Naptown v Archies Bout Recap or the Glorious Return of Ace

It is possible that one gifted athlete in a team sport can elevate the play and energy of all her team mates and influence the very spirit of a team. You know...Peyton Manning, Reggie Miller, the Amazin' Blazin' Ace. The return of Naptown's star skater last Saturday night was truly incredible. It was about midway thru Ace's 2nd Jam when it hit me how I had forgotten how absolutely freakin' GREAT she is. The speed...the moves...the evasion...the sheer talent. Around the time she was into her 4th Jam I realised that she means the world to this team. I got so caught up in the moment when all the fans in turn 1 started chanting in unison, "Ace! Ace! Ace! Ace!". She was so focused I dont think she even heard us. Ace is not on myspace and I dont think she even "does" the internet. Taking care of several kids and a majorly busy life get in the way of such time consuming endevours ya know? But maybe she'll get word of this blog and it'll make her smile. At one point I passed Mr Ace and said, "Damn I'm glad yer wife is back!". We all are. And she's back for the rest of the season. Next year??? Hmmmm...it looks pretty sketchy. So make sure you let Ace know how much she means to this Derby community! I've already started "working on" Mr Ace to try to convince her to come back next year. She is "our" STAR and we love her! Ace would kick total ass on any team in WFTDA and there is no doubt about that.

Having said all that I would like to state that even though there may have been some disapointment with having suffered a loss there was a lot to be optimistic about. Although there were a few occasions where control of pack speed was an issue I would have to say that the cohesion of Naptowns Blockers was very, very good. There was just a different energy in this bout...an energy that I haven't seen since last season. The Race City skaters played such a focused game and never gave up on a Jam. Not even near the end of the bout when it was apparent that a win was going to evade them. But make no mistake- win or no, Nap is BACK. And you all have to know that I LOVED that Angel of Naptown Jam! You know that! I had a hoarse voice the rest of the night after that Jam because I was yelling "Jooooaaaan!!" so much. I'm serious. Every starter had their moments. Coach Rick just didnt want to risk Slammy getting reinjured so she didnt Jam nearly as much as I wanted her too or believed that she would. Superhero Shadi was limited in her appearences as Jammer due to shin splints still aggravating her. Shin splints take forever to heal...they suck. The Chosen One was her usual consistent, point scoring self. I really liked what I saw from Our Homegirls this bout and if too much time in the penalty box hadn't gotten in the way this game would have come down to the last Jam I believe.

This game was called VERY tight and at times I thought got too "ticky-tacky". Elbows are elbows in every bout. It's like in Football...you could literally call a holding penalty on every possession but only the most blatant holds are called for the sake of the game. Same with elbows in Derby. Unless it's blatant or directly affects the scoring in the Jam just swallow yer freakin' whistle already! Let the game flow and let the best players PLAY. Thats all.

Now on to some 'lil bullet points:

* Can I just come right out and admit something?? I wanna just say here and now that I have got the most intense Derby crush in a long while. I first started to feel this Derby crush at the Fall Brawl last year and after this bout it had become a REAL, full-on Derby crush. Ya mighta noticed her kicking ass and playing her usual classy game with speed, athleticism, style and flair. She has a glow...a positive energy that just flows from her. Yeah...Chokehold Chanel. #5. She is too cool. She has become one of my very favorite Rollergirls in all of Rollerdom. I saw her before the bout and she skated over and gave me a hug and said hi and it seemed like I had just seen her at Fall Brawl a couple of weeks ago or something. She got blocked into the suicides at one point and some disgusting a-hole grabbed her "inappropriately". Her hubby, Mr Pink, dashed over to do some damage to the said a-hole but order was restored and Mr A-Hole was ejected before Mr Pink broke his face. I have never seen an Indy fan do that, and better not see it again. But Chanel is pure class and she just let it go. From what she told me this could be her last year with the Travel Team because she wants to start a family. I can understand that, but I hope that she remains with the Smashinistas or has some kinda role with ARRG because really she is unreplaceable. She really is. I guess that Keligula may be the skater chosen to fill #5's big skates. And since Artemischeif is already an excellent Jammer the Archies may be okay. But there is only one Chanel. And I will forever treasure that pic of her giving me a peck on the cheek! *swooon* Love ya Chanel!

