episode coming up - "Arlen City Bomber" - where Luann and Peggy are playing roller derby - I saw the preview recently. The roller derby team in this episode is based on The Texas Rollergirls I hear. I might miss it because I have something planned at the same time, but watch for it, I think that's awesome. Have a Happy Easter weekend everyone! Labels: media
2007/04/04
Roller derby is neither sporting nor empowering - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Roller derby is neither sporting nor empowering - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Roller derby is neither sporting nor empowering" "After writing a column last week about the roller derby revisionist movement, I received several hundred e-mails alerting me to the following facts: I am, at once, gay, overweight, effeminate, lacking moral fiber, old, cynical, a sissy, anti-American, rich, snobbish, black and unable to appreciate "the fastest-growing, grassroots sport in the World!" ... But after a few minutes, all I could see rolling around in the slaw were well-intentioned young women, following a very bad trend for the benefit of a bunch of horny guys.
If that's the definition of sport, I'll take a job as a "referee" at a pillow fight. "...
Mike Seate got a lot of slack on his bashing of roller derby, but he still seems to think that the fact that we might wear fishnets and mini skirts or short shorts, may appear sexy as opposed to sporty, and might do silly things as penalty killers is lame. Oh well, we can't win them all, and we aren't going to have every person love roller derby... and I guess some guys like roller derby cause women are sexy to them, while women and girls love it because it's tough girls kicking ass and taking names and being athletic. I guess Mr. Seate just doesn't get that the costumes and names are done in fun, with whimsical ways to let a woman depart from her normal society-induced girly things into a tough heroine super-hero ass kicker on wheels for the entertainment of those watching the sport. Labels: media, news, roller derby
Skater girls hit back - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Skater girls hit back - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "I wonder if Seate feels the same animosity toward men's sports in which the main goal appears to be beating the snot out of each other? Does he consider boxing a farce? Football? Rugby? The whole spectrum of martial arts? Is seeing women play a full-contact sport so threatening that he must retaliate by writing slanderous columns calling it sordid, violent and stupid? Low blows, but nothing we can't handle. As for Mr. Seate, I suggest he gets over his fear of roller derby fast because it's not disappearing anytime soon.
Christine
Hennessey (aka Madame Furie)
Nacogdoches Rollergirls
Nacogdoches, Texas" Hear Hear, Madame Furie! My sentiments echo yours and I am happy to see in the media a retaliation, not just here on my blog. Labels: media, roller derby insulted
2007/03/12
Van Panzitta - Old School Derby star
 An article about Val Panzitta showed up for me today. Roller Derby of old star and co-creator of the reverse whip (360 degree spin and release of your partner) and half of "The Murder Twins " and "The Dynamite Twins" in 1950 or so is still travelling with roller skates after knee surgery and is still in love with roller derby. He says he was disappointed with the derby of the 70's - and I have to say I agree with him - I think the resurgence of us rollergirls concentrating more on the skating and athleticism than on the show-off, wrestling entertainment fake moves of the 70s is much better - and if the reaction of the crowds I've seen is anything, it's still the most fun you can have sitting on bleachers... LOL Read about Val in the article. Labels: media
2007/03/10
"Hell On Wheels" Premiers in Austin TX
So it's finally here, "Hell On Wheels" the documentary on roller derby circa now is premiering this month in Austin Texas. Maybe you are a friend on myspace and got a post, maybe you've been waiting... or you're waiting for the DVD. But if you're in Austin Texas, you should pack into the Alama Downtown and check it out this week and then write me and let me know how it was! If you tell me you saw a Montreal Roller Derby logo anywhere flashed across the screen, and it's true, I'll interview you on Derbyluv.com whether you are a rollergirl or not. Well, I am still an MTLRD Rollergirl so I have to be partial. ;) Hell on Wheels: Bob Ray's febrile look at Texas rollerderby culture. (1:30 p.m. Sunday, Paramount; 4:30 p.m. March 15 and 4:15 p.m. March 17, Alamo Downtown) Never heard of 'Hell on Wheels'? I'd love to post the link for you but it doesn't seem to be loading today, so maybe try it later: http://www.hellonwheelsthemovie.com/Labels: media, roller derby movie
2007/03/08
Vexy Clothing launches Roller Derby Themed Campaign
Vexy Clothing released their 2007 clothing line marketing campaign this week, and they're showing the Derby Luv by making it roller derby-centric. Georgia W Tush, skater and captain and L'il Homewrecker, a skater, both of the MTL Roller Derby League, and my teammates, appear in their photo shoot along with their models, and there is an MTL Roller Derby video clip show right on their site. It's made me like their clothing line even more now that I know they're backing the rollergirls! Check out the video at: http://vexy.com/english/index.html - click on the last girl in the image for the Goodies section to get there! Labels: marketing, media, rollergirls
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