December 18th: EIO Holiday Mixer Featuring 12 Midwest Teams, Multiple Iowa Teams

OCCRG Releases 2011 Bout Schedule

The Old Capitol City Roller Girls released their 2011 schedule on their website. Of particular note is The Big Bout on August 11 vs. fellow WFTDA apprentices The Mid Iowa Rollers in Des Moines, which, in this bloggers opinion, is the most anticipated bout of the 2011 season.

Bout Openings for EIO

From Eastern Iowa Outlaws Facebook Page

 "Outlaws have openings for the following bouts: October 29, 2011 and November 19, 2011. If interested shoot an email to: deadleedanni@yahoo.com . These are in Dubuque,Iowa. Spanks!"

New Eastern Iowa Outlaws Website Launched

Looks pretty savvy.

Eastern Iowa Outlaws Profiled On KWWL

Interviews with Dead Lee Danni and Sgt. StrikeHer on a KWWL news segment.

11/20 FINALS FROM DUBUQUE

First Bout (20 Minute Periods): Eastern Iowa Outlaws: Misdemeanors 85, Quad City Rollers: Rock Island Line 66

Second Bout: Quad City Rollers (30 Minute Periods): River Bend Bombers 142, Eastern Iowa Outlaws: Felons 66

Team Number 12? Rumblings About A Marshalltown Team

We might have team number 12 here in Iowa if this Facebook Page is correct. Practice for them is slated to begin in January 2011.

SCENE REPORT: Roller Dames vs. Derby Dames: The Shequel by Skinnerella

IRDD's Woman in Sioux City, Skinnerella, files this scene report on the Des Moines Derby Dames vs. Sioux City Roller Dames, Saturday night. She is the author of this piece.

Saturday night, Long Lines Family Recreation Center, two teams entered, one team left…then the other team left, too;  I mean, we’ve all got families and carpools and stuff. But, on the track, we were totally ruthless. Well, within reason.

After coming back for a narrow victory in our October bout against D3 in Des Moines, the Roller Dames were pumped for another highly competitive bout. D3 jumped out to an early lead, with Stella Italiana scoring 7 unanswered points in the first jam and Cosmo Disco scoring 13 in the second. Then someone told PBR we were behind, so she put up 10 unanswered points while Stella Italiana was in the penalty box, bringing the score to and even 29-29.

Roller Dames kept a narrow lead for the next few jams, then Dubbs, in against Stella, got lead jammer and was all set to widen the lead when she got sent to the penalty box (oh noooooo!). Stella scored 20 points in the jam, bringing the score to 50-34. Both teams defenses kept the scores low for the rest of the half, but D3 maintained a 20ish-point lead until the buzzer sounded.

Soooo, after the tournament, we had decided that we were no longer a second-half team. Really. But, honestly, would Rocky IV have been a good movie if Sly Stallone had knocked Drago out in the third round? Of course not!

WeLiveInSodHouses played a short set during halftime and they were so good, I went out the next day and bought a tamborine and a tub of mustache wax!

Funsize started the second half in the box, luckily, Dames’ Great Wall of Heiney kept Stella scoreless. The Roller Dames crept back and were soon within 7 points of the lead, then this happened: D3 jammers were in the box for 5 out of 6 consecutive jams. On one occasion, Stella was sent to the box, saving Mo Payne from serving out a 2-minute stint. This was a game-changer, which allowed the Dames to rack up 3 grand slams and, over the course of these 6 jams, outscore D3 34-6. In the next to last jam, Mo Payne put up 3 grand slams of her own, driving the last nails into D3′s coffin.  The final score was 126-149, Roller Dames.

Big thanks to the Derby Dames, their refs, crew and fans for coming out to play with us, and also for reminding us that if you can’t say something nice, you should probably just give them the finger. (-;

FINAL FROM SIOUX CITY: Sioux City Defeats D3

The Sioux City Roller Dames have swept the fall installment of the Battle of the Dames by knocking off the Des Moines Derby Dames 149-126 in Sioux City.

