Sunday
Jan102010

L.A. Derby Dolls vs. L.A. Fire Department- Jan. 14 Charity Event

Come out and support your L.A. Derby Dolls when they take on the L.A. Fire Department in a charity broomball event in downtown!

DOWNTOWN ON ICE AT PERSHING SQUARE HOSTS CHARITY BROOMBALL CHALLENGE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND L.A. DERBY DOLLS

LOS ANGELES -- Testosterone verses estrogen, bring it on... No guarantee of a sweeping victory for either team in the Los Angeles Fire Department verses L.A. Derby Dolls Broomball Challenge game Thursday, January 14 at Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square. Members of the LAFD face off against Southern California’s premiere women’s banked track roller derby league at 9:00am in a seriously fun game that promises to be a thrill to watch, despite the ruling of no “checking, blocking or hitting.” Armed with only athletic shoes, helmets, brooms and a winning game plan, the action promises to be a spirited showcase of thrills and spills between the sexes.

Attendance is free but donations are appreciated to benefit the LAFD Widows, Orphan and Disabled Fireman’s Fund. The team’s members from Fire Station #9 downtown and other outlying stations have been hard at work developing their game.

“We stay in shape with our jobs and training is a part of our lifestyle, so we’re confident that we will be able to run them up and down the ice for the full hour,” says Fire Captain Justin Bactat who also captains the team. But, according to L.A. Derby Doll Tae Kwon Ho, “The LA Firefighters are true heroes so it’s a real shame that we’ll have to kick their butts!”

The Broomball Challenge is a part of the community outreach programs from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks that hosts the annual winter holiday rink at Pershing Square in the heart of the city at 532 South Olive. The 12th Annual Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink debuted November 19, 2009 and will remain open everyday through Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010. The last day features a free afternoon concert performance by Urban Dread. As the largest outdoor holiday skating rink in Los Angeles with the lowest admission price, a session is just $6 and skate rentals $2. Underground discount parking is available with validation. For more info and a detailed session schedule go to www.laparks.org and click to Pershing Square or call 213/ 847-4970.

For more info on The Derby Dolls, who have their next bout January 23, 2010 when the Sirens take on the Varsity Brawlers, visit www.derbydolls.com/la




Friday
Jan082010

Interview with Varsity Brawlers' Eire Vengeance - Tix on sale now for Sirens vs. VB Jan. 23!

Photo by Charlie Shutterthug Chu

Longtime veteran blocker Eire Vengeance got her skates wet with the Tough Cookies and has risen to become the new co-captain of no-longer-rookie team, the Varsity Brawlers. Debuting in 2009, VB surprised everyone by skating with tenacity and strong team chemistry that belied their lack of experience, winning a stellar game over the Fight Crew and narrowly losing to the Sirens. The Brawlers were leading the Sirens all the way until the very last jam, when superstar jammer Mila Minute ripped out 10 points to win the game.

No doubt, the Brawlers are seeking revenge against the Sirens. We spoke to Eire about what the new season has in store for this team with heart, and what the game plan is against the cops. You can see Eire and her Brawlers take on the Sirens on JAN. 23 - Tickets are on sale NOW at here and we WILL sell out!

Q: This will be your first game as co-captain of the Varsity Brawlers. As you begin your regime, is there anything you’d like the Sirens, and the world, to know about your team?

EV: In as few words as possible?  Prepare yourselves for a pride obliterating bitch slap!

Q: This is only the Varsity Brawler’s second season. What were the biggest mistakes the Varsity Brawlers made last season, and how have you grown as a team?

EV: I don't feel that we made any mistakes last season. Something that I think gets overlooked about us is that over HALF of our team had absolutely no game experience before they were picked to form this team. That is HUGE. And to have our near victory in the beginning of '09...  then on to our ACTUAL victory at the end of '09. All i have to say is that VB is a supernova of talent, with no end to our improvement in sight!

