public relations – Page 3 – Khaos Theory Derby

10 Reasons YOU Should Watch Roller Derby

There’s been a “12 Reasons you should watch roller derby” buzzfeed article floating around. Guess what, folks? Some of it they got right! Some of it they got eeeehhhhh…..

So I’m rebooting this blog! It was one my first popular article on Examiner.I’ve re-written some of the explanations, but I’ve kept the headlines the same. 2010 derby or 2015 derby, these are still the 10 reasons you should watch roller derby. (PS Most derby leagues still don’t have seating, so you may want to pick up a Coleman Stadium Seat for your comfort at the game.)

The WOW factor
How many of your friends watch roller derby? If the answer is “many”, then maybe there is something to this. Maybe they have an in on something. If your answer is “none”, you can introduce your circle to the fast-growing sport on the planet. How cool does that make you look? Roller derby is a completely unique, high-impact sport that is totally inclusive of age, gender, nationality, etc. It is an international phenomenon that grows every year. In 2018, the third Roller Derby World Cup took place in Manchester, England, hosting 38 countries, including the Czech Republic, Korea, and West Indies. Barcelona is the stage for the third Men’s Roller Derby World Cup in April 2018, where 24 teams, including Japan, Chile, and Denmark will compete. The speed, power, and finesse on 8 wheels is enough to keep you entertained, even if your local team isn’t allowed to sell beer!

Texas took on Missouri in the men’s championship of State Wars in December 2014, with hard hits and fast feet. Photo by Phantom Photographics.

The social works of derby teams
Roller derby teams are often non-profit organizations themselves; regardless you will find your local teams out at charity events and raising money for good causes at their home bouts. Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised worldwide for charities. Whether promoting suicide prevention, helping wounded animals, collecting for homeless shelters, promoting love as love, or helping a city rebuild after tragedy, derby has covered the spectrum of charitable causes. The Girls on Track Foundation was founded to keep young girls involved in the sport of roller derby, thus building their confidence, courage, and leadership skills. Locally, our own Tampa Roller Derby is involved with Big Cat Rescue and Girls on the Run,

Athletic prowess
These are athletes. Teams practice between two and six times a week, and the participants work out beyond their practice limits. Yoga, crossfit, powerlifting, Spartan Races, aerial silks… the cross-training of roller derby knows no limits.

Impressed by your favorite hockey player doing fancy footwork and scoring points? Wait until you see Lil Slinky of Stockholm duck and dance through the pack effortlessly. Get hyped up by your favorite safety playing all over the field defense? You will love seeing Alli Kat Scratch of the Tampa Tantrums crush the hopes and dreams of her opponents. The feats of agility and pure strength are display at any game (whether it’s the 500-person strong Rose City Rollers or 20 strong Twin City Terrors).

PHDiesel makes a lap for Team Florida at State Wars. Photo by Phantom Photographics.

“Any Given Sunday”
Just like in any other mainstream sport, roller derby has the “any given Sunday” mantra. The Oly Rollers came out of nowhere in their first season as a WFTDA* team, and took the Hydra as the underdog. It is possible for any team to sweat and bleed their way to beating a giant of roller derby. Tournament play has seen a lot of international teams come in and shock the world with their undeniable strength. Teams from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia have been doing damage in WFTDA and MRDA** rankings the past few years.

Less expensive than a movie date
An American movie date can easily breach $75 (IMAX anyone?), and if you’re counting dinner, you can bet on a night breaking $100. Yes, there are some games that offer beer or full entrees (thank you Charm City). Yes, buying merch from Tampa’s Wrecking Mall might up your final cost for the night. However, most teams still play in roller rinks with small concessions and bake sales. A derby date can easily stay under $30! Derby encourages interaction and conversation, whether you are with one person or a group, and it’s way better than sitting awkwardly in a dark theatre with your Tinder date. Bring them to derby!

Who needs a movie when you can be next to the action? Photo by Phantom Photographics

Community!
The roller derby community is a very inclusive place; if it’s a tailgate kind of game (you can check with the league on their event page ahead of time), get a group together and hang out in the parking lot. My first team was notorious for cookouts and beer trading in the parking lot of the Olympic Skating Center before games. Groups often mix and mingle. Don’t know what’s going on during the game? Ask the people beside you (or look for someone with a “Ask me about derby” sign). Regardless of the side you are rooting for, everyone is super friendly and inclusive. You will make friends in the fans, the refs, and the league members themselves. Labels and judgement have no place in our house, so come one, come all!

