120-73 WIN GIVES DEFENDING CHAMPS STANDINGS LEAD

by The Grand Poobah

(ST. LOUIS, MO) It was not that long ago in ARRG’s history that the Stunt Devils were a team that was always looking in from the outside - a franchise that always had the talent, but for some reason never had the breaks that would give them the chance to be in control of the ARRG chain of command.

Those days are now long behind them.

Thanks to the double-powered attack of jammers Starry Starry Fight and Artemischief, the defending ARRG champions upended the Smashinistas 120-73 in interleague play in front of 1,000-plus Saturday night at the All-Amercian Sports Mall.

The win resulted in a 2-0 record for the ladies in purple - and placement at the top of the ARRG standings three interleague bouts into the 2010 season.

“We’ve never been in this position before,’ said Stunt co-captain Mayor Francis Slayer. “We’re stacked….we’re really lucky.”

Some might disagree with Slayer about the “luck” part - this team is skilled.

And to their credit, the Smashinistas on Saturday night were prepared for that at the bout’s onset - which made for tight scoring early.

Following a bout-opening 5-point jam by the Stunts’ Starry Starry Fight, Smashinistas’ jammer The Educator collected a nine-pointer to give the women in cammo a 10-5 lead three minutes into the half.

Both teams traded points - and hits - for the next seven minutes. The end result was a tight 22-21 Stunt advantage with under 20:00 remaining in the opening frame.

Then it was time for the league’s leader in scoring to take over.

Starry’s triple grand slam delivered a huge blow to the psyche to the Smashies. The 15-point jam gave the Stunt Devils the evening’s first commanding lead, a 37-21 advantage with 18:15 remaining in the first half.

“The Stunts have a history of starting off slow, but coming up big in the end,” said Stunt Devil jammer Artemischief about the blow-for-blow scoring early on.

And in order for the Stunts to deliver “big” as the first half progressed, it meant that the purple jammers would have to turn on the jets…which is exactly what happened.

The Stunt Devils would go on a 26-9 run in the first half’s final six minutes. Starry’s 8-point jam followed by Artemischief’s 14-pointer resulted in a 74-34 halftime lead for the defending league champions.

During the halftime break, the Smashinistas figured that they needed to revert back their original blueprint - control the pack, control the pacing, control the scoring - and the rest will take care of itself.

“We felt that the worst was over,” said Smashie jammer The Educator of the 40-point halftime deficit. “We felt we only have to get better from there.”

And they did…much better.

The pretty princesses took control of the bout in the early stages of the second half. A 23-9 run by the ladies in cammo cut the gap to 83-57 midway through the final frame.

But then another layer of a potent Stunt offense seized opportunity and shifted the momentum back to the defending champs. South City Shiner - who had been held to one lead jam in the first half - sprinted to the front of the pack en route to a double grand slam. The 10-pointer with 12:45 remaining gave the Stunt Devils a 93-59 lead.

The precision pace would continue down the stretch as the Stunts outscored the Smashies 27-14 in the bout’s final ten minutes to pick up their second win, and sole possession of first place in the league standings.

Starry Starry Fight’s 41-point effort for the Stunt Devils was reciprocated by The Educator’s 41-point output for the Smashinistas, who drop to 0-2.

Anchored by the impressive scoring tally by the defending champs - their second triple-digit outing in 2010 - the jammers in purple assessed the team’s performance as complete.

“Things went really well for us,” said Artmischief, who added 39 points for the Stunts. “We had good jammer rotation, everybody produced and all our blockers were really on it. It’s all you could really ask for.”

And for the veteran jammer, it clearly crystallizes the dominance of the 2010 Stunt Devils - who are no longer on the outside looking in.

“The Stunts did prove that - as a team - they could win more than once,” she said.

The defending league champion returns to ARRG Interleague play on Saturday, April 10 to battle the M-80s (1-1) at the All-American Sports Mall (11133 Lindbergh Business Court, St. Louis, MO.)

IN POOBAH’S CORNER: SATURDAY NOTES

It goes without saying, but Saturday was an epic night for the league - and for roller derby in general in St. Louis.

The sold-out crowd who attended our double-header proves that this sport, without a shadow of a doubt, provides the very best in alternative athletics in the Gateway City.

