Gotham Roller Derby Explained

Gotham Roller Derby
Founded:2003
Metro Area:New York City
Country:United States
Tracks:Flat
Teams:Gotham All-Stars (A team)
Brooklyn Bombshells
Manhattan Mayhem
Queens of Pain
Bronx Gridlock
Wall Street Traitors (travel)
Grand Central Terminators (travel)
Diamond District (travel)
Gotham Junior Derby (youth)
Affiliations:WFTDA
Orgtype:501(c)(3) NPO
Url:gothamrollerderby.com
Venue:varies; most frequently at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Gotham Roller Derby is a flat track roller derby league based in New York City, New York. Founded in late 2003,[1] [2] Gotham is the first flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area and a founding member league of the sport's governing body, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[3] Gotham is one of the preeminent leagues in roller derby, having won five WFTDA Championships.[4] Today, the league is composed of four New York City-based teams, three travel teams, a competitive developmental team, a non competitive recreational program and a juniors program for youth.

League structure

Home Teams

Gotham consists of four home teams that represent four of the city's boroughs that do not reflect the residences of the skaters. These team play interleague games against each other, culminating in the annual championship game. Each team is supported by a "Jeerleader" squad and consists of 16 skaters who were drafted from a pool.

Travel Teams

The league consists of travel teams that play against other leagues.

Junior Derby

Tryouts

To join Gotham, skaters must complete tryouts that occur annually in October before they become the league's newest inducted skaters. Skaters tryout over a weekend then advance to tryout period lasting several weeks before they become official league members.

League History

Early years

Karin "Chassis Crass" Bruce and David "Lefty" Leibowitz met through an online ad in 2003 and together formed the organization as Gotham Girls Roller Derby,[6] initially recruiting skaters and holding "open skate" sessions. In 2004, Gotham hosted their first exhibition bout, the "Beat Down in the Boogie Down,"[7] at The Skate Key, where a crowd of 600 watched the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat the Manhattan Mayhem[8] in overtime.

In 2005, Gotham launched its first full season at The Skate Key, with a roster of 20-25 skaters. After two games between Manhattan and Brooklyn, the league introduced the Queens of Pain, who became the first Gotham Season Champions.

In 2006, the league introduced its fourth home team, the Bronx Gridlock. In 2007, The Skate Key closed and the league secured a practice space called the Crash Pad. The league began holding season bouts at City College of New York and Hunter College. That same year, the Brooklyn Bombshells defeated the Long Island Roller Rebels All-Stars, and the Manhattan Mayhem defeated all-stars from the New Jersey Dirty Dames in a double-header.In 2008, Gotham added more interleague play and held eight bouts at Hunter College. The Wall Street Traitors played teams from Philly, Connecticut, and New England, while the Brooklyn Bombshells and Manhattan Mayhem won against Montreal and Providence, respectively.

Today

Since 2010, the league has practiced out of a second Crash Pad location in Bushwick. In recent years, Gotham home teams play against each other at John Jay College and Abe Stark Arena. The league consists of roughly 150 skaters and officials.

In 2021, the league announced a rebrand and shortened its name to Gotham Roller Derby, "better reflect our community and the evolution of our sport".[9]

WFTDA Competition

The Gotham Girls All-Stars lost their first inter-league bout in September 2005, against the Dairyland Dolls of Mad Rollin' Dolls of Madison, Wisconsin, 82-72. In February 2006, the All-Stars competed at the first WFTDA-sanctioned roller derby tournament, the Dust Devil, in Tucson, Arizona where they finished in 10th place.[10]

The All-Stars are five-time Women's Flat Track Derby Association champions, winning the Hydra trophy in 2008 and from 2011 through 2014. From the introduction of the WFTDA Division system in 2013 through March 2017, Gotham was continuously the top-ranked league in the organization until Victorian Roller Derby League took over top spot.[11]

In 2018, Gotham received a bye directly to WFTDA Championships, by placing within the top four teams overall, as the third seed, in the June 30 rankings.[12] At Championships in New Orleans, Gotham won the bronze medal with a 164-151 victory against Denver Roller Derby.[13]

Rankings

SeasonFinal ranking[14] PlayoffsChampionship
200612 WFTDA[15] - 10[16]
20075 WFTDA[17] 1 E[18] [19] R1[20]
20081 E[21] 1 E[22] 1[23]
20091 E[24] 2 E[25] QF[26]
20101 E[27] 1 E[28] [29] 3[30] [31]
20111 E[32] 1 E[33] 1[34]
20121 E[35] 1 E[36] [37] 1[38]
20131 WFTDA[39] 1 D1[40] 1 D1[41]
20141 WFTDA[42] 1 D1[43] 1 D1[44]
20151 WFTDA[45] 1 D1[46] 2 D1[47]
20161 WFTDA[48] 1 D1[49] 2 D1[50]
20173 WFTDA[51] 1 D1[52] 3 D1[53]
20183 WFTDA[54] bye3

In the Media

Gotham Roller Derby has been featured in major publications and outlets, including the New York Times, ESPN, the Wendy Williams Show, The Huffington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Refinery29.

