Mad Rollin' Blog

MRD swinging into summer interleague season

2011-05-14T14:06:00.006-05:00

You didn't think Championships would stop us from playing roller derby, did you? With the seventh season under our belts, MRD is now gearing up for summer interleague season. Your Dairyland Dolls and Team Unicorn will spend the hottest months of the year burning up tracks across the country after kicking things off in Madison this month.

Saturday, May 21, the Dairyland Dolls and Team Unicorn will take on the Naptown Roller Girls' Tornado Sirens and Warning Belles of Indianapolis, Indiana at the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the first bout starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door, half price for kids ages four through 10, and free for kids under three. Proceeds from the bout will benefit Sister House, Inc., an organization with an innovative vision for women transitioning from prison, jail, or AODA treatment into the community. Visit sisterhousemadison.org for more information.

Then on Sunday, May 22, the teams will roll over to Milwaukee for the Second Annual Brewhaha tournament, a tasty overdose of derby with 20 bouts in two days. At 12:30, Team Unicorn will play St. Louis' Saint Lunachix, the up and coming stars of the Arch Rival Roller Girls, and at 6:45 the Dairyland Dolls will face Milwaukee's Brewcity Bruisers Allstars in the tournament's feature bout. Visit http://brewcitybruisers.com/brewhaha.php for a full bout schedule and ticket information.

Hair today, gone tomorrow. . .

2011-04-29T20:07:00.004-05:00

The only thing more fulfilling in life than raising money for childhood cancer research might be seeing Mad Rollin' Dolls' beloved announcer Baam Baam lose every gorgeous lock of hair on his head. But time is running out! If Baam raises $5,000 for St. Baldrick's Foundation by May 7, he will shave his head in the middle of the track during halftime of our 2011 Championship bout at the Alliant Energy Center.

Click through to his fundraising page at http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/baam to learn more about St. Baldrick's and make a donation. Your gift will give hope to kids and families fighting childhood cancers. . .and a good laugh to all of us in MRD. Thank you for your generosity!

We're going out shootin'!

2011-04-28T20:28:00.004-05:00

The stars at night will be big and bright at our seventh season Championship bout, "The Good, The Bad and the Derby" on Saturday, May 7, at the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This year, MRD is going out Wild West style! The Vaudeville Vixens prevailed over the Quad Squad at Semis after a winless season for a chance at the big one. They'll play the Reservoir Dolls for the Leg while the Unholy Rollers play the Quad Squad for third and fourth place.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the action starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids four through 10 are half price, and kids three and younger get in free.

This bout will support HOPES, Helping Others Prevent and Educate about Suicide, hopes-wi.org. The after party is at High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave.

Holster your pistols, folks, there's more! MRD's interleague teams, the Dairyland Dolls and Team Unicorn will face Indianapolis just two weeks later on May 21 in Madison. Then, open skates and MRD tryouts will follow in June. Derby never sleeps. Neither should you.

Medusa's got nothing on the Mad Rollin' Dolls

2011-04-14T09:55:00.001-05:00

MRD's seventh season is nearing its close, but instead of winding down, we like to wind things up! Our semi-final bout, "Clash of the Titans," is just around the corner on Saturday, April 23, at the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where our own Mad Rollin' Titans of the Flat Track will collide to determine placement in the championship bout on May 7.

The Quad Squad and the Vaudeville Vixens will kick off the night's bouts and then the Unholy Rollers and the Reservoir Dolls will cap off the evening. The results will determine bouts for finals just two weeks later. If our season is any indication of things to come, the season championship will be anyone's game.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the action starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids four through 10 are half price, and kids three and younger get in free.

The halftime show will be Mascot Olympics, and the bout's charity is Goodman Community center, goodmancenter.org. Plan B Nightclub at 924 Williamson St. will host the after party shenanigans. We're not promising anything, but there's rumors going around about Pegasus rides.

Grab your extensions and toupees...

2011-03-28T21:10:00.002-05:00

It's almost time to WIG OUT again at the Alliant Energy Center Coliseum with another bout right around the corner!

Our fifth bout of the season, and last before semi-finals, is on Saturday, April 2, themed "Wig-Out Mustache Bash." The Quad Squad plays the Vaudeville Vixens and the Reservoir Dolls play the visiting Quad City Rollers of Moline, Illinois. The Unholy Rollers have a bye.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the action starts at 6 p.m. As always, tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids three and younger get in free and kids four through 10 are half price. After the bout, flip your locks over to the Brass Ring on Washington for the after party and then rest up for semis and finals just around the corner on April 23 and May 7.

Proceeds from the bout will benefit Fair Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 with a mission to protect and advance the civil rights of LGBT people through electoral involvement and direct legislative advocacy.

Quad Squad and Old Capitol City Roller Girls Vindicated

2011-03-25T21:21:00.008-05:00

While knights may have had most of the fun in medieval times, it was the ladies of the rink who engaged in fierce competition at the Mad Rollin’ Dolls “All Hail the Queens” bout March 19.

Quad Squad – 177; Reservoir Dolls – 108

Adding another page to their storied rivalry, the Quad Squad stole all the swagger from the Reservoir Dolls with their first win in nearly two years - and what a win it was. In a nearly flawless performance, the ladies in green dominated play and led by as much as 87 points.

Experiencing a big roster turnover in 2010, the Quad Squad was winless last year. With six more rookies on board in 2011, the Quads only had five skaters on Saturday who had ever tasted victory during a home bout.

The Reservoir Dolls, on the other hand, are loaded with veteran players. With solid wins against the Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers already under their belts this season, the Res Dolls were heavy favorites going into the match-up.

The first- and second-year skaters on the Quad Squad controlled the formation and pace of the pack from the very start, time and again springing seven-year veterans Jenny Knoxville and Thunder Kitten for lead jammer status and quick four-point scores. The Quad Squad built a 17-1 lead after five minutes, and thanks to three straight Res Dolls jammer penalties, led 44-14 thirteen minutes in.

The Quad Squad closed the first half on a 64-19 run, thanks partly to two more power jams, but thanks also to their own growing confidence and a sense of disarray on the part of the Reservoir Dolls. The Res Dolls drove the pace only once during this stretch, resulting in an 8-0 score from Rosetta Stoned. At halftime, the score was a shocker: 108-33 in the Quad Squad’s favor.

The Reservoir Dolls regrouped a bit at the half, and managed to outscore the Quad Squad 75-69 in the second period. With 20 minutes remaining, Mouse added a minute to a major track cut with an insubordination penalty, but sprang out of the box on the following jam for the Res Dolls’ biggest single score of the night, 19-0, thanks partly due to Thunder Kitten’s one mistake of the night, a major low block. Jenny Knoxville answered on the following jam (another Quad Squad power jam) with an 18-7 score and, clearly enjoying the moment, gave herself a short round of applause on the way back to the bench.

The Quad Squad’s confidence ran deep. Rookies Roxie Moxie and Rhoda Hell both had effective turns as jammers. Jenny Knoxville took more turns at blocking than she did at jamming, but provided a solid 38 points for her team. For Thunder Kitten, it was a banner night. Averaging 60 points a bout in 2008, TK has always been a big scorer, but her 72 points this night set a new single-game individual scoring record for the league.

It was an ugly night for the Reservoir Dolls jammers. They lost of four of 14 leads on penalties and ceded a whopping 11-2 margin on jammer penalty minutes. Playing only in the second half as she did during the 2011 season opener in December, Mouse led her team with 35 points, with Charlie Hustle right behind her with 34.

In the pack, finesse won out over force. The Res Dolls blockers were much more active - for example, the Res Dolls had 12 jammer knockdowns compared to two for the Quad Squad - but not nearly as effective in springing their jammers.

In their methodical consistency, it was shades of the Quad Squad pack of old. With Kit Shickers and Thrill Show trading pivot duties most of the night, the pack at times was a solid green center, at other times a green wall up front. While the Quad Squad pack broke apart the Reservoir Dolls blockers, Quads captain Lil Miss Behavin’ roamed the track against the Res Dolls jammers, garnering seven jammer force-outs and a jammer takedown.

Old Capitol City Roller Girls – 145; Unholy Rollers – 143

Old Capitol City Roller Girls, the WFTDA apprentice league from Iowa City, Iowa, traveled to Madison and showed they are prepared to skate with the best as they faced the Mad Rollin’ Dolls 2010 season champions, the Unholy Rollers.

Old Capitol dominated in the first six jams. They scored 27 points, but not without the Unholies putting up resistance. Hello, Sailor, Abby Negative and Goldie Mean created a wall of red during jam four, holding Ophelia Fracture to three points. The next jam, Old Capitol’s Gladi8Her picked up two grand slams and an extra four points.

After scoring three points in the next two jams, the Unholies’ Evie Metal added 13 points to the board in the ninth jam. The Old Capitol led by only two points after a triple grand slam from Twisted Halo, who scrambled through a wall of black consisting of Jane Bang, Fannysaurus Rex and Bat R Up. Two jams later, Dee Toure put a hit on Old Capitol’s jammer Gladi8Her, giving Abby Negative a chance to score and ending with a one point advantage for the Unholies. Three jams later, the score was again tied thanks to a defensive wall, created by Unholies Elle Machete, Red Rhyme and Tammy Faye Undertaker, and two grand slams by Dee Toure, who was taken out by Old Capitol’s Triple D Zaster.

At the end of the half, Old Capitol led by a single point. The visiting team was unable to score during the first three jams of the second half due to great defensive play by Madison’s blockers. The Unholies grabbed lead jammer for the next four jams, earning 24 points, 18 of which came from a triple grand slam by Goldie Mean. Her teammates Magic Missile and Dee Toure held opposing jammer Ophelia Fracture from making a pass through the pack. This gave the home team a 24-point lead.

The Unholies kept the lead until the 16th jam, when Old Capitol’s Gladi8Her took advantage of Twisted Halo’s time in the penalty box, giving the visitors a three-point lead. With less than four minutes left, Gladi8Her scored three grand slams with her pack preventing lead jammer Evie Metal from scoring. The visiting team led by 18 points in the last jam when jammer Left 4 Deadwards went to the penalty box. Twisted Halo flew through the pack, earning four grand slams. But Left 4 Deadwards flew out of the box at the end of her penalty and quickly scored four, enough for a two-point win.

Top scorers of the bout were Madison’s Twisted Halo with 54 and Iowa City’s Gladi8Her with 53. Defensively, Elle Machete had four jammer knockdowns wile Fannysaurus Rex, Bat R Up and ZomB Blocker each had three jammer force-outs. Twisted Halo reached 300 career points, and Evie Metal beat her personal at-home best, scoring 22 points.

The next Mad Rollin’ Dolls bout will be April 2 with the Vaudeville Vixens facing the Quad Squad and the Reservoir Dolls playing Quad City Rollers from Illinois; the Unholy Rollers will have a bye.

By Geoffrey Saucer and Iambic PentUpAnger

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

2011-03-14T23:16:00.004-05:00

All ye Kings and Queens, Knights and Nobles! It is the decree of the royal and venerable ladies of the Mad Rollin' Dolls that the people of the Madison manor are invited and ordered to attend the righteous crusade "All Hail the Queens" on the nineteenth day of this third month of March in the year two-thousand-and-eleven (that's Saturday, March 19) at the Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall.

Jousts between the esteemed ladies of the Quad Squad and Reservoir Dolls and then the Unholy Rollers and Old Capitol City Roller Girls of the Iowa City manor will commence upon the eighteenth hour, or 6 p.m. sharp! The Mad Kings will entertain between battles, and the Whiskey River Saloon will host the evening's post-tourney celebration.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $10 at the door. Kids four through 10 are half price, and under 4 get in free. Proceeds from the bout will benefit OutReach, Madison’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community center, lgbtoutreach.org.

Modern Technology Crashes into Fifties Classic, Motorcycle Mayhem-Style

2011-02-05T10:15:00.002-06:00

Hold on to your poodle skirts and varsity jackets! Mad Rollin' Dolls is bringing you a double dose of flat track derby awesomeness February 8 and 13.

First, join MRD skaters Chop Suzzy, Jewels of DeNile and Mouse at the Inferno Nightclub on Commercial Ave. next Tuesday, Feb. 8 to celebrate the highly-anticipated release of Jam City Rollergirls for the Wii™ console which features these three of our very own Dairyland Dolls. Take a break from dancing all night to take a crack at Chop, Jewels or Mouse in the game. You may actually stand a chance virtually. Don't forget to grab a few $5 raffle tickets for your chance to win a Wii™ console, generously donated by Pabst Blue Ribbon. Doors open at 9 p.m., gaming begins at 10 p.m.

Then, after a five-day Jam City marathon on your own downloaded Wiiware™ game at home, swing over to the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, February 13 for Bout 3 of the 2011 season, "Leader of the Pack Sock Hop." The Vaudeville Vixens play the Unholy Rollers; the bout's charity Girls Rock Camp will rock the stage for halftime; and the Quad Squad plays the Milwaukee Brewcity Bruisers' Shevil Knevils.

Doors open at noon and the first bout starts at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door, kids four through 10 are half price, and kids under three get in free. Paradise Lounge at 119 West Main St. will host the after party.

Reservoir Dolls defeat Unholy Rollers, Vaudeville Vixens fall to MNRG Dagger Dolls

2011-01-25T17:42:00.002-06:00

Jan. 15, 1011 – Even a Green Bay Packers playoff game couldn’t keep Mad Rollin’ Dolls supporters from the second bout of the season, “They Came From Space!”

Reservoir Dolls – 142, Unholy Rollers – 120

The Reservoir Dolls are taking the beginning of the Mad Rollin’ Dolls seventh season hostage with another win, besting last season’s champions the Unholy Roller in a second-half comeback.

The first period began with the two teams trading off lead jammer status. Going into the sixth jam with the score tied at 11, the Unholy Rollers grabbed the lead. With Res Doll Keyser Suze out for a back-blocking penalty, Wildberry Punch picked up three grand slams to bring the score to 26-14.

The next five jams were rough on the Res Dolls, who remained scoreless for three of them. Wildberry Punch then took advantage of another Res Dolls jammer penalty, picking up four grand slams plus an extra four points to increase the Unholies’ lead to 38 points over the Res Dolls. With the score at 65-27, the Reservoir Dolls caught a break with back-to-back power jams from Keyser Suze and Charlie Hustle for a combined total gain of 22 points. At the half, the Unholy Rollers led 80-54.

The Reservoir Dolls rallied as the second half began with Mouse earning 9 points in her first jam of the night while her teammates kept Twisted Halo from getting through the pack. The Unholy Rollers held a 20-point lead until Vicious van GoGo picked up 18 points during a power jam. The tide turned for the Res Dolls in the 12th jam when Charlie Hustle outscored Mack the Knife 7-1, leaving the score 102-97 in favor of the Reservoir Dolls.

