Gotham Girls Roller Derby
Encyclopedia
Gotham Girls Roller Derby (GGRD) is a flat track roller derby
league based in New York City
, New York
. Founded in late 2003, Gotham Girls Roller Derby was the first skater-operated flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area. GGRD is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
(WFTDA) which was formed in November 2005.
GGRD hosts flat-track roller derby competitions which showcase bouts among the various teams in the league. The league is made up of four home teams that play within the league and at times compete with member teams from other WFTDA leagues. The league is also home to inter-league competition teams, the Wall Street Traitors and the Gotham Girls All-Stars, which are teams compiled of league skaters from all four home teams and compete against other leagues. The Gotham Girls All-Stars represent the league in WFTDA inter-league competitions that count towards WFTDA national rankings.
The skaters, referees, and other league volunteers have the option to adopt 'skater names' for their uniforms, league activities, and other league business. Members choose their own names which they may start using after an initial league probationary period. The league encourages these names to be unique within the modern roller derby universe, in deference to the International Rollergirls Master Roster maintained at twoevils.org.
Gotham Girls Roller Derby is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. The IRS recognized Gotham Girls Roller Derby as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity in September 2008.
• The Brooklyn Bombshells. Founded 2004.
Team Mascot: Big Toot (2010-). Victor E. (ret. 2009), Davy Jones' Gym Locker (occasional appearances, 2006–2007), Big Tootsie (2011 guest appearance) Jeerleader Squad: The Bomb Squad.
• The Manhattan Mayhem. Founded 2004.
Team Mascots: Currently: Flying Mason, although as an actual dog he is banned from most competition venues. Originally ('04-'06) Mattley Mayhem. Added Flying Mason ('07) and Matt Lock ('08). Jeerleader Squad: The Jailhouse Rockettes.
• The Queens of Pain. Founded 2005.
Team Mascot: The Persuader. (2005-2010), Waste of Human Flesh (2011-pres) Jeerleader Squad: The Royal Pains.
• The Bronx Gridlock. Founded 2006.
Team Mascots: Currently: none. Travis Bickle (retired after '06), Skid Marxx (retired after '08). Jeerleader Squad: The Backseat Betties.
These teams practice together and jointly manage the league. The borough-based team designations do not necessarily reflect the residences of the skaters on a particular team.
• The Gotham Girls All-Stars - The sanctioned all star travel team for competition with other leagues in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
, composed of skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams. Team Mascot: Has varied. Most recent incarnation: 'Suspicious Package' (March '09).
• The Wall Street Traitors - An "all-borough" travel team for exhibition games with other leagues, composed of skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams. Team Mascot: David Lee Roth IRA (2008-2009). Currently: none.
• The Meat Packing District - An "all-rookie" travel team for exhibition games with other leagues, composed of rookie skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams.
of Madison, Wisconsin. GGRD holds its first tryouts - over 100 hopeful skaters attend; 24 skaters are accepted for the 2006 season.
GGRD forms its fourth home team, the Bronx Gridlock. In March, the Skate Key unexpectedly closes down and GGRD loses its practice and bout venue three weeks prior to its scheduled 2006 season opener. GGRD launches “Operation Crashpad” to scour the New York boroughs in search of new practice and bout venues. Throughout the season, league and team practices are held at public outdoor venues, as skaters persevere through rain, cold, asphalt, and darkness. Regular practice venues included Tanahey Playground (Manhattan), Dutch Kills Park (Queens), Mafera Park (Queens), Peter's Field (Manhattan), Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Manhattan), Stanley Isaacs Playground (Manhattan), basketball courts under the West Side Highway at 78th Street (Manhattan), William F. Passannante Ballfield (Manhattan), and the parking lot of a Costco on Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, Queens.
Season games are attended by sold-out crowds at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University and at Hunter College in Manhattan, with one additional regular season bout (Queens vs. Manhattan) held in Seaford, Long Island as part of a unique double-header featuring another regular-season bout of the Long Island Roller Rebels
. The Queens of Pain win the GGRD Championship for the second season in a row, losing to the Brooklyn Bombshells in May but defeating the Bronx Gridlock once and the Manhattan Mayhem twice (once in the regular season and once in the finals) to take the trophy.
The season concludes with an interleague All-Star bout victory at Philadelphia and an All-Star loss at Providence.
in Harlem with two additional bouts at Hunter College. The Bronx Gridlock enjoys an undefeated season and wins the GGRD Championship in a final over the Queens of Pain.
In interleague all-star action, the Gotham Girls All-Stars begin the season with a loss to the Carolina Rollergirls
and a victory over Chicago's Windy City Rollers
. Gotham then starts to put its full-time practice facility to use and proceeds to dominate the Heartland Havoc, the first ever WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament (August, in Columbus, Ohio), and are crowned 2007 Eastern Region Champions, with a sequence of blowout victories over Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, Windy City, and Detroit. At the Texas Shootout (the 2007 WFTDA National Championships in Austin, Texas), the GGRD All-Stars are eliminated in the first round by the eventual 2007 WFTDA champions, the Kansas City Roller Warriors
. GGRD is ranked #5 nationally within the WFTDA.
Gotham's All-Stars conclude the season with interleague victories over the Rose City Rollers
of Portland, Oregon and the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
of Denver, CO.
In a November interleague double-header, the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat all-stars from the Long Island Roller Rebels and the Manhattan Mayhem defeat all-stars from the New Jersey Dirty Dames (New Brunswick, NJ).
in Manhattan, with an additional season-opening interleague doubleheader against Philadelphia (vs. Gotham's All-Stars) and the Connecticut RollerGirls (vs. the Wall Street Traitors) at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University
.
In June, the Gotham Girls All-Stars thrill eastern derby fans with a milestone 60-point win over the original flat-track roller derby pioneers, the Texas Rollergirls
, at the East Coast Derby Extravaganza hosted by the Philly Roller Girls
. This is followed by an All-Star victory over the Denver Roller Dolls. At the same event, the Wall Street Traitors defeat New England Roller Derby (N.E.R.D.), a collection of skaters from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. GGRD's all-rookie Meatpacking District defeat the Skater Tots, a team of rookies from Chicago's Windy City Rollers.
