This year's Ivy King Cup championship bout might seem a bit familiar. Their names may not be familiar, but if you've been to a Windy City Rollers home season bout, you've surely seen them. They can often be spotted high-fiving little kids and posing for pictures with fans. If not doing either of those, they're likely starting a dance party somewhere. They are the mascots of the Windy City Rollers home teams.
Fonzo McKnuckles is a giant white gorilla who, according to his Facebook page , was hatched from an egg on Feb. Manic Man, in a blue and green body suit, represents the Manic Attackers , while Bull Diablo wears red and black for the Hell's Belles and Shinobi Bloody wears a black ninja outfit for the Double Crossers. The presence of a representative of a foreign government at a Windy City Rollers bout is a rare thing. Perhaps equally rare is the presence of representatives of two foreign governments at a Rollers bout.
If you'd asked her a year ago, Julie Smith might have told you she had no intention of trying out for the Windy City Rollers. A year ago, Smith, who now skates for the Rollers' B-team, the Second Wind as well as their home team, The Fury under the moniker Jule B Sorry , was just involved with Derby Lite , a fitness program designed to give women the conditioning and skating skills of roller derby without the impact. But after quickly advancing through the three levels of Derby Lite, Smith said it was not enough. The Fury jumped out to a big early lead in the second jam of Friday's bout.
In the first jam, Ska Face took lead jammer for The Fury, scoring a quick four point before calling it off. When Bob Regan auditioned to be the announcer for the Windy City Rollers , he knew nothing about roller derby. It was , he said. He had just moved to Chicago after having spent a season performing as the mascot for the Cleveland Indians "It's both fun and horrible at the same time," he said.
And then he found the Windy City Rollers. Little did Regan, who eventually took the derby name Bryant Mumble , know that the chance encounter in cyberspace would lead to an announcing gig that lasted 9 years and is still going strong. One sure thing about roller derby is that things can change quickly and no matter what the score is early, you rarely know what it will look like at the end of the bout. That much was clear Saturday night, when Windy City Rollers home teams the Manic Attackers and The Fury faced off in the first full bout of the season.
The Manics jumped ahead early, with jammer Thievin' Tyler scoring 15 in the opening jam. Ska Face, jamming for The Fury, scored 8 before being sent to the penalty box. When Tammy Matthews straps on her skates Saturday, exactly 51 weeks will have passed since she had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. She's one of a few WCR skaters making their return to action Saturday as the Rollers' home squads face off.
Tomorrow's bout against the Double Crossers marks the first full-length bout Matthews has skated in since October of , though she skated in two half-bouts in the Rollers' mini-tournament Jan. It's only fitting that the Manic Attackers and the Fury were the two teams to reach the finals of Saturday's Windy City Rollers season-opening tournament.
But on Saturday, the Fury, in a bout that was not decided until the final jam, beat the Manics Saturday's tournament was round-robin style, and bouts were only 30 minutes with no intermission, instead of the usual length of two minute periods. To call the Windy City Rollers ' practice facility spartan is a bit of an understatement. From the outside, you might think the two-story brick building the location of which the Rollers would not divulge on the record was once a factory or school, but is now little more than a shell. If not for the roller derby memorabilia lining the walls and derby gear scattered about, the exposed duct work, corrugated ceilings and concrete floors that shake when a skater falls would not indicate that some of the city's best skaters practice there.
But it's in that spartan facility a. The tournament is the first step in the annual quest for the Ivy King Cup, awarded to the best of the four home teams. According to Derby News Network , Denver took the lead early and never gave it up. It took nearly five minutes for the All-Stars to score, allowing Denver to go up early in the bout.
The All-Stars were down at the start of the second half. For a short time, it looked as though they might be on the verge of a comeback, but penalties and strong defense from Denver allowed Denver to pull away and get the point win. Getting Midori Ohtake to talk about herself is no easy task. Ask her a personal question and she responds with only short sentences. She speaks quietly, a slight smile always on her face, her hands barely moving. Getting Midori Ohtake to talk about roller derby is easy.
The slight smile expands into a full, toothy grin. Her eyes -- dark and framed by plastic-rimmed librarian glasses -- light up. Words flow almost effortlessly, a few even escaping her mouth as she chews a giant slice of pizza topped with black olives, garlic and roasted red peppers. If the name Midori Ohtake doesn't sound familiar to you, you're not alone. That thing is the Hydra Trophy. Cozad, in her first season with the All-Stars and her second with Windy City , will be playing on the national stage for the first time in a couple weeks and said that while she's definitely nervous, she's ready.