Q: The Varsity Brawlers stunned the audience last spring when they nearly beat the Sirens in just their second game as a team; given that bout, are you planning to follow the same strategy or do you have any new tricks up your sleeve?
EV: Our biggest advantage is that we tailor make our strategy to each team we play.  So any game we have played in the past is not going to be the same as what the Sirens are going to get.  Plus the Sirens had gone through so many changes last season that it would be foolish to come at them the same way. We don;t have to worry about losing to a jammer scoring over 50 points this time.  

Q: What are the biggest challenges that the Varsity Brawlers will face in 2010?
EV: Every person in this league is growing and improving constantly. The margin for error is so small now with the rules and with your game play. Constant diligence is going to be key, and we DEFINITELY need to want it more than the next girl.

Q: Who do you admire most on the Sirens?  Who are you looking forward to hitting the hardest?

EV: I respect and admire all of them. Everyone is so dedicated and hard working. However, I will get an unbelievable joy out of blocking the HELL out of my fellow Bully Blockers: V. Lee, Killo Kitty, P.I.T.A and Ryder Hard. I mean BEAT DOWN. I do have a history of making girls claw for the oxygen tank!

Q: If roller derby were a beauty pageant, which Derby Dolls team would win and why?

EV: HA!! VB, duh. We got the looks, we got the talent, and if at first you don't agree, you'll get beat till you do!


Q: Describe the 2010 Varsity Brawlers in 5 words or less.
EV: We're gonna hurt you...
Tuesday
Dec152009

Losanjealous.com: LA Derby Dolls Championship Bout

Photo by Stalkerazzi F/8.Yea, Lords and Ladies of the merrie village of Los Angeles! Let the Bard DF tell you a tale! Tis a tale of brave wheeled damsels who wage battle at yon Doll Factory. Hardy of spirit and fleet of skate, these ladies circumnavigate ye olde banked track, laughing the face of Dame Fortune (and her irascible cousin, Lady Brokenleg, who DF found to be a real bitch) in search of glory, fame, and sweet, sweet victory. Read on, and you shall hear the story of a bout so scintillating that ‘twould cause even the stoutest knight to defecate in his suit of armor, and the veil of the daintiest maiden to burst into flames and reduce her to a naught but a heap of ash.

(full story here)

Thursday
Dec102009

DNN: LADD Tough Cookies Take CA Banked Title

Photo by Stalkerazzi F/8.LOS ANGELES, CA - The LA Derby Dolls Tough Cookies led the San Diego Derby Dolls Swarm from the first whistle and through most of the game to take the first co-league Derby Dolls Championship, 107-91.

Video of this game can be viewed on the Derby Dolls justin.tv channel.

Less than a month ago, the SDDD Swarm and LADD Tough Cookies met, both with 3-0 records. While the Cookies came within 6 points with two minutes left in the game, the Swarm prevailed with a final score of 94-79, leaving them undefeated with a 4-0 record and the Cookies with 3-1.  There were six ejections in that game, two of them members of the Swarm.

(full article here)

Unofficial game stats: 

Tough Cookies: Stefcon 1 was the top jammer with 47 points in 12 jams with a 3.91 points per jam average and a +40 differential; Laguna Beyatch had 28 points in 11 jams, 2.54 PPJ and a +2 differential; Sniperella pulled 16 points, 5.30 PPJ and a +8 differential, and Gori Spelling had 12 points in 7 jams, 1.71 PPJ and a -11 differential.

The Swarm: Sarkastika led with 34 points in 12 jams, 2.83 ppj, and a +16 differential; Kiki Diazz earned 29 points in 10 jams with 2.90 PPJ and a +14 differential; Trish The Dish scored 21 points in 5 jams while getting a 4.20 PPJ and a +16 differential.



Tuesday
Dec082009

LAist: Tough Cookies 2009 Champs

The Los Angeles Derby Dolls' Tough Cookies became two-time champions on Saturday night when they challenged the previously-undefeated Swarm at the packed Doll Factory. Final score: Cookies 107 - Swarm 91.

Photo by Mike Zampelli.(Full article and photo gallery here)