In the 2010s, home bouts were telecast on NYC Life, the flagship station of NYC Media Group, the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York.[55] [56]

In October 2011, Gotham skater Suzy Hotrod was featured photographed without clothing in ESPN Magazine's annual "The Body Issue," [57] representing roller derby alongside athletes from many other mainstream American sports.

League champions and Major Awards

League Champions are determined in an end-of-season playoff bout and additional award winners are determined by poll of league members. The C.A.N.T.S.L.E.E.P. award is the "Crass Award for Never-Tiring Support for the League with Endless Enthusiasm and Positivity," named for league founder Chassis Crass, and awarded to one league member each year.

The current champions of the 2019 Gotham Girls Roller Derby home team season are the Bronx Gridlock.

Retired Numbers

In May 2009, the league retired the uniform number of league founder Chassis Crass. Her framed Brooklyn Bombshell retired uniform hangs at Manitoba's, 99 Avenue B in Manhattan. In December 2016 at Gotham's end-of-year awards night, Bonnie Thunders' jersey was retired by the league.[58]

External links

Notes and References

  1. New York Times. About New York: When Their Alter Egos Come Out To Play. Dwyer. Jim. 2007-11-17. 2008-12-17.
  2. Web site: Getlen. Larry. GIRLS GONE WHEEL'D – BRUISING IT UP WITH THE BABES OF ROLLER DERBY. New York Post. 4 December 2016. 15 September 2005.
  3. Web site: Gotham Girls Roller Derby – WFTDA. wftda.com. WFTDA. 3 December 2016.
  4. Web site: WFTDA 2014 Championship . Women's Flat Track Derby Association . 2014-12-13 . Gotham Girls Roller Derby defeated Rose City Rollers to become the 2014 WFTDA Champions for the fourth year in a row, and fifth time over all. .
  5. Web site: About GGJD — Gotham Girls Roller Derby . Gotham Girls Roller Derby . 23 November 2018.
  6. News: Nelson. Steffie. Tough Girls Roll in the Bronx. The New York Times. 4 December 2016. 15 May 2005.
  7. Web site: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 ARTISTS OF TOMORROW FESTIVAL Just in time for the ... Manhattan, New York, NY News. www.nypress.com. 4 December 2016.
  8. Web site: Furfaro. Danielle. These roller derby bombshells are the baddest beauties in NYC. New York Post. 4 December 2016. 4 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Gotham Girls Roller Derby Changes Name to Gotham Roller Derby, Will Rebrand Logo . Gotham Roller Derby . April 22, 2021 . April 22, 2021.
  10. Web site: 2006 Tournaments . WFTDA . 4 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223171740/http://wftda.com/stats2/2006_Tournaments.htm . 23 February 2007.
  11. Web site: Victoria Takes Top Spot in WFTDA Rankings – WFTDA. wftda.com. WFTDA. 6 April 2017. 6 April 2017.
  12. Web site: WFTDA Releases June 30 Rankings and 2018 Playoffs and Continental Cups Seeding – WFTDA . wftda.com . WFTDA . 8 January 2019 . 16 July 2018.
  13. Web site: 2018 Championships New Orleans Game 12: Gotham vs. Denver – WFTDA . wftda.com . WFTDA . 8 January 2019 . 11 November 2018.
  14. "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  15. "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
  16. Web site: 2006 Tournaments. WFTDA. https://web.archive.org/web/20070223171740/http://wftda.com/stats2/2006_Tournaments.htm. 23 February 2007. 4 December 2016.
  17. "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
  18. Web site: Heartland Havoc: Day Three Derby News Network. Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 21 August 2007. Derby News Network. 4 December 2016.
  19. "Heartland Havoc ", Ohio Rollergirls
  20. Web site: Kansas, the Wheeled Giant Killers and More on the Texas Shootout. Whittaker. Richard. 1 October 2007. Austin Chronicle. 4 December 2016.
  21. Web site: Rankings – WFTDA . wftda.com . WFTDA . 4 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202070211/http://wftda.com/rankings . 2 February 2009 . dead .
  22. Web site: Eastern Regionals: Complete Capsule Recaps Derby News Network. Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 10 October 2008. Derby News Network. 4 December 2016.
  23. Wachter. Paul. 2009-01-29. You Just Can't Keep The Girls From Jamming. New York Times. 2009-01-31.
  24. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 4 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20100430194525/http://wftda.com/rankings. 30 April 2010.