With less than 10 minutes on the period clock, the Reservoir Dolls led by a single point. On a mission to keep the Unholies at 108 points, they held their opponent scoreless for three consecutive jams, while the Unholies returned the favor for two of the same three jams. Unholy Roller Goldie Mean went to the penalty box in the third-to-last jam, giving Mouse the advantage to score three grand slams plus four points before she went to the penalty box as well. With the Reservoir Dolls up 132-120 at the final jam, STank Girl the Stench Wench took advantage of Mack the Knife’s trip to the penalty box and put up 10 points. The final score marked a Res Dolls come-from-behind win, 142-120.

Unholy Roller Wildberry Punch picked up her 500th career point during the bout and led her team’s scoring efforts with 56 points. Reservoir Dolls’ Mouse led her team in scoring with 43 points, with Vicious van GoGo close behind at 35.

Minnesota RollerGirls’ Dagger Dolls ¬– 153; Vaudeville Vixens ¬– 57

The Minnesota RollerGirls’ Dagger Dolls have enjoyed a successful home season with a 3-0 record and skating for their league championship on Jan. 22. At the top of their game, the Dagger Dolls didn’t slow down one bit after landing in Madison and defeated the Vaudeville Vixens handily, 153-57.

The Dagger Dolls set the tone of the game from jam one. Killamon Jaro crouched into classic speed skating form for a quick nine points. Psychonovia followed with four more, and the visitors were on top 13-0. For a while, the Vixens were up to the challenge, edging to within five, 16-11, nine minutes into the game. From there on out the Dagger Dolls were untouchable, closing the half on an 84-7 scoring run for a 100-18 half-time lead.

The Dagger Dolls moved away from their all-star jammer corps in the second half, giving Scootaloo, Tiki Torture, Ova Achieva and Lydia Punch turns wearing the star. The visitors’ defense didn’t ease up, though, and although the Vixens had more scoring success, the second half belonged to the Dagger Dolls with a total of 53-39. When the last whistle finally blew, the final score stood at 153-57.

You could credit the Dagger Dolls’ win to spider-legged Killamon Jaro’s 43 points, or to the equally elusive Juke Boxx’s 31, or to having six jammers in double-digit figures. But the win truly belonged to their defense. While they allowed the Vixens a mere 18 points in the first half, no number is more telling than how the they handled Vixens (and Dairyland Doll) veteran Darling Nikki. Early in their scoring run, the Dagger Dolls kept Nikki from clearing the pack for a full two minutes and held her to only six points for the entire game. Only Chop Suzzy and Ace S. Wild found any scoring success for the Vixens, scoring 24 and 18 points respectively.

The game wasn’t without its lighter moments. The bout marked the return to the Coliseum of Juke Boxx, who had skated on the same floor a year ago for the Vixens. Like her old team, the Dagger Dolls wear a lot of pink. Early in the second half, Juke Boxx met former teammate Chop Suzzy on the jammer line. The two executed ¬– badly – an impromptu chest bump and fell into a pink pile, giggling as friends do, beneath the Coliseum’s cavernous dome.

MRD’s next bout is Feb. 13 when the Unholy Rollers play the Vaudville Vixens and the Quad Squad take on the Brewcity Bruisers’ Shevil Knevils. The Reservoir Dolls have a bye.

~ submitted by Iambic PentUpAnger and Geoffrey Saucer

Klaatu Barada Nikto!

2011-01-06T13:10:00.002-06:00

Back off Gort! Those aren't little green men or Killer Klowns from Outer Space, they're Mad Rollin' Dolls skating in their second bout of the 2011 season! On January 15, Alliant Energy Center's Veteran's Memorial Coliseum will host "They Came From Space!" Come check out our science-fiction double feature. The Unholy Rollers will play the Reservoir Dolls, each with one win under their belts from the season opener, while the Vaudeville Vixens host the Minnesota RollerGirls' Dagger Dolls, who are currently undefeated on their home turf. The competition will be out of this world!

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids three and under get in free, and ages four through 10 are half price. Doors open at 5, and the bout starts at 6. Dress as your favorite science fiction character for the costume contest at half time and a chance to win a fabulous prize! Trackside seats are first come, first served so catch a wormhole to land early. When the action is over, strap on your utility belts and grab your laser blasters for the after party at Plan B (from Outer Space).

For information on purchasing tickets, a complete season schedule, bout themes and after party locations, visit madrollindolls.com.

Reservoir Dolls and Unholy Rollers Win in first bouts of MRD’s Seventh Season

2011-01-06T13:01:00.004-06:00

December 18, 2010

More than 2,200 fans braved the cold, snow and holiday traffic to cheer for their favorite home teams and inaugurate the 2011 Mad Rollin’ Dolls season.

Unholy Rollers ¬– 167, Quad Squad – 138

The Unholy Rollers broke open a close game with a 50-10 scoring run early in the second half to seize a 167-138 win over the Quad Squad.

The Quad Squad grabbed the first five leads of the game and led most of the first half, including a decisive a 24-2 run by Thunder Kitten with under five minutes to go before intermission. The Quads led 91-75 at half time.

The Quads built their lead to 21 points early in the second half, but watched it slip away thanks to three straight power jams by the Unholy Rollers. Twisted Halo, Mack the Knife and Wildberry Punch all put up double-digit scores for a combined 44-4 Unholies’ scoring run. The teams matched scores to close out the game’s final quarter to finish at 167-138.

Despite the team's youth, there were shades of the Quad Squad of old, with Thunder Kitten scoring a game high 48 points. Jenny Knoxville, Aleta the Hon, and Lil Miss Behavin’ all contributed more than 20 points to the Quad Squad’s scoring effort.

Twisted Halo and Wildberry Punch both scored 48 points for the Unholy Rollers. Looking back to last season, it was Halo’s fourth consecutive 40-plus point effort, while Punch had the highest point per jam average in her six year career with the Unholy Rollers. Rookie Magic Missile added 36 points, and Mack the Knife scored 25 in her first appearance since a season-ending injury in February.

Reservoir Dolls – 163, Vaudeville Vixens – 134

The Vaudeville Vixens and Reservoir Dolls bout began with low-scoring jams, setting the tone for a defensive and physical contest.

Going into the fifth jam, the score was tied at 12 points. While Vixen rookie jammer Inigo Destroya sat out a penalty, Stank Girl the Stench Wench scored the night’s first grand slam, followed by a second grand slam and an additional four points. However, midway through the first half, Major Kusaknocky of the Vaudeville Vixens grabbed four grand slams during a power jam, putting the Vixens ahead 46-35.

The Vixens held the lead until Stank Girl picked up four grand slams with six minutes left in the first half. The Vixens faced a major problem at this time ¬– jammer Major Kusaknocky was in the penalty box repairing twisted wheels on one of her skates. At the half, the Reservoir Dolls were up 73-53.

The beginning of the second half reflected the start of the first half with low scoring jams. At the 23-minute mark, Reservoir Doll Dutch Oven took advantage of Inigo Destroya’s major track-cutting penalty by picking up a grand slam and an additional 11 points, bringing the Reservoir Dolls to a 31-point lead. The Reservoir Dolls held the lead for the rest of the bout.

Several career highlights occurred during the bout. Charlie Hustle scored her 400th career point, and Darling Nikki completed her 400th jam and scored her 600th point. League history was made when Mouse scored her 1000th point.

~ by Iambic PentUpAnger and Geoffrey Saucer

Did you miss us??

2010-12-07T08:22:00.003-06:00

For being such great fans all year long, we thought we'd get you a little something for the holidays, and a season opener bout is the perfect size! We're back at it on the flat track for our seventh season after training all summer and recruiting new blood, all to bring you the hardest hitting season yet.

MRD's four home teams will test their summer training and new recruits against each other at the Season Opener "Naughty or Nice?" on December 18 at the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The 2010 Champions the Unholy Rollers play the Quad Squad, and the Vaudeville Vixens match up against the Reservoir Dolls.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids three and under get in free and ages four through 10 are half price. For information on purchasing tickets, a complete season schedule, bout themes and after party locations, visit madrollindolls.com. Doors open at 5, and the bout starts at 6. Get there early to unwrap your track-side seats, and then drag your post-bout holiday cheer over to the Inferno on Commercial Avenue for the after party!

Who Loves Double D's?

2010-10-31T16:03:00.005-05:00

There's only one place and time each year to see the top roller derby seeds square off for the Women's Flat Track Championship title. This year, Chicago's UIC Pavilion will host Uproar on the Lakeshore, WFTDA's roller derby Championship tournament Friday, November 5 to Sunday, November 7. And guess who's going to be there?

The Dairyland Dolls secured their spot at Championships with an intense win over the Cincinnati Roller Girls at the North Central Regional tournament in September. And if the Regional Tournament is any indication of things to come, the Uproar will be a mad rush of hard fights and last minute upsets come November.

Twelve of the 98 WFTDA leagues earned their chance to bout for the Championship title by placing in the top three in their regional tournament. The DDs rank third in the North Central Region, and they play their first bout of the tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the No. 2 east coast seed, the Philadelphia Roller Girls. The Championship bout starts at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Tournament location, tickets, and bout schedule can be found at http://www.uproaronthelakeshore.com/. Weekend passes are $78, weekend VIP trackside passes are $123, and daily passes are $31. No daily VIP tickets will be available. Book your seats, pack your cowbell, and roll down to Chicago to help the Dairyland Dolls throw some Ds!

North Central Regionals, Day Three: Dairyland Beats Cincinnati 165-143, Advances to WFTDA Championships

2010-09-25T11:34:00.012-05:00

The Dairyland Dolls and the Cincinnati Rollergirls' all-star team, the Black Sheep, seemed made for each other. Both teams like to score, both can skate fast or stop their defense on a dime, and both live or die on the power jam. There were plenty of all three on Sunday afternoon in Green Bay at the WFTDA North Central Regional Tournament in a nail-biter of a third-place bout.

The tenor of the game was set in the opening jams. Jewels of DeNile put up a 19-2 score with a 4-2 pack advantage while Cincinnati jammer K. Lethal sat in the penalty box. Madison returned the favor on the very next jam, with K. Lethal making up lost ground with a 19-4 score as Lil Miss Behavin’ took a seat in the box herself.

And so it went. Cincinnati went up 50-34 after four more DD jammer penalties (with two more on their part). A nifty eight points from Lil Miss and some poor point management from the Black Sheep brought the teams to a near tie, 66-67.

With a trip to the WFTDA Championships on the line, there were numerous meetings between the refs and team captains and among the officiating crew. Late in the first half, Madison's Vicious van GoGo laid a hard hit on Black Sheep jammer Wheezy as the jam whistle blew. Vicious was called for a low block and nearly ejected based on gross misconduct (blocking after the jam ended). After a five-minute conference with the tournament's head referee, the hit was declared legal and Vicious stayed in the game. At the half, the Dolls led 78-71.

After blocking in the first half, Darling Nikki stepped into Madison’s jammer rotation. She promptly earned her own trip to the box, but so did K. Lethal. Back and forth went the game in small steps. Finally, with under 18 minutes left in the game, K. Lethal’s fifth penalty led to 14 points from Nikki and 11 from Jewels, and the DDs were on top again with some breathing room, 123-99.

Hold on, folks - it wasn't over yet. With under ten minutes remaining, Mouse re-rentered the track after sitting out a major penalty, only to go back almost immediately for accruing her fourth minor, allowing Hannah Ouchcinco to change the lead on a 29-0 power jam. In the next jam, K. Lethal earned her seventh trip to the box, and thusly Cincy's locker room, while Mouse put the DDs back in the lead 132-128, with 5:37 left on the clock. Lethal’s fouling out of the game for seven trips to the box seemed to break Cincinnati's jammer rotation. A few jams later, with the score 137-132, Nikki would put the game out of reach on a 20-0 power jam.

The Dairyland Dolls now have a spot in Uproar on the Lakeshore, WFTDA’s Championship tournament, November 5-7 in Chicago. This will be their second trip to the big stage in as many years, and the first within driving distance of their home base.

North Central Regionals, Day 2: Dairyland to face Cincinnati in Third Place Bout

2010-09-12T10:19:00.004-05:00

(photo credit: Marc Lebryk)

After defeating second-seed Detroit on Friday, the Minnesota RollerGirls scored their second upset of this weekend’s WFTDA North Central Regional tournament at the expense of the Dairyland Dolls. The Dolls broke out to an early 50-15 lead behind trademark power jams from Darling Nikki and Jewels of DeNile, with a halftime lead in Madison's favor at 59-38. But the well ran dry in the second half as Minnesota's consistency wore down Madison, ultimately defeating them 119-107.

The pre-bout buzz concerned the DDs facing off against former teammate Juke Boxx. The Madison defense handled Juke’s threat as a jammer; however, it was her work on the Minnesota defensive effort that stood out this afternoon. Juke sat-blocked Lil Miss Behavin’ at the rear of the pack while Minnesota jammer Scarmen Hellectra scored 17 points to give her team its first lead since early in the bout, 73-66. They continued their solid pack play and built up an 89-67 lead with 13 minutes to go in the game.

The Dolls tried to strike back, grabbing a 93-91 lead with eight minutes remaining. Minnesota’s defense and Madison's penalty woes grew the deficit again to 93-119. A final charge led by Mouse and Vicious van GoGo fell just short for a 107-119 final score. Minnesota entered the tournament as the seventh seed, making this bout the Cinderella story of the tournament. Dairyland will attempt to write their own sequel tomorrow, when they face fourth-seed Cincinnati for a chance to go to the WFTDA Championships in November.

North Central Regionals, Day 1: Dairyland, Minnesota to Face Off in Semi-Finals

2010-09-10T23:48:00.005-05:00

(photo credit: Marc Lebryk)

The Dairyland Dolls put a long first half scoreless spell behind them to soundly beat Minneapolis’s North Star Supernovas 162-73. The Dolls were favored going into the bout, and now they move on to Saturday afternoon’s WFTDA North Central Regional semifinals against the Minnesota RollerGirls.

Minnesota also advanced, thanks to an upset win against second-seeded Detroit, 118-99. Playing no small part in the upset was former Vaudeville Vixen and Dairyland Doll Juke Boxx. Minnesota trailed at halftime, but roared back in a very fast and physical game. Even for hardcore derby fans, this was a beautiful bout.

Regionals Right Around the Corner

2010-09-05T21:37:00.005-05:00

That rumbling in the distance isn't a late-season storm, it's THUNDA ON THE TUNDRA in Green Bay! WFTDA's 2010 North Central Regional Tournament will be held at the Brown County Arena from Friday Sept. 10 through Sunday Sept. 12. This is a rare opportunity to see the North Central Region's top-level teams battle it out in one jam-packed weekend. http://www.thundaonthetundra.com/

The tourney boasts ten teams in 17 bouts over three days. Think you can handle it? Tickets are available online or at the door. http://www.ticketstaronline.com/default.asp?ticketstar=26&objId=953 Weekend passes are $45, day passes are $18, and kids under age 12 get a discount.