On behalf of ARRG, the Gatekeepers and the folks who support this sport with unconditional love, I want to thank each and every one of you for attending Saturday’s bouts. Your passion and commitment to what we love to do means so much to us.

Your patience in our late start - which allowed the overflow capacity to enjoy both bouts - was much appreciated.

In short, we are humbled by your support.

- A good portion of this success was supported by the continuing help of the various media outlets who send the message of ARRG to the masses - including St. Louis Magazine, stltoday.com, KTVI-TV, The Riverfront Times, 106.5 FM The Arch, The St. Louis Beacon, nextstopstl.org, KCFV 89.5 FM and many others. Thank you for your continued support.

- I will admit, I had a good feeling that the Gatekeepers would get the duke in their franchise opener - see next article after the ARRG standings graphic - but little would I have expected that the way that they did it would be so overwhelming. These men have done an excellent job in preparation and they should be proud of their accomplishments. Best of luck to them as the season progresses - they’ll do the city proud, I guarantee it.

- Thanks again to the Twin City Derby Girls of the Champaign/Urbana, Illinois area for attending the bout and lending support. A few members of the newly-formed league even stuck around and practiced with ARRG skaters the following morning. Trust me ladies, the hard work’s gonna pay off down the road.

- Another big raffle was held, which helped ARRG’s ongoing work this season to Youth In Need to raise awareness in the local non-for-profit. Your continued support is pushing us closer to our goal of $3,500 for the season. Expect more big raffles as the season progresses.

- Much thanks to my derby broadcast partner Joanie Rollmoan, who did a solid double dip of duty, as well as Mr. Macabre, who drove the four-hour trip from Indy to provide commentary for the Gatekeepers/Race City bout. Their help provided much relief to a man whose voice was slowly but surely trailing off as the night progressed.

GATEKEEPERS DEBUT WITH WIN

Prior to Saturday’s ARRG match-up, the St. Louis Gatekeepers - the area’s first men’s flat track roller derby squad - posted a dominating 125-17 win over the Race City Rebels of Indianapolis, IN.

It didn’t take long for the locals - in their inaugural debut - to send a message to the nation’s developing men’s roller derby leagues. A fast start out of the gates propelled the mean, green machine to a 55-11 halftime lead.

Multi-point jams by Magnum P.I.M.P., Bony Hawk, Batwing and Short Knocks paced the Gatekeepers - who outscored the Indy contingent 70-6 in the second half - to the team’s first win in franchise history.

Magnum led the Gatekeepers in scoring with 34 points, followed by Knocks’ 28. Magnum picked up the MVP Award for the bout for St. Louis while blocker Big N’ Plenty - who did a solid job against tough competition - collected the MVP hardware for Race City.

The Gatekeepers (1-0) return to action in the upcoming six-team “Spring Roll Tournament” held on May 8-9 in Ft. Wayne, IN.

ST. LUNACHIX TRAVEL TO INDIANA THIS SATURDAY

The future of ARRG heads to the Hoosier State this weekend to face the best from Evansville.

The St. Lunachix - ARRG’s developmental team - battle the Dynamite Dolls of the Demolition City Roller Derby league this Saturday, March 27 at the historical Evansville Coliseum (300 Court St., Evansville, IN).

The Chix/Dolls clash is part of a two-bout doubleheader that features Evansville’s Destruction Dames vs. the Southern Illinois Rollergirls on the undercard. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Bouts begin at 6:30 pm.

This is one of those few match-ups where a developmental team (ARRG) meets an All-Star team (DCRD).

And this Evansville team is one not to be taken lightly.

The Dynamite Dolls launched their 2010 campaign with two quick wins in February. After beating the Tragic City Rollers (Birmingham, AL) at home 121-66 on February 20, the Dolls bested the Derby City Rollergirls (Louisville, KY) the following week 156-75 to start the season unbeaten.

Dynamite Dolls' Godjilla

The key to the Dolls’ attack is Godjilla, who last month celebrated the start of her third year of active competition…with a massive quad-stomping. Crowned “Best Jammer” in 2009 by DCRD, the crowd favorite notched 61 points against Birmingham, followed by a 50-point outburst against Louisville.

The power jammer has picked up just about every award imaginable, including honors last season for “Offensive Performance of the Year” and “Most Dedicated to the League.”

