Gone, but not forgotten.

Mobile Roller Derby lost a dear friend, and amazing athlete on April 6, 2010. Robin Martin, aka Southern Belle From Hell, died suddenly in her home six weeks after the birth of her third child, Kyd Martin, a mere month before her 31st birthday. Her husband Chris, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, is left alone caring for Kyd, his brother Zephyn aged two, and their big sister Maddy, aged seven, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Both extended families live in other states. Caring for three children after the death of a spouse is a challenge to begin with, but Maddy requires constant nursing care, and annual surgeries, so Chris can not even sleep in his own bed until he has set up a monitoring system to make sure she can breathe during the night. Finding private care nurses is continously a challenge, even when in possession of a means to pay them, so Chris may not to be able to go back to work at all.
There are over 19,000 Rollergirls in the United States alone! If every one of them gave just ONE dollar, A Buck For Belle, the derby family far and wide could make a tremendous difference in the lives of this family. Having known her personally, we can tell you she was an even more amazing mother and wife than rollergirl, and she was pretty fierce out on the track. Please help us take care of Belle’s babies.
Rest in Peace, Rollergirl. Never forgotten.

There’s a paypal account on the MRD website: http://www.mobilerollerderby.com/

Judy Sowinski

I’d like to join the others here is wishing Best Birthday Wishes to Judy Sowinski. Years ago when she showed up down on Market Street to meet with my partner & I, I knew that we had had a fortunate bit of luck. Little did I know how fortunate we would become as an offer to help us out occasionally became a full time coach. And then she brought on Skip Schoen.   And the luck just continued. But more important than the She Devils and the Old School Derby Associations professional luck was my personal luck. I can honestly say that I’m proud to call both Judy & Skip my friends & surrogate family. So once again I say Happy Birthday to the Red Shirt who had faith in me long ago. I hope to some day make you as proud of me as I am of you.

Ken Sikes
Founder/President, OSDA
Founder/Advisor, Penn Jersey She Devils

I’m posting a copy of a poem that Candy Jones, ex- pro Derby skater, has written about derby. This is taken from another web group. Hope you enjoy:

Skip

ROLLER DERBY

Brightly colored uniforms are blended into one continuous flash of color as

the pack whirls by Roaring of the crowd seems to be distant, only the

jostling for position is paramount

At the sound of the whistle, jammers fight to be free,

the race to the back of the pack begins

Off whips, staggering on one leg, ducking under the

pivot’s block, the jammers seem to come from nowhere

Jockeying for position, the frenetic dance begins as

skaters block and stagger against each other

By now, everything is a blur of skates, sounds,

colors, blocks, falls and rails

Leaning into the turn, the pack looms ahead, the lead

blocker standing at the ready

Like a clash of titans, the action explodes to include

body blocks, spins, jumps and sidesteps

On the whistle, you look around to assess the damage,

your heart racing as you come to a rest on the rail

No two jams are the same, no two games are the same,

and that’s the lure that keeps you in the sport


Candy Jones

D-Maschine at practice in Mt Laurel, NJ with PJSD. As always, photos by King Taco.

D-Maschine started roller skating in April of 2007 and started as a rookie on the men’s team. Tim skated with the Hooligans in their June game of that same year. Tim is a Level 1 Certified Referee in the OSDA working on refereeing a few more games for further certification. Tim chose the #15 since it’s the same number as his wife.

Tim is the Web Master of this site (as well as the Hooligans Web Site and the Roller Guys Blog) and the new Director of the Men’s Division of the OSDA. Tim’s wife, Hard Licker, is a member of the She Devils travel team, the temporary Secretary of the OSDA and co-owner of the Red Shirt Gear store. Tim is a huge fan of Roller Derby and has a growing collection of memorabilia (including a pair of Ann Calvello’s shorts) and DVDs from the early Roller Derby games. His favorite old time skaters are: Judy Sowinski, Skip Schoen, Ralphie Valladares, Richard Brown, Buddy Atkison Sr. and Jr., Charlie O’Connell and all the Gamons.

Tim: recommends 187 Pro Knee Pads, Riedell skate boots, Triple 8 helmets, Sure Grip XK-4 Single Action Plates, Bones Swiss bearings and Answer derby wheels – especially D-Rods, G-Rods and Omegas.