The Dairyland Dolls are currently ranked third in the North Central Division. They begin play on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against the Minneapolis North Star Supernovas. The final bout of the tourney starts at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Check out the bout schedule here: http://www.thundaonthetundra.com/tournament-info/bout-schedule

A top three placement at Regionals will take them to Chicago for Nationals in November! Book a room, pack your bags, and grab your cowbells--it's tournament season.

Summer Interleague Season Winding Down

2010-08-16T10:12:00.003-05:00

August 21 marks the last bout day of the 2010 interleague season for the Dairyland Dolls and Team Unicorn. The Dairyland Dolls will head to Denver to face the Denver Roller Dolls' Mile High Club. That's No. 13 vs. No. 5 for those of you following the rankings.

But don't cry if you can't make it all the way to Colorado -- you can get your derby fix just a couple hours away in Rockford, Ill. with Team Unicorn at the Screw City Smackdown Tournament! Eight Midwest teams will duke it out double-elimination style for the win.
http://www.rockfordrage.com/

Bouts start at 9 a.m. at the Indoor Sports Center on Riverside Blvd. Team Unicorn's first bout starts at 10 a.m. against the G-Rap Attack from Michigan's Grand Raggidy Roller Girls. All-day tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids, and admission is knocked down to half price after 5 p.m. Kids under 5 get in free.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/121827

The Dairyland Dolls will then compete in the North Central regional tournament Sept. 10 - 12 in Green Bay, Wis. and continue on to Nationals Nov. 5 - 7 in Chicago with a top 3 placement. Can you hear the cowbells??
http://www.thundaonthetundra.com
http://www.uproaronthelakeshore.com

We're just a couple of months away from MRD's seventh home season, so find some time to cheer for the DDs and Team Unicorn while you can!

Big double wins for MRDs travel teams

2010-07-30T09:42:00.006-05:00

Both MRD travel teams won their bouts in a sizzling at-home double-header July 24.The Dairyland Dolls doused the Houston HaRD Knocks, while the Unicorns trampled LaCrosse’s Skating Sirens.

Dairyland Dolls 180, Houston HaRD Knocks 80

Roller Derby usually doesn’t have much to with luck; it’s usually a case of opportunity. Against Houston’s HaRD Knocks last Saturday, however, luck may have shined a little on veteran Dairyland Dolls jammer Mouse. The beneficiary of three power-jams against Houston, Mouse set some kind of record (we’re just not sure what yet) with 86 points as the Dolls crushed Houston. The final score: 180-80.

Houston’s line-up was missing ten of the players who helped them reach last year’s WFTDA Championship

Tournament, but that wasn’t evident early on. The visitors coaxed out a 9-4 lead after six jams with aggressive defense, and closed the score again to 18-20 after 13-point jam for Darling Nikki. That was as close as Houston would get for the remainder of the night.

With the Dairyland Dolls leading 45-27 and a little over seven minutes left in the first half, it was still a competitive game. That ended quickly. Houston jammer Cinder Hellyeah earned back-to-back cutting penalties. Lil Miss Behavin’ began the scoring spree with 13 points. Mouse followed with a 30-point outburst. The Dolls packed slowed, and it was almost a two-minute open skate for Mouse. She passed the last pair of blockers as the whistle signaled the end of the jam. That 18-point lead had become 61. That also was probably some kind of record, but again, we’re not sure what. Madison was in complete control at half, 99-29.

Where was the luck? Mouse caught two more power jams in the second half for 19 points each. With her other turns at jammer, it all added up to a big total of 86 points.

Houston’s sole big scoring opportunity came in the penultimate jam. Darling Nikki earned the Dolls’ only jammer penalty of the night, and Mistilla “The Killa” raced around the track for 15 points. It was too little, too late, for Houston.

For Houston, the lack of experience at depth was telling. When she had the chance, veteran HaRD Kocks captain Carmen Gedditt wreaked havoc on the DD jammers, and Mistilla led the visitors with 33 points. Despite being out-played, Houston stayed loose and even danced on the start line during time-outs.

Another highlight of the night belonged to the crowd. Eight hundred thirty-five fans passed through the turnstiles, making this the best attended home interleague bout in Dairyland Dolls history.

Team Unicorn, 193; Skating Sirens, 68

Major Kusaknocky broke her own bout record of 88 points with 95 points as Team Unicorn buried La Crosse’s Skating Sirens 193 to 68 in unsanctioned play. The prelude to the Madison/Houston bout was a long night for the Sirens, who skated with a core of La Crosse players but borrowed heavily from other area leagues to fill-out their line-up.

The Heat, a non-jammer for the Reservoir Dolls during the home season, had a career highlight with a 20-point jam while Stevie Knocks scored 33 more for Team Unicorn.

Here’s an update on the fan injury that stopped play for about 20 minutes when a child fell through the railings to the concrete floor. EMTs cared for her until an ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital. She was released on Monday morning and is doing fine. MRD wishes her well and thanks the EMTs for being there when they were needed.

photos by Papa Razzi

Can't Travel for Derby This Summer?

2010-07-20T09:54:00.022-05:00

Then don't miss your only chance to scream yourself hoarse for the Dairyland Dolls and Team Unicorn on their home turf during the 2010 Interleague season. On Saturday, July 24 the DDs skate against Houston HaRD Knocks and Team Unicorn will face the La Crosse Skating Sirens at Alliant Energy Center's Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Afterward, you can hop over to Plan B on Williamson St. to soothe your aching throat and dance until you drop.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the bout starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids three years and younger get in free, and ages four through 10 are half price. Get your tickets online at madrollindolls.com or at MRD’s ticket outlets: Capitol City Tattoo, Cha Cha Beauty & Barber, Freedom/Knuckleheads, High Noon Saloon, Hoi Polloi, and Lakeside Press.

Detroit Derby Girl All Stars – 139, Dairyland Dolls – 114

2010-06-29T12:24:00.001-05:00

In a closed-door bout at Fast Forward Skate Center on June 26, the Dairyland Dolls hosted the Detroit Derby Girl All Stars, the third meeting of a burgeoning rivalry between the two leagues. Madison is ranked 10^th in the WFTDA rankings, Detroit is 12^th. Based on their classic meeting last fall at the Brawl of America in St. Paul, the teams are equally matched.

This night it was Detroit’s turn to spoil the party for Madison. After a close first half, Detroit dominated the second half with physical play and novel defensive sets that kept the Dairyland Dolls off-balance. Detroit was simply the better team and won, 139-114.

The teams traded scoring runs during the first 30 minutes. Madison led early, then Detroit opened a gap before the Dolls closed the score to 50-51 with six minutes remaining. Detroit finished the half with a 25-11 scoring run and a 76-61 halftime lead.

In the first half, Detroit held a 9-8 advantage for lead jams captured. In the second half, that margin was 14-4 in favor of Detroit. With two- and four-point jams, Detroit built up a 110-72 lead with 16 minutes to go in the game. Detroit used novel game sets – two blockers trailing the pack, three blockers on the front, and even slow-starts at the whistle to alter the pace of the game – to which the Dolls never adjusted.

Detroit captain Racer McChaseHer led a balanced scoring attack with 40 points, followed by Sista Slitchya with 31 points. Racer demonstrated her defensive strength as well, dominating the Dairyland Dolls rookie jammer Sugalumps with knockdowns and force outs at almost every encounter between the two. Despite the knockdowns, Sugalumps was Madison’s scoring leader with 38 points, while Mouse added 29 points.

Unholy Rollers take League Championship for 2010

2010-05-23T18:03:00.003-05:00

Mad Rollin’ Dolls ended their sixth season on May 22, with the Unholy Rollers claiming the league championship for 2010. Final scores were Unholy Rollers –104, Vaudeville Vixens – 93. In the race for third and fourth place, the Reservoir Dolls defeated the Quad Squad, 133 – 105.

A 19–3 jam from Twisted Halo 20 minutes into the first half and a second half punctuated by short, low-scoring jams gave the Unholy Rollers the advantage they needed to keep the Vaudeville Vixens at bay.

In the evening's grudge match, the Reservoir Dolls grew a 69-62 halftime lead to as much as 36 before closing the bout with a win. Vicious van GoGo finished her first season in a Reservoir Dolls uniform with yet another stunning performance and 65 total points.

MRD outgrew its original skating rink venue and moved all its events to the Alliant Energy Center for this season. They attracted up to 2,400 fans to bouts in the Coliseum and Exhibition Halls. Total attendance for the season was more than 10,000. Thanks, fans, for loving MRD. We love you right back!

Interleague Bouts Add Sizzle to Your Summer!

2010-05-17T16:17:00.006-05:00

(photo credit: Papa-RaZZi)
MRD's home season may end with the League Championship Bout on May 22, but the Dolls will keep on rollin’ all summer. Why? It’s Interleague Season! The all-star Dairyland Dolls and the sparkly Team Unicorn invite you to come out for these showdowns.

Sunday, May 23, the Dairyland Dolls face Chicago's Windy City All-Stars at the Midwest Brewhaha tournament in Milwaukee. This bout starts at 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 5, Team Unicorn battles the Glass City Rollers in Toledo, Ohio.

Saturday, June 26, Team Unicorn faces off against the Paper Valley Roller Girls at the Brown County Arena in Green Bay, WI.

Saturday, July 17, the Dairyland Dolls play the Boston Massacre in Boston.

Saturday, July 24, the Dairyland Dolls host Houston's HaRD Knocks at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center, in the only home bout of the interleague season!

Saturday, August 21, the Dairyland Dolls travel to Denver to take on the Mile High Club.

Also, mark your calendars NOW for the WFTDA regional and national tournaments coming up in the fall. Both are within easy driving distance of Madison. Road trip!

Sept. 10-12, the North Central Region Playoffs are in Green Bay, co-hosted by the Brewcity Bruisers and PMI Entertainment.

Nov. 5-7, the WFTDA National Championship tournament is in Chicago, hosted by the Windy City Rollers.

Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers Advance to MRD Championship

2010-05-11T09:52:00.004-05:00

The Vaudeville Vixens confidently skated into the finals on May 22 with a 128-104 win over the Quad Squad. The Unholy Rollers came from behind to topple the Reservoir Dolls, 123-115, pitting them once again against the Vixens for the league title.

Vaudeville Vixens 128, Quad Squad 104

In a near replay of their last bout two short weeks ago, the Vaudeville Vixens held off a tenacious Quad Squad to roll into MRD’s finals, 128-104.

At the nine-minute mark in the first half, the Quad Squad held a 37-29 lead. Darling Nikki erased that with a 13-point jam. Major Kusaknocky followed with nine more points, and the Vixens took the lead, 51-40. The Quad Squad defense stiffened again, and the teams went into the half with the Vixens on top, 59-51.

Early in the second half, the Quad Squad crept back to within two points, 60-62. After this, the Vixens went into machine mode. Capturing nine of the next ten leads – highlighted by twin 15-0 power jams from Sugalumps and Darling Nikki – the Vixens blew the game open 122-75.

There shouldn’t have been any drama after this, but the Vixens managed three jammer penalties in the next two jams, and the Quad Squad erased 20 points from the Vixen lead. With Major Kusaknocky starting the final jam in the penalty box, the Quad Squad still trailed by 29, but with a 5-2 advantage on the track. It didn’t end pretty, but the Vixens held on and will defend their 2009 championship.

With 34 points in the game, Vixen rookie Sugalumps reached 188 points for the season, tying the rookie season scoring record, set last year by both Juke Boxx and Charlie Hustle. Expect her to set a new record in the championship game. Major Kusaknocky and Darling Nikki both had 43 points for the Vixens.

Aleta the Hon led the Quad Squad scoring with 39 points, followed by Lil’ Miss Behavin’ with 36. Aleta has been chasing the rookie scoring record, too, with 164 total points so far this season. The Squad’s Kit Shickers led all skaters in track time, skating 21 of 35 jams.

Unholy Rollers 123, Reservoir Dolls 115

Despite a 31-point lead early in the second half, the Reservoir Dolls never quite shook the Unholy Rollers, who mounted a late comeback for a dramatic 123-115 victory. It was sweet revenge for Unholies after a narrow loss to the Res Dolls on Feb. 14.

The Reservoir Dolls pack dominated the first half, with 12 of 21 possible leads, but play was close for both sides. The Res Dolls only managed eight points on their one power jam opportunity, and Jewels of DeNile and Charlie Hustle traded seats in the penalty box in jam 19 to negate another breakout chance for both teams. At the half, the score was 68-48 in favor of the Reservoir Dolls.

The Res Dolls maintained that 20-point cushion for most of the second half. Following a 10-0 power jam from Vicious van GoGo, the Res Dolls held their biggest lead at 87-56. The Unholy Rollers quickly closed the gap as Twisted Halo, coming out of the penalty box, passed the jammer star to Jewels of DeNile. Jewels score 19 points while the Unholy pack kept Res Dolls jammer Paine Mansfield from clearing the pack for most of the jam’s two minutes.

The gap closed to 13 at one point, but grew back to 19 at the 10-minute mark. With less than seven minutes to go, the game changed as Charlie Hustle went to the penalty box for a major forearm foul. With a 5-3 skater advantage, the Unholy Rollers stopped the pack and Twisted Halo put up 19 points before the jam whistle blew. The score was now tied at 113-113.

Twice late in the game Vicious van GoGo grabbed lead jammer against Jewels of DeNile and called the jam for no points. This is no mean feat. Jewels is always a dangerous opponent, and keeping her off the scoreboard is always a victory. One of these occasions was after the game-tying jam. Little could the Res Dolls know that the Unholy Rollers’ time out was to rest Jewels and put her back on the jammer line once again. Jewels grabbed five points, and baited Rosetta Stoned into committing a 20-foot blocking violation before she called off the jam. The Unholy Rollers led 118-113.

Mouse grabbed lead in the subsequent jam, but Twisted Halo was right behind her. Two more Reservoir Doll points, and it was 118-115, with 1:35 remaining to start what would become the night’s final jam. Jewels toed the jammer line again against Charlie Hustle, but drew a major penalty for cutting the track. It was the Unholies’ defense that saved the game. Two crushing hits from Mauly Tov on Charlie Hustle, and back containment from Wild Berry Punch kept Charlie from ever clearing the pack. Jewels broke out of the box and raised her arms in victory after completing a five-point pass before time ran out.

It was a thrilling win for the Unholy Rollers, a crushing loss for the Reservoir Dolls. With only a few veterans from their two championships still on the roster, the Res Dolls had a great team-building year. For the Unholy Rollers, the loss of Mack the Knife to a knee injury in the Feb. 14 bout seemed to spell the end of their championship hopes. But the story isn’t over until the final word is written.

