READ: The Insider’s Guide To Roller Derby

Last night, we went to the Roller Derby match between Savannah’s own Derby Devils, and the Cape Fear Roller Girls. I had only been familiar with the sport from the 80s program RollerGames (Saturday afternoons, right after American Gladiator!) And Juergen had never seen it at all.

The sport practiced by the Derby Devils has absolutely nothing to do with the WWF-like circus I so fondly remembered. These chicks play for real! I was shocked by the brutality of it … a couple hits would have made Lawrence Taylor piss his pants. And watching one of the more lithe girls bob and weave her way to the front of the pack, just dodging the massive hip of one of the opposing blockers, was heart-pounding.

It was the last match of the season, and the Supergoose Arena was packed. It’s awesome the way Savannah gets behind their Derby Devils. There were two hours of tailgating in the parking lot, and much of the audience came equipped with signs to cheer on their favorite players — players with stage names like Fear Abby and Sexecutioner Jr.

Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Roller Girls of Cape Fear were the superior (and much larger, much more terrifying) team. But the final score was secondary to the fun which everyone was having. And my misgivings about the sport of Roller Derby’s authenticity have vanished — these girls are serious athletes.

Savannah Derby Devils Website
Location of Supergoose Arena

- Savannah Tours