Saturday night Roller Derby Opera at the Ag Center arena in Westminster
By Kevin Dayhoff January 24, 2010
By Kevin Dayhoff January 24, 2010
http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/01/saturday-night-roller-derby-opera-at-ag.html
http://tinyurl.com/yfkoef8
By Kevin Dayhoff January 24, 2010
Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/109uli or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/359253694/sat-night-roller-derby-opera-at-ag-center-arena
http://tinyurl.com/yfkoef8
By Kevin Dayhoff January 24, 2010
Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/109uli or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/359253694/sat-night-roller-derby-opera-at-ag-center-arena
The local Chesapeake Roller Derby team, “Mutiny” defended the ship well, but it was the South Jersey Derby Girls who staged the mutiny last Saturday evening at the Danele Shipley Memorial Arena at the Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster and took the flag.
The real winners for the evening were the more than 1000 fans that packed the arena for the debut of roller derby in Carroll County on a cold dark night in the middle of the winter.
Inside the crowd warmed up quickly to the thrills, spills, and personalities of the roller derby event of operatic proportions.
Craig Giles of Westminster attended the event with his wife, Lois, and son, Jeff. “It’s a life experience. You have to see it (at least) once. It was either this or go to the opera and (this was so convenient,) you can get right down close and up front with the action,” said Giles. Lois Giles, interjected, “I was curious.”
Jalna Brown, who was there with her sister, Lori Graham, said, “We were out for an adventure and ended-up at the roller derby. It reminds me of skating on Pennsylvania Avenue (in Westminster) in the 70s.”
“I missed my calling,” said Graham; who was all smiles as she followed the action.
Brenda Roper, also from Westminster, interjected, “I think I could take Lori Graham out,” as everyone laughed. “I’m here with my husband, (Gil Roper,) he’s here for the costumes.” A point, which Gil did not deny.
Bruce Main, the afternoon host on WTTR introduced all the players before the event. “I’ll bet you can’t put all the players’ names in a newspaper article,” said Main in an interview at the arena.
All of the skaters, most of whom are employed as professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and architects in their daytime jobs, adopted a “derby name.” Many of which were, ah, colorful, advised Main as he displayed a print-out of the rosters.
As he surveyed the mayhem and excitement that was unfolding at the arena, Main said WTTR has entered into a media partnership with the roller derby team. “We’re thrilled to be a part of bringing such a colorful event to Carroll County.
“First time we have ever had a roller derby in Carroll County,” repeated Main, who also served as the official starter for the game last Saturday.
“It’s going to be a learning experience with the ‘jammers’ and understanding how the scoring goes,” explained Main.
For more information as to the rules and intricacies of roller derby, be sure to read Explore Carroll writer, Charles Schelle’s “Shipwrecked in a concrete jungle,” and “Mutiny at the Ag Center” in the January 17 Carroll Eagle.
The roller derby “has been well received by the listeners,” continued Main. “I was in tears laughing so hard on air announcing the names last Friday…”
The announcer and one of the organizers of the event, Jeff "Homescar Runner" Tomhave said “it looked like everyone is having a good time.” He mentioned that it was good to see the community come out to support the team and raise money to help fight breast cancer. Tomhave, whose wife, Brandy "Marzipain" Tomhave skates with the team, said he also serves as one of the referees when they practice at the arena during the week,
“It’s been fun,” said the Mutiny team coach, “Siouxsie Slaughter,” during a brief break in the action. Slaughter, goes by the name of Susan Rose at her daytime job at Vinci Stone Products in Marriottsville - and is the owner of the Black Eyed Susan Skate Shop.
“The majority of the people (involved in roller derby locally) are professionals who have gotten together to support raising money for the American Breast Cancer Foundation” the charity partner with the Chesapeake Roller Derby.
Knockout Rose, who was introduced by Main as “Roses are red, some are pink too, but watch out for her or you will be black and blue,” was interrupted, as she started to explain some of the game, by living up to Main’s introduction, and was sent to the penalty box.
As she skated away, she blurted-out that her real name is Monica Yankovich. She is a landscape architect with the firm of Mahan Rykiel Associates.
Knockout Rose explained that she discovered the Ag Center because she is also involved with the Oriole Dog Training Club, which has agility trials at the arena.
Slaughter said of the evening’s bout, “the team worked well together… Some of the (players) are new skaters. Great first event. We’re looking forward to (our next event) at the Shipley Arena in March.”
At that point, she caught the eye of the team physician, Dr. Jason W. Hammond, of the Union Memorial Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice at the Westminster Professional Building.
Other than a few cuts and bruises, there were no reports of significant injuries at the event. Hammond, explained later, “I don’t skate or I would have to treat myself,” as he kept a watchful eye on the athletes skating in the oval.
Reinforcing the opera component of the drama of the skating event at the arena last Saturday evening was, Lara Bruckmann, a lyric soprano classical opera singer, who sang the national anthem during the opening ceremonies.
Bruckmann, whose skater name is “Doris Day of Reckoning,” also skates with the Junkyard Dolls with the Charm City Roller Girls. She said, “our opener is Saturday, January 30 at the Du Burns Arena in Canton, Baltimore.