But don’t be fooled - the Dolls are not one-dimensional. Also watch out for Lillith of the Valley, 2009’s “Rollergirl of the Year.” The blonde bomber’s 56-point output against Birmingham shows that she can pack a punch offensively if Godjilla is held at bay.

But if there was ever a team to accept the challenge from an impressive outfit, it would be the St. Lunachix - who in their entire history of play have never lost a bout.

You read that right….have never lost a bout…

Have never lost a bout…

…ever.

The St. Lunachix finished 2009 with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring their opponents 653-302.

And although a few key members of that undefeated squad were acquired by the ARRG All-Stars, the St. Lunachix reloaded with an impressive crop of newcomers, as well as a few ARRG league veterans.

At presstime, here’s the The St. Lunachix roster for the match-up vs. the Dynamite Dolls (listed alphabetically): Ana Warpath, Beatn-chix Kiddo, Beretta Michaels, Black Market Baby, Chokehold Chanel No. 5, Deathica Steele, Ginny Beastly, Jean Slay, Miss Lippy, Morgan La Faetal, Polka Dot YrEyeout, The Seige, Suri OKiller and SueShe. Alternates, such as Cookies N.Creme, Jezebelle and Whip Scream, are also eligible for play.

I don’t know about you, but if I lived in another city that had developmental derby, I’d be envious of this line-up!

A travel tip from Archie as you head towards the tri-state: Click on the picture of WFIE-TV Weekend Meteorologist (and avid rollerblader!) Chad Sewich for your “14 First Alert” weather forecast.

Using the stagenames of “The Grand Poobah” and “Hells LaBelle,” Wink Funklebean and Flip Van Landingham are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check the news section every Monday for the latest ARRG news and information.

100+ Second Half Points vs. Memphis Lead To Dominating Victory

by The Grand Poobah - Bout statistics provided by Memphis Roller Derby

The 2o1o opener for the ARRG Travel Team sent a potential message to the other WFTDA teams lined up to take on the ladies in pink and black this season.

Perhaps the message reads like this: “We’re here and get out of our way….”

A second half explosion of offense helped the ARRG All-Stars dominate Memphis 172-92 in WFDTA-sanctioned action Saturday night at Funquest in Collierville, TN.

ARRG was able to gain an early lead in the first half, but the pesky Hustlin’ Rollers kept pace. ARRG took a 64-50 lead into the halftime break.

A quick 10-2 run by Memphis cut ARRG’s lead to 66-60 with 25:20 remaining.

Then, ARRG turned on the jets. The “pink and black attack” outscored the Rollers 108-32 for the remainder of the bout, which included a 28-2 ARRG run in the last five minutes.

Milwaukee's Brewcity Bruisers

With the win, ARRG (1-0) carries momentum back home to square off against Milwaukee’s Brewcity Buisers (1-0) in a WFTDA-sanctioned bout this Saturday at the All-American Sports Mall (11133 Lindbergh Business Ct., St. Louis, MO). Doors open at 7 pm. Bout time is 8 pm.

The Brewcity Bruisers - 7th place finishers at the WFTDA North Central Regionals in 2009 - began their 2010 campaign with a 137-35 win over Ft. Wayne on January 9.

These two teams are familiar with each other - ARRG bested Brewcity 81-70 last year in All-Star action. And with the added incentive of the Bruisers’ #23 position in the most recent Derby News Network Power Rankings dangling in front of them, ARRG would love nothing more than to up their record to 2-0 in front of a huge home crowd.

And here’s an incentive for you - a member of the ARRG-loving public. We’re offering a discount rate on tickets if you bring a party of 15 or more. Check the main page of archrivalrollersgirls.com for e-mail information - and find out how your large group can get $2 off each ticket, a savings of 20% for your group.

Let’s do the math…for your group of 15, you can get a ticket for $8 apiece, which equals a savings of $30 for your group. Or $40 for your group of 20. And so on.

We’ll have all the regular goodness that you’ve come to expect from ARRG that you experienced at our first two sold-out bouts of 2010: high-impact action, contests, raffles, guest rollergirl commentary, post-bout afterparty at the Upper Deck and other odds-and-ends.

There seems to be one thing we have to add to the list: an ARRG All-Star win. We’ll see you there.

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information…even on Presidents Day.

