New Springfield Sports Teams
Both guys at the Just Two Guys blog posted about their dream of minor league baseball returning to Springfield and the need for a new stadium, which was followed by supportive posts from Dave and the 26th Man. This is something I think about every time I drive by Lanphier and I love the idea of a new stadium downtown. It would be nice to see some movement for this in the business community.
But guess what Martin Luther King, I have a dream too! A dream for a smaller but even more exciting sports team in Springfield. One that will certainly cause people to roll their eyes, scratch their heads and potentially erode whatever credibility this blog has gained recently. But I don't care because it needs to happen. I'm talking about Springfield's own women's roller derby league!
Yes, that's right. Springfield needs rollergirls. I was introduced to the world of modern roller derby by my brother who is a ref for the Nacogdoches Rollergirls. He got recruited after they saw him roller skating all the time with his daughters. You can read about their first bout here, complete with pictures.
At first I was skeptical, as you may be. But after going to a practice, seeing a game, and watching the first season of the Rollergirls reality TV show, I'm convinced.
It should be of no surprise to anyone that the rebirth of roller derby began in Austin Texas. Chicago and St. Louis have had leagues for a while. Teams are popping up in Rockford, Mattoon and Moline. Springfield is clearly missing the boat. I hope some women in Springfield will take the initiative soon because I'm ready to help.
I've gotten interesting reactions when I tell people I've become a fan of the fastest growing women's sport in America. People say things like, "I'm starting to think you're serious!" My mother wonders where she went wrong. But an ex-girlfriend who called me last week proved she knows me as well as anyone when she simply said, "yeah, it figures you would be into that."
Depending on the reaction I get, I might start blogging on this weekly. Roller derby will be the next big thing to hit Springfield. You heard it here first!
Comments
I was first introduced to the world of professional roller derby during an episode of "No Reservations."
There's something about scantily clad females skating really fast and beating the crap out of one another that is rather appealing, in a Neanderthal kind of fashion.
Posted by: The 26th Man | March 23, 2007 1:25 AM
I don't completely understand the scantily clad part of derby. After being a ref and an assistant coach I have notice a real Dr. Jekyll Ms. Hyde phenomenon with the skaters. (I rarely call them girls, at lest not if they are going to hear it.). But the athleticism and skill of many leagues rival that of of any amateur sport and some of the leagues have actually gone pro.
These athletes are not playing games or faking it (bad pun), It is not like WWF or what you used to see in the 70's. Doctors, mothers ,school teachers, yoga instructors, librarians, and almost any walk of life is represented in the ranks of a derby team and the competitors can range from 18 to 40+ on the same team. Joining a team lets you.
Make new friends,
Exercise Regularly,
Learn a new Skill,
Increase Muscle Mass,
Lose weight,
Strengthen Bones, (with some exceptions)
Prevent or postpone the onset of osteoporosis and heart disease through exercise,
Reduce stress,
Improve Mental Health,
If any of these sound appealing or like something you have been meaning to work on, then starting a rollerderby team in SPFLD. Will help with all of these. And if you are into the scanty clothes thing that is okay to.
Posted by: Lethal Librarian | March 17, 2008 5:58 PM