Saturday was a very sweet homecoming for one Windy City Rollers skater. Killa Nois, who didn't give her real name, was skating in her first bout with the Rollers' B-team, the Second Wind, Saturday. According to Derby News Network , Minnesota led for all but one jam in the first half while the Rollers led for all but one jam in the second. The Rollers led when Minnesota called their last timeout with 1: According to Derby News Network , the Rollers, who were the top seed in the region, defeated the 5th-seeded Ohio Roller Girls Saturday afternoon. The Rollers will play Minnesota, who defeated the Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis in their semi-final match, for the title at 5pm.
The Rollers and Minnesota last played in June and tied The winner of that bout will go on to face the winner of the 3 p. The eighth-seeded Outfit plays the ninth-seeded Brewcity Bruisers of Milwaukee at 10am today, with the winner of that bout going on to face the top seed Windy City Rollers All-Stars at 4pm.
Photo by Steve Stearns.
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It's been a year of surprises and tumult and for the Windy City Rollers ' four teams: The Hell's Belles broke The Fury's game winning streak , and the Double Crossers celebrated their first win in, well, forever, though they forfeited their win. The Manics have been unbeatable this season with ramped-up blocking skills building defensive brick walls that stymie opposing jammers.
The Fury have had an uneven year, but remember that game winning streak? Yeah, they didn't earn that by being slouches. The gals in the white and orange will definitely give the Manics a run or skate for their money. This is it, folks -- the derby game you want to be at. The championship will take place at 6 p.
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Find yours online or at the door. There's nothing like revenge to get the blood going, amirite? After getting knocked out of the position for first place, the Windy City Rollers team the Fury is gnashing their teeth for a chance to wallop their biggest rivals this season, the Manic Attackers, at the upcoming bout this Saturday, April This is the last game before the playoffs on Sun. Expect both teams to be skating hard and hitting even harder. The evening's other game pits the Hell's Belles against the Double Crossers.
While the Belles aren't in the lead, they do have the distinction of breaking the Fury's two-year winning streak at an infamous bout last February. Oh, the Belles didn't just beat the Fury -- they slayed them, ending the game The first game kicks off at 6 p. This time last year, the two teams faced off in what turned into an upset as the All-Stars miraculously pulled ahead in the last five minutes to win the bout I think it's safe to assume Naptown will be looking for revenge, so this bout should be a good one.
The first game, featuring the leagues' B teams, starts at 6 p. Get yours online or at the door. On Saturday, the Windy City Rollers ' home season kicked off with an upset. Could it be indicative of the rest of the season? The Hell's Belles surprised everyone--perhaps even themselves--as they broke The Fury's game winning streak. Strong blocking by the Belles helped MVP jammer Zombea Arthur as she made a mad dash for points, earning 68 in all, helping win the game at a solid The Manic Attackers took on the Double Crossers in the second and slower game of the evening.
Unfortunately, it wasn't too much of a match, as the Crossers' suffer from a sparse, rookie-filled roster. Finally, the Crossers had had enough, and the game closed in the Manics' favor, Fury jammer Janicide Joplin in the orange starred helmet zips through the pack. Zoe Trocious in blue sneaks past an unsuspecting Double Crosser. Itchin' for some homestyle derby? The Fury, and Manic Attackers vs. Racine , and the first game kicks off at 6pm. The wise and powerful Octophant , Phineas X.
Jones, has seen fit to bestow upon us a series of gorgeous designs for every corner of the Chicago sports world. Chicago's very own Windy City Rollers have been skating hard and hitting even harder in anticipation for their upcoming home season. All bouts start at 6 p. The Fury; Manic Attackers vs. Saturday, March 10 - Hell's Belles vs. Manic Attackers; The Fury vs.
In addition, the league has announced the schedule for its travel team, the Windy City All-Stars, and its B-travel team, the Second Wind. Windy City's Zoetrocious center jams against the L. Derby Dolls in the Chicago Invitational. While the Windy City Rollers and their colleagues in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association charge for tickets to see their events, the reality is that none of the competitors actually makes any money. The ticket sales and sponsorships go toward funding the operations of the teams, but derby folks compete for the love of the sport, not for money.
However, last weekend's Chicago Invitational brought not only banked track derby to town, but also cash money for the teams that fared the best in the two-day tournament at the Odeum Expo Center. When WCR hosted last year's Uproar on the Lake Shore championships, they had the misfortune of being seeded to play the eventual winner of the tournament, the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls , in their first match.
It seemed like their odds of advancing might be better this year -- but first they'd have to beat the Kansas City Roller Warriors , who beat WCR in a bout earlier this year. It was a competitive match on Saturday, Nov. Windy City took over, and they looked to be on a roll with a score of with 11 minutes left, but alas, the Rollers stalled.