As she has proven during the regular season and in interleague, Jewels of DeNile is a clutch player. Held in check much of the second half, she came through at the end when it mattered most, and took the star in three of the game’s last four jams. It was the quiet, effective Unholy pack that made it all possible, however, especially as they killed a last jam power-jam disadvantage.

Jewels of DeNile led her team with 52 points. Twisted Halo, keeping up with Suglalumps on the rookie scoring run, had 44 and goes into finals with 165 points for the season.

In another understated but stellar performance, Vicious van GoGo led her team with 34 points, a 28-point advantage on the jam, and led her team in defensive effort. Charlie Hustle led in Res Dolls scoring with 40 points, and Mouse added 29 points while breaking the career 900-point milestone.

The Reservoir Dolls finish the season against Quad Squad in the finals’ grudge match, while the Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers lock horns and ears for the 2010 league championship on May 22. The bout will be at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center. The bout starts at 6 p.m. and the doors open at 5 p.m.

Geoffrey Saucer

Unholy Rollers and Vaudeville Vixens win

2010-04-27T08:41:00.008-05:00

Unholy Rollers – 153, Brewcity Battlestars – 65

The Unholy Rollers dispatched the visiting Brewcity Battlestars 153-65 in the final interleague team bout of the 2010 Mad Rollin' Dolls season.

Scoring was low for both teams in the first 15 minutes of play, with the Unholy Rollers holding a slim 28-14 lead. The Unholy Rollers hit their stride in the second quarter and finished the half on top 65-28. The Battlestars managed to score in only three of 20 jams in the first half, with 13 points from HackSAW at the mid-point and 14 more points from Slayerah in the period’s last jam.

The Battlestars closed the gap to 21 points at 46-67. A trademark 20-0 jam from Jewels of DeNile widened the gap again. The Unholies dominated the rest of the game and held the Battlestars scoreless for a ten-minute stretch to claim the win.

Rookie Unholy skater Twisted Halo set a single-game scoring record for the Mad Rollin’ Dolls with 66 points. Jewels of DeNile topped that with all 51 of her points going unmatched by the opposing jammer. Brewcity rookie Slayerah led her team’s effort with 22 points. Her teammate Moby Nipps led all skaters in track time with 22 turns on the line.

Vaudeville Vixens 134, Quad Squad 109

Everybody but the members of the Quad Squad expected the 2009 league champion Vaudeville Vixens to dominate this bout, but the rookie-heavy Quads proved their team has come a long way this season. After 12 lead changes and two ties, the Vixens managed to pull away in the last 11 minutes, and with a sigh of relief, held on for the 134-109 win.

Both sides had plenty of fight in them to start, and the score ping-ponged for the first ten minutes. The Vixens slowly widened the gap until they held a 48-22 lead. Two jammer penalties on the Vixens' Major Kusaknocky set up the Quad Squad’s Aleta the Hon for a pair of 15-point jams and a tie game at the four-minute mark, 55-55. The Quad Squad went into halftime with a narrow 59-57 lead.

Neither team could gain an advantage early in the second half. The score was tied at 68 with 22 minutes remaining. The Vixens pack limited the damage from a jammer penalty, conceding only nine points to Thunder Kitten during a full two-minute jam, but still fell behind 72-83. The Vixens’ Sugalumps bounced back from a fall, and her pack again shut down Thunder Kitten for a 15-0 jam and the lead. Lil Miss Behavin’ struck right back with a 12-2 power jam and regained the lead, 95-89.

The Vixens tightened up their play with 12 minutes to go and closed the half with a 45-14 scoring run, 21 of those points coming from Darling Nikki. It was an emphatic finish to an otherwise close game.

The Quad Squad came together as a team in this game. They avoided the penalties that have plagued them in the past, and controlled the pack like pros when they had the power jam going their way. Fresh from their first taste of interleague play in Seattle, the Quads’ jammer trio of Thunder Kitten, Lil Miss Behavin’ and Aleta the Hon racked up 25, 33 and 51 points respectively.

For the 2009 champs, the game was a test of their mettle heading into the semi-finals and finals. Minus Juke Boxx and Mustang, all the Vixens had to improve their game. After a couple of hurtful jammer penalties, the Vixens pack came together to limit further damage. Veteran Darling Nikki stepped up to score late in the game and rookie Sugalumps reliably ground out points all bout long to finish with 43 total.

The bout was also a preview of next month’s semi-finals, when the Quads and the Vixens meet again. In the other semi-final matchup, the Unholy Rollers take a second crack at the Reservoir Dolls, to whom they narrowly lost in February.

In the much-anticipated half time exhibition bout, the plucky Bruise Brothers (The Wisconsin Guys from Madison radio station WTDY AM 1670) learned who’s boss as the Bad Habits skated and danced their way around them like speed boats amongst battleships. The Bad Habits put on a show featuring leg-whips, spin whips, shoot-the-duck passes (that’s what Mouse’s small package is called), backward jams and blindfolded jams on the way to an 83-2 final score. How the Bruise Brothers scored two, we’ll never know.

photos by Papa-RaZZi

Scores from April 24 bouts

2010-04-25T12:59:00.001-05:00

Unholy Rollers 153; Brewcity Bruiser's Battlestars 65
Vaudeville Vixens 134; Quad Squad 109
Bad Habits 83; Bruised Brothers 2

Come back for the recap and photos soon.

Derby Girl of the Month - Maverick

2010-04-14T11:02:00.000-05:00

Hey, that's me! Hello Madison.

Derby Girl of the Month - Paine Mansfield

2010-04-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Say hello to long time skater, former General Manager of MRD, and all-around sweetheart Paine Mansfield. She's been interviewed by Dana 101.

Derby Girl of the Month - Sakaho

2010-04-14T10:57:00.000-05:00

That's right, she's got butt cheeks made of iron :) Meet Sakaho over at Dane 101.

Kingstock at the Barrymore

2010-04-12T16:25:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that you are already planning to be at the next derby bout, (Saturday, April 24, doors open at 6pm) since who would miss out on a chance to dress up as SpongeBob SquarePants (or your favorite Saturday morning cartoon character)? However, if you are up to multiple events per night, think about stopping by the Midwest's premier drag king event Kingstock at the Barrymore. Derby girls get in free, and anyone with a ticket stub from the derby bout gets in half price. What a deal!

Derby Girl of the Month - Charlie Hustle

2010-03-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

Say hello to Charlie Hustle over at Dane 101!

Res Dolls and Vixens Take Bout #4

2010-03-22T14:40:00.006-05:00

Reservoir Dolls 169, Brewcity Bruisers' Maiden Milwaukee 73

For the second time this month, a Mad Rollin’ Dolls home team faced a Brewcity squad to fuel a budding backyard rivalry between the two leagues. The Reservoir Dolls took advantage of superior jammer depth and bruising pack play to defeat Maiden Milwaukee 169-73 and finish off their regular season slate of bouts on a three win streak.

All-time MRD scoring leader Mouse got the Res Dolls off to a fast start. She could not get through the pack cleanly in the bout’s first jam, but neither could Milwaukee’s Rejected Seoul, and the home team’s lead was quickly 13-4. Milwaukee’s Beelzebelle, injured early in the second jam, gutted her way off the track to allow play to continue, but the result was a further-demoralizing 9-0 jam in the Res Dolls’ favor. These initial jams were a microcosm of the first half. Punishing hits by Texas transfer Vicious van GoGo and other Res Dolls blockers consistently thwarted Milwaukee jammers. Meanwhile, six different Res Dolls jammers sliced through a Maiden pack trying desperately to help out their own point-scorers. By the end of the half, the Reservoir Dolls had a 91-40 lead. Rejected Seoul kept it relatively close, exerting a tremendous effort as she scored more than 60% of her team's points.

The second half started fast for Milwaukee. Rejected Seoul took advantage of a major penalty that sent the Res Dolls’ jammer to the box, resulting in a 14-2 jam in favor of the resilient visitors. But those 14 points were more than Milwaukee could muster over the next 15 jams. Second-year star Charlie Hustle and rookie Sproutin’ A Tail combined for six grand slams over that same period as the Res Dolls started rolling. Keyser Suze and STank Girl the Stench Wench were standouts, repeatedly bludgeoning Maiden jammers at the back of the pack, then adding some point scoring to complement their defensive play. Milwaukee’s Super Hera and Mad Mallett stood up to the punishment while dishing out some of their own, but in the end there were too many confident scorers for the Res Dolls. Mouse, Charlie, Sprout, and Rosetta Stoned each chalked up 25+ points and the Reservoir Dolls skated away with the 169-73 victory.

Double-digit scorers: RD – Mouse (59), Charlie Hustle (35), Sproutin’ A Tail (35), Rosetta Stoned (26); MM – Rejected Seoul (43), Super Hera (14), Slayera (10)

Pack standouts: RD – Vicious van GoGo, Keyser Suze, STank Girl the Stench Wench, Busta Crimes; MM – Mad Mallett, Romaniac, Super Hera

Vaudeville Vixens 118, Unholy Rollers 80

Madison's “Pirate Party” provided a wild setting for the most highly-anticipated bout of the home season, re-matching last year’s Finals opponents the Vaudeville Vixens and the Unholy Rollers. Key skaters for both sides were out with injuries, but the decimated Unholies couldn’t outlast the reigning champs, falling just short 118-80.

The Unholy Rollers started well. Jewels of DeNile staved off Dairyland Dolls teammate Juke Boxx’s lead, holding the score to only 2-1 in the first jam. The Unholies then took the lead thanks to a 3-0 score tallied by Goldie Mean in the second jam. The Vixens quickly countered with a steady stream of 4 and 5-point jams while holding the Unholies scoreless for 7 straight. In jam 10, the score was 33-4 when Jewels’s 9-0 turn sparked a 20-6 run for the Unholies over the next 4 jams. But again, the Vixens responded. With Chop Suzzy and Dolly Pardon Me marshalling a clean-playing, well-coordinated pack, the Vixens extended their lead. The first half was capped by a three-grand slam jam by Darling Nikki that blew the game open at 67-28.

After a very clean first half, penalties finally started catching up with the Vixens after halftime. Working in thinner packs, Mauly Tov, Wildberry Punch and the Unholy Rollers blockers began transitioning more smoothly between offense and defense, allowing their scorers to consistently attain lead jammer status. Near the 10-minute mark, the margin had steadily declined to within striking distance. The Vixens switched up strategies and clogged the track for a few jams, playing stifling defense and frustrating Unholies jammers. Finally, in jam 16 of the second half, all five Unholies on the track took turns packing the penalty box and Ace S. Wild scored 14 points to put the game out of reach. The Vixens cruised through the last few jams to remain undefeated for the season.

Double-digit scorers: VV – Sugalumps (40), Darling Nikki (31), Major Kusaknocky (18), Ace S. Wild (14), Juke Boxx (10); UR – Jewels of DeNile (49), Twisted Halo (19), Goldie Mean (11)

Pack standouts: VV – Darling Nikki, Juke Boxx, Ninja, Dolly Pardon Me, Chop Suzzy; UR – Wildberry Punch, Mauly Tov

Derby Girl of the Month - Jewels of DeNile

2010-03-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Number 99, she's so fine - meet Jewels of DeNile!

Derby Girl of the Month - Major Kusaknocky

2010-03-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

Don't let the big eyes fool you, this anime babe will take you apart on the track. Check out Major Kusaknocky at Dane 101.

Derby Girl of the Month - Rosetta Stoned

2010-03-18T14:44:00.000-05:00

You've seen her here already, now check out what Rosetta Stoned had to say to Dane 101.

Come meet Dolls from your favorite teams!

2010-03-12T11:50:00.006-06:00

Here's your chance to meet the dolls you root for at the bouts. Each team of skaters (plus the fabulous support personnel) is hosting a special "fan appreciation night" between now and the end of the season. You're invited! Bring your friends. See you there!!

Reservoir Dolls

Friday, March 12, 7:30 pm
Echo Tap & Grill
554 W Main St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-6928

Quad Squad

Friday, April 9, 6 pm
Jade Monkey Lounge
109 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 819-8501

Unholy Rollers

Friday, April 16, 6 pm
Jade Monkey Lounge
109 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 819-8501

Vaudeville Vixens

Friday, April 30, 6 pm
Jade Monkey Lounge
109 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 819-8501

Support Appreciation Night

Friday, May 14, 6 pm
Jade Monkey Lounge
109 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 819-8501

Res Dolls and and Brewcity's Rushin' Rollettes win March 6 bouts

2010-03-08T16:35:00.002-06:00

Reservoir Dolls – 185, Quad Squad – 56

Brewcity’s Rushin’ Rollettes 141, Mad Rollin’ Dolls Vaudeville Vixens 140

The numbers were big for the Reservoir Dolls, but it was an aggressive and effective team effort in the pack that allowed them to steamroll long-time league rivals the Quad Squad 185-56. The Gang Green jammers often found themselves bottled up for the full two minutes as the Res Dolls pack swarmed and switched off on the block.

Six Reservoir Dolls jammers scored in double figures. Rosetta Stoned led the charge this night with 49 points. Aleta the Hon was top scorer for the Quad Squad with 22 points. The normally high-scoring Thunder Kitten was held to to her jersey number with just 11 points.

If the Brewcity Bruisers didn’t have a reputation for comeback wins before the appearance of a beefed-up Rushin’ Rollettes squad before a sell-out crowd in Madison, they do now. Mounting one comeback charge to finish the first half, and another in the second, the Rollettes pulled off a head-scratching 141-140 win in the last jam.

After a small initial lead for the Rushin’ Rollettes, the Vaudeville Vixens rolled out to a big 53-17 lead at the first quarter point behind two big jams from Darling Nikki and one from rookie Sugalumps. Costly Vixen jammer penalties opened the way to a 15-point jam from Hacksaw and 12 more from High-D Voltage to close the lead at half to 84-74.

Much to the delight of the home crowd, the Vixens grew the lead again to 40, 127-87. Rejected Seoul, who normally skates for Brewcity home team Maiden Milwaukee, literally threw herself into scoring 15 big points with less than three minutes in the game to close the gap to 135-129.

Sugalumps, who led her team in scoring with 61 points, spent most of the final two jams in the penalty box with three jammer penalties. Rejected Seoul skated last, and called the jam after the period clock ran out when Juke Boxx forced her to the infield. She didn’t know her total, and neither did the crowd. The jam ref held up five fingers for a 141-140 Rollettes win. The refs conferred in the infield and upheld the score.

The Rollettes put on 54-13 scoring run in the final 15 minutes of the game. High D Voltage led the scoring for the Rushin’ Rollettes with 33 points; Rejected Seoul added 31.

Mad Rollin' Dolls get "Buzzed Into Madison" - tune in!

