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
SportCenter's featured piece Sunday will trace the rebirth of roller
derby, which, since peaking in popularity in the early 1970's, failed in
several comebacks until 2001 when a grassroots-revival in Austin, Texas
has grown to more than 200 amateur, all-female roller derby leagues
across the country. Today's reincarnation blends entertainment with
genuine athletic competition, compared to the highly criticized sport of
yesteryear which was viewed mostly as fake. Fans, whether filling
3,000-seat arenas or in small groups at local rinks, see athletes who
own their own leagues, women whose lives have been empowered by the
sport, and whose daily careers range from warehouse workers, massage
therapists and mothers, to NASA spacesuit engineers. The piece includes
archived footage from the 1940's, '60's and 80's. Excerpts from the
show:
"It takes a lot of energy -- you're trying to get through the pack,
dodging people, trying not to get hit. I feel like Frogger, trying not
to get hit by all the cars, as you're going though the pack." -- Angela
Lesser, skater in Pearland, Texas
"I think the thing that really cinches it for me is that you get to see
women being beautiful and sexy and having fun, but you never forget that
they could probably kick your ass. I don't know of any other place in
the world where women are allowed to be brainy and brawny at the same
time." -- Natalie Schiro, skater in Austin, Texas
"I mean, come on, when else are you going to have the opportunity to
have a Clark Kent/Superman persona? -- Tara Carlton, skater in Phoenix
"I can't tell you how many times I'm in a business meeting, I have no
business speaking up about something, it's not my role I'm not a manager
and I do it anyways because I know what I'm talking about and I have the
confidence to do that....and I know it's because.... well, roller
derby." -- Samantha Ramirez, skater in Austin, Texas
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With special thanks to Estro Jen of Angel City Derby Girls and viaderby.com for breaking this.
THE ARIZONA DERBY REPORT
Michelle A. Eyre/Michi-chan
http://www.michichan.com
