Monday
Nov302009

Help the Dolls Help the Hungry on 12/5

While the Swarm and Tough Cookies battle for the championship this Saturday, you can help your favorite team win a fierce off-track competition.  Bring a can of food (or 20!) and place them in your team's collection bank.  Vote as many times as you like, and the winning team will be announced. More importantly, you'll be helping the Dolls feed the hungry this holiday season, which is a victory for everyone. Donations will benefit MEND Food Bank.

Monday
Nov302009

L.A. Times: Derby Dolls setting the fashion pace

At a recent sold-out roller bout, almost 2,000 Angelenos rallied with beer and high spirits to support their favorite Derby Dolls teams. A long-haired, newbie attendee stood in awe of a skater zipping by.

It wasn't just the skater's athletic prowess that was enviable . . . it was her sporty fishnets and hot-pants "boutfit."

"I want to try it, just to see what I would look like in the outfit," new fan Cassandra McGrath, a 24-year-old teacher, said wistfully.

Photo by Stalkerazzi F/8.

(read full story)

(photo gallery)

 

Tuesday
Nov242009

Losanjealous.com Spends Spanksgiving at the Doll Factory

Photo by Stalkerazzi/F8.

DF is thankful for tonite’s LADD bout ‘tween the Tough Cookies and the Swarm. If there’s a more mouth-watering matchup, DF hasn’t yet seen it. Both teams are tied for first in the league, both teams are undefeated in 2009, both teams are mortal locks to re-compete in December’s Championship Bout. Tonight’s titular tussle is thus titantic but also tantalizing, as it affords los aficionados de la derby a sneak preview of the carnage that will surely be forthcoming in the title match. The bout’s outcome (boutcome?) may not be strictly relevant to the championship, but it affords strategic possiblities galore, with the need for momentum, and the desire to take psychological advantage, and the possibilities for strategic gameswomanship, and what have you. It’s on, beyatches. Fully.

(read full article here)

Thursday
Nov192009

SEASON’S BEATINGS: 2009 CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO DOLL FACTORY 

Tickets On Sale For Hotly Anticipated Rematch Between Tough Cookies and Swarm On Saturday, Dec. 5; Last Chance To See Roller Derby In 2009

LOS ANGELES – The L.A. Derby Dolls (www.derbydolls.com/la), Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, will close the 2009 season with a crash on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Doll Factory (1910 Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90026).  This championship bout between 2008 titleholders, the Tough Cookies, and the undefeated Swarm, will be a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish.

Fans received a thrilling sneak preview on Nov. 14 when these two dominant teams faced off for the first time. Both went into the game undefeated, but the Swarm emerged victorious. The Cookies came back from a halftime 20-point deficit, narrowing the score to 84-79 in the fourth quarter. Hindered by numerous skater ejections, however, the Cookies fell apart in the final two minutes of the game, losing 79 to 94.

The Swarm – the L.A. Derby Dolls’ fifth and newest team – is now ranked number one for the season, but as demonstrated in this last match, the championship title is truly up for grabs. Undoubtedly, the veteran Cookies want to save face following their only loss of the season, and repeat their 2008 championship victory. The Swarm, meanwhile, is anxious to see their first championship banner hang inside the Doll Factory. Whatever the outcome, this rematch promises to be the not-to-be-missed battle of the season.

Live karaoke ensemble, The Lemones, will return to the Doll Factory for a set of 80s karaoke. Derby fans will have the opportunity to belt out their favorite 80s hits before a panel of discerning L.A. Derby Dolls’ judges. The Helvins will perform at halftime. Derby Dolls' events offer a full range of entertainment off the track, with the Vendor Village featuring art, jewelry and clothes, food from Garage Pizza and Hot Dog on a Stick; wine from Paso Creek; beer from Tecate and Alex’s Bar.

The L.A. Derby Dolls are one of only five leagues in the U.S. playing roller derby on a banked track. Like most modern female roller derby leagues, the Derby Dolls are volunteer-run and give back to the community that has embraced them. Honored as a Treasure of Los Angeles by the Central City Association, the Derby Dolls also operate a Junior Derby League for girls ages 8-17.

Tickets are now available to purchase at http://www.derbydolls.com/la. General admission tickets are $20; VIP tickets are $40.00. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and close at half time. The Doll Factory is located at 1910 Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026 (between Alvarado and Union). General parking is available for $8 at Silver Lake Medical Center, 1711 West Temple (near the intersection of Temple and Union), one block east of the Doll Factory. This is a 21 and over event, featuring beer and wine. Please have your ID, leave your cameras/recording devices at home, and note that all concessions and most vendors accept cash only.

Photo by Stalkerazzi.

 

 

Wednesday
Nov182009

Swarm Stings the Cookies, 94-79

Sarkastika vs. Krissy Krash. Photo by Stalkerazzi F/8.In the long-awaited face-off, these two dominant teams did battle for the first time on Nov. 14th. Both went into the game undefeated, but the Swarm emerged victorious. Despite coming back from a 20-point halftime deficit, narrowing the score to 84-79 in the fourth quarter, the Cookies fell apart in the final two minutes of the game, hindered by numerous skater ejections and powerful jamming from the Swarm. Both teams played without their injured captains, Isabelle Ringer (Swarm) and Iron Maiven (Tough Cookies).

The Swarm's Sarkastika scored the most points of the night with 35. Stefcon 1 and Gori Spelling led the Cookies with 23 points apiece.

Ready for a rematch? Buy your tickets for the 2009 season championship bout today!