Black Market Baby and Veterans Pace Ladies In Red To 87-71 Win

by The Grand Poobah

(ST. LOUIS, MO) In a night where numerous pre-bout roster changes involving veteran skaters were made, it was a first-year sparkplug that made the definitive impact on the outcome.

Paced by a personal best of 25 points, rookie Black Market Baby led the charge of the M-80s in their 87-71 win over the Smashinistas in interleague action Saturday night at the All-American Sports Mall in front of 1,000 people.

In late-breaking pre-bout news last week, both teams added firepower to their arsenal. The Smashinistas acquired Texan MVP Downtown Dallis to compliment their roster, while the ARRG Board of Directors allowed the M-80s to “unretire” the recently retired The Siege for one bout due to a depleted roster.

But even with these pre-bout bombshells, the rookie in red served as the catalyst for the M-80s, who improved their record to 1-1.

“We worked really hard together (tonight) and played a solid bout,” said Black Market Baby after the battle. “It’s what we had to do.”

And perhaps BMB’s last sentence crystallized the philosophy of the M-80s heading into Saturday’s match-up. It’s not what they wanted to do, it’s what they HAD to do.

Going into the second bout of the season, the M-80s couldn’t afford another loss after a season opening defeat to reigning league champion the Stunt Devils. And with the absence of Keligula, Enya Nightmare and Madam Moonstruck in their line-up, an “L” in the column would have put the firecrackers on quads behind the proverbial 8-ball in 2010.

But it didn’t take long for the legacy team of ARRG to show their dominance, as four consecutive lead jams by the M-80s set the template for an early first half lead.

After a 6-point jam by veteran by Joanie Rollmoan, the M-80s thumped the unsuspecting Smashies, thanks to a 14-point jam by Joltin’ Josie, which gave the firecrackers a 20-0 lead five minutes into the bout.

A quick 4-point punch by M-80s co-captain Nikki Vixxen - which upped the score to 24-0 - was followed by the jam that rookies dream of.

With 21:30 left in the first half, Black Market Baby barrelled her way to the lead jammer position, and with help from blockers Ana Warpath and the Siege, posted a 14-point jam to extend the M-80s lead to 38-4.

The credit for the rookie’s big score? “My f****ng blockers!” said BMB, referring to the girls upfront.

The dominance continued for the M-80s in the first half, who posted 12 lead jams in comparison to the Smashies five. Rollmoan’s nine point jam with 2:15 remaining in the first half, followed by four-point jams by BMB and Josie gave the M-80s a lopsided 63-32 halftime lead.

The Smashies, licking their wounds during the intermission, needed to refocus and regroup in the locker room. Strategies were discussed and skates were altered to better suit the surface of the All-American Sports Mall.

“We had a big group hug and a team-bonding chat,” said Smashinistas co-captain Punches Pileup. “We came back out and were ready to bring it back.”

Yet to the dismay of the Smashie contingent, the beginning of the second half bared resemblance to the sluggish start, as a 10-point score from the M-80s by first-time jammer Ana Warpath extended the lead to 73-32 with 26:15 remaining.

And some critics would have dismissed the bout right there…..yet something amazing happened - as things often do in ARRG - as the second half progressed.

With 17:00 remaining, three consecutive lead jams by the Smashies - a seven-point score by Pileup and back-to-back eight-point tallies by The Educator and Downtown Dallis - began the comeback that the M-80s, and most of those in attendance, were not expecting.

In fact, there was very little, if any scoring, for the remainder of the game for the M-80s. And a huge shift of momentum swung the way to the girls clad in cammo.

Another eight-point jam by The Educator and a trifecta of five-pointers by Dallis, Pileup and Educator cut the gap to 87-67 with 7:14 remaining.

A jam by the M-80s Vixxen - which resulted in no points for the ladies in red - was followed by another Pileup lead jam. The bespectacled pretty princess’ four-pointer cut the gap to 87-71.

Then came the drama…

The Smashies’ Dallis, who had been held at bay in the first half by the M-80 veteran blockers, zoomed out to the lead jammer position with under two minutes remaining. And it appeared that the Texan MVP would round out a historical comeback with a double-digit jam. However, a tangle of the quads with the opposition sent the blonde bomber tumbling to the track…and dashed the hopes of a Smashinista bout two victory.

