The Musings of Brian Groce

Here’s the Naptown Roller Girls / Tornado Sirens 2008 home bout schedule (a.k.a. “Season 2″). This coming season we’re treated to six home bouts instead of five. And while not officially announced yet, I’m assuming that the bouts are going to take place out at the Indiana State Fairgrounds again this year.

December 29 – “It’s a BOUT Time”
NRG vs. Kalamazoo Kamikaze Roller Girls from Michigan

February 9 – “Shove ‘em & Leave ‘em”
NRG vs. Burning River Roller Girls from Ohio

March 22 – “Lucky Harm”
NRG vs. Cincinnati Roller Girls from Ohio (WFTDA)

April 19 – “The Pint of No Return”
NRG vs. the Brew City Bruisers from Wisconsin (WFTDA)

May 17 – “Valley of the Brawls”
NRG vs. Pikes Peak Derby Dames from Colorado (WFTDA)

June 14 – “Hoosier Daddy”
NRG vs. Dixie Derby Girls from Alabama (WFTDA)

It’s hard to put into words the ambiance of a roller derby bout (and the crowd)…it’s just something you need to check out for yourself firsthand. I only made it out to one bout last year and was totally amazed at how much fun it was. The excitement was similar to when we had a “real” hockey team in Indy (the IHL version of the Indianapolis Ice)…and I might go out on a limb and say it’s even more exciting than hockey if you sit in the “Suicide Seats” where you’re actually right up on the track, sitting on the floor (remember, this is flat track, not that stuff you saw on TV in the 70’s and 80’s). And if you’re a fan of Arena Football, you’ll probably get into this.

I’d probably suggest leaving the really little ones at home, though there is a “family section” if you choose to bring them. That suggestion is based on your own enjoyment more than anything else…and there*may* be some things, mainly roller girls and refs “names”, that you don’t really want to explain to your kids in case they ask, or have them repeat them. Also, if you’re brave (or stupid) enough, like me, and actually want to sit in the Suicide Seating area, you do have to be 18 years old to do so.

See you there, down in front!

While I’m not into dancing of any sort, the “news” people here in Indianapolis left me puzzled yet again by their cluelessness this past weekend. I don”t know which channel that I was flipping past, but one of the reporters doing an “on site” story at 8 Seconds Saloon actually said something to the effect of, “Country Line Dancing is *the* new thing”.

Huh? I’m with it enough to know that it has been around Indianapolis for well over a decade now. My guess is that these reporters “aren’t from around these parts” and wouldn’t have known that without asking someone. But come on…line dancing is *the* “new thing”? While I personally wouldn’t really categorize it as wildly popular (I could be wrong), it is definitely not new. Maybe they were trying to say it is becoming more popular than it has been in previous years, and maybe that is correct, I don’t know. But if they said Disco or Roller Derby was *the* “new thing”, that would make more sense, although highly untrue on the former (I’ll let someone else weigh in on Roller Derby), since these have appear to have vanished somewhat from their former 1970’s & 1980’s glory.

Life in Indy…you’ve got to love it.