The win places Sioux City at 4-1 (plus their undefeated championship run in the Rollin Along The River 3 Tournament) on their season thus far, while D3 falls to 1-2 on their short fall schedule.

CORRECTION

I posted that Quad City would be a part of a double header in Cedar Rapids on November 20. This is absolutely impossible because they will be in Dubuque playing Eastern Iowa that same night.

I apologize for the error. I've updated everything with changes. Can someone from CRRG send me a jpeg of the new bout poster?

November 20: Cedar Rapids Rollergirls Season Ending Double Header

U.S. Cellular Center is located here....

November 13: Battle of the Dames II- D3 Ventures To Sioux City For Second Installment

The second Battle of the Dames looks to be one of the bigger matches of the fall as the Des Moines Derby Dames (1-1) face the Sioux City Roller Dames, who are carrying over their winning ways from the end of their last season, hanging up a 3-1 record and winning the Rollin' Along The River Tournament without a single loss. D3's sole loss on the season was against Sioux City by a mere 8 points last month in Des Moines.

Long Lines Family Rec Center is located here...

D3's Toxic Moss, MOAB, and Neurosis Cut Their Hair for "Locks of Love"

The Eleventh Team? Word About Dakota City Demolion Crew Begins Circulting

Reports are beginning to emerge about a new Roller Derby team beginning to spread.

First there is this page on Facebook for a team called the Dakota City Demolition Crew in the Humboldt, Iowa area.

Second, there was this post by Left 4 Deadwards on her recent blog post which mentioned the same team. Apparently, Left 4 Deadwards and Animal Mother of OCCRG went up to practice with them.

(Photo Courtesy of Left 4 Deadwards Blog)

FINAL FROM CORALVILLE: NINE LIVES FOR OCCRG

FINAL FROM CORALVILLE: OCCRG gets single season record for most wins by Iowa Derby team at nine with 225-104 win over Quad City.

HALFTIME IN CORALVILLE: OCCRG On All Gears Over Quad City

HALFTIME: Old Capitol City 105, Quad City 51

Saturday Night: Halloween Party With the Sioux City Roller Dames

Saturday Night: Old Capitol City Attempt To Gain Single Season Win Record Against Quad CIty Rollers River Bend Bombers

In July, after the Mid Iowa Roller wrapped up their perfect season at 8-0, I called them the best roller derby team that Iowa has produced so far in this new derby era. I stand by that statement. An undefeated record is an undefeated record.

But a scenario could be played out on Saturday that may cause debate within the Iowa Roller Derby community. While MIR is perfect on the season with eight wins, the Old Capitol City Roller Girls will attempt to seize the record for most wins in a single season (nine) should they defeat the Quad City Rollers: River Bend Bombers on Saturday night at the Monsters Brawl in Coralville on Saturday.

Regardless of the results of the bout, one thing everyone can agree on, whether you are a die hard MIR or a card carrying member of the Old Capitol City faithful, is that the MIR-OCCRG bout in 2011 will be a major clash of the titans.

The Coralville Marriott is located here...

Scene Report: Go Go Berserk Of The Quad City Rollers Files This Report Saturday's Double Header In Davenport

 NOTE: Go Go Berserk plays with the Quad City Rollers: River Bend Bombers  and is the Alternative Captain of the Quad City Rollers: Rock Island Line. She is the author of this piece.

Going into our second double header of the season, we had a renewed sense of excitement in our league due to recent and long awaited expansion changes. Saturday we re-introduced ourselves to the area & our fans with our newly formed teams. Our A squad now goes by “River Bend Bombers” and our B squad is now the “Rock Island Line”. We felt a strong desire to keep our teams themed around the Quad City area which we all call home. A little back story on Rock Island Line is that the league President, Sugar & Slice, has had about a two year dream of giving a team this name since she first came forth with the idea. It’s such an awesome feeling to reach this point. QCR didn’t have enough girls to fill a roster when I began skating with them nearly two years ago.

