NFL: Week 8 // MLB: World Series-2014 // Q&A---Roller Derby Team Executive, "Anna Filson"

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NFL--- LAST night, the ground shifted underneath for the NFL’s National Conference East’s top team, the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys, from a 20-17 loss (OT) to the still last place NC East 3-5 Washington Redskins, highlighting how easy it is to underestimate the underdog and overestimate the overdog. The Cowboys were the NC’s high-riding team at 6-1, expected to defeat the Redskins by a wide margin. Before last night’s Redskins win, only one other NFL franchise was at that Cowboys level, the American Conference West’s 6-1 Denver Broncos. Now, and from Sunday’s bouts, there are three other teams comprising “the six games won club” as Week 8 slides from being the season’s halfway mark to being NFL-2014’s “back eight.” Atop the AC East today, that’s the 6-2 N. E. Patriots, while the NC West is led by the 6-1 Arizona Cardinals, and the NC North by the 6-2 Detroit Lions. Except for the 6-1 NC West’s Cardinals being two up over the S.F. 49ers, these division leading franchises are only one win ahead of their respective second place teams, and so NFL shakeups and reversals could appear before Week 9. Appearing as an anomaly, that’s the two losing teams at the top of the NC South, the Carolina Panthers and the N.O. Saints, both at 3-2. And, the AC West’s Oakland Raiders still haven’t won a game, the team is (Ugh!) 0-7. So, what’s Up ahead? Last Sunday’s AC East’s 6-2 Patriots having defeated the NC North’s 3-5 Chicago Bears, score: 51-23, signals what could be tough-going for the AC West’s 6-1 Denver Broncos this Sunday as another Peyton Manning/Tom Brady face-off occurs, and the AC North’s currently 5-3 Pittsburgh Steelers recent 51-34 takedown of the AC South’s now also 5-3 Indianapolis Colts suggested what in recent weeks lacked sufficient assurance, that the Steelers could be playoff-slotted this year, on Sunday helped by the AC North’s now 5-3 Baltimore Ravens loss to the AC South’s now 5-3 Cincinnati Bengals, 27-24.

World Series---IT’s Giants three, Royals two, tonight’s game a possible WS grab by the Giants for the third time since 2010. Or, the Royals could come back from Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Giants, put the series at 3-3 and then take it with a fourth Royals win later in the week. It’s that kind of WS, the largely unpredictable series, to wit: Sunday’s 5-0 shutout of the Royals. Yet if any Giants starting pitcher was capable of making that happen, it was Madison Baumgartner, he of the 4-0 record for his WS starts and of an 0.2 ERA. .  .  Win or lose tonight, note that the Royals put up 15 runs in this year’s WS prior to last night’s shutout, compared with the Giants 22. Baumgartner’s performance on Sunday was the likes of that seen by the best hurlers in baseball history, for instance, that from retired Giants ace, Sandy Koufax, reminding that much has to be said for the strong starter being key for the winning of baseball games. But, and which cannot be repeated enough, it is always runs that win a ball game, even when the man on the mound is capable of producing lots of “outs” while limiting base-occupancy. Not that Baumgartner needed more than just one Giants run to win his game, but 5-0 is certainly a better outcome, and that took Giants hitters of a kind, those who get on base and become runs. Contrary to what many observers say, baseball isn’t just a pitcher’s game, though a Madison Baumgartner could easily have us thinking so.

            Q&A, Roller Derby---Okay, sports fans, admit it! You watch professional football regularly, also Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NHL, World Cup Soccer, the PGA Circuit, Grand Slam Tennis, and yet you wonder about that which can be tagged outer circle sports. You wonder how some of the outer circle sports function, you might ask what’s the appeal of, say, LaCrosse, Formula One Motor Racing, Track & Field, maybe of a sport that went into decline after a run of national popularity more than 40 years ago, such as ROLLER DERBY, now transformed from what was largely entertainment to serious and mist enjoyable competition .  .  .

.  .  .  Here’s a look at ROLLER DERBY-2014 from an interview that we conducted with senior team exec for the sport’s DENVER ROLLER DOLLS, “Anna Filson.”

SPN:  How is Roller Derby organized as a sport internationally, in the U.S. and where your team resides? That is, how many Roller Derby teams are there globally, nationally and locally, and how are they all linked for competition?

ANNA FILSON --- WOMEN’S FLAT TRACK DERBY ASSOCIATION (WFTDA) is the organization that governs 260 Roller Derby leagues around the world. WFTDA determines the rules that we play under. WFTDA also tracks a team’s status, its standings, in order to determine which teams will play for an annual championship title.  In my state, Colorado, there are 10 leagues of many teams, which play under the WFTDA just as the Denver Broncos operate within the NFL, the Denver Nuggets inside the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche inside the NHL, and we also have a league that is an apprenticeship program—a sort of breeding ground for new and promising skaters, if you will.

 SPN:  What does the Roller Derby season consist of? How many games? And, how do Roller Derby teams escalate to the top and win a national or international championship?

A.F.--- An All Star team plays around 3-6 bouts against other highly talented teams each year. These bouts determine a team’s ranking within the WFTDA association, and they establish if a team will be seeded high enough to compete at the playoffs.  .  . In 2013, WFTDA reached another milestone in that the geography-based Roller Derby regional playoffs were replaced with four Division I Playoffs and two Division 2 Playoffs. Once Division playoffs are completed, all winning teams within the WFTDA organization will compete at championships for “the Hydra Trophy,” our Stanley Cup, so to speak.

SPN:  What does the Roller Derby team consist of for competition? And, what are the roles of each player on a team during a competition?