Kansas City rallied to win with a final score of There's no rest for the wicked. Hot off the heels of their appearance at the national derby championships , the Windy City Rollers All-Stars will strap on their skates once again to take part in the Chicago Invitational banked-track tournament on Friday and Saturday, Nov. That buys a whole lotta PBR, y'all. Both evenings, the bout will start at 7 p. This weekend, our very own Windy City Rollers All-Stars are taking their derby prowess to a higher elevation at this weekend's Continental Divide and Conquer Championships in Denver.
There, the best derby teams in the nation will duke it out on the track for top honors. Take a look-see here for a schedule of games as well as a tournament bracket. To watch the the action, check out Derby News Network 's awesome live streaming of the bouts. Fresh from their sweep at last weekend's regional championships, the Windy City Rollers All-Stars are taking it to the track for one last home game before the championship games in November.
The All-Star game begins at 7: After two grueling days of bouting, they defended their status of the undefeated champs in the North Central region, beating the Minnesota Roller Girls in the final game. Whoa, man, if you like roller derby, this Saturday is your night. Both hometown leagues, the Windy City Rollers and the Chicago Outfit are bouting on the same evening--and, unfortunately, at the same time.
That's right, derby fans, you must make a Sophie's Choice decision between the two games. San Diego are known for being the first hybrid league in the nation, skating banked- as well as flat-track derby. But none of those fancy banked shenanigans will take place at their bout on Saturday night--no siree, this is flat-track country! The All-Stars game begins at 7: Roller derby is growing by leaps and bounds nationwide, but it's also rolling across the globe. The All-Stars in black work to block Houston's jammer in pink star helmet. A month after closing their home season, the Windy City Rollers are back at it -- but this time, they're taking on derby leagues nationwide.
Currently the All-Stars are ranked number 1 in the North Central division and number 10 in the nation. On Saturday, July 30, the All-Stars are bringing the action back with their first home interleague bout of the season, this time against Pittsburgh's Steel City Derby Demons , who currently rank 6th in the Eastern division and 17th nationally. Lastly, and basically because I like his moniker, Bobby Narco, aka "The Pavarotti of Derby," will be singing the national anthem. Canada" in nine different states for various roller derby bouts and tournaments.
Doors open at 5 p. The Windy City Rollers are feelin' the Fury. The win concluded a spectacular season for the Fury. It also marked their fourth time as league champs previously winning in '05, '06, and ' From the game's get-go, the Fury grabbed the lead and refused to let go, seizing lead jammer status and maintaining a very fast pack. That's not, however, to say it was an easy fight. After the first few jams, the score inched along as the Manics held their contenders at bay. There were some amazingly tight races between the Manics' Beth Amphetamine and the Fury's Kola Loka, as both skaters strove to get to the pack first.
While the Manics offense was tight -- star blocker Bork Bork Bork was the team's reliable Zamboni, clearing a path for the jammer -- their defense lacked consistency. Oftentimes they were seen stacking the back of the pack and leaving the front to the Fury, much to the chagrin of the Manic jammers, who would come to a screeching halt as soon as they hit the wall of blockers.
By halftime the score was in the Fury's favor Despite some amazing point gains by the Manics, in the end they were no match for heavy blocking from the Fury's Sargentina and power jams by Ska Face and Kola. Once again, the league's streetwise skaters took the championship, After a grueling season, the Windy City Rollers are ready to kick it Thunderdome style. At the Ivy King Cup Championship this Saturday, June 18, two teams enter; only one team leaves or rather, leaves with the coveted cup.
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This year, it's down to The Fury and the Manic Attacker s, two teams who are maintaining their reps as hard-to-beat skaters. The Fury has enjoyed a particularly victorious season, currently standing The Manics, however, have been maintaining more of an even keel, finishing out the regular season at With both teams largely with veteran skaters at the helm, there weren't a lot of surprises as far as stats.
Meanwhile, the Fury better watch out for Manic jammers Zoe Trocious, who has scored points so far this season, followed by Beth Amphetamine , and Ruth Enasia I'm not going to attempt extending this Mad Max metaphor any further that way, everyone can be Tina Turner , so suffice to say it'd be in your best interest to attend the championship on Saturday at the UIC Pavilion S. The bout kicks off at 6 p. Grab yours online or at the door.
The first game of the evening saw the Fury continue their onslaught on the season with yet another win, this time against the Manic Attackers. The Manics, who've also enjoyed a good season, were fresh from their nail-biter April 9 bout against the Hell's Belles. The Fury maintained a grip on the packs, often with a point spread, until the Manics' Zoe Trocious tightened the gap in the second half with a fantastic jam.
Still, it was the Fury's game as they shut down the Manics In the second bout, the Hell's Belles led in their game against the Double Crossers from the get-go and never surrendered. Despite some strong jamming by Indy Cent and Julia Rosenwinkle, with blocking assists from Georgia on Yer Behind and Karmageddon, the Double Crossers had to admit defeat, ending with a Belles win It will be the final bout before the championships on June Get ready for Easter with a rousing game of roller derby!