I know that some folks couldn’t help but to notice that some long time “Rollers” skated in both bouts that night including yours truly. This is due in part to how our league has proceeded with its new organization. A squad, River Bend Bombers, have a set 10 skaters. Rock Island Line contains everyone else that has tested out on minimum skills however this B squad includes 10 possible spots for what we refer to as “floaters”. Floaters are technically B squad that can & will be called upon to play on the A squad as needed. Check out our website for the roster outline . (We do have quite a few more girls than shown that just need to be tested out & placed so if someone you know seems to be missing, fear not!) This does present some of us with the opportunity to skate twice in one night. Double your pleasure, I say!

B Squad bout: Quad City Rollers-Rock Island Line (54) vs. Eastern Iowa Outlaws-Misdemeanors (81)

Mind you, the Misdemeanors may have taken our track Saturday as a team full of new skaters, we held no illusions that this would mean they would be in any sense an easy opponent to beat. We know full well who their amazing training staff consists of! Their strong blocking and solid walls were to be our ultimate demise. I gotta hand it to my girls though for keeping their attitudes positive, their penalties to a minimum and never giving up. It’s with that spirit that I know we’ve got lots to look forward to.

Our Rock Island Line introduced some newbies as well that night and (as their newly named alternate captain along-side captain, Diamond Dust) I’m so proud of their first time out. I think we all came away with that sense of pride at the things we know we did well but also know better what we need to work on. We don’t really like to think of a low scoring bout at a 27 point deficit to be anything to hang our heads about in a sport such as ours. Everyone is excited & looking forward to rematch with them on November 20th on the Outlaw’s floor.

A Squad bout: Quad City Roller-River Bend Bombers (87) vs. Des Moines Derby Dames (141)

Des Moines Derby Dames were coming to play and suffice it to say their legend preceded them. We were warned, we saw the videos but until you really try to capture & stop one Stella Italliana, you just don’t really know what you are in for. And to whomever files that girl’s sharp shoulder blades…please stop! ;0)

The first half couldn’t have been more exciting. We back & forthed it a few times on the score but always seemed to be no more than 5 points (if memory serves me) difference. We employed a few strategies that seemed to work well in the first half. Pink Taco & Lady Gotcha were keeping the points coming quite well with the aide of our blocking strategies.

But then there was the second half which going in still seemed could be anybodies game. Once again we find ourselves receiving far more penalties than we care to have racked up and when we short ourselves bodies on the track it is just a lot to expect to keep the initial momentum going the same.

Before the bout was complete we watched two team mates skate away for reaching their 7th trip to the box. D3 put up a few large jams that half as well so then the obvious result would unfold.

We had a great time with both teams that night and always do our best to come away having learned more about ourselves. Thanks again to the Eastern Iowa Outlaws-Misdemeanors and to the Des Moines Derby Dames for a great night and a great challenge.

Coming up…

The Quad City Rollers-River Bend Bombers are thrilled to be headed to Iowa City on Saturday October 30th for a second Monster’s Brawl with our great friends and fierce opponents the Old Capital City Roller Girls. Cannot wait to bash it up with them again!

Des Moines Derby Dames: It Gets Better Video

The Des Moines Derby Dames have produced what is no doubt the most important video that any Iowa Roller Derby Team has put out so far.

By joining the "It Gets Better" movement that has gained momentum in the wake of the recent suicides of gay teenagers, most notably Rutgers University student Tyler Clement, D3 may have saved someones life.

If you are reading this and you are in a situation where people are bullying you because of your sexual orientation, or the fact that people just see you as different, and you are contemplating suicide, take a step back, sit down and watch this video. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately if you feel like hurting yourself. If you are a teenager and are Gay or questioning and you are also losing the will to live and are thinking about harming yourself, you can also contact The Trevor Project.

As D3 said, it gets better. You can make it through this time and then you don't have to deal with the people who torment you anymore if you don't want to. In the meantime, the resources are out there to help you. The love of many people, like D3 and myself, goes out to you. Every person in the world has an inherent dignity and value. You are no different. You have something to offer in this rich tapestry of life.

Hang on. It gets better.