Time still remained on the bout clock for one final jam, but Vixxen’s sprint to the front of the pack to become lead jammer sealed the victory for the M-80s, who evened their 2010 record in the must-win scenario.

“The last few weeks have been some of the most tumultuous in my M-80s career,”said Vixxen afterwards. “I am so proud of every one of my players tonight. We all came together. This feels really good.”

The feeling was especially memorable for the M-80 rookies that experienced their first taste of flat-track victory in 2010.

“Oh my god, it feels really awesome,” said Black Market Baby. “Amazing, it’s really amazing. I can’t believe this happened.”

“We’ve got a lot of new girls this year and they are so excited to be playing,” added M-80s veteran Ana Warpath. “The victory proves that they can do it - and nothing will stop them.”

That same rookie excitement was also found in the six Smashie newcomers. Playing in front of a large crowd in a competitive battle brought out career experiences normally not found in practice.

“Our rookies really shined bright tonight,”said Smashinistas co-captain Punches Pileup, who led all scorers on the evening with 28 points. “They’ve been working their a**es off. So we were pleased with the way they played tonight.”

And in the end, one has to respect the resiliency of the Smashies to make the bout close down the stretch, considering they were being outscored by a ratio of 2-1 at the halftime break.

“Next time we’re gonna be more prepared and take the bull by the horns in the first half,” said Pileup. “We really hit our stride in the second half, so were just going to have to get our engines revved a little bit earlier.”

Interleague play continues for ARRG on Saturday, March 20 as the Smashinistas (0-1) battle defending league champion The Stunt Devils (1-0) at the All-American Sports Mall (11133 Lindbergh Business Court, St. Louis, MO).

UNOFFICIAL SCORING: M-80s - Black Market Baby 25, Joanie Rollmoan 24, Ana Warpath 18, Nikki Vixxen 9, Joltin’ Josie 9, Cherry Chernobyl 4 Smashinistas - Punches Pileup 28, The Educator 25, Downtown Dallis 22, Eli Wallop 4

Saturday notes from the Poobah:

- Another fantastic crowd of 1,000 came to watch bout two of the ARRG 2010 season. Pre-bout online tickets sales were three times the amount the league normally gets and an informal poll prior to the bout suggested that we had a record number of first-timers in attendance. On behalf of ARRG Nation, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued patronage and support.

- We once again thank our media affiliates for continuing to spread the good word of ARRG to the masses in February, including KTVI-TV, KSDK-TV, KFNS-AM and Metromix. Your help is greatly appreciated!

- Another huge raffle drawing took place at halftime. As noted at derby bouts, ARRG is working in conjunction with Youth In Need during the 2010 season in an effort to raise $3,500 for the St. Charles-based non-for-profit. Also, don’t forget that ARRG is assembling walkers and donations for the upcoming Walk for Wishes charity walk on Saturday, February 20. Find out more about ARRG’s team, and it’s quest to raise $1,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, right here!

- Scratches for bout two included Keligula (physician’s orders), Madam Moonstruck (physician’s orders) and Enya Nightmare (game suspension) for the M-80s.

2010 ARRG ALL-STARS DEBUT IN MEMPHO THIS SATURDAY!

Memphis, Tennessee is famous (and rightly so) for its barbecue (Rendezvous & Corky’s), its placement in the lexicon of music history (Sun Records & Stax Records) and its world-renowned tourist attractions (Graceland & The National Civil Rights Museum).

But outside of professional wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler and the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, there’s not much history to Memphis athletics….(sorry Memphians, your NBA franchise was a hand-me-down from Vancouver and don’t get me started on the XFL).

However, a group of 40 Memphis skaters have been working hard the last four years to re-write that history.

Memphis' Hustlin' Rollers

In January 2006, a trio of women through grass-roots efforts launched Memphis Roller Derby, which in short time has blossomed to a three-team league complete with a travelling all-star team that made it to its first-ever WFTDA post-season tournament in 2009 (sound familiar, ARRG fans?)

The Hustlin’ Rollers, MRD’s travelling team, finished 2009 with a ninth-place showing at the South Central Regionals in September.

And it only seems apropos that ARRG’s All Stars (sixth at the WFTDA North Central Regionals in 2009) would begin its 2010 campaign on Valentine’s eve facing a league that has travelled down a similar journey.

