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Photo by Ralph Duke Inside Track: Amarillo's Miriad O'Pain tries to block one of the Deadly Kennedys. The Derby These fillies race around By Leslee Rasco As lights dim in the Civic Center Coliseum, the clamor from fans escalates.
It is a pulsing roar reminiscent of other events that are held in this place, but this matchup is starkly different. The excited onlookers rise to their feet and wave handmade signs that sport the name of their favorite player. And those names aren't just the standard last name like those of many athletes; they are nicknames chosen to strike fear in the opposing team. The music begins to pump and a spotlight lands on the coliseum entrance as the anticipation intensifies. But the teams that make their way through the portal aren't wearing football jerseys or carrying hockey sticks. Their uniforms are of a different style, a different sport. These costumes are a flash from the past. It is 1970s roller disco colliding with a full- contact sport all wrapped around burlesque- clad teammates. The name of the game is Roller Derby. On Sunday, Route 66 Roller Derby, Amarillo's local women's Roller Derby League team, hosted its second bout of the 2008 season. The league comprises two teams, St. V's Deadly Dames and the Bonzai Brawlers. The teams compete against each other as well as join forces when facing teams from neighboring leagues. That was the case on Sunday as the combined teams faced off against the Deadly Kennedys from Lubbock. The league was formed in 2006 but has been in various working stages until now with their first season just beginning, said Kera Scene, a cofounder of the league. For Scene, her venture into modern roller derby came a few years back. "I had been to a couple of games in Austin and I was immediately drawn into the sport. It's fun, but it's scary," Scene said, "I liked it because it was a do-it-yourself movement." The Route 66 Roller Derby league is non-profit and has supported causes such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Cancer Society and Goodwill Industries with donations from their bouts according the team's MySpace Web site. The proceeds from the league's first game went to support the Downtown Women's Shelter of Amarillo. Sunday's game proceeds were donated to the Maverick Club for Boys and Girls. But with their philanthropic desire to support local organizations, the league has found other ways to continue building their membership and support. "We realized pretty quick that we were going to have to work together to get anything done," Scene said. Dash KamaKazi, the league's vice president, also noted the importance of teamwork within the league. "Since this is a nonprofit league, everyone involved has a job. Some are responsible for public relations and others are responsible for fundraising and organization," KamaKazi said. Along with working on the administrative side of the league, many team members take on other responsibilities. "Many members of our team have full-time jobs, families and still make it to our 2-hour practices three to four times a week," KamaKazi said. The league is open to all women at least 18 years old and there is no upper age limit, KamaKazi said. But for women who are 18 years old, there are several benefits to joining a roller derby league. "Not only are you getting in great physical shape, but you are also training your mind," Scene said. "You know if you can take a hit from a roller derby girl, then you can survive anything. It's empowering." Scene has also found roller derby a great way to connect with diverse women across Amarillo and other leagues, she said. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: May 22, 2008
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