Episode 1 of Gotham Girls action airs Wednesday night on NYC life
May 12, 2010
Premiere Episode of Gotham Girls Roller Derby -- Bronx vs. Brooklyn
Debuts on Wednesday, May 12th, 11:30pm on NYC life (Channel 25)
Re-broadcast on Saturday night, May 15th, at 12:30am
Stream on demand at nyc.gov/vod
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By Thomas Gerbasi
The Bronx Gridlock raised its second championship flag at New York City’s Hunter College on May 1st, and proceeded to pick up right where they left off last November as they jumped out to a commanding first half lead over the Brooklyn Bombshells and never looked back en route to their first win of the 2010 season, 145-52.
This stellar performance, spearheaded by leading scorer Bonnie Thunders (71 points) and team MVP Ginger Snap, will be the focus of roller derby’s return to
Each episode airs at 11:30pm on Wednesday nights, with encore presentations airing on Saturday nights at 12:30am. Shows will also be available online at www.nyc.gov/vod.
Following a come from behind win of epic proportions in the 2009 GGRD Championship game on November 21 that saw them make up a 42 point halftime deficit to outpoint the Manhattan Mayhem 116-105, the Bronx Gridlock made sure to come out fast in the season opener, and after taking the lead jammer slot in 11 of the bout’s first 13 jams they jumped out to a 46-8 lead, and put the match out of reach early.
Leading the way was the league’s ‘Best Jammer’ of 2009 Bonnie Thunders, who was nearly untouchable as she skated through the pack in the first half thanks to solid pivot work from teammates Ginger Snap and Kandy Kakes, and the blocking prowess of Care Bear Scare, Rat-A-Tat Kat, and the returning Beyonsláy, whose 11 jams saw the Gridlock put 63 points on the board, as opposed to 10 for the Bombshells.
Yet despite this early dominance by the Gridlock, the fan favorites from Brooklyn weren’t dead yet, and spurred on by the sold-out crowd and a 10 point jam by the Score of Babylon, they roared back late in the second half, only getting outscored 24-22 in the final eight jams.
Ultimately though, the mix of Bronx’ fast starts in the first and second halves, as well as 77 costly Brooklyn penalties (compared to the Bronx’ 52) that amounted to 29 total minutes in the box, proved to be too much for the Bombshells, who fell to 0-1 for 2010. Carmen Monoxide (28 points) led the scoring for
So why should you tune in Wednesday night? Here are a few reasons:
They’re simply the best – The Gotham Girls Roller Derby is currently ranked number one in the WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) by the Derby News Network's Power Rankings, placing them above leagues from locales as varied as Seattle, Montreal and London. You’re watching the best of the best.
Above - Bonnie Thunders dashes past Megahurtz to escape the pack. Photo: Tod Seelie - Metromix
A ballet on skates – Despite the hard hits and intense action, when you watch one of the top jammers in the game – career scoring leader Bonnie Thunders – sail through the pack for score after score, it’s a thing of beauty - a mix of speed, precision, and technique that is hard to find anywhere else, especially on a Wednesday night. And while the action is fast and furious, it’s fairly easy to pick up. If you need a primer on the rules before turning to channel 25, a quick visit to http://www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/about/rules should get you up to speed before the opening whistle.
They wear helmets and pads for a reason – Speaking of hard hits and intense action, let’s just say that the VIP seats at trackside are for fans 18 years of age and older for a reason. Once the bout begins and the skaters begin jostling for position in order to keep the opposing team’s jammers from scoring while helping their own fight though the pack, it’s clear that this is a contact sport, and sometimes the bodies do go flying. The referees are there to keep things clean though, and those who veer from the rulebook are quickly sent off to the penalty box
Above: Carmen Monoxide works to avoid a block from Beyonsláy. Photo: Chris Chin
The return of Beyonsláy – Former figure skater Beyonsláy pulled off a trifecta in 2007 (the Gridlock’s first championship season) as league MVP, team MVP, and Best Blocker, and also became a YouTube sensation for some of her memorable bout-changing hits, but in 2009 she switched to bench management duties as her team skated to another title. But on May 1st, she was back in action and striking fear into her opponents as she returned to her home on the track. Which leads us to the fact that in roller derby…
Defense wins championships – Everyone loves scoring and watching the jammers cruise around the track. But who gets them through the treacherous minefield known as the pack? It’s the pivot and the blockers. The pivot is the straw that stirs the drink, and without her leading the way, it could be a long night for the jammer; then again, that’s the point, but only when it comes to the opposing team’s jammer. On May 1st, the Gridlock averaged 4.26 points per jam (compared to 1.53 for
Hela Skelter applies some trademark wreckingball defense to Luna Impact. Photo: Asa Frye
The name game – Okay, where else can you find a sport where the athletes go by the names Care Bear Scare, Dainty Inferno, Speed McQueen, Raggedy Animal, Carmen Monoxide, and OMG WTF? Exactly, nowhere but in roller derby, making it clear that this isn’t your usual bland sporting event.
And that’s just a taste of what you’ll see starting this Wednesday on NYC life, and after one bout, you’ll be hooked.
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Thomas Gerbasi is the Editorial Director for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Senior Editor for BoxingScene.com His work has also been published in ESPN.com, YahooSports.com, UFC Magazine, the Boston Herald, MSN Canada, Inked, the Village Voice, and Metro New York. Gotham Girls Roller Derby welcomes Mr. Gerbasi as an editorial contributor.
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