Ted's Polish-Mexican Page

This year's Dust Devil tournament starts tomorrow, with twelve teams from all over the Western United States. This makes it a less elaborate affair than last year's 20 team tournament that included teams from across the country. Since the TRD is a volunteer organization, I'm sure those involved are happy to have a slightly less complicated affair. The Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association has declared the Dust Devil the official tournament of the Western Conference rather than a national tournament.

What, no Val Capone?


Tommorrow's action features some newer and lower ranked teams, with the top three teams from last year's tournament Texas, Arizona and Tucson, having byes. Saturday will feature the first games from those three teams plus Seattle's Rat City Roller Girls, who came in fifth in last year's tourney. (Minnesota was the fourth place team, but ain't on our side of the 100th meridian. Probably for the best too, since their play in the final rounds caused them to be hated by fans and skaters alike. They do have the best logo though.)


The match I hope to see is at 6:00, when Dallas takes on Kansas City. Kansas City was impressive at last year's tournament and became a fan favorite.


By the way, other Dallas league, Assassination City, is not participating this year. I don't know if this is in any way related, but one of their skaters, Michelle Metzinger, who skates under the name Muff Thumper, is pursuing an excessive force complaint after an incident stemming from when she was cited either for jawywalking or public drunkeness (depends who you ask) on a sidewalk in Dallas. You can find out more at helpmichelle.org, and you can even buy a "Don't Thump Our Muff" T-shirt.


The seedings are set up for a possible rematch between Tucson and Arizona in the semi-finals (-yawn- we just did that), but a Tucson vs Texas match would only be possible in the final. Remember that Tucson pulled a huge upset only two months ago when they beat top ranked Texas in their own house. They gotta remember that they lost the Alamo too.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.