Maine Roller Derby's Killer Quick whips up a pounding dose of all things derby.
September 02, 2008
Grrr, Let It All Out
I've got some surprising news for you. Roller derby is NOT an outlet for my pent-up aggressions. It's not an excuse to "hit girls." I don't have a hard day at work and then go to practice to get all grrrr-face and go ballistic on skates. And if I wanted to get in fights I'd go back to junior high and take all those girls up on their offers to kick my ass. Why is this a surprise? Perhaps it's not to some, but I find that the average media coverage of roller derby frequently frames the physical aspect of what we do as being all about getting your aggressions out (also frequently employing the tired librarian/social worker/scientist/mom-by-day and monster-on-wheels by night analogy as well), and I find that way too simplistic.
I don't have pent up aggression I need to work through (well, ok, maybe sometimes I do, but it doesn't particularly come out when I hit other women on roller skates). I don't deny that roller derby is great in part because women are not generally taught or given such outlets to be highly physical with each other, or with anyone. Roller derby is definitely a venue for that, as well as for other things we're not encouraged to do, such as working together to build a business and a community rather than snarking at each other about looks and status.
Roller derby is, among other things, an outlet for being physical, making myself stronger, and for being competitive. I play roller derby to push myself beyond what I thought I could do, both physically and mentally. When I go to practice or play a game, I know I'm going to sweat a lot, gasp for air, focus, overcome minor pain and discomfort, strategize, philosophize, fall, get up, feel the strength in my body, feel love for my leaguemates, laugh, occasionally be annoyed, often be amazed, and leave stronger and happier than I went in. I'm not saying it's all kittens and hearts and rainbows…I have bad practices, I get frustrated with people, they get frustrated with me, and sometimes I leave thinking "wow, I suck at this."
But for me, and I suspect for most skaters, all of the positive things I get from the sport of roller derby, and particularly from my league, release any negative emotions that carry over from the rest of my life far more efficiently and completely than this notion of "me angry, me feel aggressions, me hit girl go boom."
Comments
Jammer or Blocker (which you are both), your points are right on! Have I ever mentioned that you are in my top 5 hero list?
Posted by Itsy Bitsy FighterSeptember 4, 2008 01:35 PM
Well said. I think you are great even when you have a moment.. I hope that people read this and understand that this is something real to us and not just a game...
Posted by MJ Pain TrainSeptember 4, 2008 04:49 PM
True dat! I have actually never felt anything I would call "aggression" on the track. Ambition, focus, perseverance, PASSION. Who would want to spend 6 to 9 hours a week working on being angry?
Posted by SugarbushSeptember 4, 2008 08:02 PM
Thanks for taking a chip out of the alter-ego, fantasy-girl-on-skates persona that is the norm in Roller Derby Media coverage. Because of your (and others) tireless efforts main stream media WILL realize that smart, sexy, ambitious and creative women can also play an aggressive, full contact sport.
Posted by BreezeySeptember 4, 2008 08:53 PM
Dearest Killer,
Thanks for this article. You are right on. Few people realize that aside from the physical workout, we are running a business! We are making decisions that CEO's make with a mega degree. We are sucessfully running this biz, holding down jobs,raising families, and bustin' our humps 9 hours a week at practice. Yay for MRD, and yay for all the girls that put in the blood, sweat , and tears!
What was my life before MRD? I don't remember, or miss it in the least
Posted by WrexzillaSeptember 5, 2008 09:06 AM
Eloquently put. No wonder you do PR. You're a genius.
Posted by Maulie MacKill'emSeptember 5, 2008 12:10 PM
Lest I gush uncontrollably about you for this blog (and 1,000,000 other reasons), I will just say this- HALLELUJAH & AMEN- you are my #1 roller derby evangalist!
Thank you Killer.
September 6, 2008 01:14 AM
Slam,
You sound like a genius! Less hitting required, you are so funny.
I can't wait to see you at the expo this season.
Posted by Gordon BrodySeptember 8, 2008 10:13 AM
Part of the solution was to get my own domain name.
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January 20, 2009 08:58 AM
Because of your (and others) tireless efforts main stream media WILL realize that smart, sexy, ambitious and creative women can also play an aggressive, full contact sport.
June 1, 2009 12:05 AM
Because of your (and others) tireless efforts main stream media WILL realize that smart, sexy, ambitious and creative women can also play an aggressive, full contact sport.
June 1, 2009 12:10 AM
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June 4, 2009 06:03 AM
Hot on the heels of a back-dating stock options scandal, and in the face of declining sales growth of the iPod itself, Steve Jobs (Apple Chief Executive) is expected to announce a product launch of the iPod Cell Phone at MacWorld in San Francisco.
June 4, 2009 06:07 AM
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Amen girl, but you are a jammer. Less hitting required.
Posted by SLAMSeptember 3, 2008 12:27 PM