VOTE NOW IN THIS HOTLY CONTESTED BALLOT!
by Muckety Muck
An open letter to ARRG Nation:
Anyone who is friends with me personally knows that I cannot stand politics.
It’s not because I don’t believe in democracy, it’s because I’m not a fan of what the modern era’s “political campaigns” consist of….a whole lot of “vote for me because my opposition is a scumbag” methodology.
Perhaps that’s a little excessive…or is it?
That being said, I recently voted in an open election to select “ARRG’s Fan Favorite,” a contest that you – a member of the derby lovin’ public – can vote on here at archrivalrollergirls.com.
It seemed like a contest that I had personal interest in – and a contest that featured no mudslinging by any of the candidates.
It’s the third year in a row that I’ve participated in the vote…and for the third year straight, it turned out to be a difficult decision.
I thought long and hard about what was at stake, which to all the ARRG athletes is quite a lot. This is the only vote that the public engages in for the annual league awards – it truly is the “power of the people” that pushes a performer to the pinnacle of popularity.
And who in this election of 50+ candidates stands out? I think of all the sweat equity involved on and off the track for the sport and I can’t single out one, two or even a dozen skaters. Truth be told, I wish I could vote for every one of them – they are all well-deserving.
But since “all of them” was not a viable option for this category, I had to select one.
You too will be faced with the same thought-provoking decision when you vote, which you can do the rest of the week. Voting ends after this Friday!
Keep a few things in mind when making that well-informed selection…
1 – Think about a skater’s performance throughout the year. There have some epic performances at local and travel bouts this season. But think of consistency in this category. Who has been a steady performer regardless of the final score? Even in a team’s losing effort, an effort by a skater that consistently surpasses expectations with every bout should not go unnoticed.
2 – Although scoring is impressive, don’t forget about the front line. Blockers and pivots are just as imperative to the success of a team as a jammer is. Keep in mind that some jammers pull “double duty” and fulfill a multitude of responsibilities. This front line also logs large amounts of track time.
3 – That being said, there have been a few unexpected surprises at the jammer position this season. In some cases, young jammers were called into action due to injuries and retirement. Their breakthroughs should not go unnoticed as well.
4 – Think about how the ARRG athlete deals with you personally on bout nights, before and after the bout. Perhaps that skater signed an autograph that lit up the eyes of a young derby fan after the bout. Perhaps that skater took care of you or your group as a part of their responsibilities at one of the local events. It’s qualities like these that fans should truly appreciate.
5 – Think about what an ARRG athlete does “off the track.” All of the ARRG athletes participate in community outreach efforts that benefit area non-profits. They also make public appearances to spread the word of flat-track roller derby to the masses. The time contributed off the track should also be considered.
Have I made a challenging decision even more difficult? Probably so.
After all the votes have been tabulated, the winner will be announced at the 2012 ARRG Awards Ceremony at the Heavy Anchor on Friday, October 5. (More about this open-to-the-public event next Monday here in the newscenter.)
As I said earlier, I’ve already submitted my vote. And truth be told, I was happy that I did it.
Who did I vote for? Mmmmm, let’s just say it was a female athlete that wears quads.
And it had nothing to do with on-track performance.
You too can be a part of the election process by voting on the main page of archrivalrollergirls.com.
It’ll probably be the most challenging – and rewarding – vote you’ll make this election cycle.
Check back in this section every Monday for the latest in ARRG news, information and stumping!