  25. Web site: Philly Upsets Gotham for Eastern Regional Championship, 90-89. Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 2009-09-18. Derby News Network. 2011-10-29.
  26. Web site: 2009 Nationals: Capsule Recaps. Feelgood. Justice. 2009-11-22. Derby News Network. 2011-10-29.
  27. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 4 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20110302222136/http://wftda.com/rankings/. 2 March 2011.
  28. "Derby in the Burbs 2010 East Region Playoffs", WFTDA
  29. Web site: 2010 East Region Playoffs Recaps. 28 September 2010. Derby News Network. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722195137/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2010/09/eastern_region_playoffs_recaps. 22 July 2012. dead. 4 December 2016.
  30. "Uproar on the Lakeshore", WFTDA
  31. Web site: 2010 WFTDA Championships Recaps. 2011-08-12. Derby News Network. 2012-02-14.
  32. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 4 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120125085842/http://wftda.com/rankings. 25 January 2012.
  33. Web site: Nightmare on 95 WFTDA 2011 East Region Playoffs - Women's Flat Track Derby Association. wftda.org. WFTDA. 4 December 2016.
  34. "Continental Divide and Conquer 2011 WFTDA Championships", WFTDA
  35. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 4 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20130320122723/http://www.wftda.com/rankings. 20 March 2013.
  36. http://www.wftda.org/tournaments/2012/east/ Sugarbush Showdown 2012 East Region Playoffs
  37. Web site: East Championship: 1E Gotham Repeats on 2E Philly, 232-107 Derby News Network. Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 1 October 2012. Derby News Network. 4 December 2016.
  38. Web site: Bout 12: Gotham Girls Roller Derby vs Oly Rollers - 2012 Championships Blog - Women's Flat Track Derby Association . Wftda.com . 2013-02-04.
  39. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2013. January 2014. WFTDA. 4 December 2016.
  40. Web site: D1 Playoffs Asheville, NC. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  41. Web site: WFTDA Championships Milwaukee, WI. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  42. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2015. WFTDA. 4 December 2016.
  43. Web site: D1 Playoffs Sacramento, CA. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  44. Web site: WFTDA Championships Nashville, TN. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  45. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2016. WFTDA. 4 December 2016.
  46. Web site: D1 Playoffs Omaha, NE Oct 2-4. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  47. Web site: WFTDA Championships Saint Paul, MN Nov 6-8. WFTDA. 16 September 2016.
  48. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 6 January 2017. WFTDA. 6 January 2017.
  49. Web site: D1M: #1 Gotham trounces #3 Minnesota, 326-71. Derby Central. 4 December 2016. 25 September 2016.
  50. News: Rollers repeat as roller derby champions. 7 November 2016. Portland Tribune. 2 December 2016.
  51. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 5 January 2018. WFTDA. 5 January 2018.
  52. Web site: Berrick. Genevieve D. D1M: 1st Place, #1 Gotham outdoes #2 Denver, 176-85 Derby Central. Derby Central. 4 January 2018. 10 September 2017.
  53. Web site: Berrick. Genevieve D.
    1. 3 Gotham stages 2nd half turn-around on #5 Denver, 178-128
    . Derby Central. 4 January 2018. 5 November 2017.
  54. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA . wftda.com . 7 January 2019 . WFTDA . 8 January 2019.
  55. Web site: hits the airwaves on NYC life . Gotham Girls Roller Derby . 2010-05-06 . 2012-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120227060146/http://www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/news/717/gotham-girls-roller-derby-hits-the-airwaves-on-nyc-life . 2012-02-27 .
  56. http://www.nyc.gov/html/media/media/PDF/NYCMedia_tv_lineup.pdf
  57. Web site: The Body Issue: Suzy Hotrod - espnW . Espn.go.com . 2012-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225025727/http://espn.go.com/espnw/body-issue/7053967/suzy-hotrod . 2012-02-25 .
  58. Web site: Powell. Dylan. Bonnie Thunders, OMG WTF, Vicious Van Go Go and Flo It All Retire From Gotham. The Apex. The Derby Apex. 4 December 2016. 4 December 2016.

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