EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! TV UPDATE FROM DAVID SAMS...

[DavidSams]

Thank you all for patiently waiting for news about my plans to put roller sports family entertainment back on the air.

As I stated in a previous post, I do not make public statements about my plans until it is worth your time. Over my many years in this business I have learned not to make statements that I can't back up with complete facts. My reputation is everything. I'm a straight-shooter across the board.

Bottom line: It has been my desire to put banked-track roller sports back on the air, preferably in prime time, on a major TV broadcast or national cable network. By "major" I mean a network that is available in nearly ALL U.S. households. As for our Canadian friends, I have not forgotten about you--I am working on that, too.

What I will report to you here is the following:

1. A major announcement that will put my plan into action will be announced in the weeks to come.

2. For the past few months I have been quietly going to Roller Derby and RollerGames events around the nation. In some cases the organizers knew I was in attendance; while, at other times, I was simply "one of the crowd." I have learned a lot. I have also recruited some incredible players. My objective has been simple: To discover what is working...and what is not working. In addition, I only intend to mount a show with the highest-caliber athletes. These athletes must appeal to our target demo, and be worthy of appearing in prime time on a major network.

3. I plan on attempting on bringing the roller sports world together for this effort. What I mean by this is simple: If banked-track roller sports is going to succeed, we've got to break down the walls that have existed between various organizations, leagues, teams, and even players--and work together harmoniously. So, in an effort to bring everyone together, I've been meeting with various folks to do just that. Generally speaking, this effort has been very successful. Since I do not own, operate, or have a financial interest in any existing team, I am considered an independent thinker with an open-mind. This gives me the advantage of working with everybody. I simply want to do what's best for the sport on a going-forward basis.

4. I have reviewed all of the player bios and videos that have come in. The response has been fantastic. I am very impressed with many of the packages that we've received. In some cases, I see major star potential just waiting to happen. I will make one recommendation to those of you who have not sent in your package for one reason or another: GET YOUR BIO AND VIDEO in to my office ASAP. I cannot stress the importance of this. Just do it NOW! I don't care how you do it, JUST DO IT! (See the home page on this site for details on what should be in your package). If you don't do it, we may or may not consider you. Keep in mind that I am not working with any existing team as a whole; therefore, don't think that you're going to be submitted by someone else, including your team management. It is YOUR job to apply!

I did not go to all of this effort to set up this website, travel to games far and wide, and recruit/talk to players, managers, and coaches because I have nothing better to do with my time. I did it because I believe in this sport and its potential in prime time on a major TV or Cable network outlet.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for your support. Soon, you will see just how I DELIVER.

Stay-tuned for exciting details to come.

David Sams
Executive Producer

PS: If you are a player, manager or coach and feel as though you have MAJOR STAR POTENTIAL, and have not sent in your bio or video to us, please do not send me an email months from now stating "Why did you not consider me?" Those who took the time to prepare their package and send it to us simply have a huge advantage over those who did not. I'm going to be very clear here: GET YOUR PACKAGE TO ME NOW!

[Tim Patten]

This is exciting news. When this explodes on the roller derby/sports scene... any minor grudges between teams and players will quickly fade into obscurity.

This great Roller Derby Community always rises to a momentous occasion such as this. Why? Because roller-sports is our life.

Any walls that might exist between various organizations, leagues, teams, and even players, always come crashing down. Remember, we are professional heat artists.

It is rare for a huge project like this to come knocking on our front doors.

This will be a major success. Go for it!

[Tom]

Dave, it's great news to hear that things are coming along! As you might remember I gave leads to some potential skaters out there, and I know more. For out of state skaters, will your organization pay travel and room & board for their duration out in LA?(if they get picked of course)

[ATKINSON WAS HERE!]

That's one hell of a Huge Awesome Announcement. Great to see that this is moving forward. I am ready to come aboard. As you know i do more then just Skating. Please keep my video package and my Resume in mind.

Take care,
Arthur Cory Atkinson (0000)

[Magnum 357]

I am so excited...Bring It On! I loved watching it when I was younger and so happy to be participating in such a great sport today.

