Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, if you still have not yet been to a Derby Dolls game, you have not really lived. This weekend’s match-up was a thrill-ride, as intense as any game I’ve seen thus far.
The Dolls’ popularity is undeniably increasing, as is apparent by the new layout of the Doll Factory, the new bleacher (Cowboy’s Clubhouse) and the mobile beer vendors - yay! The place was PACKED, even the standing-room only space around the track. And as for the game? Well read on…
Although it’s only the second game of the season, this one started off intense from the very first jam. The girls were on their worst behavior tonight, and it was nothing but elbows, tripping and bashing… Double yay!
And I think I know why the girls were so feisty: Drew Barrymore was in attendance. And while a random celeb normally wouldn’t mean much of anything (this is LA after all), Drew has special ties to the Derby Dolls: she’s adapting a book written by one of the Dolls about the league. The film will star Ellen Page (of ‘Juno’), and will be Ms. Barrymore’s directorial debut!
The Sirens started off with a mind-blowing lead in the first quarter, and things looked pretty bleak for the Tough Cookies; after all, the top 3 jammers (to whit: Mila Minute, Kung Pao Tina and Roxy Cotton) are on the Sirens. But those damned penalties… Despite the early lead, the Cookies steadly narrowed the gap over the next two quarters.
By the time the final quarter rolled around, the Cookies had narrowed the spread to a measly handful of points, and while there seemed to be a Cookie in the penalty box at every jam, the unthinkable happened: Roxy Cotton got ejected from the game!
Oh my!
But that was only the beginning of the end for the Sirens… Shortly after Roxy got booted, they kicked out Kung Pao Tina! Oh noes! Last year’s MVP was a bad bad girl!
At this point, the scores were tied and the clock was running painfully low. Amazingly, while my own personal superstar Mila Minute started off the game in top form, she quickly lost her touch and scored surprisingly few points throughout the game. And to add insult to injury, she actually somehow managed to get herself EJECTED FROM THE GAME!!!! WTF?!? How does that happen? Final quarter? Scores almost tied? Oh, did I mention HER MOTHER WAS THERE? Yeah. She gets her ass kicked out of the game at the very first match her mom attends. Oh the shame… Here you can see her getting a hug from Momma Minute.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that the Sirens were last year’s champs, and the Cookies didn’t make it to the finals… Boy what a reversal. I think you know where this is heading:
In the second-to-last jam, the sirens jammer went down like a bag of bricks, allowing a Cookie score of 3 points, giving them a 2-point lead. But in the final jam, with everything riding on the line, the cookies actually managed to score 3 more, sealing the deal! Major upset! Pandemonium breaking loose! Cats and dogs laying together!
What more motivation do you possibly need to get your butts down here?
Some highlights:
- Mila Minute scores a ‘double-double’ (meaning she lapped the opposing blockers a THIRD time).
- Drew Barrymore taking digital snapshots from the side of the rink.
- Bill Howe, the fire Marshall’s 93-year old father (pictured below) playing piano before the game, as well as singing the national anthem. Did I mention it was his birthday?
- One of the Cookies’ blockers got fully airborne and actually flew right over the bank, swan-diving onto the concrete below. Fortunately she got right back in and was fine.
- The Hot Dog On A Stick truck out front, and the girls (in uniform) inside.
Enjoy these selected shots from the event:
Bill Howe rocking out.
Mila Minute poses for me.
The Tough Cookies salute intro.
The national anthem.
Please don’t make me go back in there!
Let’s breakdance!
OMG! I dropped a contact! (Not really, she got knocked the F down).
Nap time!
Nap time II.
The three rejects.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Carlos // Feb 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm
if i were the derby dolls (who are really awesome), i would never let a hollywood douchebag like drew barrymore touch my story. drew barrymore is a shite actor and no doubt a shite director. hope the dolls aren’t selling out.
2 Louis // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm
What’s wrong with Drew Barrymore? If it weren’t for her, Donnie Darko would never have been made… As far as I know, she’s not acting in it, Ellen Page is. I’m assuming you don’t have a problem with her? And how on earth would you know she’s a shitty director?
No, no, no… This doesn’t add up at all.
3 carlos // Feb 19, 2008 at 10:22 pm
sorry louis, I just don’t like drew (had a bad experience working with her on fifrty first dates). yes i know its sour grapes i’m not denying that and not denying that i hold a grudge. she was awful to the crew and myself. but maybe she’s changed. i am a big derby doll fan and dont think she needs to drag it into the mainstream. i dont think the world needs a derby dolls movie directed by drew barrymorr.
4 Bitchy Kitten // Feb 22, 2008 at 9:10 am
Hi all - This is Bitchy Kitten LADD’s track designer and builder. First off thanks to cityzine and all the fans for the support over the past 3.5 years. Next Maggie Mayhem -the former doll who wrote the book that Drew is making into a movie-was an amazing skater back in our illegal chinatown days. We are proud of her accomplishment and know she will help the movie keep Derby in a good light.
Demo and Thora the founder have done a great job keeping the sport of derby a sport. We are hoping to get to the X-games for a non-televised match between TXRD and LADD. We also have nothing to do with the movie that Drew is making. That is Maggie and Drew and whoever. Alot of us in LADD work in Hollywood and want to keep the Hollywood crap out. We have turned down many Reality Shows because we know they would not focus on what is great about Derby- the game.
I will stop ranting and would like to say once again say thanks for all of our fans support we really couldn’t do it with you. The overhead is huge - That is why we move every year- So keep coming out and we will keeping giving you what you all want -Hot ladies knocking the crap out of eachother and a kick ass sport to boot.
Bitch is in the name for a reason - Bitchy Kitten
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