ARRG (0-0) faces Memphis (1-1) in travel team action this Saturday, February 13 at Funquest (440 Highway 72, Collierville, TN).  The ARRG/Rollers match-up is part of a two-bout doubleheader.  The other bout features Memphis Roller Derby interleague play as the Angles of Death face the Women of Mass Destruction.  Doors open at 5 pm.  Bouts start at 6 pm.

ARRG All Star Co-Captains South City Shiner and Keligua return to the fold in the jammer position, alongside returnees Starry Starry Fight, Artemischief and Enya Nightmare. Eli Wallop, Grave Danger, Joanie Rollmoan return to the blocker spots, while Mayor Francis Slayer returns at pivot. Added depth to the ARRG All-Stars comes in the form of Danika Doom, The Educator, Smarty McFly, Nikki Vixxen, Domme E Nation, Punches Pileup and Jack U Up.

Memphis' Tenacious B

The Hustlin’ Rollers have already competed in two high-scoring bouts in 2010, each with varying results. MRD notched a 170-126 road win over the NWA Killbillies on January 23, but stumbled in an 151-35 pummeling by Naptown (Indianapolis) this past Saturday. Saturday’s match-up vs. ARRG will be Memphis’ second consecutive weekend of travel team action. The ladies in maroon, yellow and black have a multi-dimensional attack, fueled by jammers Tenacious B and Lil’ Cinner, with help from fellow powderkegs Brooken Bones and Cat Claus.

A solid road win for the ladies in black and pink will set the stage for a competitive 2010, which will see ARRG battle the Brew City Bruisers from Milwaukee on Saturday, February 20 at the All-American Sports Mall.

Helpful Travel Hints from ARRG’s mascot, Archie - fresh off a spin in a Corvette at the 2010 St. Louis Auto Show.  Click on the picture of WMC-TV’s Chief Meteorologist (and longtime Memphis Rasslin’ Announcer!) Dave Brown for your Memphis Pinpoint Weather Forecast.

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 Season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest ARRG news, information…..and out-of-town weather forecasts.

Starry’s Flight Propels Epic Night for Stunt Devils

(ST. LOUIS, MO) It didn’t take long for the defending ARRG champions to send a message that their league title win in 2009 was no fluke.

Buoyed by a historical 80+ point performance from jammer Starry Starry Fight, the Stunt Devils bullied their way to a 140-88 win over the M-80s in the ARRG season opener in front of 1,000+ at the All-American Sports Mall Saturday night.

Starry battled the bout in protective gear but still managed to pace the Stunts (1-0) in their victory, with a bout-high nine lead jams.

“A jammer is only as good as her blockers, and I barely got hit at all, which made it easy for me,” said Starry after the bout. “I think it was the idea that we had a lot to prove after we won the championship. We wanted to show the M-80s that we meant it the first time and we meant it this time.”

Starry’s domination in scoring, however, was not evident until after an early rally by the M-80s.

An 8-0 run by the girls in red, thanks in part by veterans Joanie Rollomoan and Nikki Vixxen, gave the M-80s an early 9-2 lead five minutes into the first frame.

Then Starry’s fight took flight. The jammer’s 15-point slamma ramma gave the defending champs its first lead of the night at 17-8, 8:30 into the first half.

Consecutive nine-point jams by newcomer Morgan Le Faetal and defending ARRG scoring champion Artemischief gave the Stunt Devils a 35-8 lead with 17:00 left in the first half.

But the M-80’s, lead by two veterans and a newcomer to fold, cut into the defecit.

Rollomoan’s 8-point jam, followed by strong jams by newcomer Black Market Baby and returning jammer Enya Nightmare, cut the gap to 47-25 with 8:45 left in the first half. Nightmare followed later in the frame with a 12-point jam with 3:42 left to make it a 54-37 contest.

Then, it was time for the star to shine, as Starry’s 13-point jam with 1:50 remaining extended the lead to 67-37 for the Stunts.

As time expired in the first half, a frozen clock presented a golden opportunity for the M-80s to catch up, yet a seven-point jam by the Stunt’s Artemischief gave the defending champs a 74-37 lead into the half time break.

The second half saw the M-80s quick out of the gate. Strong jams by Nightmare, Baby and Vixxen saw the lead cut to 76-46.

Then it was time to show the All-American jams of which legends are made.

