TXRD will once again be offering a LIVE pay-per-view webcast of the Hellcats vs. Putas del Fuego bout on June 1st! Please go to the online store now to reserve your spot for this event.

Due to a conflict with the ACL Music Festival, the date of the Calvello Cup Championship has been moved to Saturday, October 11 at the Austin Convention Center.

Please mark this date on your calendar, and go buy ACL tickets to your heart’s content!

TXRD is looking for a few new referees. Requirements for this position are as follows:

1) You must be available both Monday and Thursday evenings.
2) You must be able to stay calm, unbiased, and focused no matter what is going on.
3) You must not currently be dating a TXRD–Lonestar Rollergirl.

Any previous refereeing experience is a plus.

Please contact honeyhomicide@txrd.com if you’re interested.

It’s gonna be a hot time at the Austin Convention Center as the Hellcats go head-to-head with the infamous Putas del Fuego. These two teams are already hot under the collar and determined to leave the banked track victorious. Will the Putas show the Hellcats how they roll down in Hades and secure their first win of the season, or will the Hellcats give the Putas a nasty case of cat-scratch fever? Either way, it’s gonna be a flame-thrower!

When: Sunday, June 1
Where: Austin Convention Center
Time: Doors at 6, Bout at 7
Cost: $15 at the door, $13 presale, $10 from a skater

SportCenter’s featured piece Sunday will trace the rebirth of roller derby, which, since peaking in popularity in the early 1970’s, failed in several comebacks until 2001 when a grassroots-revival in Austin, Texas has grown to more than 200 amateur, all-female roller derby leagues across the country. Today’s reincarnation blends entertainment with genuine athletic competition, compared to the highly criticized sport of yesteryear which was viewed mostly as fake. Fans, whether filling 3,000-seat arenas or in small groups at local rinks, see athletes who own their own leagues, women whose lives have been empowered by the sport, and whose daily careers range from warehouse workers, massage therapists and mothers, to NASA spacesuit engineers. The piece includes archived footage from the 1940’s, ’60’s and 80’s. Excerpts from the show:

“It takes a lot of energy — you’re trying to get through the pack, dodging people, trying not to get hit. I feel like Frogger, trying not to get hit by all the cars, as you’re going though the pack.” — Angela Lesser, skater in Pearland, Texas

“I think the thing that really cinches it for me is that you get to see women being beautiful and sexy and having fun, but you never forget that they could probably kick your ass. I don’t know of any other place in the world where women are allowed to be brainy and brawny at the same time.” — Natalie Schiro, skater in Austin, Texas

“I mean, come on, when else are you going to have the opportunity to have a Clark Kent/Superman persona? — Tara Carlton, skater in Phoenix

“I can’t tell you how many times I’m in a business meeting, I have no business speaking up about something, it’s not my role I’m not a manager and I do it anyways because I know what I’m talking about and I have the confidence to do that….and I know it’s because…. well, roller derby.” — Samantha Ramirez, skater in Austin, Texas

On Sunday, May 4, the two undefeated teams in the league met at the Austin Convention Center to see who would retain that precious undefeated title. This was anticipated as the “game of the year” and proved to be just that. The tension couldn have been cut with a knife it was so thick. The Holy Rollers came out looking slow and out of practice, then suddenly they stripped out of their uniforms and low and behold it was the Cherry Bombs!! Not to be outdone, the real Holy Rollers did their intro laps while wiping select anatomy with the faux Holy Roller jerseys.

First jam out we’ve got Rocky Casbah taking on Smarty Pants. Rocky gets a wicked whip off of Ginjure Scraps, but it’s not enough. Smarty makes a full jam and calls it off. Evilynn Carnit and Sacralicious go after it next, Sac leads the pack but an awesome block by Varuca Assault leaves her with only half a jam. 2 for the Rollers, still 0 for the Bombs. Varuca has a minor called for advancement. It’s a pillow fight between her and Helena Handbasket. Varuca takes it and retains her point.

Sacralicious and Kate or Dye jam. Honey Homicide took Axle Rosie to the rail (then Sac, and then Axle again!) – minor on Homicide for elbowing/high block, penalty is reverse spank alley. Helena and Evilynn battle it out in the next jam, and Evilynn takes the lead jammer position, but is unable to catch a run-away pack to score any points. No points for either team. Hispanic Panic and Kate or Dye, Kate takes the lead and calls it off after getting 3 points while Hispanic Panic pulled in 2 points for the Rollers. Sacralicious and Rocky are neck and neck in the next jam, Rocky calls it off, with no points scored for either team. Smarty and Evilyn take off, Evilyn takes the lead and gets 2 points for the Bombs! Penalty called on Smarty for obstruction. Ginjure is down with an injured knee. Pillow fight between Smarty and Daisy Mae Damage. Mighty Aphrodite smacks them both with pillows for a “lame” fight! The crowd votes for Smarty!
Hispanic Panic and Rocky, Rocky takes the lead jammer position and gets in a full jam! Smarty and Kate, Smarty out front and gets 2 points for the Rollers! Penalty called on Evilynn for tripping. Arm wrestle between Evilynn and Sacralicious, Sac takes it, Cherry Bombs lose a point. Sacralicious and Rocky are back at it again, Rocky takes lead jammer position and scores a full jam! A fight almost breaks out. Helena and Kate, time expires as Kate gets 3 points for the Bombs. Last jam of the first half is Sacralicious versus Rocky. Sac is out front but time expires leaving the Rollers with 2 points and the Bombs with 1 point from that jam.
HALF TIME SCORE: HR 18, CB 15