A.F.--- Each team fields five skaters for each “jam.” Those five include four blockers and one jammer. The jammer is recognized by the star cover that is on her or his helmet. The jammer’s job is to get past the opposing team’s four blockers while skating, so as to gain a point for each blocker that she or he can pass (After an initial pass, that is). The job of the blockers is to stop the opposing jammer from getting past them and therefore inhibit the jammer from scoring, as well as to help their own jammer by executing “offense” on the opposing blockers.

SPN:   What is it that each team is to accomplish during a single competition?

A.F.--- Of course, and foremost, it’s to win, and, in turn, to seed higher so that a team can advance to the championships.

SPN:  What are the physical dimensions of the regulation Roller Derby track?

A.F.--- The track is 88 feet from the outside, apex to outside apex. The lane in which we skate in, that will vary from 13 feet to 15 feet depending on which part of the track you are in. For instance, if you are playing within either of the apexes, your track area is about 14 feet across.

SPN:  What are the uniform  regulations?

A.F.--- The regulations about uniforms always reference safety, that above all else. All patches and numbers have to be securely fastened to the uniform, and no tape or safe pins are allowed on the jersey (Fact: No safe pins are allowed on any part of the uniform). Each uniform must identify the skater’s team and must have the skater’s number on the back of the uniform. All numbers must be four inches tall and have at least one numerical character.

SPN: Generally, are the Roller Derby teams privately-owned or city-owned, are they franchised?

A.F.--- As an example, the Denver Roller Dolls is a skater-owned, skater-operated non-profit 501(3)c. In addition to our skaters doing all of the business side work, we also have volunteers that assist in the day-to-day operations. To keep our Roller Derby “rolling,” there are many fundraising events that are held throughout the year so that we can have an All Star Team that travels and that maintains a facility. Denver Roller Dolls is currently fundraising through GoFundMe (http://www.gofundme.com/donatedrd) to raise money to support our All Star Team (the Mile High Club), and to ensure that next season our facility will be ready for all of our fans.

SPN:  What must a Roller Derby candidate demonstrate in order to be accepted for play by the official Roller Derby team?

A.F.--- Roller Derby teams like the Denver Roller Dolls follow the safety rules set forth by WFTDA to determine when each skater is ready to be on the track in a scrimmage situation as well as for all game opportunities. Skaters can be assessed as often as once a month to determine their skill level.

 SPN:  What is it that constitutes a penalty during RD competition, especially re. safety rules?

A.F.--- There are many rules that within game-play need to be followed. If broken, they can get you sent to the penalty box for a 30 second time-out. The rules range from not wearing your mouth-guard, to making contact with another skater in illegal body zones, such .as the opposing skater’s face and below the thighs.

SPN:  Which Roller Derby teams are today in competition for end-of-season titles and trophies? And, where in the rankings are the Denver Roller Dolls?

A.F.--- WFTDA holds four Division I Playoffs and two Division 2 Playoffs each year. The Mile High Club/Denver Roller Dolls competed in the Division I playoffs this September and ranked within the top 12 teams, earning a spot to compete for the Hydra Trophy at the championships this last weekend of October, 2014 .  .  .  The Denver Roller Dolls team is currently ranked “ninth” within the WFTDA rankings.

SPN:  Kindly imagine that you are the CEO of all Roller Derby, national as well as international, and you can order up anything you wish. What is it about Roller Derby as a sport that you would change, that you would have happen without any resistance?

A.F.--- If I had one wish for Roller Derby, it would be for it to be a rapidly growing professional sport. Roller Derby teams practice and compete just like all professional sports teams, and the game is just as exciting to watch as it is to play.  Being at a professional level means more people being involved in the sport, and more fans.  

SPN: Are there Roller Derby superstars? Who are they, and what have they accomplished?

A.F.--- Yes, there are Roller Derby superstars. Consider the Roller Derby “World Cup,” held every two years. Teams are formed by each participating country from “the best of their best.” When Team USA was established for the 2014 World Cup, Denver Roller Dolls had three skaters chosen to compete. Denver Roller Doll’s three skaters are Tracy Akers (Team Captain for Team USA), Julie Adams, and Jerica Martin. Akers and Adams are two of the founders of the Denver Roller Dolls and continue to ensure that the league keeps its roots. Martin has been a Junior Derby Coach for over two years and is providing a foundation for the next generation. We will be cheering for these Roller Derby athletes this December during the 2014 World Cup. Team USA will go up against other super teams such as Team Canada, Team England, and Team Australia.

SPN:  Are there questions that you wish we had asked here? If so, please cite them and kindly present the answers.

A.F.---That question would be, “When did the Denver Roller Dolls form their league?” As for the answer, the Denver Roller Dolls was formed in 2005 with 26 skaters.  We have now grown to over 100 league members and we are coming up on our 10th anniversary in 2015. As to where the Denver Roller Dolls hosts games, you can watch them and many visiting men’s and women’s Roller Derby teams, plus Junior Derby teams, at our facility “the Glitterdome, at: 3600 Wynkoop Street, A3, Denver CO 80216. . .  . .  Another question that I’d ask, is, “When will your facility, now under renovation, be completed?” Answer: Our landlord, "Gary Giambrocco," of "GIAMBROCCO FOOD SERVICE," has been so very gracious. He is renovating our side of the facility to better accommodate our growing league. The renovations are opening new doors for the league by hosting our own bouts at our very own facility. The facility will give our fans the  up close and personal touch to skaters and bouts. Construction should be done by Thanksgiving, and so “the Glitterdome” will be set and shining for our next annual Roller Derby schedule, starting February, 2015.

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