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| Hurt Reynolds Roller Derby Tour |
| Hurt Reynolds Roller Derby Tour |
After getting to know Hurt and see him in action at three events in the last
six months, I have earned a ton of respect for his dedication to derby and
knowledge of bout production.
six months, I have earned a ton of respect for his dedication to derby and
knowledge of bout production.
Flyin' Squirrel will track Hurt's progress and likely get an interview on his
travels when he stops in Madison in May. Hurt has been helping get the
Flyin' Squirrel name out there as he goes from league to league. In fact, if
you see him, he might even have some shwag to give away! I appreciate
his help, respect his talents, and have decided that to sell and donate
proceeds from the "Hurt shirt," which was originally created to be a
souvenir of his trip, to help keep him on the road as long as possible. If you
haven't seen the Hurt shirt, get a view of both sides by rolling your cursor
over the image. YES, that really is his face planted on Burt's neck!
travels when he stops in Madison in May. Hurt has been helping get the
Flyin' Squirrel name out there as he goes from league to league. In fact, if
you see him, he might even have some shwag to give away! I appreciate
his help, respect his talents, and have decided that to sell and donate
proceeds from the "Hurt shirt," which was originally created to be a
souvenir of his trip, to help keep him on the road as long as possible. If you
haven't seen the Hurt shirt, get a view of both sides by rolling your cursor
over the image. YES, that really is his face planted on Burt's neck!
| B.A.D. Girls Lose their Venue |
| B.A.D. Girls Lose their Venue |
This is every leagues' nightmare. I love the Bay Area Derby Girls, have
had a chance to announce for them at two of the three major
tournaments they've participated in, and it hurts to know something of this
magnitude has happened. Even worse, it happened just as their 2007
league season was only into its second bout. This poster image is what
I found last time I visited their site, prompting me to find out why.
had a chance to announce for them at two of the three major
tournaments they've participated in, and it hurts to know something of this
magnitude has happened. Even worse, it happened just as their 2007
league season was only into its second bout. This poster image is what
I found last time I visited their site, prompting me to find out why.
Here's the official press release:
Bay Area Derby Girls March 31 Bout
CANCELLED
OAKLAND -- March 29, 2007 -- The B.ay
A.rea D.erby Girls' March 31 bout
between the Richmond Wrecking Belles
and the Oakland Outlaws has been
canceled. Just two days prior to the bout,
Dry Ice, the primary event venue for the
B.A.D. Girls, has been deemed unsafe by
Oakland's Fire Marshall. While the
dubious state of the venue was apparent
to any loyal fan, Dry Ice will no longer be
allowed to host events of any capacity.
Bay Area Derby Girls March 31 Bout
CANCELLED
OAKLAND -- March 29, 2007 -- The B.ay
A.rea D.erby Girls' March 31 bout
between the Richmond Wrecking Belles
and the Oakland Outlaws has been
canceled. Just two days prior to the bout,
Dry Ice, the primary event venue for the
B.A.D. Girls, has been deemed unsafe by
Oakland's Fire Marshall. While the
dubious state of the venue was apparent
to any loyal fan, Dry Ice will no longer be
allowed to host events of any capacity.
"This is a real disappointment to both the league and our fans," says
Diane Rott, the B.A.D. Girls Events Director. "We know our fans are not
comfortable at Dry Ice. We know it's not the ideal venue. But until this
point, it has been our
only option in the Bay Area. We now have even more reason to look for
a better space." Since their 2006 season, the B.A.D. Girls have been
scouting the Bay Area for a place to call home. However, due to soaring
rents and high occupancy rates, the league has had few options.
"While we have had generous sponsorships from great local businesses
such as Amoeba, we have yet to find a true patron saint of derby to help
us secure a space of our own," says Miss Moxxxie, the league's
Sponsorship Director. Like many roller derby leagues, the B.A.D. Girls
are a volunteer run organization, dependent on donations and
community support.
All online ticket purchases for the March 31st bout will be automatically
refunded. For prompt paper ticket refunds, please write to
info@bayareaderbygirls.com or mail your tickets to B.A.D. Girls, PO Box
328, Alameda, CA 94501. A new venue for the B.A.D. Girls' April 28th
bout is
currently in the works. Please stay tuned for more information.
Diane Rott, the B.A.D. Girls Events Director. "We know our fans are not
comfortable at Dry Ice. We know it's not the ideal venue. But until this
point, it has been our
only option in the Bay Area. We now have even more reason to look for
a better space." Since their 2006 season, the B.A.D. Girls have been
scouting the Bay Area for a place to call home. However, due to soaring
rents and high occupancy rates, the league has had few options.
"While we have had generous sponsorships from great local businesses
such as Amoeba, we have yet to find a true patron saint of derby to help
us secure a space of our own," says Miss Moxxxie, the league's
Sponsorship Director. Like many roller derby leagues, the B.A.D. Girls
are a volunteer run organization, dependent on donations and
community support.
All online ticket purchases for the March 31st bout will be automatically
refunded. For prompt paper ticket refunds, please write to
info@bayareaderbygirls.com or mail your tickets to B.A.D. Girls, PO Box
328, Alameda, CA 94501. A new venue for the B.A.D. Girls' April 28th
bout is
currently in the works. Please stay tuned for more information.
Then, BAD Gets Worse
If that news wasn't bad enough, I happened to catch this MySpace
bulletin floatin' around from a few of the skaters:
bulletin floatin' around from a few of the skaters:
"Keeping this league going is hard when we have everything going our
way. The amount of work that so many girls put in to making this the
raddest league ever is insurmountable. But now it gets even harder.
First we lost our first venue, due to the Fire Marshall deeming it unsafe.