In July, GGRD is ranked #2 nationally within the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
. In August, the All-Stars travel to Arizona to defeat the all-star Saddletramps of Tucson Roller Derby
, and in September, the Wall Street Traitors travel to Asbury Park to defeat the Jersey Shore Rollergirls. The league also hosts an international doubleheader, as the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat all-stars from Montreal Roller Derby
and the Manhattan Mayhem defeat all-stars from Providence Roller Derby
.
In October, GGRD All-Stars win their second consecutive WFTDA Eastern Region title at the Derby in Dairyland Tournament (Madison, WI) with victories over Madison's Mad Rollin' Dolls
, Philadelphia's Liberty Belles, and Chicago's Windy City Rollers
. The Queens of Pain defeat the Bronx Gridlock to win its third Gotham Girls Roller Derby league championship in four seasons.
In November, the GGRD All-Stars move up to the #1 national ranking within the WFTDA and win their first WFTDA national championship at the Northwest Knockdown tournament in Portland, Oregon
. As the top seed in the East, GGRD defeats Duke City (Albuquerque) followed by victories in East Region tournament rematches against Philadelphia's Liberty Belles and Chicago's Windy City Rollers
. Bonnie Thunders is named the tournament MVP. The GGRD All-Stars' winning streak (beginning in October 2007) is extended to twelve bouts.
. The GGRD All-Stars defeat the Boston Massacre of Boston Derby Dames
in a full-length WFTDA-sanctioned bout, and the GGRD Wall Street Traitors defeat the Suburban Brawl All-Stars of Suburbia Roller Derby in a 30-minute exhibition. The remainder of the league's eight home bouts are held at Manhattan's Hunter College
Sportsplex.
In April, the All-Stars capture their fourteenth consecutive victory with a win in Baltimore over All-Stars from the Charm City Rollergirls.
In May, the Meatpacking District lose to Les Filles du Roi of Montreal Roller Derby
in Gotham's first international travel.
In June, the All-Stars extend their winning streak to sixteen with two victories: a 185-31 win over All-Stars from the Carolina Rollergirls
(in Raleigh) and a 84-76 victory over the All-Stars of the Texas Rollergirls
, skated on neutral ground in Woodbridge, CT, hosted by the CT Rollergirls of Connecticut.
The All-Stars win their first two bouts at September's "Wicked Wheels of the East" Regional tournament in Raleigh, defeating Providence and Boston, but fall 90-89 to the Philly Roller Girls in the WFTDA Regional Final, losing in the final moments and ending the All-Stars' winning streak after 18 victories in a row.
In October, the Brooklyn and Queens teams host an unusual transcontinental double-header at Hunter College as each team played the Sockit Wenches from Seattle's Rat City Rollergirls
, back-to-back. The Sockit Wenches prevail over Brooklyn by 20 and Queens by 19, marking the first home losses for Gotham teams in interleague action since 2005.
In November, the Gotham Girls All-Stars handily defeat the Detroit Derby Girls 187-38 in their first-round matchup at the 2009 WFTDA Nationals (the "Declaration of Derby," hosted by the Philly Rollergirls), but then the Gotham squad falls to the Oly Rollers of Olympia, Washington, 135-105, in their quarterfinal matchup. The Oly Rollers goes on to defeat two other opponents (the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls and Texas Rollergirls, by much larger margins) to win the 2009 title, marking the second time in three years that Gotham is eliminated from the WFTDA title by its eventual champion.
Also in November, in the year's final bout, the Bronx Gridlock roar back from a 42-point halftime deficit to defeat the Manhattan Mayhem, 116-105, winning the Gridlock's second GGRD league title. Bonnie Thunders scores a league-record 88 points in the winning effort.
. GGRD then opens the home season with an April interleague double-header at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University
. The GGRD All-Stars defeat the All-Stars from Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls in a full-length WFTDA-sanctioned bout, and the GGRD Wall Street Traitors fall to the All-Stars of Buffalo's Queen City Roller Girls in a 40-minute exhibition.
In May, on the strength of their victory over Charm City, the Gotham Girls All-Stars regain the #1 ranking in the Derby News Network Power Rankings, only to slip to #2 in the July rankings, with Olympia, Washington's Oly Rollers
once again claiming the top rank.
In June, the Traitors pick up a loss in a visit to the Port Authorities of Maine Roller Derby. Later in the month, at the annual weekend East Coast Extravaganza festival hosted by the Philly Rollergirls
, Gotham traveling teams pick up five victories against one loss. The Traitors lose to Philly's Independence Dolls but defeat Raleigh's Carolina Bootleggers for their first 2010 victory. The Meatpacking District defeats Philly's rookie squad, the 'Cheeseskates,' and defeat the Jersey Shore Rollergirls. And the All-Stars defeated the All-Stars of the Windy City Rollers
for the fifth consecutive time, this time earning the new "Skyline Cup" trophy henceforth to be traded between the two teams. The All-Stars also put away the Boston Derby Dames
for the fourth consecutive time.
In July, the Meatpacking District fell in a visit to the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls, and the All-Stars defeated their original rivals, the Dairyland Dolls of Madison's Mad Rollin Dolls
, in a bout held at a neutral site in Massachusetts hosted by the Boston Derby Dames.
In August, the All-Stars returned to Portland, the site of their 2008 National Championship victories, to defeat the Bay Area Derby Girls (San Francisco), Rose City Rollers
(Portland), and Rat City Rollergirls
(Seattle) on three consecutive days at the "Hometown Throwdown" exhibition, hosted by the Rose City Rollers.
In September, the Wall Street Traitors defeated Ithaca, Long Island, and Albany to win the first-ever New York State tournament, the "Empire Skate Showdown," hosted by the Long Island Roller Rebels, winning the unofficial New York State title in a series of abbreviated 30-minute bouts.
Also in September, the All-Stars regained the WFTDA East Region title at the "Derby in the Burbs" East Region Playoffs, hosted by Suburbia Roller Derby. The All-Stars defeated the Rhode Island Riveters of Providence Roller Derby
, Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls, and the Philly Rollergirls
to sweep the tournament and claim the league's third regional title in four years.