2010-02-27T10:37:00.003-06:00

Get up early this week and tune in to Madison's CW to see some of your favorite Dolls on Emmy Fink's feature, Buzzed Into Madsion. A segment about MRD will run at 6:28 am Wednesday 3/3, 7:28 am Thursday 3/4, and 8:28 am Friday 3/5. Watch on your TV or online and get sparked for the Beach Party Bout on Saturday, March 6th!

Derby Girl of the Month - Tammy Faye Undertakker

2010-02-23T16:33:00.000-06:00

You can call her TFU for short, as long as you understand that she'll FU up. Meet Unholy Roller Tammy Faye Undertakker!

Derby Girl of the Month - STank Girl the Stench Wench

2010-02-23T16:31:00.000-06:00

Maybe the longest name in the league and some of the longest legs for sure. Get a good whiff of STank Girl.

Derby Girl of the Month - Mauly Tov

2010-02-23T16:24:00.000-06:00

Meet one of the 2010 captains of the Unholy Rollers, Mauly Tov.

Derby Girl of the Month - Nefairyous

2010-02-23T16:22:00.001-06:00

More great profiles from Dane 101! Say hello to Vaudeville Vixen Nefairyous.

Res Dolls and Paper Valley win in Feb. 14 bouts

2010-02-15T09:27:00.004-06:00

Madison, Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2008

In a game featuring nine lead changes, a resurgent Reservoir Dolls team pulled out a narrow victory over the Unholy Rollers, 121-118.

With six lead changes in the first half, the Unholies held a 62-55 lead at half. The Res Dolls broke out to a 101-70 lead halfway through the second period, but Mack the Knife eliminated most of that with 20-0 jam with 12 minutes remaining.

With just over four minutes to go, the Unholy Rollers’ Mack the Knife went down with a knee sprain, but left her team with a 114-106 lead. Back-to-back eight-point jams from Mouse and Charlie Hustle followed, and the Res Dolls were up 121-118 with just 44 seconds left. With a five-to-two player advantage, the Reservoir Dolls’ Vicious van GoGo sealed the deal with lead jammer status.

Both defenses were solid. The key to the balance of the game were five jammer penalties for the Unholy Rollers to just one for the Res Dolls.

Charlie Hustle scored 56 points for the Res Dolls, followed by Mouse with 39. Mack the Knife led the Unholy Rollers with 54 points.

Paper Valley’s All Stars trounced Madison’s Team Unicorn in Appleton last weekend. They did the same to the Mad Rollin’ Dolls’ Quad Squad in an unsanctioned interleague bout, winning 170-92.

After falling behind 19-0, the Quads kept it close until Cyanide Ride laid down a 14-0 jam for a 72-41 lead. Pissy Pistol bracketed half time with 26 points, and PVRG maintained a 60-point margin for most of the second half.

The Quad Squad beat Paper Valley last spring, but a year of teamwork demonstrated that Paper Valley possesses some serious talent. Top of that list is Pissy Pistol, who followed last week’s 92 points with 72 this time around. PVRG’s pack put up a solid three-skater defensive front and held the Quads to just five points during back-to-back PVRG jammer penalties.

Thunder Kitten had 38 points for the Quad Squad, and rookie Aleta the Hon 28.

"Love Hurts" bouts scores

2010-02-14T20:05:00.002-06:00

Reservoir Dolls – 121; Unholy Rollers – 118

Paper Valley Roller Girls – 170; Quad Squad – 92

Come back for the recaps!

Tune in Friday to hear Dolls chat with The Wisconsin Guys

2010-02-09T14:02:00.001-06:00

Some of your favorite Mad Rollin’ Dolls will be talking derby with The Wisconsin Guys on WTDY radio (1670 AM and on line at wtdy.com) at about 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. They’ll be talking about the “Love Hurts” bout on Feb. 14 and giving away some free tickets to lucky callers! Get more info about MRD and upcoming events

Paper Valley beats Unicorns 129-46

2010-02-09T13:38:00.005-06:00

Appleton, Wisconsin, February 6, 2010 -

After the National Anthem and under the disco lights, it felt like a small town Fourth of July baseball game; but this was roller derby, and the only fireworks came from Paper Valley Roller Girls All Star jammers Pissy Pistol and Chop Stick Ya as they burned up the polished wood floor of Appleton’s Skater’s Edge roller rink.

Once Paper Valley’s “B” team, the Flyin’ Squirrels, had put down the Quad City Rollers 239-65, it was the All Stars' turn to tear up the track. PVRG’s jammer duo cut through the Team Unicorn defense for a combined 20 grand slams. Pissy Pistol put up an jaw dropping 92 points; Chop Stick Ya an equally impressive 73 points. A force at B3 all night, Gynomite took PVRG’s final turn at jammer. The final score; a lopsided 129-46 romp.

Stymied the entire bout, Madison’s Team Unicorn managed only nine leads in the 33-jam game. Rosetta Stoned led the Unicorns in scoring with 21 points. One bright spot for Madison was Stevie Knocks. The Ashwaubenon native garnered the lead and plenty of local cheers in her two turns at jammer for a total of ten points.

PVRG gets a second shot at a Madison team when they take on Quad Squad as part of a St. Valentine’s Day double header at the Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy. For this special Sunday bout, the doors open at noon and action is set to begin at 1 p.m.

Photo by Papa Razzi

Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers win in MRD season opener

2010-01-24T21:27:00.005-06:00

Vaudeville Vixens 161, Reservoir Dolls 121

Unholy Rollers 170, Quad Squad 126

The Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers have set their sights on a rematch of the 2009 Mad Rollin’ Dolls league championship with convincing wins to open the 2010 season.

The Vixens trailed the Reservoir Dolls early, but an explosive offense propelled them to a 78-56 half-time lead. With twelve minutes remaining in the game, the Res Dolls closed the gap to 17 points behind ten-point jams from Charlie Hustle and Texas transfer Vicious van GoGo. Vixen Major Kusaknocky erased that effort in the following jam with a heroic 20-0 power jam that left her crawling back to her bench. The Vixens held that advantage to the 161-121 final score.

(photo credit: Gil Leora)

Four Vixen jammers scored more than 30 points with second-year phenom Juke Boxx leading the way with 41. The Res Dolls’ Mouse led all scorers with 45 points, while Charlie Hustle and Vicious van GoGo both had 31. Sophomore classmates, Juke Boxx and Charlie Hustle both passed the 200-point career mark in the first game of their second season.

The Unholy Rollers jumped to an early lead over the Quad Squad, rolling into halftime with the score 86-51. The Unholies built their lead to 144-78 halfway through the second period, but the Quad Squad scrapped back for a final margin of 170-126.

After a year’s absence, Thunder Kitten returned to the Quad Squad bench to lead her team with 43 points, 40 in the second half. With four veterans not suited up, all the Unholy Roller skaters saw plenty of track time. Rita Slayworth skated in 18 of 33 jams. Mack the Knife led her team’s scoring with 47 points, while rookie Twisted Halo showed her promise with a 20-point jam in the second half on the way to 32 points for the game.

Having set a league attendance record of 1,600 for last year’s opener, the league anticipated an even larger crowd for this night. Expectations met: Almost 2,300 fans filed into the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center, a record attendance at a Mad Rollin’ Dolls bout. While the start of the night’s action was delayed by a half-an-hour, volunteer staff met the challenge. Not so the concessionaires, who sold out all the pizza within an hour, and emptied the last of the PBR by halftime. It was a good night.

Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers win in season opener

2010-01-24T10:56:00.003-06:00

Jan. 23, 2010 scores:

Vaudeville Vixens, 161; Reservoir Dolls, 121

Unholy Rollers, 170; Quad Squad, 126

Mad Rollin' Dolls welcomed a door-bustin' crowd of almost 2,300 fans at the first bout of the new year. Thanks for coming!

Derby Girl of the Month - Bluebonic

2010-01-20T12:09:00.000-06:00

I'm very pleased to introduce you to one of the youngest members of the Mad Rollin' family, Bluebonic. She is a dedicated volunteer of time, hard work, and awesomeness. Read more here!

Tell us a bit about how you got involved with the Mad Rollin' Dolls.

The first time that I ever saw a real derby bout was here in Madison, for Derby In Dairyland. My parents received tickets, and we decided to go. It was their first bout also. We were there with a few of my parents friends, and they knew Fleur Tatious. I was really interested in the atmosphere of everything, and all the great people. It was then that I decided that wanted to be involved. Fleur helped me get involved in the league, and I became a Rink Rat for the 2009 season. I guess the rest is history.

How is it being one of the younger volunteers associated with the league?

It’s kind of strange considering that I am only 16, but it also is really cool. The derby is super accepting of my age, and it doesn’t really matter to them. The funny thing is… that most of them can’t even tell I am 16. Last year, everybody thought I was 18, if not 21, and always asked if I was going to try out for the next season. Then, I would tell them, sure, in six years! I would get strange looks at that answer, and had to explain that I was only 15. But in general, nobody really cares that I am one of the youngest, I know many skaters and staff that are older than me, and it doesn’t seem to bother them. That’s another reason why MRD rocks!

I hear you are looking to start a junior derby league in Madison - what are your plans for that project?

Yes, I am looking to start a junior league. When I became a part of MRD, I knew I wanted to be a skater, but also wasn’t old enough. There had been talk before of starting a junior league, but it never came about. I figured, well, if they need someone to start trying to make it happen, why not someone who could skate on the team? I also thought that since I was younger, it would make more people see that younger people do want to skate and be involved with roller derby. This year I look forward again to working on advancing this project, and to make it a reality. I know there is interest in the league, now it’s just a matter of time until the league takes shape. I know I will be contacting some of the other junior leagues in the country and especially the two new leagues in Wisconsin. (Appleton and Lacrosse both have recently started junior leagues.)

Do you intend to try out for the league once you are old enough? and is there a team you hope to play on?

I will definitely want to try out for MRD when I am old enough. I have always enjoyed skating, and I try to convince my gym and health teachers to let me bring in my Riedells if we are having a rollerblading day. As for the team I want to be on, that would be tough. To pick one is like picking your favorite child… so I say all of them!

What is your favorite thing about derby?

My favorite thing about derby is the people. Everyone is great. They aren’t afraid to be who they are. They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I also like that with derby, you can be tough and a girl. You don’t need to be anything, but yourself.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you MRD for allowing me to be a member of your AWESOME family. I look forward to the new season, and hopefully one day, being a skater!

Thanks Bluebonic! I can't wait to see how the junior league shapes up, and I'm sure our readers are interested too. Keep us posted!

Derby Girl of the Month - Ayna Knees

2010-01-20T11:59:00.000-06:00

Be nice or she'll put you on your knees! Check out the Dane 101 - Meet the Dolls profile of Ayna Knees.

Derby Girl of the Month - Darling Nikki

2010-01-20T11:56:00.000-06:00

She's the darling of the Vaudeville Vixens, Darling Nikki! Read all about her at Dane 101 - Meet the Dolls.

Derby Girl of the Month - Chop Suzy

2010-01-20T11:54:00.002-06:00

Check her out over at Dane 101 - Meet the Dolls. And be nice. She could totally take you.

2010 Season Merchandise Contest

2010-01-18T10:23:00.005-06:00

Mad Rollin’ Dolls fans are creative, edgy, fun-loving and a little wicked. So, who better to ask to create new designs for league merchandise?

The Dolls will love you even more fiercely than we already do if you enter our contest for new designs for limited-edition shirts, tote bags, stickers and more! If you have a great design idea for a home or travel team or for the whole league, now is the time to submit your entry.

Roller Derby has lot of rules. This contest has only two:

• Create an original design for a home team (Vaudeville Vixens, Reservoir Dolls, Quad Squad, Unholy Rollers), a travel team (Dairyland Dolls, Team Unicorn) or for the Mad Rollin’ Dolls league.

• Send your design as a JPG or PDF file to art@madrollindolls.com by March 12. Winners will be announced at the bout on March 20. Don’t forget to include your name, email address and phone number with your entry.

You can submit as many designs as you want and anyone can play. Winning designs will be available on limited-edition shirts by the end of the 2010 season.

Winners will receive a pass for the entire 2011 MRD season; a t-shirt with your design on it; recognition in our newsletter, website and Facebook page; shout-outs at the bouts; and maybe some other rewards we haven’t even thought of yet.

If your design is selected, we will ask you for a paper hard copy, so keep your original in a safe place. All winning designs become the exclusive property of Mad Rollin’ Dolls.

Don’t know that much about the Mad Rollin' Dolls or the specific personalities of the teams? Hit up the website, check out some photos and get inspired by some of the toughest girls around.

Derby Girl of the Month - Doppelgänger

2010-01-06T13:34:00.002-06:00

Dane 101 did all the work for this one! Check out Doppelgänger's interview in their new Meet the Dolls feature.

Derby in the news

2009-12-11T11:51:00.000-06:00

For anyone who has not seen it yet, the Austin Chronicle recently had a great article about the evolution of flat-track roller derby. And it's in the sports section, natch. Madison gets a mention as one of the very first leagues once the ball was rolling. Have a read: Electric Skaterland, Austin births a Roller Derby revolution.

2009-11-24T14:00:00.005-06:00

I'm happy to introduce the Derby Girl of the Month for November - Mo Juiced! Mo is the league's lovely PR manager, a.k.a. the one who makes sure that the word gets out about the Mad Rollin' Dolls. She does an amazing job and we are proud to have her - take a minute to get to know more about her:

What's the story behind your derby name?

Le mot juste is a French phrase that, translated loosely, means "the right thing to say." In the non-derby world, my first name is Morgan and I'm a speech-language pathologist. My friend Shannon suggested the name and the spelling, and it tickled me to no end so I kept it.

Were you a fan before you got involved with roller derby? Do you remember what your first bout was like?

I've been a far-away fan since MRD's semi-final bout in 2005. I had no idea what the rules were, so I don't remember much about the bout itself. I remember having a good time, and I definitely remember Spank Alley! Then life got in the way and roller derby got pushed to the back of my mind. I became friends with one of the refs last summer, and she suggested I start volunteering for the league because hey, why not? Now I'm a total derby nerd and really happy about it.

What is your proudest achievement with the league so far?

Going from a ticket-tearing head counter to a penalty timer and manager of the league's PR committee in under a year.

And your proudest moment?

Having a co-worker sit down next to me at lunch one day and saying, "I saw you this weekend." When I asked where, she replied, "Oh, standing on a table at the Alliant Energy Center, yelling at the top of your lungs, 'Welcome to roller derby, everybody, who's ready for the BOUT?!?'" That was awesome.

What appeals to you about officiating bouts?

It's a great way to be part of the action if you're unable to play on a team. The skaters get to know you and vice versa, although I often know them by their numbers before their names. Plus you learn the rules and refs' hand signals really well, which makes your appreciation for the sport that much stronger. Besides, the penalty box has a great view of the track!

Where do you hope to see derby in five years?