Starry Starry Fight came out with a 20-point jam with 21:00 left in the contest to extend the lead to 96-46 Stunts. This catapulted five lead jams in a row for the defending champs, which extended the lead to 116-55 nine minutes after the Starry quadruple grand slam.

“She’s just ridiculous,” said veteran Stunt blocker Grave Danger following the game. “She’s an awesome jammer.”

As the second half continued, the Stunts provided some much needed action for its bench as South City Shiner and Baretta Michaels saw turns at the lead jammer position. Meanwhile, the M-80s continued with an attack of Nightmare, BMB and Vixxen down the stretch.

Yet, near the end, the final lead jammer for the Stunts came directly to its All-Star, as Starry put up a 3-point jam with 3:00 left to round out the scoring for the ladies in purple and to provide the fans a taste for potential things to come in 2010.

Even though Starry’s 80-point-plus historic night was the focal point of the evening, a Stunt veteran was quick to acknowledge the newcomers to the team.

“Right now my personal favorite is Miss Morgan Le Faetal,” said Danger. “She’s gonna be a fierce jammer this season. She really fought her way through the pack. Cookies N. Cream, you can tell she’s gonna be a really good blocker. And Whip Scream, you can definitely tell she’s gonna be a good jammer. She’s got the legs for it. And Domme E. Nation, a transfer from Florida, you can tell from tonight that she bleeds purple.”

And even with the loss for the M-80s (0-1), the veteran voice of the team found plenty of positives for the young group of skaters.

“You saw a lot of rookies tonight and I thought they all worked really well together,” said blocker/jammer Joanie Rollomoan. “I’m actually really excited. They were all my newbies at one point. We (the M-80s) are in the same place that we were three years ago. And then we won like every game for three years, so I’m really excited.”

The M-80s return to action on Saturday, February 6 against the new-look Smashinistas (0-0) at the All-American Sports Mall. Doors open at 7 pm. Bout begins at 8 pm.

Bout One of Six

STUNT DEVILS
first period: 74 | second period: 66 | final:140

M-80s
first period: 37 | second period: 51 | final:88

Scoring (UNOFFICIAL STATS)

Stunt Devils (140) Starry Starry Fight 83, Artemischief 39, Morgan La Faetal 14, Baretta Michaels 4

M-80s (88) Enya Nightmare 24, Nikki Vixxen 22, Black Market Baby 19, Joanie Rollomoan 11

Poobah’s Notes from Saturday

• Saturday’s attendance, no joke, was a recorded 1,000+, which far exceeded expectations. On behalf of ARRG Nation, I can’t thank each and everyone of you enough for your support at our home opener. You all braved the chilly elements to make it a special night of ARRG action.
• We knew that the attendance was huge when Joanie Rollomoan crashed into the splash zone four rows deep. Nonetheless, we extend a big thank you to all those that spread the good word of ARRG leading up to the event. We also extend a big thank you to those in the St. Louis media that helped us promote the message, including KPLR-TV, KTRS-AM, KPNT-FM, the Riverfront Times and numerous other media outlets. If we forgot you from this list - don’t take it personal - we really do appreciate your co-operation!
• We also extend apologies to those who were turned away at the door due to capacity issues. We hope that this doesn’t deter you from attending the next home bout, which takes place on Saturday, February 6 at the All-American Sports Mall with the M-80s looking to even their record against the new-look Smashinistas.
• Speaking of which, a big THANK YOU to Smashies’ co-captain Eli Wallop, who provided inside expertise, not to mention a few quick jabs, during our opening bout of the 2010 season. Expect more ARRG veterans to join the derbycast booth during the season. Grave Danger’s on tap for the February bout.
• January looks to be a busy month, with a trivia contest set for Saturday, January 23 and an appearance at the St. Louis Auto show later this month. Keep up to date with the latest in ARRG information here.
• M-80’s blocker Suri O’ Killer suffered a potentially serious injury early in Saturday’s bout, but early prognosis looks like all is well with the girl that bleeds red unconditonally. She even managed to get one last jam in before the expiration of Saturday’s match-up - thus proving her mental and physical toughness. One has no doubt that she’ll be back in the fold Saturday, February 6.

Scratches for bout one included the M-80s’ Keligula (physician’s orders) and the Stunt Devils’ Smarty McFly (physician’s orders) and Miss Lippy (matrimony - not hers, but someone else’s.)