Additionally, the GGRD All-Stars were re-elevated to the #1 ranking in the world in September's Power Rankings as judged by Derby News Network, on the strength of the previous month's showing in Portland.
In September, the league signs a lease on a new practice space ("Crash Pad II"), located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. The league moves to the new space in Fall 2010.
In October's annual interleague double-header, both Gotham home teams were victorious as the Brooklyn Bombshells hosted the Providence Pigeons, a mash-up collection of players from Providence Roller Derby
, while the Manhattan Mayhem took on the All-Stars of Suburbia Roller Derby.
On October 30, the Bronx Gridlock won its third league title by defeating the Queens of Pain in the sixth league championship, held at Nat Holman Gymnasium on the campus of CCNY. The league drew its largest home crowd ever, with over 1,500 fans in attendance. Bronx jammer Bonnie Thunders extended her own individual single-game league scoring record to 91 points.
The following weekend, the GGRD All-Stars traveled to Chicago to compete in the 2010 WFTDA Championship tournament, 'Uproar on the Lakeshore', hosted by Chicago's Windy City Rollers
. Gotham first defeated the Texecutioners from Texas Rollergirls
151-52 to advance to the WFTDA's semifinals. The Gotham Girls All-Stars lost the following match against the tournament's eventual champions, the 5280 Fight Club of Denver's Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
, 108-79. It marked the fourth WFTDA championship tournament in a row that the Gotham All-Stars either won the WFTDA title (2008) or were eliminated by the association's eventual champions (2007 - Kansas City, 2009 - Olympia, and 2010 - Rocky Mountain). The Gotham Girls bounced back on the tournament's final day to claim the association's 3rd place trophy, defeating the Philly Rollergirls
for the seventh time in eight all-time meetings, 162-51.
on a banked track at the Derby Dolls' facility. It was the Gotham Girls' first experience on a banked derby track, and the Derby Dolls prevailed, 132-106.
The All-Stars went on to dominate regional flat track competition, defeating Pittsburgh's Steel City Derby Demons
in April and Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls in May. Over a June weekend, the All-Stars defeated both the Boston Massacre of the Boston Derby Dames
and the New Skids on the Block from Montreal Roller Derby
. Later in June, the All-Stars defeated the Wheels of Justice, the All-Stars of the Rose City Rollergirls, and the Liberty Belles of the Philly Rollergirls
.
In August, the league hosted its first co-ed event, a triple-header called "Roller Derby Daredevils: Battle over Brooklyn," held at Brooklyn's Aviator Sports and Events Center. The league presented a matchup of the New York Shock Exchange
against Baltimore's Harm City Homicide which preceded victories by the Wall Street Traitors over the Suburban Brawl of Suburbia Roller Derby and the Gotham All-Stars against the Mile High Club, the All-Stars of the Denver Roller Dolls
.
In September, the GGRD All-Stars claimed the WFTDA East Region title at the Nightmare on 95 tournament, jointly hosted by the DC Rollergirls
and Charm City Rollergirls. The All-Stars chalked up victories over the Steel Hurtin' of the Steel City Derby Demons
and the Liberty Belles of the Philly Rollergirls
. The All-Stars were also originally slated to play the Dutchland Rollers
, who controversially chose to forfeit the bout.
In October, the Brooklyn Bombshells won their first league title with a 133-124 victory over the Bronx Gridlock.
In November, at the WFTDA Championships
(the "Continental Divide and Conquer" tournament hosted by the Denver Roller Dolls
), the Gotham Girls Roller Derby All-Stars prevailed over the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
, Texas Rollergirls
, and Oly Rollers
to win the league's second WFTDA Championship title. Gotham became the association's first repeat champions, having previously won in 2008.. Jammer/Blocker Wild Cherri was named to the All-Tournament team.
The All-Stars finished 2011 with an undefeated 13-0 record in sanctioned WFTDA competition.
was featured photographed without clothing in ESPN Magazine's annual "The Body Issue", representing roller derby alongside athletes from many other mainstream American sports.
, the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York.
The NYC life Fall 2010 programming lineup expanded the Gotham Girls' telecast schedule to show bouts five nights a week on late-night programming.
The series of eight televised bouts would be produced directly by the league's volunteers. The arrangement marks the league's first foray into television broadcasting. Streamed replays of these broadcasts can be seen at http://www.ggrd-nyclife.com.
The broadcasting agreement was renewed for 2011. The network continues to air delayed 88-minute broadcasts of GGRD bouting action along with player and team profiles.
In April 2011, the league produced its first pay-per-view interent broadcast of live bout action.
Award winners are determined by poll of league members.
The C.A.N.T.S.L.E.E.P. award is the "Crass Award for Never-Tiring Support for the League with Endless Enthusiasm and Positivity," named for league founder Chassis Crass. In 2005 this award was titled the "Miss GGRD" award, and it was re-named in 2006.
In May 2009, the league retired the uniform number of league founder Chassis Crass.
Her framed Brooklyn Bombshell retired uniform hangs at Manitoba's, 99 Avenue B in Manhattan.
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
league based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Founded in late 2003, Gotham Girls Roller Derby was the first skater-operated flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area. GGRD is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
(WFTDA) which was formed in November 2005.
GGRD hosts flat-track roller derby competitions which showcase bouts among the various teams in the league. The league is made up of four home teams that play within the league and at times compete with member teams from other WFTDA leagues. The league is also home to inter-league competition teams, the Wall Street Traitors and the Gotham Girls All-Stars, which are teams compiled of league skaters from all four home teams and compete against other leagues. The Gotham Girls All-Stars represent the league in WFTDA inter-league competitions that count towards WFTDA national rankings.
The skaters, referees, and other league volunteers have the option to adopt 'skater names' for their uniforms, league activities, and other league business. Members choose their own names which they may start using after an initial league probationary period. The league encourages these names to be unique within the modern roller derby universe, in deference to the International Rollergirls Master Roster maintained at twoevils.org.