[hellbent heather]

i can't wait for things to get going!

[Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato"]

This is GREAT news to hear!!! I can hardly wait to see the Roller Games back on TV when it comes back to the airwaves! I should come up with some kind of package calling the races, as I would love to be an announcer....someday. LOL
David Sams.......YOU ROCK, DUDE!! :-) ~Chuck

[Rainbow Rage]

I love you David Sams.
This is Amazing!!!!!!!!!
I love the updates. THANKS!
xoxo
<3 Rainbow Rage
Renegade Roller girls of Oregon

[Rich Erickson]

I received an e-mail asking for my opinion. Here it is.

1-stay with the traditional bank track.....the jams are quicker.
2-uniforms should cover for protection (less skin showing) as it is a
safety issue here we are talking about. More parents will let their
kids watch if protective gear is worn compared to looking like a
beauty contest. This is a sport rather than a beauty pagent.
3-Each team should be powered by a strong captain on the mens
and the womens field. It makes the games more interesting and
not one sided.
4-Safety is a key issue to get more viewers. Fights break out in all
sports and are part of the entertainment. Even with fights; their
are some rules.

[Rich Erickson]

5-men should not skate with the women....skate seperately as parents don't want their kids watching a guy beatup a gal or vise versa.

[Tom Wersderfer]

My opinion is that the women and men should not skate together at the same time. Use the old period by period format with the men and women alternating periods.

NO FIGURE 8 TRACK!! Stick to the standard oval banked track.

NO OBSTACLES OR ALLIGATOR PITS OR ELECTRIC CHAIRS OR SHARK TANKS!! Use of any of these type of gimmicks just makes the game a joke that no one can take seriously. With the emergence of a lot of these new flat track and banked track leagues all around the country, this is a good time to start a pro league but no one involved with all these new leagues will take to gimmicks and will probably be insulted and turned off by such outlandish rules and gimmicks. Old time, old school fans won't like it either.

Use old style uniforms that protect the skaters. It looks more professional and legit.

[Theodore Michael Lee]

Look, I'm going to answer the questionnaire that you e-mailed a few hours ago:
#1. I prefer the classic, banked-track, quad skate style of the games (i.e. The Joanie Weston, Judy Arnold, Anne Cavello, Charlie O, etc style of Games/Derby). Leave the other nonsense to Vince McMahon and his "roid rangers.
#2. The only obstacle on the track should be the offensive jammer(s) trying to get past the defensive blocker(s).
#3. If I want to see skin, I watch professional swimmers, gymnasts, track stars, Victoria's Secret TV Specials or 'roided up pro wrestlers (ugh!!!). Classic Roller Derby/Games didn't have to show skin, they showed talent and that worked for a long time until they ruined it with spectacle.
#4. The coaches were cool, especially the ones who skated (Buddy Atkinson, Charlie O, Jim Trotter, Ronnie Raines, etc) but the "showmanship" aspect of it (a la Gootch Gautieri et al), even though it sold tickets contributed to the demise of the sport because it started to stretch the lines of credibility too thin. So don't "fart" it up!
#5. Maybe some of the kids in RollerJam had some potential until they started on the "T&A" routine and you saw what a success that turned out to be. Keep it as real as you can get it and you might have a chance, but if you go that other way (Figure 8 tracks, T&A, alligators, fire rings, motorcycles and all of that other bullshit), you will kill it before it gets off the ground and I will not watch it. You have to walk that fine line between spectacle and sport. Don't "Vince McMahon" it!

[Father James]

and Theodore doth spewed "Figure 8 tracks, T&A, alligators, fire rings, motorcycles and all of that other bullshit"


Figure 8 was not "bull shit" The rest of it maybe. But honestly the figure 8 was probably the best thing to come to derby. It added something new. It added something different. It's when self righteous twits like you come in and start talking trash about it. Does it tick me off. Minus the jump ramp. I bet alot of skaters who skated it loved it.
Otherwise I agree about the rest.