* Speaking of crushes...
Before I go into this next bit I want to make something unmistakeably clear: Naptown has my heart. I am "their guy" okay? They are the reason I have developed my "likeability gauge". They are the standard so dont freak on me when I say that there are a few teams out there that I adore too okay? Just because I'm "married" doesn't mean that I dont know how attractive other teams out there are ya know?? And so yes...there is the "likeability gauge". On a scale from 1-10 how likeable is a team? How approachable are they? How do they treat fans? How do they treat the opposition on and off the track? How COOL are they? Are they fun to just hang with? Yep...the likeability qoutient. Not counting Nap there is only 2 other teams that I adore as much as the Archies. TWO. If you know me you know how crazy I am for Brew City. They are one of the coolest teams on the planet (and NO I dont care how many games they win...has nothing to do with it for me). I will ALWAYS be a Brew City fan because I love their team, they are a blast to hang with and have some of the most friendly skaters in WFTDA ( shout out to Grace, Romaniac, Servin', Swingwreck and especially Seoul!!). And then there's the Rocks (Rocky Mtn). I have come to really love Frida and the skaters of RMRG. They have loads of talent and carry themselves with humor and class. The next time they come out to the midwest I need to drive out and see them. But back to the Archies...yeah, I'm feeling the love. I told Coach Magnum that I couldn't wait to see how they did WHEN they got into the Regionals this year. And trust me...they will be there. I believe in the Archies, and for good reason as you witnessed. If a team scores low on the likeability quotient that doesn't mean that I won't give 'em credit for what they accomplish on the track but likeability matters! We all know of some teams that aren't that likeable. Ya know...the ones that don't show for the Afterparty, or DO show and act obnoxious or stand-offish. Fuck that. Rollergirls should respect Rollergirls and recognise that they and we are all a part of this rebirth of Derby. Go ahead and play dirty or be snotty. Just don't ask me to support ya, that's all.

* At one point after the bout a guy with long hair came up to me and said that he was thrilled to see that there was another Wendy O fan representing ( I was wearing a Plasmatics tee 'natch). And we shook hands and got to talking about the greatnes that IS Wendy and how crazy we were about her. I directed him to a few DVD's that you can find and he clued me in on Juliette (Lewis) and the Licks. Good call dude!! I checked out the Licks and I was impressed...that girl can ROCK! Check out her stuff on youtube! One of my missions in life is to do all I can to keep the memory of Wendy O Williams alive. I will never forget her and how much she meant/means to me. Never.

* DJ Sarah Vain. I dont know if I have really given her any props in the past but I REALLY admire her song selection. She pulls out so many great, old punk and goth faves. And she's such a sweetheart too. And I totally forgive her for not being into the Donnas. Even tho the Donnas RULE THIS WORLD! Allison is the most killer female axe-slinger in the land other than maybe Ruyter of Nashville Pussy. Anyway DJ Sarah...Nap bouts just wouldn't be the same without you girl!

* Got a chance to talk to Sin and we had a VERY interesting conversation. VERY interesting. And no I can't divulge anything here because she might punch me in the neck if I did and I kinda need my neck. BTW Sin, yer man is one cool dude. Nice to talk to someone thats so into Rugger! And PLAYS Rugby.

* Also got a chance once again to talk to Coach Rick and Fiestylicious. I really value those conversations because I gain some fresh insight into my Homegirls on some of the details that I probably wouldn't otherwise get. And no, I cant divulge that chatter either. I know...I'm a tease. I just need to keep that shit personal.

* I would like to thank Will H for being such a good guy. I appreciate ya man!! I will see ya on Tuesday at the comedy club for yer stand-up and I need to buy ya a beer or 2.