Gotham Girls Roller Derby is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. The IRS recognized Gotham Girls Roller Derby as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity in September 2008.
Home Teams
Each GGRD skater competes on a single 'home team.' Each home team is supported by a 'Jeerleader' squad.• The Brooklyn Bombshells. Founded 2004.
Team Mascot: Big Toot (2010-). Victor E. (ret. 2009), Davy Jones' Gym Locker (occasional appearances, 2006–2007), Big Tootsie (2011 guest appearance) Jeerleader Squad: The Bomb Squad.
• The Manhattan Mayhem. Founded 2004.
Team Mascots: Currently: Flying Mason, although as an actual dog he is banned from most competition venues. Originally ('04-'06) Mattley Mayhem. Added Flying Mason ('07) and Matt Lock ('08). Jeerleader Squad: The Jailhouse Rockettes.
• The Queens of Pain. Founded 2005.
Team Mascot: The Persuader. (2005-2010), Waste of Human Flesh (2011-pres) Jeerleader Squad: The Royal Pains.
• The Bronx Gridlock. Founded 2006.
Team Mascots: Currently: none. Travis Bickle (retired after '06), Skid Marxx (retired after '08). Jeerleader Squad: The Backseat Betties.
These teams practice together and jointly manage the league. The borough-based team designations do not necessarily reflect the residences of the skaters on a particular team.
Travel Teams
Additionally, the league fields compilation teams:• The Gotham Girls All-Stars - The sanctioned all star travel team for competition with other leagues in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
, composed of skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams. Team Mascot: Has varied. Most recent incarnation: 'Suspicious Package' (March '09).
• The Wall Street Traitors - An "all-borough" travel team for exhibition games with other leagues, composed of skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams. Team Mascot: David Lee Roth IRA (2008-2009). Currently: none.
• The Meat Packing District - An "all-rookie" travel team for exhibition games with other leagues, composed of rookie skaters from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan teams.
2003
Karin Bruce (aka Chassis Crass) and David “Lefty” Leibowitz, both working independently to start a women’s roller derby league, meet thru an online classified ad. They decide to work together and form Gotham Girls Roller Derby. GGRD starts recruiting skaters and holding weekly practices at “open skate” sessions at Empire Roller Skating Center, a roller rink in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.2004
GGRD continues to recruit skaters, referees and staff and holds periodic fundraisers. GGRD finds a new venue for practices at The Skate Key in the South Bronx. Practices are held twice weekly at The Skate Key and Rev. Joseph Moffo asphalt hockey rink in Tanahey Playground located in New York City’s Chinatown. GGRD host their first ever exposition flat-track roller derby bout (titled the Beat Down in the Boogie Down) and a crowd of 600 shows up to see the Brooklyn Bombshells and Manhattan Mayhem compete. (The Brooklyn Bombshells won, in overtime.)2005
GGRD launches its first full season of roller derby at The Skate Key. The league now boasts a skater roster of 20-25 skaters and forms a third home team, the Queens of Pain, created after two games between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Queens of Pain are undefeated throughout the season and become the first GGRD Season Champions and are awarded the GGRD Golden Skate Trophy by virtue of defeating the Manhattan Mayhem in the finals. The Gotham Girls All-Stars play (and lose) their first inter-league bout against the Mad Rollin' DollsMad Rollin' Dolls
Mad Rollin' Dolls is an all-women flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin.-League:As a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , the Mad Rollin' Dolls compete as part of the WFTDA North Central region....
of Madison, Wisconsin. GGRD holds its first tryouts - over 100 hopeful skaters attend; 24 skaters are accepted for the 2006 season.
2006
The Gotham Girls All-Stars travel to Tucson, Arizona to compete in the Dust Devil Tournament, the first ever WFTDA sanctioned flat-track roller derby tournament, and emerge ranked 11th nationally with "mini-bout" victories over Atlanta and Albuquerque, "mini-bout" losses to Texas and Kansas City, and a full-length bout loss to Madison.GGRD forms its fourth home team, the Bronx Gridlock. In March, the Skate Key unexpectedly closes down and GGRD loses its practice and bout venue three weeks prior to its scheduled 2006 season opener. GGRD launches “Operation Crashpad” to scour the New York boroughs in search of new practice and bout venues. Throughout the season, league and team practices are held at public outdoor venues, as skaters persevere through rain, cold, asphalt, and darkness. Regular practice venues included Tanahey Playground (Manhattan), Dutch Kills Park (Queens), Mafera Park (Queens), Peter's Field (Manhattan), Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Manhattan), Stanley Isaacs Playground (Manhattan), basketball courts under the West Side Highway at 78th Street (Manhattan), William F. Passannante Ballfield (Manhattan), and the parking lot of a Costco on Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, Queens.
Season games are attended by sold-out crowds at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University and at Hunter College in Manhattan, with one additional regular season bout (Queens vs. Manhattan) held in Seaford, Long Island as part of a unique double-header featuring another regular-season bout of the Long Island Roller Rebels
Long Island Roller Rebels
The Long Island Roller Rebels are a roller derby league based on Long Island, New York. Founded in 2005, the league currently consists of two teams, and two mixed teams which compete against teams from other leagues....
. The Queens of Pain win the GGRD Championship for the second season in a row, losing to the Brooklyn Bombshells in May but defeating the Bronx Gridlock once and the Manhattan Mayhem twice (once in the regular season and once in the finals) to take the trophy.
The season concludes with an interleague All-Star bout victory at Philadelphia and an All-Star loss at Providence.
2007
In February, GGRD secures a practice space known as the “Crashpad” and welcomes fourteen new skaters to the league. Season bouts are held at City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in Harlem with two additional bouts at Hunter College. The Bronx Gridlock enjoys an undefeated season and wins the GGRD Championship in a final over the Queens of Pain.
In interleague all-star action, the Gotham Girls All-Stars begin the season with a loss to the Carolina Rollergirls
Carolina Rollergirls
Founded in January 2004, the Carolina Rollergirls, known as CRG or Carolina Roller Derby, Inc. is an all-women, flat-track roller derby league with a stated mission to foster an alternative sport in North Carolina while training for national competition. Operating as a 501 non-profit organization,...
and a victory over Chicago's Windy City Rollers
Windy City Rollers
The Windy City Rollers are an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league located in Chicago, the city where roller derby first emerged as a sport in 1937...
