(no subject)

[motomotoyama]

Given: I am very sensitive to negative comments about DLF. I'm always ready to jump in and defend my team, sometimes even when I don't really need to. I just want people to know that we're not bullies, we don't try to run up the score, and we are above all, not sore losers. (Or poor winners, but your perception on that might differ depending on your team affiliation.)

A Throttle Rockets fan, swejeety wrote this in her entry about Saturday night's bout:

"I have to say, I was a little disappointed by the DLF/Texas bout. The background first though. DLF bouted against the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers in Austin last May and lost 63 to 47. In true DLF fashion, they don't take losing well and came back with a death sentence for Heartbreakers. To top it off, after the Heartbreakers won three seasons, their league decided to shuffle the deck, so this was a VERY new team coming up against RCRG's strongest individual team. The first half was good and fairly close, but in this season's typical DLF fashion in the end it was a soul-crushing blowout bout to the point that it's not fun to cheer for either team because the only question is how HUGE the DLF lead will be. I hate fighting on the track and I hate to say it but really the highlight of the bout was the fight between Rice Rocket from Texas and DLF's scrapper, Burnett Down. The fight appeared to earn them both a major penalty and then one more minor in the next bout out and Rice Rocket was ejected temporarily (DLF petitioned to let her back in, and in she came after having to serve a 2 minute and three jam penalty. That was awesome. I hate to see any premiere skater get kicked out when they are traveling. I forgot to write down the final score, but it was close to a 100 point lead in the end. Yawn." [Emphasis mine.]

Now, fans will think what they want to think, but in this case, I feel that this is a serious case of mistaken identities. DLF played a good game in Austin last year, and we had a blast doing it. We did lose, and while we weren't happy that we lost we felt like we put up a good fight, and losing wasn't a terrible thing after all. We had such a great time playing the Honkey Tonks, that they were our only pick when we had to choose our visiting team, and we were happy that they accepted. Sure, we were disappointed to hear that some of the players from last year either weren't on the team anymore or couldn't make it for other reasons, but it was still the Honkey Tonks, and they're still from the league that we all look up to.

Going into this game, most of DLF was nervous. I know I was. The Texas girls are big, and very good at roller derby. When the crowd erupted in boos as they were introduced, I wanted to say, "Hey, don't boo them, they're not the bad guys." Little did I know that (apparently) we would look like the bad guys by the end of the night.

DLF's intention in every game is to win. It is never to completely crush the other team. I have no idea what has been up with the point spreads this season, but believe me, that is not the goal. (Well, actually, I have a theory about why the scores have been so lopsided, but I'll get to that in a minute.) We go into every game wanting to win, but knowing that ultimately we can lose at any time. So we just focus on playing together, and that, I think, is what wins us games. Did we want to win against Texas? Sure thing! Did we want to win by so many points that it looked like we were trying to humiliate them? No way!

By now, DLF is a well oiled machine. Most of us have been playing together for so long that we're almost telepathic. I started skating with RCRG back in the startup days, before we even split into teams. To give you an idea of how DLF has managed to stack the deck, as it were, here's a list of skaters who are still active that have been on DLF since before the first bout of the first season: Cherry Jubilee, Sybil Unrest, Mae C. Stars, Burnett Down, Lorna Boom, mommacherry, Hideous Braxley, Kitty Kamikaze, and Kim Reaper. I don't remember at this point when everyone else came on board, but I know D-Bomb joined mid-way through the first season, and this season we only had one new girl, Deadly Aim. This is why we work so well together, and why we seem to be unstoppable (Drew Blood's words, not mine) on the track.

As far as soul-crushing goes, I can't really see how putting me in a lineup as a jammer can be seen as any kind of a crushing death-blow attempt. We can't really tell Burnett Down or Meg MyDay that they can't play anymore once the score gets really uneven because that's not fair to them (we all pay, we all play), but we do try to mix things up a bit by putting non-jammers in as jammers so that the game is not all about Burnett or Meg or Ninjit Su racing around the track scoring us a million points.

Like I said, fans will think what they will, and they choose their teams for any number of very personal reasons, and I can't argue with that. I also can't convince every DLF critic that we're all really nice girls, and they don't have to hate us because we beat their team, but I don't think I'd be successful at that anyway. I guess all I can really do is whine in by livejournal about it.

Comments

[montykins.livejournal.com]

We can't really tell Burnett Down or Meg MyDay that they can't play anymore once the score gets really uneven because that's not fair to them (we all pay, we all play), but we do try to mix things up a bit by putting non-jammers in as jammers so that the game is not all about Burnett or Meg or Ninjit Su racing around the track scoring us a million points.

