Some thoughts on the Renegade Rollergirls

[Michi-chan]

I am in the middle of doing the video captures from the last bout between the AZ and OC Renegade Rollergirls. I am up to the part in the second period when T-Wrexx goes down on the backstretch.

It was apparent she was not going to get up on her own and get back into the jam.

In the past Renegade bouts, with other teams, when this has happened, the jam would still go on.

This time, I heard someone (I could not confirm who said it) yell “take a knee, ladies” (and the camera did pick up the voice). Suddenly everyone stopped, went to their knees and the situation was handled very professionally.

While other leagues require the refs to stop jams for this reason and since the Renegades is “no rules” where the refs do not intercede that much into the game-play, I found it very respectful that one of the skaters in that jam made that call. I could have sworn it was an OC skater that made that call but I can’t be certain.

What I have learned about following the Renegades for the past year now is that despite the fact that during a jam, if you wear a different color shirt, you are a target, that off the track, the Renegades, no matter which city, are a big family who do care about each other and the welfare of their fellow skaters. What happened last Friday night just renews my utmost respect for this league and the girls who make it happen.

Thank you for a great evening of derby and I look forward to covering OC again soon.

[Tim Patten]

For us in the banked track, we take the rail and usually the ref calls a time out for injury that summons the skaters back to the far ends of the track to discuss a new strategy.

[kc karrnage]

hey michi...that's me with the way evil sticker on my helmet taking a knee right in front of you...it was me who made the call to take a knee...we ONLY do that if there is a REAL injury or appears to be one...and it is often a skaters call, not a ref...
T ended up breaking her ankle in 2 spots & was just released to skate 2 weeks ago...she's back in action & getting in shape for or AZ vs san diego game on 8/8/09 in san diego.
love your intrest & coverage...miss you:)
*totally just found thios page by accident...pretty cool*

[Grand Poobah]

Skaters taking a knee is actually a fairly widespread practice.

Per WFTDA (and most other) rules, jams only continue with an injured skater if she's off the track. If she's down on the track, the refs call the jam.

Hope she's doing well.

[Michi-chan]

It is, but it's nice to see it done at AZ Renegades for the first time in the time that I have been following them (since they got their 5th/Madison venue).

[Tim Patten]

I see. I'll be watching and listening.

I've been around many serious injuries in my derby career. The things we do to entertain our fans.

[Michi-chan]

> Did they think this was awesome too?

I am not sure if other fans felt the same way that I did, but with my experiences here in Arizona and comparing it with previous bouts where a skater would go down immobile, I felt very moved. If you were to listen to the on-camera commentary I made that night in the raw footage, I mention that there was a very high amount of respect here. The crowd was very supportive for T-Wrexx and I was trying to lead the crowd in a supportive chant and the crowd was very satisfied as she was lifted up and helped back to the AZ bench.

[Michi-chan]

She felt a pop in her ankle when she went down. She did not want to chance it. At the bout, it was swolen and suspected to just be twisted. Hopefully it was nothing more. She did sit out the rest of the bout. I hope she's doing OK.

[Tim Patten]

Did they think this was awesome too?
Was T-Wrexx hurt?

[Michi-chan]

I would say about 150-200.

[Tim Patten]

How many people in the audience saw this?