. Gotham then starts to put its full-time practice facility to use and proceeds to dominate the Heartland Havoc, the first ever WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament (August, in Columbus, Ohio), and are crowned 2007 Eastern Region Champions, with a sequence of blowout victories over Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, Windy City, and Detroit. At the Texas Shootout (the 2007 WFTDA National Championships in Austin, Texas), the GGRD All-Stars are eliminated in the first round by the eventual 2007 WFTDA champions, the Kansas City Roller Warriors
Kansas City Roller Warriors
The Kansas City Roller Warriors are a roller derby league in Kansas City, Missouri. The league, founded in 2004, is composed of four member teams for play within the league and two travel teams that represent the league in competition with other leagues...
. GGRD is ranked #5 nationally within the WFTDA.
Gotham's All-Stars conclude the season with interleague victories over the Rose City Rollers
Rose City Rollers
The Rose City Rollers are an all-female flat track roller derby league founded in Portland, Oregon, United States. Established in 2004, the Rose City Rollers comprises four local home teams and two all-star traveling teams that represent the league in competition with other leagues...
of Portland, Oregon and the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, or RMRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in 2004. The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
of Denver, CO.
In a November interleague double-header, the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat all-stars from the Long Island Roller Rebels and the Manhattan Mayhem defeat all-stars from the New Jersey Dirty Dames (New Brunswick, NJ).
2008
GGRD enters its second season practicing at the “Crashpad,” and twelve new skaters are added to the league. Eight bouts are held at Hunter CollegeHunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
in Manhattan, with an additional season-opening interleague doubleheader against Philadelphia (vs. Gotham's All-Stars) and the Connecticut RollerGirls (vs. the Wall Street Traitors) at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
.
In June, the Gotham Girls All-Stars thrill eastern derby fans with a milestone 60-point win over the original flat-track roller derby pioneers, the Texas Rollergirls
Texas Rollergirls
The Texas Rollergirls are a flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas, . The full trademarked name of the league is Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby...
, at the East Coast Derby Extravaganza hosted by the Philly Roller Girls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
. This is followed by an All-Star victory over the Denver Roller Dolls. At the same event, the Wall Street Traitors defeat New England Roller Derby (N.E.R.D.), a collection of skaters from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. GGRD's all-rookie Meatpacking District defeat the Skater Tots, a team of rookies from Chicago's Windy City Rollers.
In July, GGRD is ranked #2 nationally within the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
. In August, the All-Stars travel to Arizona to defeat the all-star Saddletramps of Tucson Roller Derby
Tucson Roller Derby
Tucson Roller Derby is a women's roller derby league located in Tucson, Arizona. TRD is a 501 nonprofit public charity organization. A member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , Tucson Roller Derby is a skater-run non-profit organization formed in late 2003...
, and in September, the Wall Street Traitors travel to Asbury Park to defeat the Jersey Shore Rollergirls. The league also hosts an international doubleheader, as the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat all-stars from Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby, the first flat-track roller derby league in Montreal, is a non-profit organization that was started in 2006 by Georgia W. Tush.Montreal Roller Derby League became the first non-U.S...
and the Manhattan Mayhem defeat all-stars from Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby or PRD was established in 2004 and is the first all-female, flat-track roller derby league in New England. It is the only roller derby league in Rhode Island. In 2006, PRD was ranked 8th in the nation and 4th on the East Coast by WFTDA...
.
In October, GGRD All-Stars win their second consecutive WFTDA Eastern Region title at the Derby in Dairyland Tournament (Madison, WI) with victories over Madison's Mad Rollin' Dolls
Mad Rollin' Dolls
Mad Rollin' Dolls is an all-women flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin.-League:As a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , the Mad Rollin' Dolls compete as part of the WFTDA North Central region....
, Philadelphia's Liberty Belles, and Chicago's Windy City Rollers
Windy City Rollers
The Windy City Rollers are an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league located in Chicago, the city where roller derby first emerged as a sport in 1937...
. The Queens of Pain defeat the Bronx Gridlock to win its third Gotham Girls Roller Derby league championship in four seasons.
In November, the GGRD All-Stars move up to the #1 national ranking within the WFTDA and win their first WFTDA national championship at the Northwest Knockdown tournament in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. As the top seed in the East, GGRD defeats Duke City (Albuquerque) followed by victories in East Region tournament rematches against Philadelphia's Liberty Belles and Chicago's Windy City Rollers
Windy City Rollers
The Windy City Rollers are an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league located in Chicago, the city where roller derby first emerged as a sport in 1937...
. Bonnie Thunders is named the tournament MVP. The GGRD All-Stars' winning streak (beginning in October 2007) is extended to twelve bouts.
2009
GGRD opens the season with a March interleague double-header at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island UniversityLong Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
. The GGRD All-Stars defeat the Boston Massacre of Boston Derby Dames
Boston Derby Dames
The Boston Derby Dames, or BDD, are a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded in May 2005. The BDD are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
in a full-length WFTDA-sanctioned bout, and the GGRD Wall Street Traitors defeat the Suburban Brawl All-Stars of Suburbia Roller Derby in a 30-minute exhibition. The remainder of the league's eight home bouts are held at Manhattan's Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
Sportsplex.
In April, the All-Stars capture their fourteenth consecutive victory with a win in Baltimore over All-Stars from the Charm City Rollergirls.
In May, the Meatpacking District lose to Les Filles du Roi of Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby, the first flat-track roller derby league in Montreal, is a non-profit organization that was started in 2006 by Georgia W. Tush.Montreal Roller Derby League became the first non-U.S...
in Gotham's first international travel.
In June, the All-Stars extend their winning streak to sixteen with two victories: a 185-31 win over All-Stars from the Carolina Rollergirls
Carolina Rollergirls
Founded in January 2004, the Carolina Rollergirls, known as CRG or Carolina Roller Derby, Inc. is an all-women, flat-track roller derby league with a stated mission to foster an alternative sport in North Carolina while training for national competition. Operating as a 501 non-profit organization,...