Sacralicious and Evilynn start off the 2nd half. Skaters are side by side, Sac takes a point for the Rollers. A major is called on Mz. Behavin’ for blocking to the inside. They reskate the jam, Evilynn leads but time runs out. Two minors called on Polly Urethrane and Sacralicious. Penalty mistress Mighty Aphrodite calls a Skater Skills Long Jump – Kate or Dye subs for Polly, but Sac takes it. Bombs lose a point! Smarty and Rocky jamming again, Rocky breaks free and calls it with 3 points for the Bombs and 1 point for the Rollers.
Sacralicious and Kate or Dye – Kate out front and and has a collusion with Mz. Behavin’ that caused a spiral fracture in Kate’s humerus. OUCH. The EMTs worked on her for a about a half hour on the track while Chola hustled around with the Spank Alley skate raising funds for Kate’s ER visit. Within a matter of minutes, over $1000 was raised. It was evident as always that TXRD does have the best damn fans. (To make donations for Kate or Dye, visit TXRD.com) Due to the time delay with Kate’s injury, they started back up for the fourth quarter as she was wheeled out to the ambulance. Mz. B had a major penalty called on her, Bombs had a minor – spank alley.
As can be imagined, the rest of the bout the skaters, the refs, the fans and webcasters were all on the edges of our proverbial seats. The 4th quarter was surreal. Rocky pulled off several full jams, despite her tender shoulder. There were lots of penalties, but only few got called. Minor called on Axle Rosie for an illegal block – Axle and Honey Homicide have a pillow fight that was awarded to Axle, the first of several “BULLSH!T” chants by the crowd. Sacralicious and Evinlynn jamming. Polly gets her third minor, which turns into one major, and she goes to the penalty box. Bombs to skate next jam one skater down. A minor was called on Helena Handbasket which turned into a Tug-o-War with Ginjure. Ginjure takes it, Rollers lose a point. Final jam of the evening was between Sacralicious and Evilynn. Sac is out front, both skaters get one point.

FINAL SCORE: HOLY ROLLERS 35, CHERRY BOMBS 28

The one word I would pick to describe this bout (profanity aside) is INTENSE. The bout ended up being just as fierce as expected with both teams playing their hearts out to retain the undefeated status. I think I finally quit holding my breath about an hour after the bout ended. Thanks to the skaters and refs for a great bout!!

Best wishes to Kate or Dye for a speedy recovery–see TXRD.com for donation info!
WE’LL see YOU back at the ACC on June 1, when the Hellcats take on the Putas del Fuego, until then…peace out and skate on!

TXRD would like to extend our gratitude once again and formally THANK the audience in attendance at our May 4th, 2008 event for their outstanding demonstration of love and support. As you all are aware, one of our beloved skaters, Kate or Dye, was injured in the third quarter of this truly intense match up between the Cherry Bombs vs. Holy Rollers. The result of her injury as indicated by Kate, when we spoke to her yesterday morning, is a humerus fracture! Kate has since then scheduled an appointment to see her orthopedic surgeon for details of the treatment that will follow and an estimated recovery time frame.

While we expect that she will make a full recovery, this injury will inevitably pose as a hardship to overcome for our “Katers”. The donations that were made for her at Sunday’s bout will surely assist her through this time. We can not thank our fans in attendance enough for the support they have shown our Kate or Dye.

THANK YOU TXRD FANS FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!

At this time, if you would like to make a financial contribution to Kate , please feel free to use the Pay Pal account that has been created in her name. You may also e-mail: info@txrd.com and/or send checks or money orders to :

Mailing Address:
C/O Kate or Dye
P.O. Box 49256
Austin, TX 78765
United States

Wishing Kate or Dye a speedy and healthy recovery,

The TXRD family and Fans !

TXRD will once again be offering a LIVE pay-per-view webcast of the Cherry Bombs vs. Holy Rollers bout on May 4th! Please go to the online store now to reserve your spot for this event.

Thank you Central Texas Harley for letting us crash your party last weekend–it was a blast! A bunch of us Lonestar Rollergirls headed up to Round Rock for some Harley goodness. They were crazy enough to let the Mouth of the South aka Mighty Aphrodite MC the event, so you know it was loud. I tell you what, those Harley guys can turn ANYTHING into a dirty joke. Needless to say we got along well. Some other awesome highlights were:

-Knottie Knoxville taking away Mighty’s arm wrestling championship title.
-Kids taking the arm wrestling table over and getting SERIOUS about it.
-Climbing the rock wall with skates on. Rock climbers should consider putting toe stops on their shoes!
-Having to leave early on Friday because of a tornado threat

And last but NOT least…
-Learning why Might Aphrodite is also known as the Patty Hearst of Williamson County. (GOOD story, I’ll hopefully get clearance to tell this story on the blog!)

Thanks again Central Texas Harley!