Derby Unicorn Spotlight: Mr. BadAZZ

Editor's note: Roller derby requires more than just the players on the track. It requires NSOs, referees, coaches, people to set up, volunteers to run the tables, food vendors, and on and on. This is why we are starting a new feature showcasing the people who work behind the scenes to help bring you Richmond's Derby Little Secret.

Mr. BadAZZ, or Tony, is the assistant coach of the Dire Skates (or as we affectionately refer to him: Ass. Coach). Tony has been with the team for two years. He helps run practices, referees scrimmages, runs drills with us as a skater, and bench coaches during our games, among countless other duties.

Tony is only one part of Dire's BadAZZ clan, which also features BadAZZ MotherCutter, Baby BadAZZ, and BadAZZ Brat.

Tony not only helps physically with drills and practices, but he also provides support as a coach and friend. Tony does a great job of providing positive support and constructive criticism, always helping us improve our game individually and as a team.

Tony is one of Dire's biggest fans, too--if you ever see him out and about it's likely that he will be sporting Dire attire.


Terahrizen, team trainer, and skater for the Dire Skates says:

Organization and knowing who works best together and who to to put against certain walls is huge, and its a lot for one person to do. Having  a bench coach has really put the Dire Skates in motion for many improvements. Tony is a particularly valuable piece because he takes the time to get to know us all personally and really has an eye for detail and a passion for derby. I trust him (and Coach) to keep an eye on me while I'm on the track and listen for their instructions.

BadAZZ MotherCutter, Mr. BadAZZ's wife, said this:

Hmmm....what to say.  Mr. BadAZZ is an athlete in every aspect of the word.  Mr. Competitive. He strives to make me a better player. Tony wants to help build Dire into a better, stronger team. I love the fact that we can make roller derby a family event.  We enjoy every activity we do together and this is just one facet of what we call Team Tenney.  He loves to cheer for our team and he applies his sports knowledge in everything we do.  He is a very positive person, very encouraging.  He wants to be supportive of all of us as a team. I appreciate everything he does.

The GolfFather, the other half of the Dire Skates' coaching staff, said this:

Man, what an addition to have Tony or Mr. Bad Azz to the coaching staff. He is instrumental on keeping the bench in order during games, so I can focus on the track. He gets in scrimmages with the ladies and brings a different dynamic because if they can hold him back or knock him out of the way can do it to most anyone. I appreciate everything he does on and off the track. Thank you for being a great coach and a great friend.

Mr. BadAZZ photo gallery:

Bench coach

Promotional photo shoot

With Smack Widow

Mr. BadAZZ and his wife BadAZZ MotherCutter

Thanks for all you do, Ass. Coach!

October Skater of the Month: RollHer Zombie

Gina, or as she is known to us, RollHer Zombie, is both a blocker and jammer for the Dire Skates.  Gina is one of the founding members of the team and her dedication has held strong over the years. Her dedication is most evident in her ability to motivate her teammates to push themselves to do their very best.

On the track Zombie is a powerful and valuable player, a crowd favorite. Off the track, Gina is in charge of our finances, which means she keeps track of money spent for bouts, our skater dues, taxes, merchandise, and our donations to local charities and organizations. In addition to this, she is a trainer, which means she works hard to whip us into shape, leading workout sessions outside of practice, off-skates practices, and often leading or joining in on trail skates.

Additionally, Gina can always be counted on to listen and support her derby sisters. Gina is a considerate friend and teammate who often puts others and her team before herself.



Assistant Coach, Mr. BadAZZ had this to say:

Zombie is a big part of Dire Skates. She is a trainer, handles financing, and is a lot of help with the team merchandise. She also gives me a helping hand when Coach can't make to practice. She helps me by running drills and conditioning for the team. She hits hard and skates fast. Thanks for all you do, Gina.

Goregon says of RollHer Zombie:

Gina is a natural leader who gets results when leading the team in drills, exercise, and on the track. She's also a tireless worker, balancing the books and monitoring our team accounts. It doesn't hurt that she's got an amazing personality.

DJ Smear-O had this to say:

Gina has been totally dedicated to this team since its inception. I look up to her in mad ways. She's awesome on wheels and a rocking chick with a tender heart. She's a sister and friend to me as well as a tough as nails trainer who whips my saggy, floppy ass into shape

Emily KickNsuM added this mushy bit about her derby wife:

Gina has always been one of my biggest rivals on the track, even though we are on the same team. The Dire Skates used to host scrimmages against each other and we were always on opposite teams and it felt like jammed against each other over and over. Even though pinned against each other some how we fell in love, or I did anyway. That’s how I found what we call a derby wife. She is that person on the team that pushes me harder at practice; we see eye to eye on most team decisions, but most importantly she has became someone I can call for anything. It's something I love about derby because I found a great friend that I believe will be a friend beyond derby careers and crazy life changes, someone that I don’t think I would have ever became friends with if not for roller derby. "Roller Derby saved my soul," is a quote used often… but its not just roller derby the sport that saved my soul its skaters on the team like RollHer Zombie that saved my soul.

 Thank you for all you do, Gina!

Roller Derby and Charity: We Hit for a Cause

The economics of roller derby is a vast, complicated thing. And involves numbers, something I am not really good at--but I will try for your sake. Because not only do we pay to hit people, we pay to help people.

Let me explain.

We pay to play, we rent local facilities, we travel to other cities to play and stay in hotels, we have insurance, we buy gear, and we replace gear.

As Hard Dash, a writer and derby girl, explains:

"OK. Now, let’s do math. Blog followers know how I love math. According to a study by WFTDA last year, skaters spent an average of $622 on skating equipment and gear in 2011, along with $656 in travel for roller derby and $223 in other support costs (dues, tickets for events). That’s $1,500 a skater. If there are in fact 39,239 skaters that is $58,858,500  — yeah, about $59 million a year from just the skaters — not the fans, the referees, the support staff, bout venues, rinks. That $59 million goes to local skate shops, local rinks, American skate companies, local hotels."

The economy of derby is huge. And it's only growing.

One other important financial component here is that the money we make from ticket sales goes to charity. This is the derby standard. Each bout raises money for a specific charity or non-profit organization. As derby grows, so does derby's ability to give back to the local communities in which the teams reside.

Dire Skates are no different.

In the past we have bouted for BRAvo and HELP the Animals among others. Our next bout on December 8th will benefit Sunrise, Inc., a therapetic riding center. As their website states:

"Sunrise, Inc is a not-for-profit corporation, established in Wayne County in 1980, whose purpose is to promote the health and social development of physically, mentally and socially disabled people through therapeutic horseback riding."

We are so excited about being able to help fund this organization and we hope you are too! Come on out on December 8th, support local derby, and support this amazing cause!

Featuring Dragon Ballzy, Terahrizin, and classdisnissed...and is the Mr. BadAZZ NSOing?!