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG information.

St. Louis, MO - Many had called it the “freebee bout.” Their Championship spots already clinched, the Stunt Devils and the M80s met Saturday night, July 11, knowing the outcome of the game would not affect their status. A dress rehearsal, some said, for what was to come.

If that’s the case, then the 2009 Championship bout is going to be historic. There are games, and then there are games. Saturday night’s bout was one of the latter.

A little background - In three years of play, the Stunt Devils have never beaten the M80s. In fact, over the last two seasons the M80s have lost only one game, this season’s opener against the Smashinistas in February. Usually a M80 game holds no surprises, the team easily dominating their opponent and crushing them with a heavy score. Also in their favor, the Stunt Devils were shorthanded due to injuries and retirements, having only 12 players to the M80’s 13.

Two-time champions, the M80s have a history of running away with a bout from the very start and keeping a solid lead. This game was no different, with the M80s scoring 18 unanswered points until the 4th jam. By the 7th jam they led 22 - 8. Then Stunt jammer Artemischief scored 11 points in the 8th jam, chipping away at that lead. Going into the half, the score was M80s 50 - Stunts 38. The crowd was already talking about the level of play and unexpected showing by the Stunts. It was a good game.

But the first half was nothing compared to what happened during the second.

Crippled by penalties, the M80s found themselves playing the beginning of the 2nd period with half their pack in the box. M80s jammers were sent to the box in jams 8 and 10, which allowed the Stunts to score 39 unanswered points over three jams. Even with heavy penalties of their own, The Stunts pulled away with the lead during the 10th jam, making it 81 - 73. It looked as if the Stunts had the M80s on the ropes, gaining momentum until the 15th jam, when Overland Offender racked up 15 points to put the M80s back on top.

From that moment on it was all out war. Every player was having his or her very best game. Aggressive from the very beginning, the hits got harder, the packs tighter, with each jam. Every jam was played like it was the last. Both teams were saving nothing for later.

The Stunts found themselves down two players at the start of the 16th jam. Enya Nightmare secured lead for the M80s. However, she only managed to score 5 points. South City Shiner closed the gap in the next jam, getting lead for the Stunts. The score was 103 - 92 for the next two jams, neither jammer able to get past the pack more than once.

With 1:42 left on the clock, it all came down to the very last jam.

Enya Nightmare got lead and called off the jam. Oh, wait, no she didn’t! The M80s jammer was not lead. Slowing down, raising her hands into the air, she celebrated until Artemischief sped past her, securing lead and perfectly poised to win the game. Nightmare chased her down. The noise was unbelievable, the fans going crazy as both jammers re-entered the pack. Herculaneum efforts from blockers on both sides kept the action going until the final whistle, with the M80s winning 107 - 100.

The message is clear, The Stunt Devils are out to win and they have the ability to do it.

The narrow victory over the Stunts means the M80s will have to work hard if they want to secure their 3rd Championship in a row. The Championship game will take place August 29, 2009, at the All American Sports Mall in St. Louis, MO. All bets are off, folks! This is one game you do not want to miss!

Stats

Most points scored: Artemischief, 56 (SD), Enya Nightmare, 24 (M80s)
Most Penalties, Minor: Grave Danger (SD), Ana Warpath (M80s)
Most Penalties, Major: Mayor Francis Slayer (SD), Overland Offender (M80s)
Total Lead Jam Percent: Stunt Devils 50%, M80s 47%
Total Lead Jam: Stunts 19, M80 18

On March 28th, the Smashinistas took on the Stunt Devils in “A Fistful of Fishnets” at the All-American Sports Mall, and this bout only proved that ARRG’s fourth season is proving to be its most exciting yet. The Smashies, fresh off a surprise win against the M80s last month were looking to extend their winning streak; the Stunts, in their first bout of the season, were looking to get a win on the board and prove that their trip to last season’s championship was no fluke.

Smashies co-captains Jenny Bonebreak and Chokehold Chanel kept the pressure on with jam after impressive jam, but the Stunts managed to keep things close thanks to strong blocking and the talents of Artemischief, who scored a massive 62 points! This bout was down to the wire, but the Stunts pulled away in the last few minutes, defeating the Smashies 86 to 78.