Men's roller derby has come to Cincinnati. This Saturday, February 23, the next big thing in local sports, the Cincinnati Battering Rams, will play their first home bout against the Milwaukee Blitzdkreig. That match-up will be the second in a double-header which begins with the Cincinnati Rollergirls' Flock Ewes taking on the Black-n-Bluegrass Shiners.
Cincinnati Battering Rams first home bout
Saturday, February 23 at 6 PM
Tickets are $6 in advance or $10 at the door for both games
The Rams began practicing together as a team on July 2 2011 in the practice space of the Cincinnati Rollergirls. Many of them were brand new to roller derby, and some were just learning to skate when they joined.
“They were really shaky at first and a long way from being derby players (some of them couldn't even skate really), but they had a boat load of heart and enthusiasm,” Quad Almighty captain of the Rams said.
While the Rams as a team, began skating together in July of 2011, their story began years before. Quad Almighty (Quad) the team captain and mad scientist behind the Battering Rams began his derby career as a referee for the Cincinnati Rollergirls in the summer of 2007, and started playing derby when at “Fall Brawl” that year he participated in a special referee jam. Quad dipped his toes in the derby pool, and was hooked.
Roller Dex, who was the head referee from Naptown at that time, teamed with Quad and organized Midwest Men's Roller Derby with players from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri making up the team. Midwest Mens played a ten minute exhibition bout during halftime at a Windy City Rollers bout against the New York Shock Exchange. Players from that game went on to form the St. Louis Gatekeepers, Race City Rebels, Chicago Bruise Brothers, DETRiot Men's Derby, and the Cincinnati Battering Rams. Midwest Mens was the cradle of men's roller derby in the Great Lakes region.
Beginning in 2008 along with Mark Weber, Quad endeavored to put a a men's team together, but struggled to find enough interested to field a team. It was not the right time.
With no luck forming a squad in Cincinnati quite yet, Quad took up with Harm City Homicide (Baltimore) in the fall of 2009, and as he told me, “loved every minute of it.” But a commute of 8 hours one-way wears on you after awhile. Following the 2011 season he began playing for the Race City Rebels (Indianapolis)... a much more desirable commute.
After almost three years of trying to get a men's roller derby team in Cincinnati it finally came together in 2011, what was different about then?
“I don't know how or why it clicked in July 2011. I put some recruiting ads in the CRG programs during the 2011 season. The ad in the last game invited people to come to a practice in early July. I don't know how or why, but about half a dozen new guys showed up for that practice and they clicked ” said Quad.
“I tried to teach them as much as I could, but I can't take any of the credit for keeping it together. There was just some excellent chemistry with that core group of guys that continues to this day. They've been a team since day one. They were a team before they had even skated in a pack together.”
Quad, along with Head Coach Juwana Hurt took the learning at a deliberate pace, being sure they had a solid foundation before adding the frame.
“Juwana and I have worked diligently to make sure they learned the right way. We kept things very basic and worked almost exclusively on skills for almost the whole first year,” said Quad.
The Rams played their first official scrimmage in July of 2012 against the Bruise Brothers of Chicago, but for Quad it was a bittersweet day. While playing in the game he tore apart his leg, breaking his tibia and fibula, an injury he is still recovering from. The Rams went back in September to play the Bruise Brothers in Chicago's first official home bout, with Quad taking up coaching responsibilities.
“It sucked more than suck has ever sucked to have to sit and coach and watch them play without me, but we had seven guys and came within ten points of winning a really hard-fought game,” said Quad.
Watching the Rams play, the thing that is undeniably apparent is their cohesiveness. They are a machine, and once set in motion they do not stop.
Quad is quick to point out that the strides made by the Rams in getting to this point are not about his hard work, but the hard work and moxie of each of the players.
“The Rams have put in the blood and sweat (no tears... there's no crying in derby) since day one. They've earned this for themselves. They made it happen and they all deserve the credit for it. I have an intense love and respect for this team, because of how they've worked to this point. They've always done things the right way. They're patient, sincere and willing to do whatever it takes.”
But with all of the admiration and respect their mentor has for them, it remains tough to see them play in their first home bout, while he remains sidelined with an injury.
“Of course, it's bittersweet. I've been trying to make this day happen since 2008, and my injury is going to keep me on the sidelines. That's really tough for me. But, my team is all about doing whatever it takes to make the team better. So, I'm honored and happy to be with them on that bench, coaching my ass off, doing my part to make that day a success,” said Quad.
Two players who have experienced their own setbacks, but have overcome them and will be playing this Saturday are Giggles and Inspect Her Gadget.
During the Scrimmage-a-thon hosted by the Cincinnati Rollergirls in November of 2011 Giggles sustained a dislocated ankle, spiral fracture of his fibula and torn tendon. It was an unfortunate combination of being caught off balance, and when he tried to catch himself, his ankle went one way, and Giggles went the other. He had surgery on November 22 with two screws being put in his ankle, and his tendon reattached.
“I was pretty much out of commission for awhile. I tried to make it to practices when I could just to keep my spirits up. I had great support from my teammates and all of CRG,” said Giggles.
Giggles began physical therapy the second week in January and continued until February 28th when he had the screws removed.
“I continued physical therapy for a little bit and was back on skates by mid March.. I started practicing slow and didn't push things too hard. I used an ankle brace for about two months but didn't want to have to use it all the time so I weened myself off it and now skate with hardly and issues with my ankle,” said Giggles.
On the evening on September 13th Inspect Her Gadget who is 36 years-old, had always been in good health, active in sports with low cholesterol and blood pressure suffered a life-threatening heart attack after that night's practice.
“I was at practice for three hours and never showed any signs of fatigue or that anything was remotely wrong. After practice I went to my parents and was talking to my sister when I started to feel a sharp pain in my shoulders. At first I thought maybe it was from practice, but then I thought maybe I was having a panic attack, so I laid down on the bed...the pain only got worse.”
After laying down for awhile, Gadget got up, still not feeling well he had his sister walk him downstairs, and then blacked out.
“I made it down, but then collapsed and was unconscious for a few seconds. I could hear my sister screaming my name, and I snapped to.”
His mom and dad rushed him to the hospital while he focused on his breathing. Once at the hospital it was confirmed he was having a heart attack, an awaiting team of doctors performed an angiogram and placed a stent to repair his 99.99% blockage. Gadget got lucky, and since that day has made healthier lifestyle choices including giving up cigarettes. He was back on the track weeks later.
The Rams are a team of hardworking fierce competitors who do not let set-backs like leg injuries or heart attacks get in their way of playing roller derby, at the highest level they can. Quad is chomping-at-the-bit to get back on skates, and in a couple of months will begin his road back to the flat-track.
Can't is not a word found in the vocabulary of a Battering Ram.
Cincinnati Battering Rams first home bout
Saturday, February 23 at 6 PM
Cincinnati Sports Plus
Tickets are $6 in advance or $10 at the door for both games
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