Playing in front of sold-out crowds, with live broadcasts on network television, from arenas named after the leagues that own them. Like Monday Night Football, only much cooler and with better uniforms.

Anything else you want to say?

MRD is the coolest cool kids' table I have ever gotten to sit at. Moo.

Nationals Recap

2009-11-17T08:58:00.000-06:00

The Dairyland Dolls run at the WFTDA Championship ended early Friday afternoon in Philadelphia with a 104-96 loss to Boston’s Boston Massacre.

An opportunistic Madison team overcame an early deficit for a 76-67 halftime lead. Anchored by the seemingly unpassable Shelby Shattered, Boston’s defense was the owned the Dairyland Dolls all second half. Boston held Madison to a mere eight points over a 20 minute span. The Dolls didn’t fold, though. Trailing by eight points going into the final jam, a Boston jammer penalty gave the Dolls the opportunity they needed. A jammer penalty on Juke Boxx sprung the Boston jammer, who amazingly earned another major penalty. With a star pass to Mouse, hope flared once again, but she was called for her fourth minor, and that was the game. With a second half score of only 37-20, it was a strange end to a strategic, chess-like game.

The loss ends a fruitful year for the Dairyland Dolls, who came together during the inter-league season as a team, veterans and rookies alike. The 2010 season is right around the corner – next Sunday at 10 a.m., in fact. The annual Friends and Family bout will be the rookie skaters’ first scrimmage for fans at Fast Forward.

Get ready Philadelphia...

2009-11-12T15:00:00.001-06:00

Cause the Dairyland Dolls are getting ready to cream the Declaration of Derby! For the first time in five years Madison's interleague team has made it to the WFTDA Roller Derby Nationals, and they are ready to kick some serious ass.

The DD's are lined up to bout the Boston Massacre on Friday. The bout begins at 3:30 EST (2:30 local time, full schedule here) and will be live boutcast by the great people over at Derby News Network. Speaking of DNN, they also have a handy preview of the teams playing in Nationals available here.

After annihilating Boston (fingers crossed!) the DD's will go on to bout against Texas on Saturday with a chance at the championship game on Sunday. Stay tuned over at Derby News Network to see all of the action!

Who Loves Double D's?

What a month!

2009-11-05T15:20:00.002-06:00

Dang ya'll, MRD was BUSY in October! In case you missed any of the fun, here are some pictures of the good times (you can click on any of them to see a bigger version).

We started off the month on October 2 for the premier of Whip It at Eastgate Cinema. At Eastgate the skaters got to give a derby preview in the parking lot.

And inside there was a chance to get signed shirts for the fans.

The very next day the Mad Rollin' Dolls were watching Whip It again, this time at Sundance Cinemas. At Sundace we got to give a presentation before the movie and tell the audience a bit about what makes derby so great (everything!).

Possibly the most awesome event of October happened on the 4th when Juliette Lewis performed with her band The Licks at the High Noon Saloon. She invited the Dolls to be guests at the show! Here we are with Juliette in the middle.

Man, I didn't even make to that event and I'm still totally star-struck! She is the coolest.

MRD's last big event in October was helping out with the pledge drive for Community Television station WYOU. Check out the sweet derby girl jack-o-lantern.

Huge thanks to MRD PR manager Mo Juiced for putting together such fun events - you'll be hearing more about her soon, so stay tuned!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T11:16:00.002-05:00

Come celebrate with us at HalloQueen. On Friday Oct. 30th the Mad Rollin' Dolls will be at the Majestic Theatre getting ready to judge the costume competition. Think you got what it takes? Come shake your thang and prove it to us! One of the grand prizes going to this years best costume is a pair of tickets to the MRD season opener - you know you can't resist such an awesome award. And there will be a table set up with MRD merchandise for sale - you can get your very own team spirit gear for the bout. (Unholy gear is particularly nice this time of year...)

This is an 18+ show, and doors open at 9:00pm. Thanks to our friends at indieQueer for hosting this terrifyingly fun event. We can't wait to see you there!

Mad Rollin' Dolls and WYOU

2009-10-23T16:22:00.001-05:00

Some of the Mad Rollin' Dolls will be appearing on WYOU Community Television Saturday, October 24th at 5:00 pm as part of the station's fall pledge drive. Dutch Oven, Tammy Faye Undertakker and Rosetta Stoned will be talking derby with Steve Singer on his show "Wisconsin Megaphone". Stay tuned to the WYOU blog and you'll get a chance to hear what these lovely ladies have to say about Whip It, roller derby in Madison... oh, and a little thing like the league's very own Dairyland Dolls going to NATIONALS this year! Congrats DDs!

Be sure to visit here often for info about upcoming roller derby activities, and be sure to show some love for WYOU Community Television. THIS JUST IN: If you call and make a pledge during the Dolls' appearance (5:00-5:45), you will be entered to win a pair of tickets to MRD's Season Opener bout on Saturday, January 23rd at the Alliant Energy Center! The winner will be drawn on the air LIVE, so tune in to see if you've won! (Check your local channel listings or visit WYOU's live streaming page here.)

Meet the skaters!

2009-10-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

So you've seen Whip It and you may be thinking about dressing as a roller girl for Halloween, but you want to see some real derby action? Come to a Mad Rollin' Dolls flat track practice! This is a one weekend only opportunity, so you don't want to miss out.

MRD will be opening the rink doors on Saturday, Oct. 10th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11th from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for people to see what a roller derby practice is all about. Come and watch, say hello to the ladies, and be prepared to cheer!

WHIP IT is coming to Eastgate and Sundance Cinemas, and Juliette Lewis at the High Noon!

2009-09-30T09:42:00.007-05:00

Wow, Madison. Get ready for the best weekend ever. Not only is it the opening weekend of the new roller derby movie Whip It, directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Ellen Page, but none other than movie co-star Juliette Lewis will be performing at the High Noon Saloon - and she's invited the Mad Rollin' Dolls to appear at the show!

Mad Rollin’ Dolls skaters and league-mates will appear at local theaters on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct 3 to celebrate the release of the roller derby-themed film, and will be rocking their skates off on Sunday Oct. 4 with Juliette Lewis and The Ettes.

Mad Rollin’ Dolls skaters in full uniform and quad skates will be at Marcus Eastgate Cinemas, 5202 High Crossing Blvd, Madison, at an autograph and photo table before and after the 7 p.m. showing of the movie on Oct. 2. Advance tickets can be purchased online beginning Monday, Sept. 28.

After the movie, the Mad Rollin’ Dolls will host an after-party at Pooley's, 5441 High Crossing Blvd. Fans can ask league members and real roller derby queens their roller derby questions while enjoying drink specials.

Mad Rollin’ Dolls skaters will also appear at Sundance Cinemas, 430 N. Midvale Blvd, Madison, on Saturday, Oct. 3. League members will introduce the 4:30 and 6:55 showings of the movie and participate in a brief question-and-answer session immediately following each showing. Skaters will also appear at an autograph and photo table in the lobby before and after the movie. A social hour with Mad Rollin’ Dolls league members will take place at 9:00 p.m. at the Sundance Cinemas’ Rooftop Bar. Advance tickets for the movie can be purchased online now.

At each movie theater the Dolls will raffle off two pairs of tickets to the first bout of the 2010 season, which will be held Jan. 23, 2010, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center. Proceeds from the raffle will go to offset the cost of the Dairyland Dolls' trip to the WFTDA National Tournament, "Declaration of Derby," November 11-13 in Philadelphia. The Dairyland Dolls, the Mad Rollin' Dolls' interleague team, upset the #2 seed Detroit Derby Girls at the North Central regional tournament, "Brawl of America", on Sept. 19 in the semifinals to advance to the national championship.

On Sunday, get yourself over to the High Noon Saloon to hang with MRD and watch the sure-to-be-amazing Juliette Lewis and The Ettes show. The fun begins at 8pm and tickets are available here.

To learn why MRD was voted "Madison's Favorite Indoor Spectator Sport" this year by readers of Isthmus, and how flat track roller derby differs from the banked track roller derby featured in Whip It, visit our website. More information about the movie can be found here.

Derby Girl of the Month - Blanche Deverauxxx

2009-09-29T14:22:00.005-05:00

Hey all, say hi to September's Derby Girl of the Month.... Blanche Deverauxxx! Blanche is beginning her second year on the Quad Squad and is active with Team Unicorn. She was kind enough to share a bit about herself for the Mad Rollin' Blog, so have a read:

How did you get involved with derby?

My first recollection was seeing the Mad Rollin' Dolls at the Willy Street Fair. I admired them instantly and started going to bouts at Fast Forward.

Were you a fan before you tried out?

Yes, and I had the honor of having Harlot Bronte as a client at Blues Hair Studio. She was very patient with my questions. She endured a couple of years of my fence sitting regarding try outs.

Has derby changed you off the track?

Roller derby changed my life in more than a few ways. It distracted me so I could move on from unhealthy relationships; it continues to push me physically in a direction that I am loving; it gave me a family outside of my own; it is the only thing I do in my life that is all mine.

Any big skater rivalries?

Only if you have a star on your head and you happen to be on the opposing team
at the time.

What are some of your derby goals?

To hit with precision and force; to help my teams (Quad Squad and Team Unicorn) to be their very best; to keep pushing my own personal envelope.....and one glorious day, be a successful jammer.

Anything else you want to say?

Thank you for being a friend.....take off your shirt.

Brawl of America: Dairyland Dolls Bring Home the Silver, Head to Nationals

2009-09-29T00:54:00.003-05:00

When the Dairyland Dolls skated onto the track in Milwaukee back in July, it was to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation.” The Dolls felt slighted. Slighted by the WFTDA and DNN rankings, and slighted for their abilities. Wins at Brewcity and against St. Louis at home allowed the Dolls to adjust to one another, to coaching, and to game play, but any hope of gaining respect would come at the WFTDA North Central Regional Tournament in St. Paul on September 17-19.

Madison faced a familiar opponent on the tournament’s first day in Brewcity. It was a familiar result, too, with the Dolls falling just short of a double century in a 199-56 win. The victory paved the way for a much-anticipated first ever meeting with the Detroit Derby Girls, who had been focused and tough in defeating Cleveland the day before, 138-44.

From the beginning, the Detroit-Madison bout was clearly the tournament’s highlight. Short jams, small scores, and particularly effective hard and precise Detroit blocking led to eight first-half lead changes and a 53-53 half-time tie.

(First jam, Dairyland Dolls vs. Detroit Derby Girls)

The Dairyland Dolls defense played it tight after the half, and Madison edged to a 67-56 lead with 20 minutes to go. Detroit pounced on a Madison jammer penalty for 30-0 run that gave them a 19 point lead, 86-67, with under 12 minutes to go.

As they had all bout, Madison’s pack adjusted. Limiting damages in short-handed situations, the defense played the slow down game to perfection when the pack numbers were in their favor. Darling Nikki scored eight, and Jewels of Denile 29 during a Dolls 38-1 run over 10 minutes. A trip to the box for Jewels on the final jam caused a bit of scare for the fans at trackside, but the defense wasn’t about to fold. The Dolls held on to secure a 107-95 win and a trip to the National Tournament in Philadelphia.

It was a fierce, emotional, draining win for the Dolls. Madison used a three jammer rotation and skated the same nine skaters most of the night. Jewels of Denile earned something other than a bad reputation with 65 points; Juke Boxx and Darling Nikki faced tough interference to keep Detroit honest; and the entire defense kept the game in reach. Tired but juiced, it was well after midnight before the team could settle down to rest for the championship bout on Sunday evening.

The opponents in the tournament’s final game were the Windy City Rollers. National runners-up last year, Chicago’s skaters are no strangers to the best teams in women’s flat track. Windy City dominated the Dolls, up by 70 points at the half on their way to a 150-56 win. It was a good lesson for the Dolls, though, who will have to step up their game a notch in order to compete at Nationals in Philadelphia on November 13-15.

For more information about the WFTDA National Tournament in Philadelphia, visit the "Declaration of Derby" website.

Day Two at Brawl of America: A Great Day For Wisconsin Roller Derby

2009-09-20T16:28:00.006-05:00

Brewcity catches Burning River to win in overtime, 126-116.

Dairyland Dolls secure place in WFTDA National Tournament in a dramatic bout with Detroit, 107-95 .

Milwaukee’s Brewcity Bruisers trailed by as much as 30 points, and never led until Carrie A. Hacksaw and High D. Voltage combined for 27 points in the final two jams to send the game into overtime. Hacksaw scored nine in OT and then passed the star to Rhoda Ruin, who scored eight more, to lock up an improbable 126-116 win.

In the first-ever meeting between Detroit and Madison, the two venerable teams put on a fierce display of athleticism, nerves, and emotion. The teams continuously adjusted to the other’s play, resulting in two ties, including at the half, and 11 lead changes.

Detroit’s pack and jammers ran like clockwork to regain the lead every time Madison gained an edge, and their hitting was hard and precise. Madison’s defense, especially when short handed, kept them in the game.

The Dairyland Dolls trailed by 19 with under 12 minutes remaining. Two big jams from Jewels of Denile, combined with tremendous position and slow-down defense, highlighted a 38-1 Madison scoring run down the stretch. A penalty on Jewels in the final jam opened the door for Detroit to chase back behind Racer McChaser, but the defense once again minimized the damage until time expired.

What can you say about the summer Jewels of Denile is having? With 57 points on Friday, her 65 points Saturday night were huge against Detroit’s defense. Detroit held her scoreless again and again, but her explosive scoring in power jam situations paced Madison’s point total.

With 42 points between them, Juke Boxx and Darling Nikki might be seen as having had a tough night. It was tough against a team that knows how to defend. The duo kept Detroit honest. Their tenacious play testified to a team spirit that never gave up. Juke Boxx, facing what was certainly the toughest interference she had ever seen, adjusted to Detroit’s physicality as the game went on, and time and again, somehow kept her skates in bounds to grab lead jammer.

The win guarantees the Dairyland Dolls a trip the WFTDA national tournament in Philadelphia, Declaration of Derby, November 13-15. Before that, however, Madison will skate against the Windy City Rollers in Brawl of America’s final bout Sunday night. Windy City is a heavy favorite, but the Dolls are a much improved team in 2009. In the consolation match, either Detroit or Cincinnati will grab the third berth for a North Central team at Nationals.

For more information on the Brawl of America tournament, or to pre-order a copy of any of the bouts, please check out their website.

Dairyland Dolls upend Brewcity Bruisers to reach semi-finals in North Central tournament, but first day marked by tragic news

2009-09-19T15:54:00.004-05:00

Day One of the Brawl of America started on a sobering note: One of the North Star Roller Girls’ own, Stacey Morgan, a.k.a. Moxy Mayhem, lost her life on Thursday morning. She was struck by a car while walking with her three-month-old baby and sustained fatal head injuries; her child was unharmed.