This go-round will see the winners of the last bout, The Fury and the Manic Attackers, battle one another. In the second game, the Double Crossers will take on the Hell's Belles. The bout begins at 6 p. You can get yours online or at the door. If you weren't at Saturday's Windy City Rollers bout, you missed a helluva game. The second half of the night saw the Hell's Belles against the Manic Attackers in what became a total nail-biter.
The two teams are fairly evenly matched this season -- this game mattered, and it showed as both teams attacked the floor from the first whistle. It was a rougher, tougher game, and the the teams strove to keep a fast pack, making it that much harder for the jammers to catch up and break through. The Manics used whips to their advantage; despite a last-minute grand slam by Belle jammer Zombea Arthur, the Manics slid ahead of the Belles at the half. The Hell's Belles picked up their blocking strategy during the second half. As the clock showed only 12 minutes left, the Manic's lead shorted to a The Belles were on a roll, but Zombea Arthur, acting as the Belles' jammer, was sent to the box, which allowed Manic jammer Ruth Enasia to ring up a parcel of points.
Finally, the back-and-forth was put to rest as the game ended in the Manics' favor, Unfortunately, the game between the Fury against the Double Crossers seemed easily called from the get-go. Only 10 minutes in, the Fury were already gliding by their rivals The Fury have enjoyed a winning streak this season; their strong jammers and tight blocking skills proved once again to be a winning combo -- especially as Fury jammer Yvette Yermaker's wallop sent Crossers jammer Joanie Utah flying across the floor. The Double Crossers have been handicapped this season by a roster of mostly new skaters.
Despite pulling up their score a considerable amount after the half, victory fell to the Fury Get your tickets online or at the door. The first half of this weekend's bout a game between The Fury, who are on a winning streak, and the Double Crossers. The second game pits the fairly evenly matched Manic Attackers against Hell's Belles. The bout starts at 6 p. Only three games into their home season, and a pattern is developing among the Windy City Rollers' teams.
After their win against the Hell's Belles on Sat. The Double Crossers, however, maintained their position at the bottom of the pack with yet another loss. The Manic Attackers creamed the Crossers, ending the bout in the Manics' favor, Double Crossers' Jammer Dame Over prepares for take-off. All photos by Steve Stearns at Visual Meme. The game begins at 6pm. Manic Attacker Thievin' Tyler waits at the starting line. At the second bout of the season on Sunday, Feb.
There's nothing to beat away the winter blues like the sweet sounds of roller skates skidding along a sport court floor. And, you know, concession-stand nachos. It starts at 3 p. That last one should be a good game, y'all. Ever wanted to be a part of the Windy City Rollers but are worried about injuries or are, you know, male?
This is your chance to participate in local roller derby: There will be a meeting for those interested on Wednesday, Jan. It was an exciting opening night Saturday, Jan. The turnout was good at the UIC Pavilion, where fans, family, and fresh meat new skaters filled the stands.
Before beginning game play, a moment of silence was held for skater Yvonne Johnson Hammer , who was found dead last December. For this game, her teammates all skated with the name "Hammer" on their uniform. First on the starting line were the Manic Attackers vs. The Manics have enjoyed a strong team for the last few years, while the Belles have faltered in their game play. The bout between them started with the Manics quickly gaining the lead and maintaining it for the rest of the game. In the end, however, it was the Manics' game, as they took the bout The dust has finally settled from the national flat-track derby championships held in Chicago, and the recent banked-track bout between the Windy City Rollers ' All-Stars and the L.
Which means it's time for the Rollers to whip out the home season dates. Last spring, local cartoonist Lucy Knisley posted a wonderfully fun and heartfelt comic about roller derby and gushing fandom. Whatever sport you're into, if you're the type to wear a giant foam finger or a jersey with your favorite player's name on it, you should read it.
Yesterday afternoon, the Windy City Rollers announced that one of their skaters, Yvonne Johnson Hammer, had indeed been found dead earlier that day. The following statement was posted on their website and Facebook page. It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of our league mate, Yvonne Johnson Hammer "Hammer". As her death is still being actively investigated, please pass any information you think might be relevant to her disappearance directly to the Chicago Police Department. The Windy City Rollers are unable to provide any further information at this time, but we will be sure to reach out to you on behalf of Yvonne's friends and family in the coming days.
Hammer joined our league in June of and had not yet had the opportunity to play her first public game as a member of the Double Crossers, so she may not be familiar to some of you.
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However, her league members will always remember her for her ready smile, her amazing work ethic, and her extraordinary athleticism. We know that you will keep Hammer and her family in your hearts during this difficult time. Earlier this evening, the Windy City Rollers reported that one of their skaters, Yvonne Johnson Hammer, has been reported missing by her family. She was last seen on Sunday, December 5. According to the WCR Facebook page , "Law enforcement is currently treating her disappearance as a missing persons case.