(in Raleigh) and a 84-76 victory over the All-Stars of the Texas Rollergirls
Texas Rollergirls
The Texas Rollergirls are a flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas, . The full trademarked name of the league is Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby...
, skated on neutral ground in Woodbridge, CT, hosted by the CT Rollergirls of Connecticut.
The All-Stars win their first two bouts at September's "Wicked Wheels of the East" Regional tournament in Raleigh, defeating Providence and Boston, but fall 90-89 to the Philly Roller Girls in the WFTDA Regional Final, losing in the final moments and ending the All-Stars' winning streak after 18 victories in a row.
In October, the Brooklyn and Queens teams host an unusual transcontinental double-header at Hunter College as each team played the Sockit Wenches from Seattle's Rat City Rollergirls
Rat City Rollergirls
The Rat City Rollergirls are a flat-track roller derby league in Seattle, Washington. The league is composed of four member teams for intra-league play, an all-star travel team that competes with other leagues, and another travel team that plays in exhibition games with other leagues...
, back-to-back. The Sockit Wenches prevail over Brooklyn by 20 and Queens by 19, marking the first home losses for Gotham teams in interleague action since 2005.
In November, the Gotham Girls All-Stars handily defeat the Detroit Derby Girls 187-38 in their first-round matchup at the 2009 WFTDA Nationals (the "Declaration of Derby," hosted by the Philly Rollergirls), but then the Gotham squad falls to the Oly Rollers of Olympia, Washington, 135-105, in their quarterfinal matchup. The Oly Rollers goes on to defeat two other opponents (the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls and Texas Rollergirls, by much larger margins) to win the 2009 title, marking the second time in three years that Gotham is eliminated from the WFTDA title by its eventual champion.
Also in November, in the year's final bout, the Bronx Gridlock roar back from a 42-point halftime deficit to defeat the Manhattan Mayhem, 116-105, winning the Gridlock's second GGRD league title. Bonnie Thunders scores a league-record 88 points in the winning effort.
2010
In March, in the league's opening action, GGRD's Wall Street Traitors travel to Tucson and fall to the All-Star Saddletramps of Tucson Roller DerbyTucson Roller Derby
Tucson Roller Derby is a women's roller derby league located in Tucson, Arizona. TRD is a 501 nonprofit public charity organization. A member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , Tucson Roller Derby is a skater-run non-profit organization formed in late 2003...
. GGRD then opens the home season with an April interleague double-header at the Schwartz Athletic Center on the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
. The GGRD All-Stars defeat the All-Stars from Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls in a full-length WFTDA-sanctioned bout, and the GGRD Wall Street Traitors fall to the All-Stars of Buffalo's Queen City Roller Girls in a 40-minute exhibition.
In May, on the strength of their victory over Charm City, the Gotham Girls All-Stars regain the #1 ranking in the Derby News Network Power Rankings, only to slip to #2 in the July rankings, with Olympia, Washington's Oly Rollers
Oly Rollers
The Oly Rollers are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Olympia, Washington. The league was founded in February of 2006. The Oly Rollers are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
once again claiming the top rank.
In June, the Traitors pick up a loss in a visit to the Port Authorities of Maine Roller Derby. Later in the month, at the annual weekend East Coast Extravaganza festival hosted by the Philly Rollergirls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
, Gotham traveling teams pick up five victories against one loss. The Traitors lose to Philly's Independence Dolls but defeat Raleigh's Carolina Bootleggers for their first 2010 victory. The Meatpacking District defeats Philly's rookie squad, the 'Cheeseskates,' and defeat the Jersey Shore Rollergirls. And the All-Stars defeated the All-Stars of the Windy City Rollers
Windy City Rollers
The Windy City Rollers are an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league located in Chicago, the city where roller derby first emerged as a sport in 1937...
for the fifth consecutive time, this time earning the new "Skyline Cup" trophy henceforth to be traded between the two teams. The All-Stars also put away the Boston Derby Dames
Boston Derby Dames
The Boston Derby Dames, or BDD, are a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded in May 2005. The BDD are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
for the fourth consecutive time.
In July, the Meatpacking District fell in a visit to the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls, and the All-Stars defeated their original rivals, the Dairyland Dolls of Madison's Mad Rollin Dolls
Mad Rollin' Dolls
Mad Rollin' Dolls is an all-women flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin.-League:As a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , the Mad Rollin' Dolls compete as part of the WFTDA North Central region....
, in a bout held at a neutral site in Massachusetts hosted by the Boston Derby Dames.
In August, the All-Stars returned to Portland, the site of their 2008 National Championship victories, to defeat the Bay Area Derby Girls (San Francisco), Rose City Rollers
Rose City Rollers
The Rose City Rollers are an all-female flat track roller derby league founded in Portland, Oregon, United States. Established in 2004, the Rose City Rollers comprises four local home teams and two all-star traveling teams that represent the league in competition with other leagues...
(Portland), and Rat City Rollergirls
Rat City Rollergirls
The Rat City Rollergirls are a flat-track roller derby league in Seattle, Washington. The league is composed of four member teams for intra-league play, an all-star travel team that competes with other leagues, and another travel team that plays in exhibition games with other leagues...
(Seattle) on three consecutive days at the "Hometown Throwdown" exhibition, hosted by the Rose City Rollers.
In September, the Wall Street Traitors defeated Ithaca, Long Island, and Albany to win the first-ever New York State tournament, the "Empire Skate Showdown," hosted by the Long Island Roller Rebels, winning the unofficial New York State title in a series of abbreviated 30-minute bouts.
Also in September, the All-Stars regained the WFTDA East Region title at the "Derby in the Burbs" East Region Playoffs, hosted by Suburbia Roller Derby. The All-Stars defeated the Rhode Island Riveters of Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby or PRD was established in 2004 and is the first all-female, flat-track roller derby league in New England. It is the only roller derby league in Rhode Island. In 2006, PRD was ranked 8th in the nation and 4th on the East Coast by WFTDA...
, Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls, and the Philly Rollergirls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
to sweep the tournament and claim the league's third regional title in four years.
Additionally, the GGRD All-Stars were re-elevated to the #1 ranking in the world in September's Power Rankings as judged by Derby News Network, on the strength of the previous month's showing in Portland.
In September, the league signs a lease on a new practice space ("Crash Pad II"), located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. The league moves to the new space in Fall 2010.
In October's annual interleague double-header, both Gotham home teams were victorious as the Brooklyn Bombshells hosted the Providence Pigeons, a mash-up collection of players from Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby
Providence Roller Derby or PRD was established in 2004 and is the first all-female, flat-track roller derby league in New England. It is the only roller derby league in Rhode Island. In 2006, PRD was ranked 8th in the nation and 4th on the East Coast by WFTDA...
, while the Manhattan Mayhem took on the All-Stars of Suburbia Roller Derby.
On October 30, the Bronx Gridlock won its third league title by defeating the Queens of Pain in the sixth league championship, held at Nat Holman Gymnasium on the campus of CCNY. The league drew its largest home crowd ever, with over 1,500 fans in attendance. Bronx jammer Bonnie Thunders extended her own individual single-game league scoring record to 91 points.
The following weekend, the GGRD All-Stars traveled to Chicago to compete in the 2010 WFTDA Championship tournament, 'Uproar on the Lakeshore', hosted by Chicago's Windy City Rollers
Windy City Rollers
The Windy City Rollers are an all-female flat-track Roller Derby league located in Chicago, the city where roller derby first emerged as a sport in 1937...
. Gotham first defeated the Texecutioners from Texas Rollergirls
Texas Rollergirls
The Texas Rollergirls are a flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas, . The full trademarked name of the league is Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby...
151-52 to advance to the WFTDA's semifinals. The Gotham Girls All-Stars lost the following match against the tournament's eventual champions, the 5280 Fight Club of Denver's Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, or RMRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in 2004. The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
, 108-79. It marked the fourth WFTDA championship tournament in a row that the Gotham All-Stars either won the WFTDA title (2008) or were eliminated by the association's eventual champions (2007 - Kansas City, 2009 - Olympia, and 2010 - Rocky Mountain). The Gotham Girls bounced back on the tournament's final day to claim the association's 3rd place trophy, defeating the Philly Rollergirls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
for the seventh time in eight all-time meetings, 162-51.
2011
In February, the Gotham Girls interrupted their off-season by sending an ad-hoc collection of All-Stars and All-Star alumnae to compete in a non-WFTDA exhibition against the Los Angeles Derby DollsLos Angeles Derby Dolls
The L. A. Derby Dolls is Los Angeles' original women's quad-skate banked track roller derby league. It was founded in October 2003 by Rebecca Ninburg and Wendy Templeton . The league is composed of more than 120 women divided into five teams who skate on a banked track.LADD plays real, unscripted...
on a banked track at the Derby Dolls' facility. It was the Gotham Girls' first experience on a banked derby track, and the Derby Dolls prevailed, 132-106.
The All-Stars went on to dominate regional flat track competition, defeating Pittsburgh's Steel City Derby Demons
Steel City Derby Demons
Steel City Derby Demons or SCDD, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2006, the league played their fourth season in 2010...
in April and Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls in May. Over a June weekend, the All-Stars defeated both the Boston Massacre of the Boston Derby Dames
Boston Derby Dames
The Boston Derby Dames, or BDD, are a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded in May 2005. The BDD are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
and the New Skids on the Block from Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby
Montreal Roller Derby, the first flat-track roller derby league in Montreal, is a non-profit organization that was started in 2006 by Georgia W. Tush.Montreal Roller Derby League became the first non-U.S...
. Later in June, the All-Stars defeated the Wheels of Justice, the All-Stars of the Rose City Rollergirls, and the Liberty Belles of the Philly Rollergirls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
.
In August, the league hosted its first co-ed event, a triple-header called "Roller Derby Daredevils: Battle over Brooklyn," held at Brooklyn's Aviator Sports and Events Center. The league presented a matchup of the New York Shock Exchange
New York Shock Exchange
The New York Shock Exchange is a men's roller derby league, based in New York City. The league consists of two teams, which bout against teams from other leagues....
against Baltimore's Harm City Homicide which preceded victories by the Wall Street Traitors over the Suburban Brawl of Suburbia Roller Derby and the Gotham All-Stars against the Mile High Club, the All-Stars of the Denver Roller Dolls
Denver Roller Dolls
The Denver Roller Dolls is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in December 2005. The DRD is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association ....
.
In September, the GGRD All-Stars claimed the WFTDA East Region title at the Nightmare on 95 tournament, jointly hosted by the DC Rollergirls
DC Rollergirls
The DC Rollergirls are the only flat track roller derby league in Washington, D.C. Historically, DC was home to the Washington, D.C. Jets, which played banked track derby until 1978. Roller derby has grown in popularity since 2003, largely due to the creation of the WFTDA...
and Charm City Rollergirls. The All-Stars chalked up victories over the Steel Hurtin' of the Steel City Derby Demons
Steel City Derby Demons
Steel City Derby Demons or SCDD, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2006, the league played their fourth season in 2010...
and the Liberty Belles of the Philly Rollergirls
Philly Rollergirls
The Philly Rollergirls, or PRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fourth season in 2009...
. The All-Stars were also originally slated to play the Dutchland Rollers
Dutchland Rollers
Dutchland Rollers or Dutchland DerbyRollers , are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the league played their fifth season in 2010...
, who controversially chose to forfeit the bout.
In October, the Brooklyn Bombshells won their first league title with a 133-124 victory over the Bronx Gridlock.
In November, at the WFTDA Championships
WFTDA Championships
The WFTDA Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.The Championships are organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association . They originated in 2006 as the National WFTDA Championship...
(the "Continental Divide and Conquer" tournament hosted by the Denver Roller Dolls
Denver Roller Dolls
The Denver Roller Dolls is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in December 2005. The DRD is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association ....