I noticed that Burnett Down was skating as a blocker more often than as a jammer toward the end of the bout, but it turns out she's also a really good blocker. Your team's just really good.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

I'd love my team even if we lost every game we played, but we do play really well together. I'm generally proud of how good my team is, but then I read stuff like that post and it makes me sad. I'm just too sensitive. Maybe I just have to learn to be okay with people hating us. We are a dominant force on RCRG after all, and it's only natural that people would root against the team that has won so many games. Understanding this doesn't make me like it any more, though.

[montykins.livejournal.com]

aybe I just have to learn to be okay with people hating us. We are a dominant force on RCRG after all, and it's only natural that people would root against the team that has won so many games.

I think the crowd was still rooting for you -- remember the sound of the crowd in the first couple of jams when the DLF jammer broke through the pack first? It's just hard to maintain that energy when the game's out of reach.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

Actually, the crowd response to DLF was amazing in the beginning, and I was feeling really good about it. I have never EVER heard that much noise for DLF before. . But then I read that post and I got upset because I just want everybody to like meeeeeeeee!

Yes, I really am that needy.

[montykins.livejournal.com]

I have never EVER heard that much noise for DLF before

I thought it was a little below the "D!L!F!" chant from when Rose City came up here. I really enjoy bouts against visiting teams, because the whole home crowd can cheer for the same team.

I have mixed feelings about booing the visiting team, because while I don't approve of the audience being mean, I do think it's fun to designate a villain. It was fun booing Texas at Bumberbout because they seemed to enjoy it, what with the blowing kisses and all. I think maybe one round of booing to show respect, and then back to applause.

[freewaydiva.livejournal.com]

Y'know...even though I *work* with a Sockit Wench (and there's another one in my building), my fave is still the DLF, for the same reason that my favorite hockey team is the Red Wings. You're not about superstars, or just a couple of women carrying everyone else on their shoulders. You all work As A Team. And I, for one, really respect and admire that.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate that you said that, and I'm glad that you notice. I think that some fans think that we NEED Burnett Down to win, or that we rely on her a lot, but if you look at the stats, you'd realize that everyone skates the same amount, and we all work together.

[parlor-games.livejournal.com]

my shift key isn't working, so please endure bear with me...

as an outsider, it has been interesting to watch the rcrg evolve as an organization.

i think that the kind of trash talking such as the link in your journal, and the intent behind it - saying things that you would be hard pressed to say directly to someone's face without getting a fist up your nose - it is this type of crap that will, and probably already is, wreck the rcrg for a lot of people. yeah, i know it has always been there to some degree, but this stuff is really starting to show some wear on the teams and players.

i am astounded about the things i hear going on. at some point the rcrg, as an organization, is going to have make a decision - start treating the league like a business, and leave the serious trash talking to the fans, or scale back, regroup, and start acting like friends again. this stuff seems so high school to me, and people don't think about how hurtful their words are.

did anyone come up to dlf team and say, 'the second half of your bout was hard to watch. i think it is more important that people have a good time than just win by a huge spread. what can we do about this.'

or are you just going to hear about it via snarky comments.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

The same poster made a comment in someone else's journal that DLF should learn how to play a close game. I asked as respectfully as I could what exactly she means by that. How would she like to see us do things differently? I am hoping that the comment will be taken as I intended (genuine concern and curiousity), since we all know that online exchanges can be taken the wrong way very easily.

[moesmith88.livejournal.com]

Of the 4 teams, I'm guessing that DLF has probably seen the least amount of player turnover; your nucleus has been pretty steady over the last 3 seasons, while the other teams are bringing in a lot more fresh meat (relatively speaking), due to injury/retirement/whatever - you play together that long, especially against people who are still figuring each other out, you'll have an advantage.

Don't be ashamed of being a good team, of being able to work together well, and of being able to win. DLF is good at what they do, and they should be able to enjoy that - but, other people are going to try and tear you down, anyways. That's their thing, not yours.

I can't claim to know you very well, (LJ and e-mails don't do you complete justice) but I'm thinking that you aren't the type to be a poor winner, or even a poor sport, in general. I've not seen that in you, or in the DLF girls I've had the pleasure of meeting. Don't let others change that in you...

[sgtred.livejournal.com]

You a part of an awesome team that - most importantly - works together as a team. When GD started to become too reliant on our "star" players, it became very demoralizing for the whole team and many of us looked to DLF as inspiration to regain team unity and confidence again.

And, what the hell? Do people expect y'all to throw a game!? The ultimate point to any game is to win. Sure, everyone loves a nail-biting close game. But, NO ONE likes to watch a team hold back so the other team can play "catch up" with the score. That's just like watching the cat play with the mouse.

