The big one, Rocket City Rumble's 2010 Championship bout: a dominating Atlanta Rollergirls versus a hard-working Tampa Tantrums. Another rematch (this one years in the making), Atlanta having handed a fledging Tantrums its first WFTDA-endorsed defeat. As with all their pivotal losses (Detroit, Dallas, etc.), Tampa took its lumps and studied the scars. Atlanta's been busy too, continuing to terrorize the Bible Belt; the Sarasota RollerGirls being one of Atlanta's Toxic Shocks' latest victims. While Tampa's steadily grown since their last meeting, at (192-70; due largely to penalties), the Tantrums' loss showed they still had a lot to learn.
Contrary to the final score though, things at the Rocket City Rumble's Championship bout started off slow. This "feeling out" process lasting through a successful Lunch Lady jam, a big Switchblade Siouxsie jam, then finalizing with Tampa's Little A (10-9; Atlanta). After that, Atlanta took off their gloves.
While both teams' blockers traded alternating stints in the sin bin, Atlanta's jammers were better prepared to make due without their defense. Starting off (fittingly) with a Belle of the Brawl power jam, Atlanta followed up with a quick succession of successful jams: Wheelin Jennings, Merchant of Menace, back to Wheelin again. Showing the Tampa (and the world) just how dangerous Atlanta can be, as they built a healthy lead (37-14).
Bloodied but unbowed, the Tantrums proved that the bout wasn't blown out yet, as Anita Bopabitch eagerly demonstrated. Coinciding with a restored pack (via a returning Leia Flat and Bash'em Up Barbie), Bop's power jam narrowed the gap (37-19), if only for a split second.
Since Atlanta didn't take too kindly to interlopers on their scene. Two, back-to-back power jams (Belle of the Brawl, Merchant of Menace) putting things right back where Atlanta wanted them. With Belle scoring multiple grand slams, and Menace amazing everyone by bringing in a quintuple grand slam (77-19)! Pushing while Tampa was stalled with penalties, Atlanta finished the half riding power jam after power jam; holding a (121-19) lead at halftime.
Composing themselves over the break, Tampa's skating tightened considerably when they returned. With Tampa holding their own with Atlanta; both teams trading off jams. The Tantrums' jammers (Sixgun Susie, Rojo Grande, Little A) coming into their own and managing to keep pace with Atlanta's tour machine (137-46).
A 100 points down and only 15 minutes to go, Tampa changed its strategy and decided to play it safe. (Well, as safely as the Tantrums ever play anything.) Resting its veterans (who had already skated two-and-a-half bouts at this point) and giving the rookies a shot at taking shots. Kitty Danger and Ninja Monkey both getting some valuable tournament track time as their team struggled to hold on.
But no amount of fresh faces, nor the occasional Little A (or Rojo Grande) power jam, could upset the outcome. Atlanta taking home its second Rocket City Rumble Championship with a victory over the Tampa Tantrums (192-70).
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