Cause they've got ... personality!

There's nothing better than the support of your peer group mixed with the support of your fan base. For Richter City to be nominated in the Wellington Sports Awards was pretty big in itself – an honour just to be nominated, as it were – but to win? And by a public vote? That's something else.

Nominated in the category for Sports Personality of the Year, Richter City Roller Derby took out the only publically-voted category. Up against injured Hurricane (and charity shaver), Piri Weepu, retired broadcaster Keith Quinn and Lower Hutt boxing "identity" Billy Graham (who they Richter City beat by just 60 votes), it was a good victory. And hopefully one that showed the audience that this might be a very valid sport in more ways than one. It's worth noting that in a World Cup year, no rugby player won any award.

Yes the category wasn't about athletic endeavour. But when the sport is still in its adolescence and the matches are still the club/league level, then it would be hard to argue for inclusion in Team of the Year. And for a league that is notorious for not wanting to single out individuals over the whole, it would be harder still to select a single skater for Sportswoman of the Year.

The adoration of fans is what validates a sport. The continued support, the shows of fanaticism (more and more people are showing up in team colours and costumes to bouts) and now winning a fan-based vote. This is a sport that is ready to be considered as just that, a sport.

On the other hand this may mean some things change for Richter City. The league knows it too. There will be more statistics from games released, (hopefully) more live streams of games, and the biggest change, fewer players swapping teams. The final point is still in discussions but the annual team realignment to keep parity may cease to allow veteran players to become team icons, with new rookie skaters filling any gaps. Even the tone of the posters this season is more classic boxing than pro-wrestling.

The awards are well-timed, with the second bout of the regular season happening this weekend. A derby bout really is an amazing experience, and I have seen some amazing feats of sport there. So please take this as a recommendation. Richter City – award winning.

Joanna, 11:48 May 26, 2011

It's a shame that it seems Richter City is actively trying to discourage individualism with their new uniforms - everyone dressing exactly the same, so it's much harder to tell who's who. I say boo to that.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

Sav, 15:15 May 26, 2011

Richter City Rulz!

wellington • Since May 2011 • 1 posts Report

Steve Barnes, 16:36 May 26, 2011

It’s worth noting that in a World Cup year, no rugby player won any award.

I have a feeling that the RWC is the worst ever thing to happen to rugby in New Zealand.
We have gone from the focus of the game being a rural pastime and focal point of many communities to just another business run buy faceless men in suits selling concessions to Big Alcohol. I will be leaving town for the duration.
And, yeah. Roller Derby is way cool.
Oh and Joanna, the point of a uniform is in its uniformity. ;-)

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

Harry Musgrave, in reply to Steve Barnes, 18:34 May 26, 2011

And now the only competition that means anything is the RWC. And if we didn't/don't win it we're failures!

Since Jul 2009 • 28 posts Report

Islander, in reply to Steve Barnes, 18:42 May 26, 2011

& Harry Musgrave -

I do not like team sports. Never have done BUT-
for those of my family & friends who did ,
they used to be fun! And community oriented! And a fairly harmless way for most people to demonstrate tribalism. Annnnd a way that helped connect both Maori & Pakeha - especially in decades/centuries gone by.

The commercialisation of almost anything wrecks ordinary citizens' pleasure in the thing/activity/whatever.

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

Steve Barnes, 18:51 May 26, 2011

Back to Quotesville

Take for example FIFA, which has effectively taken charge of South Africa for the World Cup. Along with the International Olympic Committee, FIFA is sport’s Wall Street and Pentagon combined. They have this power because host politicians believe the “international prestige” of their visitation will bring economic and promotional benefits, especially to themselves. I was reminded of this watching a documentary by the South African director Craig Tanner, Fahrenheit 2010. His film is not opposed to the World Cup, but reveals how ordinary South Africans, whose game is football, have been shoved aside, dispossessed and further impoverished so that a giant TV façade can be erected in their country.

Pilger again.

Joanna, 23:48 May 26, 2011

Oh and Joanna, the point of a uniform is in its uniformity.

Which is exactly the OPPOSITE of what Roller Derby was when it started in Wellington. It used to be oh yeah, so you're not exactly sporty - maybe you're fat, maybe you've never played team sports before, maybe you're of a sexual orientation you've been discriminated against for before - well whatever, you're in derby now.

It seemed to me that individuality was an essential part of the piece - from the first skater's "Pageant" sash that fell off on the track and caused a hazard to Suffer Jet show-boating to a fall on her ass, because that's the way derby was played. There was no question that derby was a serious sport once you heard about their training schedules and everything. But seriously, if derby becomes all about THE TEAM TOGETHER AND NOTHING BUT THE TEAM you are going to lose the very crowd of weirdos, misfits and hipsters that the sport appealed to in the first place. Good luck filling the TSB area after they're gone.

Hadyn Green, in reply to Joanna, 12:40 May 27, 2011

But then you get skaters like Kate Baker (formerly Thigh Voltage). Taking her own name, and in full support of the more "athletic-style" uniforms. Individualism can happen inside of the team structure, as long as they are allowed to stand out (and that will require a small shift for the league).

No one misses Skandal Lass or Miss Savage or Princess Slayer or Suffer Jet on the track, simply because of the way they play rather than what they wear (Jet notably has never been much of a costume wearer other than the stripe of "war paint" across her eyes). Whereas players like Tuff Bikkies and, to a lesser extent, Braxton Kicks are doing some great work with little recognition from the crowd, because they choose to be a little more anonymous.

To be honest, I don't see the hipsters or rockers or punks, that were at the first bouts, at the recent ones. Too popular now for them maybe? Not worth being seen at the derby anymore? And if they were just there to see crazy costumes skating around, maybe they weren't ever really the target.

And as the teams themselves have slightly toned down the crowd has risen to the occasion. But we'd like more. We are constantly trying to encourage fans to come along in costumes, outfits, and bring signs (we give you prizes!).

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

Tim Hannah, in reply to Hadyn Green, 14:22 May 27, 2011

No one misses Skandal Lass or Miss Savage or Princess Slayer or Suffer Jet on the track, simply because of the way they play rather than what they wear (Jet notably has never been much of a costume wearer other than the stripe of “war paint” across her eyes). Whereas players like Tuff Bikkies and, to a lesser extent, Braxton Kicks are doing some great work with little recognition from the crowd, because they choose to be a little more anonymous.

No one misses Skandal Lass or Princess Slayer because they're both about 7 feet tall in skates (plus fine skaters, it's fair to say). They don't need costumes to stand out from the crowd because they do.

Suffer Jet has never done costumes? Have you already forgotten the 'Suffer' flash?, the shiny, shiny helmet?

Don't know that I disagree with your conclusion, but question some of your working.

PS. Tuff Bikkies get bags of recognition, don't let me hear you say otherwise.

Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 228 posts Report

bmk, 18:53 May 27, 2011

I would like to watch Roller Derby sometime. And I have seen a sign-written car around Whangarei which suggests there is a team from here but never heard anything about it otherwise so I don't know whether they play here or travel to Auckland to play. Guess I should google it.

Since Jun 2010 • 327 posts Report

Kumara Republic, 12:34 May 28, 2011

1981 again? How much to obtain a heli licence?

The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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