The offensive player races through the pack, shifting and dodging blockers from the other team.
No, it?s not Jamal Lewis; it?s Lady Quebeaum. And it?s not football; it?s roller derby, which has been enjoying a renaissance over the past few years.
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Roller derby came back to Baltimore in 2005. The Charm City Roller Girls (CCRG) is one of the up-and-coming leagues in the country, gaining recognition locally and nationally. CCRG consists of four teams ? the Mobtown Mods, the Night Terrors, the Junkyard Dolls and Speed Regime.
“As our coach likes to say, ?We?re not playing tiddlywinks, ladies,? so there are bumps, bruises, sprains and worse,” said Brandy Carter, known as Mibbs Breakin? Ribs. “But believe it or not, I?m much happier and more serene now that I have an outlet. It has enriched my life.”
Roller derby, a full-contact sport, features three 20-minute periods of play with races called jams. During that time, the offensive team?s scoring players, known as jammers, try to pass as many girls on the other team. In order to score a point, a jammer must make it past four blockers from the other team, whose goal is to block or knock down the jammer.
If you?re wondering what a typical roller derby girl looks like, she might be your next-door neighbor or a co-worker. CCRG skaters include entrepreneurs, teachers, healthcare workers, corporate managers and stay-at-home moms.
“We?ve got an interesting and diverse group,” said Kristin Hendrick, also known as Mercy Less. “We have one player who is a single mother who works full-time and also happens to be the No. 1 scorer in the league.”
Amy Jane Callner, aka Lady Quebeaum, does research for the AFL-CIO by day and attributes her scoring success to her size.
“There?s only so much time I can contribute to roller derby, so I owe it to everyone to do the best I can during each bout,” Callner said. “Plus, I?m big and strong, so that helps.”
So, why do these everyday women get involved in roller derby? Most players say it?s about the competition, challenge and having an outlet for energy and stress. Additionally, it?s about community and women getting together.
“You learn lessons from team sports, the victories and the defeats,” Hendrick said. “Confidence is gained from participating in sports and challenging yourself.”
The intensity ? and, yes, the crashes and occasional fights ? will grab attention, but what keeps the fans coming back is the competition and fast-paced action.
“There?s more action in one hour at roller derby than during a three-hour baseball game,” Hendrick said. “At every bout, we?ve got fans having fun, standing up and cheering. Once you go, you?re hooked.”
The next home bout is on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Putty Hill Skateland in Baltimore. The Mobtown Maulers, a CCRG all-star travel team, will take on the Carolina Roller Girls, marking the first bout that CCRG will be included in national statistics, with games being tracked by the Women?s Fast Track Derby Association.
For more information, visit www.charmcityrollergirls.com.
