There will be passionate fans in downtown Milwaukee Saturday night: followers of women’s roller-derby.
About five years ago, a league called the Brew City Bruisers formed in town. Today it consists of four teams: The Crazy 8s, the Rushin’ Rollettes, Maiden Milwaukee and the Shevil Knevils.
After years of playing at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, the Bruisers will test-out a larger venue, the arena, in hopes that it has room for all the fans. WUWM News Intern Andy Ambrosius sat among them and met the ladies who play.
I drove down a twisted road in Franklin to get to the Sports Complex for my first taste of the Brew City Bruisers. About a half-mile up the road, I got stuck in it: a roller-derby traffic jam. Apparently, showing up an hour early wasn’t early enough.
When I got inside, there were other long lines, first for tickets and then concessions. I sat down to wait with a group of older women. Pat McNamara says obviously, they’re novices.
“We almost accidently walked into the dressing room. And this young guy, you know we’re all over 60, he said, 'oh ladies, are you suiting up',” McNamara said.
Actually the women know one of tonight’s players.
“She’s nurse in real life…in the operating room,” the women told me.
About 20 steps away, doors lead to the gym-turned-track. Every inch along the oval was packed with people sitting in lawn chairs or on bleachers. Quite a few fans were sipping on bottles from one of the beer stands lining the walls. An announcer warned those in the front-row to move, or risk being pummeled. Then it was time to introduce the skaters. The announcers bellowed each name while a projector plastered the player’s derby-photo on the wall. The bout began, and the adrenaline rush didn’t quit. Kent Borden, his wife and kids are also first-timers.
“I’m overwhelmed! I’m shocked that it’s as popular as it is. I’m happy, I’m pleased, and it’s awesome,” Borden said.
If you’re not familiar with roller-derby, two teams take to a track, in roller skates, of course. Each team sends out five skaters. One is called the jammer and it’s her job to score points by getting passed the other team’s blockers. The blockers and a pivot - who can also score points, try to prevent the other team’s jammer from getting through, while opening up space for their own. And they don’t do it by saying, ‘excuse me’.
I wasn’t allowed to meet the Bruisers tonight, because as I was told, they’re in the zone. But I was able to attend practice a few days later. The location is top secret; even my GPS got a little jumbled when leading me to their warehouse. But, after walking around for a while, I finally spotted a small sticker of the team’s logo on a side-door.
Inside, a rink is marked-out on the cement floor with tape. About 20 of the Bruisers are doing drills. Others are waiting their turn. Team Captain, The Termiskater, let me know right away, that just as this location is top secret, so are the skaters’ true identifies.
“There are people on your own team that you might skate with for two years and not even know their real names. And then if you go out with them and meet their other friends and they call them by their real names, it’s weird and awkward,” The Termiskater said.
But the women do have other names, and other lives. Melissa Mayhem is the mother of five.
“I stay at home. I’m a stay at home mom with my kids. And I love it. I keep the two worlds separate. My kids know what I do, but they don’t really know what I do. It’s almost like having an alter ego,” Mayhem said.
But according to Ms. Mayhem, it’s not easy to transform into a Bruiser. There are 14 weeks of training, followed by a written and physical exam. Then the league drafts the players it wants.
“You have to know what you’re doing, you have to know how to skate. Once you’re all good and get drafted on to teams, then it gets really gnarly,” Mayhem added.
One player, who wishes to remain anonymous, thinks she has a broken thumb. But she’s refusing to get it examined until after Saturday’s championship for fear of having to sit out. While bouts can be rough, The Termiskater says they can also leave a girl feeling great.
“You can have the worst day ever, be upset. Come in here. It’s a green-light kind of just to be an a-- because you have to be, otherwise you’re going to get taken out. And then you walk out of here feeling great because all your aggression has been taken out. It’s like therapy, but more fun,” The Termiskater said.
If attendance is any indication, a growing number of fans are also enjoying the bouts. Blocker SLAMeLA handles the league’s finances.
“We sold out our first four bouts and we realized we’re turning away people at the door,” SLAMeLA says.
That’s why the tightly-knit derby family is moving to the U.S. Cellular Arena for Saturday’s championship bout. The Bruisers want everyone who’s interested, to be able to get a taste of the action.
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