Now, we lost what we thought was going to be out next venue, minutes
before we were going to sign the contract. Reason sited- "they do not want
to hold events of our kind." Where do we go? We have the best fans
around and no place to show them the sport they've grown to love. If you
have any leads on a new venue, please let us know! We have been
searching, what seems like forever, and have yet to find something. Help
me and the people I love so dearly find a place to call home.
I know I would die, But ask yourself...
What would you do without roller derby?"
way. The amount of work that so many girls put in to making this the
raddest league ever is insurmountable. But now it gets even harder.
First we lost our first venue, due to the Fire Marshall deeming it unsafe.
Now, we lost what we thought was going to be out next venue, minutes
before we were going to sign the contract. Reason sited- "they do not want
to hold events of our kind." Where do we go? We have the best fans
around and no place to show them the sport they've grown to love. If you
have any leads on a new venue, please let us know! We have been
searching, what seems like forever, and have yet to find something. Help
me and the people I love so dearly find a place to call home.
I know I would die, But ask yourself...
What would you do without roller derby?"
The final two sentences of that statement hit home hard. Especially
knowing that this league has never had it easy, yet they've achieved so
much. They played to a #9 ranking in 2006's Dust Devil after only bouting
once before the tournament. They were the darlings of the tourney, as
well as its best story.
knowing that this league has never had it easy, yet they've achieved so
much. They played to a #9 ranking in 2006's Dust Devil after only bouting
once before the tournament. They were the darlings of the tourney, as
well as its best story.
which was a "statement" bout for B.A.D.G. After being admittedly
disappointed at Bumbershoot, they came out with a revamped lineup, which
included Kitt Turbo (jamming in her first spotlight tournament) and Mandi
Festo, former Tucson Roller Derby member of the Iron Curtain. Pikes Peak
gave it their all, but with only one bona fide jammer, B.A.D. beat them 198 to
15, the most lop-sided bout of the tourney. Racey Lane and Kitt Turbo carried
the torch jamming, while the defense provided by Liza Machette, Taxi Scabs,
Injure Rogers, Iva Vendetta, Motley Cruz and the others was impressive. They
played very much to their ranking and again impressed the Tucson crowd.
disappointed at Bumbershoot, they came out with a revamped lineup, which
included Kitt Turbo (jamming in her first spotlight tournament) and Mandi
Festo, former Tucson Roller Derby member of the Iron Curtain. Pikes Peak
gave it their all, but with only one bona fide jammer, B.A.D. beat them 198 to
15, the most lop-sided bout of the tourney. Racey Lane and Kitt Turbo carried
the torch jamming, while the defense provided by Liza Machette, Taxi Scabs,
Injure Rogers, Iva Vendetta, Motley Cruz and the others was impressive. They
played very much to their ranking and again impressed the Tucson crowd.
They met their match, and their injury limit, against eventual Dust Devil
winners, Rat City Roller Girls, but it was mission accomplished for the
B.A.D. Girls. It was an honor to represent them, pink mohawk and all. As
the only Eastern Region announcer representing a team for the Dust Devil, I
was glad it could be for the previous years' surprise team. Did I mention
they're fun to be around too? Watch out for Killer V's hip check.
winners, Rat City Roller Girls, but it was mission accomplished for the
B.A.D. Girls. It was an honor to represent them, pink mohawk and all. As
the only Eastern Region announcer representing a team for the Dust Devil, I
was glad it could be for the previous years' surprise team. Did I mention
they're fun to be around too? Watch out for Killer V's hip check.
Ya know what I want to do? I WANT TO ANNOUNCE FOR THE B.A.D.
GIRLS AGAIN! The only way I can make that happen is to ask the national
derby family to do what they can to help. I know I will do what I can. They
need a venue, are playing in a city that used to be synonymous with roller
derby, and can certainly prove that a venue that "holds events of their kind"
can turn a nice buck while entertaining and thrilling crowds in the way only
roller derby can. That statement still burns through me...at times the sport
is so misunderstood.
GIRLS AGAIN! The only way I can make that happen is to ask the national
derby family to do what they can to help. I know I will do what I can. They
need a venue, are playing in a city that used to be synonymous with roller
derby, and can certainly prove that a venue that "holds events of their kind"
can turn a nice buck while entertaining and thrilling crowds in the way only
roller derby can. That statement still burns through me...at times the sport
is so misunderstood.
Our friend quit his job, hit the road, and is not only watching as much derby
as he can, but sharing production advice as he goes. This is particularly
valuable to new leagues.
as he can, but sharing production advice as he goes. This is particularly
valuable to new leagues.
I had the pleasure of spending some time with them and announcing for
the inter-league team at the Bumberbout and then again at last February's
Dust Devil. Thanks to The Boss for the photos from the 2007 Dust Devil.
They are from the bout against Pikes Peak Derby Dames
the inter-league team at the Bumberbout and then again at last February's
Dust Devil. Thanks to The Boss for the photos from the 2007 Dust Devil.
They are from the bout against Pikes Peak Derby Dames
If you have any leads or contacts that could find a new Bay Area home,
please contact them. I think everyone understands the urgency of this
request. Leagues cannot afford to lose league season gate money,
merchandise sales, skate time, and, most of all, the loyalty of their fan base.
please contact them. I think everyone understands the urgency of this
request. Leagues cannot afford to lose league season gate money,
merchandise sales, skate time, and, most of all, the loyalty of their fan base.
Learn more about the Hurt Reynolds "Have Derby will Travel" tour by visiting
his Web site and reading about his experiences. Flyin' Squirrel will try to
get his progress mapped and provide you with up-to-date information.
his Web site and reading about his experiences. Flyin' Squirrel will try to
get his progress mapped and provide you with up-to-date information.
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