We hope she returns safely to her family, friends and league soon. Anyone with information regarding Hammer's whereabouts should contact the Chicago Police. Yvonne Johnson Hammer Date of Birth: Sunday, December 5th at 5 am, vicinity of th and Indiana in Chicago. Sources today report that Johnson was found dead. Details to follow as we learn more. The Windy City Rollers have released a statement regarding Hammer's death.
When many people think roller derby, they remember derby as it was played in the s: Those days are gone with the s edition of derby, including banked tracks. Most derby leagues, the Windy City Rollers and Chicago Outfit included, skate on flat tracks--simply put, they're easier and cheaper to construct and maintain.
This should be an interesting bout--WCR isn't used to skating on anything but a flat track, and trust me, it will make a difference. If girls flying every which way over the sides of the track isn't enough, punk-ska band Less Than Jake will be performing as well. Doors are at 7 p. Despite a weekend full of wide point spreads and the start-and-stops of slow pack skating, the Uproar on the Lakeshore national roller derby championships, held in Chicago last weekend, ended with a walloping bang. The afternoon opened with the Gotham Girls and the Philly Roller Girls battling for third and fourth place.
Jam after jam, Philly put up a great defense, stacking Blockers at the head of the pack, but Gotham's Jammers, particularly Suzy Hotrod and Bonnie Thunders, were incredibly light on their toe stoppers and were able to work their way through. Gotham's agility lead to a quick lead, and after getting an amazing eight Lead Jammers in a row, they put Philly out of their misery Gotham's Suzy Hotrod Jammer with the star helmet makes it look easy as she passes by Philly's skaters.
Photo by Joe Schwartz. Another day, another derby bout. The pressure was on high on Saturday at the UIC Pavilion, as the Uproar on the Lakeshore national roller derby championships saw teams whittled down to a select few. It was an even match until the half, when RMRG quickly pulled ahead and gained a point lead. Plenty of penalties kept Charm in the box for much of the game, which led to their downfall.
In the end, RMRG won the bout The first day of Uproar didn't really cause any, well, uproars. Largely Friday afternoon at the UIC Pavillion was a day of wide point spreads -- bout after bout, the winning teams stomped all over their rivals. The exception was the first bout between Texas Rollergirls and the B.
But that was the anomaly. Far more common was point differences, as seen in the follow-up Charm City Roller Girls vs. Time after time, Charm City maintained a grip on the lead jammer status, ending with Charm's Holden Grudges' grand slam, leading her team to victory The following Philly Roller Girls vs. Mad Rollin' Dolls Madison, Wis. Philly kicked off the bout with a strong lead, gaining 32 points within the first five minutes.
It was a sloppy, slapstick game, and Mad clearly looked as if they had given up by halftime; the bout ended with Philly taking it Slow packs were commonly seen, much to the consternation of the audience. I saw at least one pro-fast pack sign in the audience. This game was different, as Oly dared Nashville to keep up with them. Oly rolled out hard, gained the upper skate as it were , and finally put Nashville out of their misery at Today's bouts feature some of the nations' best teams, so I anticipate lots of upsets, hard hits, and hopefully an underdog or two.
These derby faithful will hop in cars and vans, board airplanes, and hightail it to Chicago, this year's host to the Uproar on the Lakeshore , the WFTDA national roller derby championships, which take place Friday, Nov. Beer and nachos in hand, the fans will gasp, cheer, and yell as they watch 12 teams duke it out for the honor of being named the best derby team in the nation. See this past post for a list of the competing teams and the championship roster. Ladies and gentlemen, your Windy City All-Stars. Photo by Gil Leora. Given the tense rivalry between many of the teams and some controversies in game play, there will more than likely be plenty of opportunities for fans to freak out.
At the championships, the Windy All-Stars faced challenges when they countered the controversial "slow pack" or "Western" style of playing embraced by the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls and Denver Roller Dolls. The schedule has been posted , and you can also download the bracket here. Gapers Block will continue to provide coverage through the event, so be sure to check back in. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. But when she couldn't get up again, it was horribly apparent to everyone that something had gone very wrong.
Johnson had sustained an injury to her C4 vertebrae, rendering her unable to move below the shoulders. What's more, at the time Johnson was self-employed as a project attorney and didn't have health insurance. While she concentrated on her recovery, fans and derby girls across the nation pitched in to help Johnson financially. Having just past the third anniversary of the accident, I followed up with Johnson, who now lives in Oklahoma City.
She's still wheelchair-bound, but thanks to therapy and rigorous workouts she is able to walk several hundred feet on a platform walker with a little assistance. As always, Johnson is gracious, optimistic, driven, and still a Windy City Roller at heart. The Windy City All-Stars , who are currently competing at the Thunda on the Tundra regional tournament held in Green Bay, just won their bout against the Cincinnati Rollergirls Oh, it is on.