* Did anyone else notice the F-Dubb contingent over in turn 3?? Mmmmm hmmmm. Checkin' out our beloved Homegirls and taking notes and hating just a 'lil bit. Sometimes I think my admiration for Kitty is a one way street but that's okay. I STILL think she's awesome anyway. I wonder if Bang Bang is gonna be with the FW squad when they come down to Indy soon. She was injured last I heard and I haven't been checking up on the F-Dubb this year. Hope Pushycat doesnt bring that riding crop of hers...OW! Be careful around her when she's armed.

* It was really shocking to meet anyone that was as much of an obsessive-compulsive Derby freak as me. But Smarty McFly IS!!! Can't believe how up on Derby that girl is! Rock on Smarty! She was "twittering" away and giving me all the scores that I was lusting for. Said that she watches some bouts 3-4 times! Are you my long lost Sister or something? kindred spirits her and I. That skater knows her shit. Speaking of knowing shit, IR Dastardly knows his shit too. Man, I would liked to have had a chance to talk to him a lot more than I did. The few conversations I've had w/ IR have been pretty fascinating.

* I apparently got the ONLY XL short sleeve black AARG tee that the merch folks brought with them. Heehee!! I will treasure it Archies. I'm thinking that it's gonna get as worn out as my Naptown and Beer City tees. And it should also be noted that I touched the Archies panties before the bout...hell yes. Touched BOTH of them. Helmet panties are sexy!!

* It's a long shot but I would really really like to get out to St L for that Archies v F-Dubb bout coming in August. Who do ya figure I'll be yelling my ass off for?? Yeah...you KNOW that. Total Archies love to the max!! I want to see as much of Chanel as I can ya know?? Adoration calls...

* Before the bout Coach Magnum and I had a 'lil chat. And then at the Afterparty when I saw him come thru the door I said, "Hey man, dont go to the bar down here 'cause it'll take forever, lets go upstairs". And then I said, "And yer not paying for this beer either". Then Magnum said, "Ya wanna shot?". He then proceeded to buy me a shot of Jaeger! Friend for life man!! Magnum is a great guy and so is Hoosier Daddy. Class dudes and great Derby Coaches.

* ARRG brings around 800-900 fans at their home bouts and they skate on sport-court and really like the surface. But their facility, according to them, isn't all that great. There's no elevated seating at all and that's a drag. They are gonna keep trying to find a better facility and may have a lead on a future home but it's a little ways off. Several of the Archie skaters commented on what a great facility NRG has and how much they loved it. Too true. Frankly, ARRG deserve to be playing in front of at least 2500-3000 fans for their home bouts. They really do.

* For those that were wondering where in the hell Wally Wabash was...he was out of town to attend a WEDDING for pity's sake so make sure and give him loads of shit for missing the best bout of the season!! Tee hee!

* Kitiara...you are a darling, plain and simple. An absolute darling. Love that Motorhead bullet-belt you were wearing too.

* Dora the Destroyah/xMeganx...nice to finally meetcha Rollergirl. I don't want to embarrass you or anything but you have have the most beautiful hair! Kinda like Kitty Kiljoys style. And so you know that's cool...

* I had such a blast at the Afterparty! Best Afterparty of the year so far. As is my tradition I walked in, went upstairs, got my beer and walked over to the nearest table full of visiting skaters and sat right down. 8) Yeah, thats me. Great conversations with the Archies Rollergirls! I fell like I've known this team for years. Absorbed loads of info that only folks like me (and Smarty McFly) obsess over and filed it all away in my Derby-soaked brain for later recall. And oh yeah...THANK YOU to whoever with NRG worked it out so we have Afterparties at Birdy's!! Love that place. Lots of room, 2 bars, quiet space in the poolroom if needed and just an all around excellent venue for partying. No diss to Locals Only but we had simply outgrown it. Birdy's rocks!

Well, that about wraps it up this time out. just one more thing needs to be said and then I'm outta here: Chanel...will you marry me?? ;)