), the Gotham Girls Roller Derby All-Stars prevailed over the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, or RMRG, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in 2004. The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
, Texas Rollergirls
Texas Rollergirls
The Texas Rollergirls are a flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas, . The full trademarked name of the league is Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby...
, and Oly Rollers
Oly Rollers
The Oly Rollers are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Olympia, Washington. The league was founded in February of 2006. The Oly Rollers are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association .-Teams:...
to win the league's second WFTDA Championship title. Gotham became the association's first repeat champions, having previously won in 2008.. Jammer/Blocker Wild Cherri was named to the All-Tournament team.
The All-Stars finished 2011 with an undefeated 13-0 record in sanctioned WFTDA competition.
| Season | Q4 ranking | Regionals | Championship WFTDA Championships The WFTDA Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.The Championships are organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association . They originated in 2006 as the National WFTDA Championship... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | N/A | N/A | R2 |
| 2007 | 5 | 1 | R1 |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 2 | R2 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 | TBA | 1 | 1 |
Media Appearances
In October 2011, Gotham skater Suzy HotrodSuzy Hotrod
Jean Schwarzwalder , known as Suzy Hotrod, is a roller derby skater.Born in Lindenwold, New Jersey, Hotrod began skating in 2004, soon after leaving college, having not previously exercised for four years. Training with the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league, she was immediately picked out as a...
was featured photographed without clothing in ESPN Magazine's annual "The Body Issue", representing roller derby alongside athletes from many other mainstream American sports.
Broadcasting
In May 2010, the league and the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York announced that the Gotham Girls' 2010 home bouts would be telecast on a delayed basis on NYC life, the flagship station of NYC Media GroupNYC Media Group
NYC Media is the radio, television, and online media network of the City of New York. It oversees four public television channels, two public radio services, and an Internet video on demand service....
, the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York.
The NYC life Fall 2010 programming lineup expanded the Gotham Girls' telecast schedule to show bouts five nights a week on late-night programming.
The series of eight televised bouts would be produced directly by the league's volunteers. The arrangement marks the league's first foray into television broadcasting. Streamed replays of these broadcasts can be seen at http://www.ggrd-nyclife.com.
The broadcasting agreement was renewed for 2011. The network continues to air delayed 88-minute broadcasts of GGRD bouting action along with player and team profiles.
In April 2011, the league produced its first pay-per-view interent broadcast of live bout action.
League Champions and Major Awards
League Champions are determined in an end-of-season playoff bout.Award winners are determined by poll of league members.
The C.A.N.T.S.L.E.E.P. award is the "Crass Award for Never-Tiring Support for the League with Endless Enthusiasm and Positivity," named for league founder Chassis Crass. In 2005 this award was titled the "Miss GGRD" award, and it was re-named in 2006.
| Year | League Champion | League MVP | Best Jammer | Best Blocker | Best Pivot | Rookie of the Year | C.A.N.T.S.L.E.E.P. Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queens of Pain | Rippin' Kittin (Manhattan) | Rippin' Kittin (Manhattan) | Carmen Monoxide (Queens) | Ginger Snap (Manhattan) | (not awarded) | Chassis Crass (Brooklyn) | |
| Queens of Pain | Suzy Hotrod Suzy Hotrod Jean Schwarzwalder , known as Suzy Hotrod, is a roller derby skater.Born in Lindenwold, New Jersey, Hotrod began skating in 2004, soon after leaving college, having not previously exercised for four years. Training with the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league, she was immediately picked out as a... (Queens) |
Suzy Hotrod (Queens) | Donna Matrix (Queens) | Ana Bollocks (Queens) | Bonnie Thunders Bonnie Thunders Nicole Williams , known as Bonnie Thunders, is a roller derby skater.Williams grew up in Rome, New York, where she attended the Rome Free Academy, before studying conservation biology with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, linked to Syracuse University... (Bronx) |
Ana Bollocks (Queens) | |
| Bronx Gridlock | Beyonsláy (Bronx) | (co-winners) Bonnie Thunders Bonnie Thunders Nicole Williams , known as Bonnie Thunders, is a roller derby skater.Williams grew up in Rome, New York, where she attended the Rome Free Academy, before studying conservation biology with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, linked to Syracuse University... (Bronx) Cheapskate (Queens) |
Beyonsláy (Bronx) | Kandy Kakes (Bronx) | Ani Dispanco (Brooklyn) | Ginger Snap (Bronx) | |
| Queens of Pain | Award divided as: All-Stars MVP: Donna Matrix Traitors MVP: Lil' Red Terror |
Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Fisti Cuffs (Manhattan) | Sweet Sherry Pie (Manhattan) | Em Dash (Manhattan) | Stevie Kicks (Queens) | |
| Bronx Gridlock | Suzy Hotrod Suzy Hotrod Jean Schwarzwalder , known as Suzy Hotrod, is a roller derby skater.Born in Lindenwold, New Jersey, Hotrod began skating in 2004, soon after leaving college, having not previously exercised for four years. Training with the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league, she was immediately picked out as a... (Queens) |
Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Fisti Cuffs (Manhattan) | Sweet Sherry Pie (Manhattan) | OMG WTF (Brooklyn) | Greta Turbo (Queens) | |
| Bronx Gridlock | Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Donna Matrix (Queens) | Papierschnitt (Brooklyn) | B.Zerk (Bronx) | Miss American Thighs (Manhattan) | |
| Brooklyn Bombshells | Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Bonnie Thunders (Bronx) | Donna Matrix (Queens) | Papierschnitt (Brooklyn) | Brazilian Nut (Queens) | Punk You (Official) |
Retired numbers
11 - Chassis CrassIn May 2009, the league retired the uniform number of league founder Chassis Crass.
Her framed Brooklyn Bombshell retired uniform hangs at Manitoba's, 99 Avenue B in Manhattan.
External links
- Gotham Girls Roller Derby
- Gotham Girls Roller Derby YouTube page
- Manhattan Mayhem
- Brooklyn Bombshells
- Queens of Pain
- Bronx Gridlock
- GGRD all-stars on Flat Track Stats (independent ranking analysis)
- Twoevils.org (International Rollergirls Master Roster)