Doors open an hour early at 4: The final game to determine 1st and 2nd place begins at 7. Our girls from Chicago's two roller derby leagues, Chicago Outfit and the Windy City Rollers , have suffered at the hands of their opponents in recent games. Alas, the Sirens pulled ahead in what turned out to be a close game, beating the Outfit The Rocky Mountain gals immediately snagged a strong lead and didn't let up the rest of the game, walloping the All-Stars The first-ever roller derby game was played here at the Chicago Coliseum in August 13th, Tickets to the next WCR All-Star game against the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls will be given away, derby footage will play all evening, and expect a night of drinks, dancing, and derby trivia.
The first game featured the Windy City Rollers' Second Wind team, who started out strong against Cincinnati and never let up. The first half closed with Windy City in the lead at , the Silent Lambs having gained some ground after Rose Feratu's smashing point jam. After a whole lotta box time for both teams, the game ended in WCR's favor Both teams are fairly evenly matched; although at first Boston had a difficult time scoring points, their strong defense gave the All-Stars a run for their money.
Again, it was a game in which everyone spent time in the box, which led to some challenging situations for both teams' Jammers. By the last 10 minutes, the scores were uncomfortably close. The crowd went bananas over the WCR win They currently hold the No. This head-to-head showdown should be a good match.
TBA at 6, and the All-Stars bout begins at 7: More information and tickets may be found here. The league faced a lot of challenges, as many teams experienced a number of roster changes and a whole lotta injuries, which led to some big game upsets. The All-Stars are currently ranked No. The Fury secured a lead and never let go, finishing the bout The two teams have been tightly matched the entire season; check in on Saturday, June 5, to see which one will become the championship winner.
The evening also saw the Manic Attackers in a close game with Hell's Belles ending with a Manic win In the first game, Hell's Belles were giving The Fury a run for their money when finally Fury jammer Kola Loka took the lead and pushed her team to victory over the Belles, In the second game, Double Crossers continued their spree as they triumphed over last year's Ivy King Cup defending champion Manic Attackers, The next bout, on Saturday, May 22, will pit the Hell's Belles vs.
Manic Attackers, and in a preview of the championship, The Fury vs. Check here for more info and online tickets. Unfortunately for the Manics, The Fury was ready for the competition, taking the game In the second game pitting the Hell's Belles vs. Double Crosser jammer Indy Cent far left passes through the pack.
WCR official Sheik Yerbouti, in what may be the best nom de referee ever. The March game ended with Manic Attackers bringing back their game and rolling over the Hell's Belles The second game saw the Fury walloping Double Crossers The first game starts at 6 p. Get your tickets here or at the door. Lace up your boots--it's time to head to the Windy City Rollers ' next derby bout on Saturday, March This go-round pits the Hell's Belles vs. Manic Attackers starting at 6 p. The next game beginning at about 7: In the last Derby Dame column, I clued you in on roller derby positions and gear.
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This week, I'll show you how the game is played, what all the whistles mean, and the legal ways derby girls can bash into one another. All right, now we're down to the nitty-gritty. First, each game is broken up into two minute halves. Each half is broken into any number of jams, each of which can last up to 2 minutes. No way in hell does he want to be her favorite mistake. Subtle, sexy love scenes. Windy City Romance 1. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
To ask other readers questions about Her Favorite Mistake , please sign up. Lists with This Book. The story line is so dynamic one feels like they could relate with the struggles, mistakes, and family love. The interaction of the main character and her favorite mistake was fantastic…it had me laughing at times and wondering how it would turn out at other times.
There is a nice balance of romance, humor, and personal relationships throughout the story. I loved how dynamic and real life like the story line was throughout the series.
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I was intrigued by each of the characters in the series: Vanessa, Amy, and McKenna. I also enjoyed seeing them evolve and interact through each of the stories. I like that each book focused on one of the three characters and the other two were secondary characters, it made me feel like I got a chance to find out more in depth of each of the characters. I love how the author develops this series story line and wonder if there will be a fourth book in the series?!?!?!
Vanessa sees that one of those people just happens to be a one-night stand she had in Vegas. Alex is a successful businessman who is filling in for another host of this reality TV show. When he sees Vanessa, and actually learns her name, he feels that this will be his revenge for her leaving him before that next morning in Vegas. He will have to work very closely with her over the next few months as her mentor and business partner. Vanessa fights her feelings to try to remain professional with Alex.
Alex is trying to get closer to Vanessa, but when her and her son spend a day with him at his lake house everything changes. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I love this story line. I always like romance stories that have a kid or baby in it. It just seems to make it more like real life. It gives more dimensions to the parent character.