It’s a derby tradition that when a skater is injured, all the players and refs drop to one knee and remain silent until the skater's status is known. It was in this tradition that the announcer called all of the skaters and refs in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium to the track, as the fans rose from their seats. All observed a moment of silence to honor Moxy's memory before the tournament began. It was a poignant moment that will not be forgotten by those in attendance.

North Star could have been forgiven for forfeiting their first round meeting with Milwaukee’s Brewcity Bruisers, but they honored their sister by taking to the track for the tournament’s first match-up. Brewcity came away with the win on the wheels of High D. Voltage and Carrie A. Hasksaw 140-113.

Milwaukee had to skate again just three hours later, this time against the Dairyland Dolls. It was the teams’ third meeting in a little over a year, and the outcome was the same as before – a big Madison win. Darling Nikki set the pace early with a huge 25-0 jam five minutes into the game en route to a 127-22 halftime lead. The Dolls coasted to a final score of 199 – 56, once again just falling short of the double century mark.

As they have all summer long, Madison’s jammers continue to shine. Rookie sensation Juke Boxx led the scoring with 61 points, followed by Darling Nikki with 58 and Jewels of Denile with 57. This consistent scoring was once again courtesy of tremendous pack play on the part of all the Dolls.

The Dolls now have two shots at making it to the WFTDA Nationals in Philadelphia. Madison faces Detroit’s Derby Girls tomorrow evening. Detroit reached the semis by putting away Cleveland’s Burning River Roller Girls 138-44 Friday evening. A win against Detroit, and the Dolls are guaranteed a trip to Philly. A loss, and they still have a shot against the loser of the Windy City/Cincinnati game tomorrow afternoon.

Cincinnati and St. Louis’s Arch Rival Roller Girls closed Friday’s competition with the bout of the day. Cincinnati led most of the game by over 30 points, but withstood a late charge to outlast St. Louis, 94-86.

Mad Rollin' Dolls offer their deepest sympathies to their derby sisters, the North Star Roller Girls. A memorial fund has been set up on behalf of Moxy Mayhem's daughter. If you would like to donate, please follow this link .)

Mad Rollin’ Dolls play exhibition bout at 2009 ASANA Softball World Series

2009-08-27T09:34:00.002-05:00

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls will play an exhibition roller derby bout at the 2009 Amateur Sports Alliance of North America Softball World Series, “Showdown in MadTown,” on Thursday, Sept. 3. The bout is sponsored by ASANA and Our Lives magazine.

The bout will be at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, near Rimrock Road and John Nolen Drive. Doors open at 6 p.m., the bout starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets for children 4-10 are half price; children 3 and under are admitted free. After the bout ASANA is hosting a “Sweet ‘80s” post party at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Madison. There is a $5 cover charge to attend the post party.

In honor of the event, skaters from all four Mad Rollin’ Dolls home teams will divide themselves into two softball-themed teams, the Batting Betties and the Diamond Queens. Advance tickets for the bout are available at madrollindolls.com.

The ASANA Softball World Series is held annually and more than 50 women's softball teams will come to Madison Sept. 1 – 5 for a week of fun and competition. All events are open to the public. Visit madtown2009.org for more information on Showdown in MadTown and to find out how Madison won the bid to host the 2009 ASANA Softball World Series at ourlivesmadison.com.

More information about the bout and the Mad Rollin’ Dolls can be found at madrollindolls.com. Event information is also available at alliantenergycenter.com.

Derby at the Duck Pond

2009-08-24T12:35:00.010-05:00

Dairyland Dolls: 142

North Star Supernovas: 55

In the lengthening shadows of a picture-perfect evening at Warner Park’s Duck Pond, the Dairyland Dolls took a huge early lead over the visiting North Star Rollergirl Supernovas and never looked back. By the time the sun had set, the Dolls had coasted to a 142-55 thumping of the ladies from Minneapolis.

The Dolls jumped out to a 66-3 lead and closed the first half with a 78-22 lead. The Supernovas never gave up the fight, but they never caught the more experienced Dairyland Dolls.

Jewels of Denile and Juke Boxx continue to be the one-two punch at jammer for Madison. Juke Boxx led all scoring with 47 points. Jewels was right up there with 42 points. Darling Nikki rounded out the core of the Dolls jammer rotation with 32.

You can’t say enough about the Dolls defensive team. There were no stars this night except those in the sky. Every skater in the pack played her part and never let the visitors get on track.

Clearly, the Supernovas had the speed and the skill to compete. Medusa led the Northstar scorers with 27 points. Katarina Hit added 20 more. Touted veteran and Minnesota RollerGirl transfer Jawbreaker demonstrated her versatility with seven turns at jammer and 12 on the block.

For the both teams, the bout was the final competition before the WFTDA Eastern Regionaltournament, “Brawl of America,” in Saint Paul, Sept. 18-20. The North Stars square off against Milwaukee’s Brewcity Bruisers. The winner of that bout will challenge the Dairyland Dolls, who come into the tournament with a first-round bye and third seed ranking.

Derby at the Duckpond - reminder

2009-08-21T13:19:00.002-05:00

Don't forget, there's derby outside on Saturday! Derby News Network has a nice preview of the action.

Get your tickets here, and remember to mention "Facebook" if you are getting seats in the Duck Blind for a $5 discount.

If you are not able to attend the bout, DNN will be covering it in a live bout-cast. Otherwise, see you there!

THIS FRIDAY: Grrrl Rock Party Fundraiser featuring MRD

2009-08-20T00:27:00.012-05:00

Join some of Mad Rollin' Dolls' finest this Friday, August 21st from 8pm until midnight, as they help raise the roof - and some money - for Bitch Magazine!

MRD will be on hand at the Grrrl Rock Party fundraiser, presented by Woof's Ladies Night at WOOF'S Madison, 114 King Street. The evening's festivities include music by DJ Raja, $1 Jello shots, and a silent auction. As it happens, one item up for bids is a pair of tickets to our special ASANA Expo Bout on Thursday, September 3rd at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Halls.

So come on down, bring some cash, support a great publication, and talk derby with the Dolls. Hope to see you there!

(For more information on this event, check out Woof's Ladies Night here.)

Derby at the Duckpond

2009-08-14T15:30:00.007-05:00

That's right, there is going to be roller derby outdoors! The Dairyland Dolls will be hosting the North Star Supernovas from Minneapolis at Warner Park this weekend.

Get yourself over to the Duck Pond (where the Mallards play) on Saturday, August 22. Doors open at 5:00, the bout begins at 6:00.

Speaking of our good friends the Mallards... they are running a promotion for the Duck Blind for this bout. Mention "Facebook" when ordering your tickets, and get $5.00 off. Yeah, that's right, unlimited ballpark food and beer for only $25.00. You know you want a piece of that. General admission tickets are just $8.00 if the Duck Blind is not for you.

After party will be at Madison Avenue with tunes by DJ Donnie Vendetta starting at 10pm. See you there!

Rock & Roll & Roller Derby - The Breeders LIVE at the Majestic Theater August 12th!

2009-08-09T19:37:00.007-05:00

The Breeders are coming to Madison, and MRD will be there! Will you?

The Breeders are on tour for the month of August, covering 15 cities to support the release of their EP Fate to Fatal. The video for the title track features the Arch Rival Roller Girls from St. Louis and can be seen here.

Mad Rollin' Dolls will be at the show Wednesday August 12th, talking about roller derby and handing out swag. So stop by the merch table at the concert and say hi!

Tickets for the Breeders (with special guest Whispertown 2000) are $18 and available through the Majestic Theater's website. Doors open @ 7:30, show starts @ 8:30.

See you there!

Derby Girl... er, Dude of the Month - Reverend Riot

2009-07-27T16:10:00.004-05:00

Our roller derby family is made up of so much more than just skaters - MRD has tremendous support from non-skating officials, the production coordination team, rink rats, and those folks who know all the rules - referees!

This month I'd like to introduce you to the Reverend Riot, Madison's head ref and author of the derby ref education blog Ahab and his White Whale. Today, he tells us a bit about the first bout he ever officiated and the art of reffing.

How did you get started with roller derby? Were you a fan before you got involved?

Once I finally convinced friends of mine to check out this thing I kept talking about, some of them finally came to a bout, fell in love with it, and ended up joining the league as skaters. This meant I got to be a rink rat, can you imagine anything better?! Seriously, I was so excited to get to be a part of Roller Derby, I think it might more accurately be described as "giddy". From there I became a DJ, and while watching the first Dust Devil tournament in Tucson, between fits of screaming at the referees about calls, turned to one of our referees who was sitting next to me and told her I thought I'd like to be a referee. She said she thought I'd be an excellent referee. I started attending practices and, since I couldn't skate but knew the rules, was the Head Referee for the next bout. I still can't believe how ridiculously it happened. That bout we had the league's first overtime jam, it was, to say the least, an exciting bout for your first.

What other athletics have you been involved with (if any)?

As a kid I played a lot of soccer. I also distinctly remember going to baseball practice, though have no memory of actually PLAYING baseball, so I might or might not have been on a youth baseball team. I was on the swim team in high school. And I won a myriad of Presidential Physical Fitness Awards throughout grade school.

Besides all you do with MRD, you are also involved with derby at the national level. How do the two compare?

National play is like local play turned up to 11 or 12. The strategy evolves so fast one bout to the next, tournaments are absolutely amazing and intense explosions of derby. Beyond that though, getting to travel to other leagues, established or new, is a lot of fun. Getting to meet people from all over the country, hanging out with them; I now have a couch to crash on in basically every major or mid-level US city. Not to say that there's nothing to love in home play, there's a lot to love there. Getting to see players and referees really develop and progress, it's amazing how far everyone comes from the start of their first season to the end. But if you've only ever attended one of our home league bouts, I'd definitely recommend coming to a Dairyland Dolls bout!

It's also a lot more work, not just keeping my skills up to that high level, but also organizationally. About six months ago I was elected the first Chair of the WFTDA's Referee Committee, which was a huge honor and a responsibility I take very seriously, but it also means I've essentially got two separate jobs I need to put a full week's work in on every week.

What appeals to you about reffing?

It's hard to say really. It is just a kind of mathematics that makes sense. I guess I like that it really is a skill both mentally and physically, and I like that I'm good at it (which is good, right?). A lot of people think that everything is black and white with rules, that everything is laid out in the rules and all a referee has to do is memorize them, but it's not like that at all. A referee needs to understand the rules intrinsically, understand not just what they are but why they are, and be able to weigh them with the situation on the track. It's as much an art as a science, but maybe I'm biased.

What's it like being a dude in a female dominated sport?

It's about as tricky as answering this question without sounding totally sexist. I almost certainly have worked harder for respect in this league and this sport than in anything else in my life. That said, it's also more important to me than any other endeavors in my life, I trust these people more than others and know that, having earned this respect, I can count on it not suddenly disappearing. Now, how much of that difficulty is because it's a female dominated sport and how much of that is because it's something the skaters (who happen to be female) have built up themselves is tough to say though.

There you have it, the black and white (har) of roller derby, right from one of the nationally recognised names in the field. Thanks Rev!

DDs win; Unicorns lose in double-header with St. Louis

2009-07-26T10:21:00.003-05:00

Dairyland Dolls held off a late surge from the Arch Rival Rollergirls, 109-74.

Team Unicorn fell to St. Lunachix, 185-73.

The Dairyland Dolls broke open a close game mid-way through the second half and seemed to have the bout in hand before St. Louis’s Arch Rival Rollergirls gave them a scare with scrappy and strategic pack play. Big jams from Juke Boxx and Jewels of Denile, and a particularly tough DD defense, saved the game for the home team in a hard fought 109-74 win.

The opening bout featured the two leagues’ non-sanctioned teams, Madison’s Team Unicorn and St. Louis’ St. Lunachix. On the heels of a dominating win against Milwaukee’s Battlestars July 18, the Unicorns found themselves on the wrong end of a whoopin’. Final score: 185-73.

DNN has a text recap of the action from both bouts at derbynewsnetwork.com.

Arch Rivals vs. Dairyland Dolls, Sat. July 25

2009-07-23T10:26:00.003-05:00

That's right, there will be a bout this Saturday. Madison travel team the Dairyland Dolls take on St. Louis travel team the Arch Rival All Stars. Doors open at 5pm, action starts at 6pm, in the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center. Be there!

Unicorns and DDs Defeat Battlestars and Bruisers in Milwaukee

2009-07-20T22:19:00.002-05:00

Unicorns, 152; Battlestars, 70

Dairyland Dolls, 197; Brewcity Bruisers, 85

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls kicked off ten days of furious derby action Thursday, July 16, at the Dane County Fair. Just off the midway, skaters set aside home team rivalries to form two patriotic-themed teams, Stars and Stripes, for three 20-minute exhibition bouts. The Stripes won all three times, but the real news this day was MRD’s recognition of Armed Forces Day. Raffle sales and donations from staff and skaters, as well as MRD merchandise, will go into care packages for our troops overseas.

The Dolls’ next stop was the Brewcity Bruisers’ home court in Franklin, just south of Milwaukee. So many fans and skaters made the trip over from Madison that one local likened the evening to a Cubs’ game at Miller Park.

The Unicorns trampled Brewcity’s Battlestars 152-70. Major Kusaknocky was almost unstoppable at jammer with 88 points, but it was solid blocking up front that opened the way for her 13 grand-slam passes.

A year ago the Dairyland Dolls schooled their big-city Brewcity All-Star sisters with a 196-55 shellacking in Franklin. The DDs fell just short of the 200-point mark once again, crushing the home team 197-85 in an impressive display of team play.

The story of the game for the Dolls was speed, speed, speed. It wasn’t just the DD jammers who tore up the track. A relentless DD defense shut down Brewcity’s jammers, and the Dolls took lead in 25 of the bout’s 35 jams.

Veteran and rookie skaters alike made significant contributions on offense and defense. Four DDs broke 40 points for the game. Jewels of Denile led the way with 49 points. Rookie-of-the-year Juke Boxx was right behind her with 48. Darling Nikki added 41, and Mouse scored 40.

The Unicorns and Dairyland Dolls bring their games home to the Alliant Energy Center Saturday, July 25, when St. Louis’ St. Lunachix and Arch Rival Rollergirls roll into town. Primed with the win in Brewcity, the 2009 Dairyland Dolls are out to prove they’re at the top of the game. Be there, and bring your cowbell.