Direct interaction with athletes
How many sports teams offer one-on-one time with their athletes? Every game and after party is a meet and greet, and leagues host events throughout the year where you can meet your favorite skaters. You can catch up with league scores from those directly involved, and can really feel like a part of the organization even as a fan. Websites like Flat Track Stats even gives you chance to follow how your favorite travel teams are doing, even if the team hasn’t received official sanctioning ranking. With the popularity of tournaments growing in roller derby, keep your eyes peeled to your team’s social media, it’s likely their travel games will be live streamed at some point. Then you can even watch them from home.

Junior derby is gaining momentum! Your son or daughter can play, or you can watch the future of derby at local events. Photo by Phantom Photographics.

Unique characters
Mainstream sports are chuck full of big characters, and roller derby does not disappoint. Be warned: It is not make-up and fishnets. It is the heart, soul, blood and tears that they pour into their work that make these athletes into giants and idols. Big characters in derby are the big hits, the big jams, and acrobats on skates. Whether your team matches in black compression pants, or dons old school mis-matched DerbySkinz and stickers on helmets, you will see the personalities on and off skates. It’s not just the skaters that make the game exciting: The announcers of roller derby are some of the most colorful characters you can imagine. Plus they are super knowledgeable about the game, so make friends with them.

You might find a new love
Skaters, refs, NSOs***, announcers, medics, and coaches have to come from somewhere. Often, they come from the audience. Fans, friends of the fans, and the munchkins of fans are the future of roller derby. Even if you never end up skating, your support is vital to your league. Being a fan and posting about the games, inviting your friends to the events, watching WFTDA.tv, watching the YouTube archives of bouts… it spreads the goodwill of derby to people outside of the community who may never have heard of derby before. Or, maybe they went to a game three years ago and “have been meaning to return”. Maybe you can be the one to remind them to spend a Saturday night at the rink.

Derby is always looking for more officials to help at games. Skates not required! Photo by Phantom Photographics.

It’s just plain FUN
The excitement is infectious. Regardless of your familiarity with the sport, the skill and strength of roller derby pulls you in. It is impossible to resist cheering as your jammer breaks through the pack. Try not to flinch when your team knocks an apex jump out of the air. The more you learn about your league, the more fun you will have each game. BUT the only way to learn more is to actually go!

Calling it off! Photo by Phantom Photographics.

If you have been pushing off attending a roller derby bout, it’s time to get off of Facebook and head to the rink. Friends, excitement, and real social networks await you. Youtube offers some great fan tutorials, or wait until you get there and inquirein person. Spend some time at your local games. You’ll be cheering more than at a Marvel movie, you’ll get closer to the action than nosebleed seats at Lincoln Financial, and you will build relationships unlike anything else you have experienced before.

*Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
**Men’s Roller Derby Association
***Non-Skating Official

Thank you Phantom for the photos used in this blog! Visit http://phantomphotographics.tumblr.com/ to buy prints and support derby

All Star, General, Mental Game, Photography, Training

Why we play

Support Khaos Theory by making a donation to the blog today:

Thunder City Derby Sirens
Photo by Phantom Photographics

What makes us want to be on a roller derby team?

I’ve been thinking about this topic for months. Tried writing a blog a few weeks ago and I couldn’t actually translate my feels into a coherent written structure. I’m not talking, “Why do we love the sport?” or “Why do we join a league?” But rather, what drives us all to make a travel team? Or be drafted to a home team?

Before my home league’s travel team votes on the charter, each skater gets to talk about what they had to offer, and why they wanted to be a part of the team. It was interesting to hear the answers from those dropping their name in the hat for the all-stars versus the b team. There was quite the difference in theme of statement from one team to the other. I realized that those going for the the all-stars had a much different theme of answer than those wanting to be on our b-team. It got me thinking more and more about WHY we want to play on teams so badly.