Vanessa is a great character. You see her as a wonderful woman that loves her family and is willing to spend agonizing time with her Vegas one night stand to save the business that backs her family financially. You see Vanessa as a businesswoman, a sister, granddaughter, mother, friend, and lover. I really got into her character as I read on in the book. She is a strong woman to take on everything she did. So, it was a nice touch to see that the whole story revolved around a one night that she had with a stranger in Vegas. The story line was a good one, the characters were interesting, and the book was well written.
The only reason I knocked it down a star is because it took so long to get into the good stuff. I felt like the first third of the book dragged on before it got to the good stuff. I wanted to get to the point. I guess I needed to be introduced to her girlfriends so I would have a connection with them when I read the other books in the series.
To top it all off she has financial problems, medical bills are expensive so Vanessa needs to find a quick fix and soon before their home and livelihood come crashing down right around their ears. Vanessa needed the investment to expand so that they could increase their revenue and in turn aid their ailing finances.
Alex has never ever gotten over the one night stand that ran out on him in the wee hours of the morning. She has haunted him for years and now he cannot believe that she is standing right in front of him. She is still just as intriguing as she was back then, so Alex does what he needs to do to keep her in his sights…he invests and this is where the story really kicks off.
There is no denying their attraction but Vanessa has secrets and once these secrets come out, you just know that it will not bode well. Maybe it is Vanessa or maybe he has just grown up a bit. This was a cute romantic read that leaves you with the warm and fuzzies once you have finished. A man she had a one night stand with, in Vegas. Her family and business had to be her priorities. Oh, it feels so wonderful to have read a HEA happily-ever-after. That is one thing I have come to expect from Author Barbara Lohr, a happily ever after that will tug at your heart strings.
Whether it be siblings, parents, kids, grandparents, etc. And I like to get to know my characters! This story was actually multi-generational because it revolved around a family owned bakery. The reader is never left in the dark about what the other character is thinking. There were a few gasp worthy moments, and pleasant surprises that I did not expect that made me smile. Some stories are worth melting for, and Her Favorite Mistake is one of them. A lovely ever after Whenever I read a romance, I want to be a part of the couple's happiness. Lohr sweeps you along into her magical place of love, whether mismatched or mistaken.
A sweet, touching romp that is sure to make you smile. I haven't read a sweet contemporary adult romance in a while, and I when I saw this book I had a feeling I'd enjoy reading it and I did. It took me about an hour and a half to read it, which should tell you it was a good book; I was turning pages as fast I could read them.
I hadn't read anything written by Barbara Lohr before this, but I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of this trilogy. We're first introduced to Vanessa and her sister Jillian as they make an appearance on a reality tele I haven't read a sweet contemporary adult romance in a while, and I when I saw this book I had a feeling I'd enjoy reading it and I did. We're first introduced to Vanessa and her sister Jillian as they make an appearance on a reality television show looking for backing for the failing family business.
All of a sudden someone from Vanessa's past makes an appearance and she's shaken, but she pulls through and she leaves with a deal from the one guy she never expected to see again. I really liked Vanessa and Alex. I especially admired Vanessa's work ethic. She was willing to do whatever it took to keep her heritage and family well and together. She also didn't focus on the bad spots in her life, even if they did sometimes rear their heads.
With Alex, I liked how determined he was to get to know Vanessa. He overcame his supposed fear of children, but it's hard not to love a little boy like Bo. He's adorable and will steal your heart. I also liked that he always was willing to help Vanessa or her family when needed and he always had her best interests at heart, even when he was jealous. I also like how he had a strong bond with his sister, and even though he wasn't close with his parents, he still took their lessons to heart.
For a while, I wasn't sure why Vanessa was hiding information from Alex, but when the truth came out, it all made sense. I guess one lesson I and any other reader can take away from this novel besides persistence pays off is, haste can be detrimental, and so can assumptions. While sweet, there was plenty of heat between Alex and Vanessa. I do hope Barbara will write Jillian's story. I look forward to stepping back into the Windy City trilogy and seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones.
This story is about a single mom that owns a struggling bakery and enters some kind of reality show which will sponsored her, helping her on making her business rise up. There, she encounters a big, big surprise that changes her whole life. I really liked the story, but I have to confess that I have a hard time reading books on 3rd person.
Not that I don't like it, I just prefer 1st person books. I also had some trouble following the storyline towards the end. Things started happening a little fast to my liking. I couldn't find certain connectors I'd have of like to see. It really was a good story, but those were the things that didn't do it a 5 stars for me. I loved the characters, tho. That was the best part of it all. Vanessa was a strong woman, although she had a really, really hard time trusting men after what her dad and ex-boyfriend did to her and her family.
