Roller derby, it would seem, is a growth market in the Valley. The upstart Valley Fever Derby Team is having its first bout on Saturday night at the Fresno Convention Center, dueling with the Silicon Valley Killabytes of San Jose.
Is there room in Fresno for two teams? NoTown Roller Derby drew well in its first bout. Can Valley Fever? We'll have to wait and see. One local blogger is skeptical -- especially considering the $15 ticket price. I've even heard rumblings of a third roller derby team starting in Fresno.
Add that to the team in Visalia, which is having a bout this weekend too, and the Central Valley seems to be overflowing with derby these days.
I was wondering when Valley Fever would get a clue and realize that any group, organization, team or the like NEEDS good PR!!
With that said, don't let ticket prices keep you from going. Show up. Get a feel for them and if you like them, support them. After all, just because many folks haven't heard of them DOESN"T mean that these girls dont work their butts off, skate like crazy or give it all they got just like Notown.
I can't make it, but I would urge anyone who supports Notown to support these girls!
Derby is derby and if you find they are lacking then you can make that call.
BUT SUPPORT THEM FIRST!!!!!
joey,
you're the "someone not affiliated with the team mentioning the match on famous" in my post. must give credit where it's due.
mike,
i'm not just skeptical due to the price. it is one of the things that makes me wonder. i mean, derby may be derby, but is it good derby and worth $15? we'll see. i'd say i'm most skeptical because of of all the online sniping that valley fever supporters have done, especially on posts @ fresno famous. those, along with someone with a lucky eddy (their misspelling not mine) sux poster @ the notown match, make me wonder if they can really back all the talk.
i guess we will see. sadly, i'm out of town on saturday, otherwise i think i would see how they measure up.
NOtown will be there supporting our derby sisters for their season opene, Much derby love!
i think it's great that more and more people are learning how to play an extremely difficult sport. the more the public gets to see how the game works, the more people will be inspired to learn the "in's and out's" so to speak.
be prepared to be awed at all of our local athletes, they work very hard, and trust me, it's not an easy task.
props to Valley Fever and V-town Derby Dames.
Ed: Yes I have mentioned Valley Fever many times before, online and during many media interviews. The founders of Valley Fever initially tried out to skate with Smog City but decided to start their own team.
I also have mentioned the Gypsy's as they are another team that is just forming out of Fresno. They are comprised yet again of many former SCRG members.
There is plenty of room in Fresno for all these teams. A healthy rivalry is what sportsmanship is about. Enough with the "watered down derby" ala, everyone loves everyone cause truth be told thats NOT the case at all.
Although I hung up my "PR derby hat" I will ALWAYS feel compelled to promote derby in any way even if its just a comment here and there.
After all, it was Jenn and I who put roller derby on the map here in Fresno, I must say since we're giving credit where credit is due.
And seeing these teams spring up, makes me incredibly proud!
As for the Lucky Eddie sign, I wouldnt be so quick to blame Valley Fever!
Umm Mike not to call you out but didn't you just basically cut n paste Ed's orginal post and but it on the Bee Hive. Shame Shame
I don't think I just cut and paste his post. His is actually a lot better than mine, with more analysis. I was just trying to let people know this was going on and leave my opinion out of it. I linked to his because I thought he raised some good points.
Yes, parts are similar, but that's the most common angle to take with this match.
Plus he doesn't even talk about the Visalia match.
Similar post yes -- but it's not exactly the same.
OK, I re-read his post and realized that it did sound a little more alike than I thought it did. Especially the "rumblings" -- had I known he used that word, I would have at least used a different word. I read his post yesterday and didn't re-read today. I just went and got the link.
So my apologies, Ed ...
Considering Mike's post has proper capitalization, spelling and punctuation, plus it mentions the Visalia team that Ed's post didn't include? No.
Mike also gave credit to Ed's post appearing before his by linking to it.
Judge's ruling? Fair blogging.
hey, english major hmac,
let's talk about these sentences, "Considering Mike's post has proper capitalization, spelling and punctuation, plus it mentions the Visalia team that Ed's post didn't include? No."
is the first one a well constructed sentence?
Oh Snap!
A blog war has started. I've decided to lie down in front of the tank that is the Beehive.
mike,
thanks for the link.
and, i guess, to be truthful, it was joey's comment on famous about lack of pr that made me check out their myspace and website again. and then blog about it. the blogosphere is full of pilfering information.
I say pilfer if its going to get the word out!
We all are all about Fresno, right?
We all have the same agenda to publicize and promote Fresno's greatness, right?
So who cares who got what from where, as long as its out there.......the main reason why I drop comments and hints here and there!!!
I think Mike and Ed are doing great on their own so to share just adds some extra publicity!
and i have lobbed stones here and here.
Reading about this takes me waaaaaay back to memoriies of my Grandma Margaret who absolutely adored Roller Derby! How fun!
mike,
why can't i find your story about valley fever on fresnobee.com? i searched all over and didn't see it. is it just the part in the things to do or was there a bigger write up? or am i incompetent at searching the bee's website.
Yeah, Ed -- just the part in the Things To Do section.
1st - Valley Fever was NOT involved in any way with the "Lucky Eddie" sign. 2nd - Roller Derby is an awesome sport that I am proud to be a part of. 3rd - Thank you for all the support from everyone especially our fellow derby sisters here in Fresno. Hope to see all of the dedicated derby lovers at the Valley Fever bout this Saturday.
Who on Valley Fever skated for Smog City? I looked on their myspace and didnt see anyone I recognized. I went to every Smog City match last year and even looked at my old programs. On No Towns myspace I saw some familiar faces at least.
I am the proud mother of 3 "Valley Fever" girls. My family and so many friends were there to support the girls and every team member at their first bout and we cannot wait until the next event.The "Silicon Valley Killabytes" were very gracious and great skaters. If you have not been to a roller derby event you don't know what your missing.They all skated hard!My hat goes off to the Couch his patients and hard work and faith in the team showed in the Saturday night event!