First of all, before any unfounded rumors start, I was the one who deleted the previous article from a few days ago. That was my editorial decision.

While some had found the article to be too strong and some questioned my derby love, I do stand by what was mentioned in the article.

Phoenix area derby is in dire need of repair in some places. What was a fun sport for the skaters and the spectators has turned into a political power struggle and it has affected the game. As a derby fan, I want the game back. I should not always have to travel to Tucson to see good WFTDA derby.

On May 31, 6 ranked Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps hosted 10 ranked Bay Area Derby Girls B.A.D.Girls at Bladeworld in Tucson. This was a 2 30-minute period game being played under WFTDA 2.1.1 rules. There was an interesting crowd there tonight. I had met folks from Duke City, whom I had announced a bout for them out here last year. Also down from Las Vegas, is the Grand Poobah of Derby. There was also a silent auction taking place to help raise funds for the Saddletramps.

According to Estro Jen on the Yahoo rollergirl list, a documentary on roller derby will air on ESPN this Sunday, May 18 at approximately 10:30AM (PT/ET) during SportsCenter and then will re-air at 11PM. We believe this is the same crew that came out to cover a Renegades event here in Phoenix earlier this year. A copy of ESPN's announcement follows:

The Rebirth of Roller Derby Examined in Sunday's SportsCenter

A good friend and I took in the Arizona Derby Dames bout on May 10. This was a bout that I promoted as a "Michi-chan MUST SEE" event and the "DD" in AZDD should mean "Dames Delivered". Now, I know that I did wrong by my friends on the Brutal Beauties to make the decision to wear my Scrapper skirt that night. But then again, I predicted the Scrappers to win (I will talk more about that later). Anyway, Red Rocker decides take things into her own hands and decides to take out a derby fan, me. Well honestly, Rocker and I planned this and it made a good show.

(Crossposted from my blog at ROLLERGAMES.COM)

OK derby fans, time to get to your favorite venue well in advance, find that perfect spot on the floor right in the turn and put those crash zone mouthguards back on because those girls with the fishnets, ruffled panties and those funny helmets with the stars on them are about to get hit and land right in your lap. No, it's not soft porn, it's time for another month of roller derby!

Here's a rundown of what the leagues have in store for you this month!

Another night of overlapping schedules meant decisions on where to go. Fortunately this time, the overlap was in two different markets so derby fans could be more evenly divided among the two leagues. We had a double header in Tucson while AZRD had their final regulation bout of the season.

In front of a slightly smaller crowd last night, mainly because of the timing with the Pima County Fair, the Tucson Roller Derby fans at Bladeworld got to see two very amazing bouts last night.