Grandpa Joe was the sweetest thing on earth!!! I loved, loved, loved him!!! He'd do anything for the women, and boy, on his life that it was just so tears-worthy. Venassa's sister Jillian gives an example of another strong woman. She's always been there for her sister inspite of being so ill. She'd also do anything for the ones she loves. Bo, Vanessa's son, stole my heart since the first scene he was in. So, so, so adorable!!!
What to say about our soooooo swoon worthy hottie hero? He used to be a player. Grwoing up on a family of busy parents, he made a name of his own and didn't trust on relationships. But, he can't help being the sweet man he is. So, you'll end up loving him. I really, really liked this book.
It shows the importance of family, and trust. How love can indeed save a family, and that if you work hard, you can go through all the bad things life has in store for you. I really liked this book. Vanessa had quite a bit on her plate. The men in her life sure seemed to never be there for her.
So, you can see why she has trouble trying to trust Alex; she's used to taking care of things herself. Her Grandfather Joe, being the only exception so far. Even with all the pressures she has, another thing she also has is a loving family She also has several close girlfriends that she has know since forever. One of my favorite phrases in the book was, when Vanessa was at a I really liked this book.
One of my favorite phrases in the book was, when Vanessa was at a party and a woman was all over Alex. The story behind the title of this book was interesting as was some of the bread crumbs the author left throughout the book about a certain "issue''. No, I'm not telling what the issue is, I think it would spoil the story telling. I didn't like the lie that Vanessa told and kept telling and adding to. But she had trust issues and this showed it once again. I haven't even said much about Alex yet.
A really good guy who at times was totally clueless especially when it came to Vanessa. She really threw him a curve when they met and still managed to keep him off-balance most of the time. A good guy, who just happened to be a Hottie who favored different colored bow ties. So you can see that he is quirky as well. I have read several of the books in this series and I liked them all. This one is My Favorite so far. I really liked the cover picture of the ebook. Something different but appealing just the same.
The skyline at the bottom of the book is subtle but nice as well. I think I forgot to mention that on my other reviews. Some mistakes are not worth of mention, but some mistakes you could do it again and again without regrets. When Alex saw Vanessa he recognize her immediately, but she cal Everyone make mistakes. When Alex saw Vanessa he recognize her immediately, but she calls herself with different name four years ago and left him after one night. What is that makes him not say no to this woman?
He becomes her mentor to help her in her family business. This story is keeping my attention till the end. There was one strong woman, which will do whatever takes within the boundaries of normal, to rise and save family business, make her grandfather proud of her and keeps family safe. It means that the book is romance but also include aspects of drama, a little bit and the story is told in 3rd person in funny way.
Enjoying reading this book I saw Vanessa as very funny and interesting character, also she is strong and wise woman. I like her grandpa and her sister too, her little boy is cute and very interesting. Alex is good looking, rich and independent in his decisions. If you enjoy reading books written in 3rd person, about two people in love and their family members this book is for you. This review is also posted on http: I needed a light read after the psychological thriller I had just finished.
Her Favorite Mistake fit the bill. A light, funny, quick read. The story line is very typical with no real twists. That's not a bad thing when you're looking for a light read. Her Favorite Mistake was interesting enough to keep me reading and I finished the book in one day. I'll return to this series between my heavier psychological thrillers, that's for sure. The first thing that grabbed me about this series is the sett I needed a light read after the psychological thriller I had just finished.
The first thing that grabbed me about this series is the setting of Chicago. In this case, Oak Park. Having lived in Chicagoland for a couple decades I was familiar with the restaurants, parks, and some of the landmarks which provided the setting of Her Favorite Mistake. I could very easily visualize where the characters were, especially Bo's first visit to the Field Museum.
It sent back to my own children's first visit there with all the wonder showing on their faces. Bo is totally adorable! Vanessa and Alex met four years prior to the opening of this book, under less than normal circumstances. They never expected to see one another again. Each got the surprise of their life when Vanessa walked onto the stage of Eye of the Tiger reality TV show, Whatever tension there is between the characters is usually quickly resolved. There is no major drama. You can easily see this story being played out in real life between stable adults.
A fun and quick read. It was a sweet, funny, sexy, fast read that kept me on my toes and rooting for a happy ending for Alex and Vanessa. This book was on the lighter side so it was nice to read a book that is more relaxing and doesn't keep you on edge the whole time. This is Vanessa and Alex's story. Vanessa and her sister own a struggling bakery and are about to be mentored by two very wealthy men. What she doesn't expect is one of them to be someone she is very familiar with, her Vegas one night stand Alex.
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As Alex and Vanessa begin to spend more time together, you can feel the chemistry brewing, As these two work closely together, sparks will fly. It is only a matter of time before their sparks ignite. Get ready for a fun, sweet, and sexy ride with Alex and Vanessa. I liked Vanessa and really admired her.