I haven’t figured how to use my voice as a weapon on the track yet because I become too winded from skating,” said Bruckmann with a wry smile.
Bruckmann added, “One of the things that makes (local) roller derby so effective as a grass roots is there are so many of the skill sets required represented by all the professionals who skate in the leagues. We have graphic artists, lawyers, nurses…” and it’s all good family fun.
The real winners for the evening were the more than 1000 fans that packed the arena for the debut of roller derby in Carroll County on a cold dark night in the middle of the winter.
Inside the crowd warmed up quickly to the thrills, spills, and personalities of the roller derby event of operatic proportions.
Craig Giles of Westminster attended the event with his wife, Lois, and son, Jeff. “It’s a life experience. You have to see it (at least) once. It was either this or go to the opera and (this was so convenient,) you can get right down close and up front with the action,” said Giles. Lois Giles, interjected, “I was curious.”
Jalna Brown, who was there with her sister, Lori Graham, said, “We were out for an adventure and ended-up at the roller derby. It reminds me of skating on Pennsylvania Avenue (in Westminster) in the 70s.”
“I missed my calling,” said Graham; who was all smiles as she followed the action.
Brenda Roper, also from Westminster, interjected, “I think I could take Lori Graham out,” as everyone laughed. “I’m here with my husband, (Gil Roper,) he’s here for the costumes.” A point, which Gil did not deny.
Bruce Main, the afternoon host on WTTR introduced all the players before the event. “I’ll bet you can’t put all the players’ names in a newspaper article,” said Main in an interview at the arena.
All of the skaters, most of whom are employed as professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and architects in their daytime jobs, adopted a “derby name.” Many of which were, ah, colorful, advised Main as he displayed a print-out of the rosters.
As he surveyed the mayhem and excitement that was unfolding at the arena, Main said WTTR has entered into a media partnership with the roller derby team. “We’re thrilled to be a part of bringing such a colorful event to Carroll County.
“First time we have ever had a roller derby in Carroll County,” repeated Main, who also served as the official starter for the game last Saturday.
“It’s going to be a learning experience with the ‘jammers’ and understanding how the scoring goes,” explained Main.
For more information as to the rules and intricacies of roller derby, be sure to read Explore Carroll writer, Charles Schelle’s “Shipwrecked in a concrete jungle,” and “Mutiny at the Ag Center” in the January 17 Carroll Eagle.
The roller derby “has been well received by the listeners,” continued Main. “I was in tears laughing so hard on air announcing the names last Friday…”
The announcer and one of the organizers of the event, Jeff "Homescar Runner" Tomhave said “it looked like everyone is having a good time.” He mentioned that it was good to see the community come out to support the team and raise money to help fight breast cancer. Tomhave, whose wife, Brandy "Marzipain" Tomhave skates with the team, said he also serves as one of the referees when they practice at the arena during the week,
“It’s been fun,” said the Mutiny team coach, “Siouxsie Slaughter,” during a brief break in the action. Slaughter, goes by the name of Susan Rose at her daytime job at Vinci Stone Products in Marriottsville - and is the owner of the Black Eyed Susan Skate Shop.
“The majority of the people (involved in roller derby locally) are professionals who have gotten together to support raising money for the American Breast Cancer Foundation” the charity partner with the Chesapeake Roller Derby.
Knockout Rose, who was introduced by Main as “Roses are red, some are pink too, but watch out for her or you will be black and blue,” was interrupted, as she started to explain some of the game, by living up to Main’s introduction, and was sent to the penalty box.
As she skated away, she blurted-out that her real name is Monica Yankovich. She is a landscape architect with the firm of Mahan Rykiel Associates.
Knockout Rose explained that she discovered the Ag Center because she is also involved with the Oriole Dog Training Club, which has agility trials at the arena.
Slaughter said of the evening’s bout, “the team worked well together… Some of the (players) are new skaters. Great first event. We’re looking forward to (our next event) at the Shipley Arena in March.”
At that point, she caught the eye of the team physician, Dr. Jason W. Hammond, of the Union Memorial Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice at the Westminster Professional Building.
Other than a few cuts and bruises, there were no reports of significant injuries at the event. Hammond, explained later, “I don’t skate or I would have to treat myself,” as he kept a watchful eye on the athletes skating in the oval.
Reinforcing the opera component of the drama of the skating event at the arena last Saturday evening was, Lara Bruckmann, a lyric soprano classical opera singer, who sang the national anthem during the opening ceremonies.
Bruckmann, whose skater name is “Doris Day of Reckoning,” also skates with the Junkyard Dolls with the Charm City Roller Girls. She said, “our opener is Saturday, January 30 at the Du Burns Arena in Canton, Baltimore.
I haven’t figured how to use my voice as a weapon on the track yet because I become too winded from skating,” said Bruckmann with a wry smile.
Bruckmann added, “One of the things that makes (local) roller derby so effective as a grass roots is there are so many of the skill sets required represented by all the professionals who skate in the leagues. We have graphic artists, lawyers, nurses…” and it’s all good family fun.
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Sat night Roller Derby Opera at Ag Center arena Westminster MD http://tinyurl.com/yfkoef8 http://twitpic.com/109uli
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
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