Dairyland Dolls split two in Philadelphia

2009-06-29T14:14:00.004-05:00

Sporting smart new uniforms and matching cow-spot helmets, the Mad Rollin’ Dolls’ all-star travel team, the Dairyland Dolls, took their game to Philadelphia over the weekend for the East Coast Extravaganza. One of 22 teams taking part in the two-day tournament, the Dairyland Dolls lost to the Kansas City Roller Warriors on Saturday 152-108, but bounced back for a solid 167-116 win over the Tampa Bay Tantrums on Sunday.
Kansas City is the 2007 National Champion, but has lost key members of that championship team. The Dairyland Dolls held their own against the Roller Warriors for the first 20 minutes of the bout, trading leads until KC took a narrow lead at 50-47 and finished the half at 82-63. KC’s defense stepped up while the Dolls were plagued by penalties, and the gap steadily grew until the final count of 152-108. Jewels of Denile had solid game at jammer for the Dolls, while KC rookie Hall Balls was a fast and consistent scorer for the opposition.

The first half against Tampa Bay was almost a replay of the day before. Tampa held a slight 54-50 advantage going into half’s final jam, but Chop Suzzy changed everything with a 21-point power jam to give the Dolls the half time lead 71-54. A 63-7 scoring run extended ten minutes into the second half as the Dolls grew the lead to 113-61 behind stellar performances from their jammer corps. Big hits from Jewels of Denile and constant interference from Meanie Cooper anchored Madison’s defense. The Dolls cruised to a 167-116 final.

The Dolls next appearance is an exhibition bout at the Dane County Fair on July 16. The Dolls travel to Milwaukee on July 18, and then host St. Louis’s Arch Rival Roller Girls on July 25 at the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall.

photos by akira takahashi

text by Geoffrey Saucer

Derby Girl of the Month - Juke Boxx

2009-05-18T16:37:00.004-05:00

Hot on the heals of a great Vixens victory for the 2008/2009 season, I'd like to introduce you to rookie sensation Juke Boxx. She has a skating style all her own, and it has proved devestating against her opponenents. Let's get to know more about her:

What's your signature move?
Well, I wouldn't really say I have a signature move, I just do my best to mix it up and keep the blockers guessing. Other than that, I think my background in jamskating has given me some signature footwork.

How did you get involved with derby?
I have been skating pretty much my whole life and just thought it would be something I could do really well at. I checked out the website and showed up for tryouts not really knowing much about the sport. I was the only one at tryouts that had never even seen a bout!

What's the story behind your derby name?
Well one day at practice Lolcat told me I was really juking people out on the track, and i just really liked how "juke" sounded. Plus, I used to jamskate, so it goes along with skating to music. I ultimately decided that I just love to juke box, left and right.

What other athletics are you involved with?
I played soccer and volleyball in high school and try to play pick up soccer when I can in the summer, other than that derby is all i have time for.

How are the Vixens treating their rookies?
The Vixens are AMAZING! We are most definitely a family and I am so happy to be on their team. Everyone has been very welcoming and beyond helpful in teaching me this game. Bottom line, its just great to be in pink. FOXY ;)

All of MRD is glad to have you, Juke; congrats on a great first season!

Vaudeville Vixens win 2009 League Championship

2009-05-17T14:15:00.009-05:00

In the championship game, the Vaudeville Vixens defeated the Unholly Rollers, 111 to 93.

In the grudge matech, the Reservoir Dolls took third place in the league over the Quad Squad, 129 to 98.

Congratulations to the Vaudeville Vixens on their first league championship!

HEY, FRESH MEAT!

2009-05-11T13:13:00.008-05:00

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls throw the rink doors wide open this June, looking for this season’s bumper crop. Interested? You must be 21 or older, a girl, and ready to rock it, derby style. MRD will be accepting 10-20 women onto the league based on skill, personality and teachability.

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls 2009 tryouts will be held Saturday, June 20, at 4:30 pm sharp, with callbacks on Sunday, June 21 at 10:00 am, at Fast Forward Skate Center, 4649 Verona Rd. Please be on time, bring a photo ID and your own skates and pads if possible. Tryouts are closed – leave your friends and loved ones in the parking lot.

Think your skating’s not quite up to par? We will also be hosting a series of open skates to expose derby girl wanna-bes to Derby 101 and to get a good look at them before tryouts. Check our website for updates, or email Dutch Oven with questions.

Being a Roller Derby Star requires mental and physical strength, and a whole lot of time. If you can’t make the commitment to skate, you can help the league in a variety of ways, email support to get on the list.

Turn left!

DDs and Unicorns win in Cinci

2009-05-10T07:47:00.003-05:00

Here are the final scores from the Double Header in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 9.

WFTDA Sanctioned

Madison Dairyland Dolls 108 @

(22) Cincinnati 50

WFTDA Regulation

Madison Team Unicorn 120 @

Cincinnati Silent Lambs 43

Finals! May 16th, 5pm

2009-05-04T13:05:00.004-05:00

Come see the Unholy Rollers and the Vaudeville Vixens make their first appearances in the championship game, and see how the grudge match between the Quad Squad and the Reservoir Dolls turns out.

Vaudeville Vixens, Unholy Rollers roll to finals

2009-04-26T16:57:00.004-05:00

Vaudeville Vixens – 173, Quad Squad – 95

Unholy Rollers – 140, Reservoir Dolls – 64

If there were any questions of 2009 being a changing of the guard for the Mad Rollin Dolls, they were answered quickly and emphatically Saturday night. Also-rans in the league’s first four years, the Vaudeville Vixens and Unholy Rollers both put together dominating performances for the right to face off in the championship bout on May 16.

The Unholy Rollers edged the Reservoir Dolls by 16 back in January for their first ever win against the girls in black. Their semi-final match-up wasn’t nearly as close. A stifling Unholy’s defense and myriad Res Dolls penalties resulted in a flood of points for the Unholy Rollers halfway thru the first half, and it was never close again. The Unholy Rollers kept up the defensive pressure to the end, and cruised to a 140-64 win. Both Jewels of Denile and Wildberry Punch scored more than 50 points for the Unholy Rollers.

The Vaudeville Vixens trounced the Quad Squad in the season opener, and Saturday’s 173-95 victory was a repeat performance. The Quad Squad’s Jenny Knoxville and Stitch fought hard for points, but as with the night’s other bout, penalties were the undoing of the Quads. For their part, the Vixens were efficient and merciless in their execution. The Vixens grabbed twice as many lead jams as the Quads, broke the 100-point mark in the first half, and had five skaters with 20 or more points.

The Quad Squad and Reservoir Dolls have faced off each year in the championship bout, but this time will have to settle for the grudge match. For the veteran skaters on the Unholy Rollers and Vaudeville Vixens, the May 16^th finals will be their first shot at the championship. One team will savor the sweet taste of victory, the other the consolation of having come so far. The two teams’ first meeting in March was an overtime thriller. Expect just as much emotion next time with so much at stake.

A portion of the night’s proceeds went to benefit the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation. The Foundation aids the physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery those diagnosed with breast cancer. The Mad Rollin’ Dolls wrap up their 2009 home season on May 16^th in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. Doors open at 5:00 pm with the first whistle at 6:00.

Season Semi-finals, Saturday, April 25

2009-04-22T15:02:00.003-05:00

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls play their penultimate bout of the 2009 home season at the Alliant Energy Center on Saturday, April 25. Doors open at 5 p.m., the action starts at 6 p.m.
The bout will be at the Exhibiton Hall on the Alliant grounds, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, near Rimrock Road and John Nolen Drive. Tickets for the bout are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids 3 years old and younger are admitted to the bout free of charge; kids 4-10 are admitted at half price.

The Vaudeville Vixens, who sealed the first-place ranking in regular season play, will take on the fourth-place Quad Squad. In the number two spot, the Unholy Rollers will face the third-ranked Reservoir Dolls. For more information on the home teams, visit www.madrollindolls.com.

After the bout, join the Dolls at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., where local band Mad Trucker Gone Mad will keep the party rolling. Admission to the show is free with a ticket stub, $5 without.

Tickets are available at MRD’s local sponsors, including Freedom/Knuckleheads, Capitol City Tattoo, Cha Cha Beauty and Barber, High Noon Saloon, and Lakeside Press, and will be available at the Exhibition Hall on bout night. You can also buy tickets online at madrollindolls.com. Group ticket discounts are also available. Please contact grouptickets@madrollindolls.com for more information.

A portion of proceeds from the bout will be donated to the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation.

If you miss the bout, tune in to WORT 89.9 FM on Monday, May 3, at 7 p.m. The “Access Hour” will feature play-by-play coverage and commentary from Saturday’s bout.

Derby Girl of the Month - Rosetta Stoned

2009-04-20T15:24:00.004-05:00

The lovely skater featured for the month of April is Reservoir Doll Rosetta Stoned. A seasoned player, Rosie has been with the league since 2008 playing both on her home team and with the travelling teams. Let's see what she has to say!

How did you get involved with derby?

My younger sister, Jane Reaction, played with the Chi-Town Sirens (she has since moved to the Twin Cities and is now a North Star Roller Girl). I went to see her play once and was immediately hooked on derby. Within a few weeks I had gotten my first pair of skates and was learning how to skate. I've participated in many sports throughout my life, but this one is so different from any I've been involved in before. Derby combines quirkiness, entertainment and athleticism, and the result is pure fun.

What's the story behind your derby name?

I've always enjoyed learning languages, so I thought "Rosetta Stoned" would be a clever name. I currently speak English, Spanish, and French....though none of them fluently. ...And as I tell my mother, the "d" stands for "derby"!

What is your favorite position to play, and why? Has it changed as you grow as a skater?

I really enjoy playing blocker. I love it when I can make a good hit or do something else strategic to help my team. There's so much going on for your brain to process when you're in the middle of the melee. It's great mental exercise! My team drafted me to be a jammer, and I like that position too, but it's been really helpful for me to to play in the pack. Plus, it gives me all sorts of ideas for when I do jam....

MRD is involved with many local charities. What is your favorite way to give back to the community?

I've really enjoyed taking part in fund-raising events like the Polar Plunge and Bowlin' for Colons. But I also feel like we give back to the community whenever a woman or girl watches us play roller derby and then goes home feeling empowered to try something new or adventurous.

Any big skater rivalries?

I try to be pretty laid-back about things like that...Plus, I don't want anyone to know I'm after her until it's too late! ...Except Sassafrass. I'll tell you right now that I want to kick her @$$. But she's also my secret derby crush (oops! not a secret anymore). So, you know, it's complicated....

Thanks for answering these questions Rosetta - and I'll be seeing you on the track this weekend, so watch your back!

Vixens and Quad Squad win!

2009-04-07T11:57:00.000-05:00

Vaudeville Vixens rolled over the Northstar Rollergirls, 159-57. Quad Squad upset Unholy Rollers in overtime thriller, 109-107.

There was no joy Sunday for the Minneapolis Norhstar Rollergirls. Fielding an admittedly “hodgepodge” team, the visitors fell behind the Vaudeville Vixens early and stayed there. For the Vixens, the bout was a chance to mix-up their game and test rookie skaters. Vixen rookies Juke Boxx and Major Kusaknocky combined for 74 points in their 159-57 victory.

The Unholy Rollers won a hard-fought overtime victory against the Vixens on March 7th, and their bout against the Quad Squad was just as heart-stopping. This time, though, it was the Quads who came away with the win.

The Unholy’s Jewels of Denile skated a career game, culminating in a huge 25-point jam that lifted her team to a late lead. But the Quad Squad’s Stitch had an even bigger game. Packing more heart and energy per pound than anyone on the track, Stitch struck back to give the lead once again to the Quads. In the overtime, Stitch skated three clean scoring passes, while two minors for Jewels resulted in a 12-10 score and a narrow 109-107 Quad Squad victory. Jewels of Denile scored 56 points – 47 in the second half – but Stitch had 59, just enough difference for the win.

Don't miss Sunday's game!

2009-04-03T14:39:00.001-05:00

Here's a sweet ad to help you remember:

See you there!

Vixens and Quad Squad Claim Victories March 21

2009-03-25T12:48:00.002-05:00

Vaudeville Vixens 94, Reservoir Dolls 59
Quad Squad 134, Paper Valley Roller Girls 74

The Vaudeville Vixens were the picture of perfection last Saturday night, skating away from the Reservoir Dolls 94-59. The Res Dolls skated a great game, but the Vixens shut down their jammers, avoided penalties, and were just plain smart.

Appleton’s Paper Valley Roller Girls brought a solid game of rotational blocking at the front of the pack, but the Quad Squad matched their game. Paper Valley kept it close all bout long until a late series of jammer penalties blew the game open for a 134-74 Quad Squad victory. The game was closer than the score shows. Hats off to Paper Valley for their effort and sportswomanship.

The night saw the return of Jenny Knoxville to the Quad Squad line-up. Her 56 points were huge, and her toughness and intelligence on the track shined through in another stellar performance.

A portion of the evening’s proceeds benefited the Respite Center, a local organization that provides childcare to families in crisis.

The Dolls return to the Coliseum April 5 for a Sunday matinee. Minneapolis’s North Star Roller Girls visit Madison to meet the Vaudeville Vixens, and the Unholy Rollers take a turn against the Quad Squad.

Derby Girl of the Month - Harlot Bronte

2009-03-18T15:06:00.004-05:00

The featured skater for March is Vaudeville Vixen Harlot Bronte. Harlot has been skating with MRD for three seasons and is known for her quick feet and sly hits. She is also well known for her excellent writing over at local Madison paper Isthmus. Take a look at some of her articles here. She took the time to answer some of my questions recently - take a look:

How did you get involved with derby?

My good friend, the amazing Ms. Hell Kat, got me into it. She took me to a bout in February of 2006 and got me rink-side seats. After a few spilled beers and a skater or two in my lap, I knew I had to do it. I used to play ice hockey and missed the aggressiveness and adrenaline of the sport, and thought derby might be a good replacement. I tried out that summer, and found out that it's even tougher (and, in fact, smellier) than hockey. I loved it.

What is your favorite position to play, and why? Has it changed as you grow as a skater?

I've always loved to jam, but I'm starting to really dig the pivot position. My therapist would say that this is because I have control issues.

MRD is involved with many local charities. What is your favorite way to give back to the community?

There's nothing quite like picking up soda cans and cigarette boxes along the highway in the middle of a smoldering July afternoon. I do it for the BINGO.

Do you think derby has changed you off the track?

Most definitely. I often find myself darting through the pack as I walk along crowded sidewalks. Sometimes people look at me strangely, especially when I say "lead jammer!" to myself. Oh, and the whole mental and physical strength thing is also pretty fantastic.

Where do you hope to see derby in five years?

One word: Olympics.

And what do you know, if you check out the poll of the day over at the Nike Women site, it mentions roller derby as an option for a new Olympic sport... You know how I voted!

Did you miss the derby action March 7?

2009-03-10T13:16:00.001-05:00

Silly you. What were you thinking?? Lucky for you, the awesome folks at WORT.FV have put their boutcast in their archives. Go to http://archive.wort-fm.org/ and find the Access Hour broadcast on March 9. You can listen to the stream or download it. Thanks WORT!