Every team, no matter how "unbeatable", has a weakness that can be used to turn the tables. It's up to the opposing team to be smart enough to find it and act upon it.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's nice to know that the fans can see and appreciate the hard work we put into this sport. It really does make the rough times easier to deal with.

[swejeety.livejournal.com]

To take my own quotes and explain them a little (especially those you seemed to take issue with):

"In true DLF fashion, they don't take losing well and came back with a death sentence for Heartbreakers"

Meaning y'all are FIERCE competitors and like you said, your team goes in with every intention to win every game. It would be one crappy as team if you didn't have that intention. You all also have some fairly nice perks going that none of the other RCRG teams (or the HeartBreakers) have for all of the reasons you stated above (long time skaters, great athletes, telepathy and all the rest of the awesomeness). Y'all don't have control over that.

I don't think you are ladies are bad sports or should throw a game or not put out your best skaters at all times or at all. As much as I love to see your teams' amazing skating, I just wish other teams were a little more in your league or with a similar perks. That said, y'all are doing EXACTLY what you should be doing and by skating all out all the time without apologies, by being the best of the best of the best, you're raising the bar for derby and I really do love that. PLEASE don't get me wrong there.

"but in this season's typical DLF fashion in the end it was a soul-crushing blowout bout the to the point that it's not fun to cheer for either team because the only question is how HUGE the DLF lead will be"

See above, for me blow outs just aren't fun to watch. Y'all play a tough bout every time and while I'll usually cheer for the underdog (cause that's how I roll), it sure is fun to cheer for DLF when you go up against something like TEXAS, (THE Texas--I can't tell you how excited I was for this because I was hoping that it would at least give y'all a level playing ground for a close nail-biter). I was just hoping it would be a little closer, a little more even.

You ladies couldn't have done anything but what you did. I had a blast cheering for DLF at Rose City bout earlier this year (not that y'all are ever underdogs, but I'll stick with RCRG over any team or league nationwide (WORLDWIDE) any time). :)

And don't sell yourself short...I love seeing you jam--you did a fine job Saturday night. :)

[swejeety.livejournal.com]

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you all petitioned to get Rice Rocket back into the bout. :)

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

Seriously, they all paid their own way to come out and play us, so we wanted her to stay and skate. I personally grabbed our coach and told him to get the refs to reverse the call, and I know others were saying the same thing at the time. I was VERY happy when she got back in the game.

[swejeety.livejournal.com]

Triply good on y'all! While the debating was going on in the track the folks I was sitting with were debating whether it was a truly evil strategic plan (i.e., RR was up there in penalties and a fight for a major and then any little minor to get her kicked out) or just happenstance. It was good suspense there for a bit. It was great when RR came back out.

[bettierage.livejournal.com]

Wow.
Um never apologize for your team being awesome.
Seriously.
I dig how there are haters, it was the same way for the past few years as a Heartbreaker.

I think TEAMWORK is the most important thing to foster. I respect it more than any star player I can think of. It gives ALL of your skaters more advantages and builds this deep trust that is hard to beat on the track. I know the mind meld you speak of and it can only happen on a team that values all of its players and that is AWESOME.
I think DLF has teamwork in SPADES and I salute you.

Sure when I was on the track had a few DLFers in front of me to try to break up I was like.. um... where to go first... it never mattered because from nowhere another player would come take the players place if I was lucky enough to move one of you gals!

I know a lot of non star jammers played in the second half. But it just shows that team work and awesome blocking can make the game. Because even if non allstar jammers are in you were NOT pulling any punches with your blocking. I thought that was AWESOME.

We were ready to come out all guns firing in the second half. But it was PENALTIES that bit our heinies and we had at least 2 girls in the box the first handful of jams. That is our bad. And it hurt us as much as your awesome blocking.

Congratulations. You guys played the better game. I would be pissed if I thought you let us have anything. THAT would be unsporting. You should be proud and know that yes this is our rebuilding year but we will be gunning for you next year (I hope).

We hope you were not disappointed about the changes in our team and had as much fun as we did on Saturday. SRSLY! I don't think I was ever so damed proud to have my ass kicked up and down the track.

[motomotoyama.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm pretty sure DLF would welcome a rematch. Bring it on! You guys were really fun to play against. We were initially disappointed that the team was different, but in the end it didn't matter because you guys are all so awesome.

I totally understand what you mean about not apologizing, but it's hard to constantly hear people bashing my beloved DLF, and I just had to say something. I'm still not apologizing, though, more like explaining.

And what you said about being proud getting your ass kicked? That's how DLF felt playing you guys last year.