If you ask a derby skater why they want to be on a team, the most common answer you’ll probably get is: “I want to play in bouts!” (Or do I call them games in the blog now?) **winky face**

They want to travel. They want to play other opponents. They want to prove themselves. Playing in bouts is a bit about the attention of everyone watching you, but should also be about the practical applications of skills and drills. Bouts are the place we test ourselves against an opponent to see if we have improved. I have been on many teams at this point, and I can say that being in a bout means different things based on the culture your team builds.

Tampa Roller Derby on our way to Texas for a weekend of the derbs.

Some teams value bouts strictly as ranking potential.

Some teams just want to enjoy the fun of the sport; including all that boutfitting, production shenanigans, and after parties offer up as they play against your family from a different city.

Some teams want to try out what they have been drilling in practice, to see how their strength and mobility have improved.

Some teams play bouts just to raise money in their home venue and have their friends and family come and watch them do the thing that they love.

Some teams work really well together on bout day, and everything is low stress and fun.

Some teams may work together, but tension runs so high that benches become explosive.

Maybe a team just has that one player that yells at refs or complains about calls, and because they’re a “superstar”, the behavior isn’t squashed. That behavior spreads to the rest of the team, and the bench becomes a 3 headed monster.

Maybe the bench coach is that one superstar yelling.

Or maybe everyone loves each other and the sport so much that everyone is just focused on the fun of the game.

I should mention that teams don’t always take the time to create a culture. Some are self-aware enough to create a mission statement of culture to promote and strive for. Most derby teams, I have seen, do not even understand that a culture has manifested through coaching habits, attendance enforcement, and superstar treatments. Sometimes an awesome derby culture of fun and support is born organically through individuals gathering for a common purpose. Too often, I have seen leagues succumb to the expectation that certain players get praise and playtime, and those players can do and say no wrong. Everyone else are plebeians and must fall in line and teach themselves.

If you just had an ‘ah-ha’ moment, recognizing that your team has not given itself a Culture Goal (or worse, you’re in one of those cancerous league situations!), maybe it’s time to sit with your steering committee and decide on some core values for the league and individual teams.

Molly Rogers line up against the Rolling Renegades of Sarasota. Photo by Phantom Photographics

Many cultures have this idea rooted into their core values without realizing it: “You will play bouts when you are on the travel team, and we do this to play in bouts.” So the skater immediately begins lobbying for a spot on the travel team, despite dedication. Despite training. Despite safety. Despite their willingness to play on a team. Endgame, we are taught, is: PLAY IN BOUTS.

I have a radical suggestion for you, Roller Derby:

You should not want to be on a team to play bouts. You should want to be on a team to practice roller derby.

Wait, what?

You should want to be on a team to PRACTICE roller derby.

What do I mean?

I mean we need to adjust our mindset.

Bouts are fun, yes. Bouts are what count towards our ranking, absolutely. Bouts are the culmination of our practice time and work together, yes. But it’s just 60 minutes on the clock.

I am not saying we should undervalue bouts, or want to play in them less. Rather, I think we all need to shift focus to being excited for practice time. Most of Roller Derby practices at least twice a week. You are spending far more time with your team in drill, skill, and endurance situations than you are in bout situations.

I do my best to not even worry when my next bout is, because my intensity does not change from practice to practice. I do not show up with different intentions or drive when I know a roster is being decided that night. Every practice is 110%. I pay for this time on the track, so I am going to love it and use it. If I am put on a roster, great! If I’m not, it’s OK because I have practice again Sunday night. I know I won’t be short on derby for the weekend.

Too often skaters put so high a priority on bout day that all they think about is making the roster. They show up just in time, and with just enough intensity to play in the bout. If we could shift the prevailing thought in roller derby to be less “BOUT DAY!!!” and more “PRACTICE DAY!!” think of how many people would value their drill time more? How much would attendance change?

Bout day is a priority because Roller Derby puts an emphasis on it.

To me it is just as fun and invigorating to stop Tazmaniac in a wall drill in practice, as it is to stop her in a bout day situation. Putting our focus on the awesome of practice means more excitement, which means more bodies, which means more opportunities for strategy and teamwork. Which will, unsurprisingly, lead to MORE SUCCESS ON BOUT DAY.

Slayor Moon Rojo Grande, Pup, and Splatypus ready for the Molly Rogers jammer. Photo by Phantom Photographics

When practice time is the center of attention, you can focus on goals as an individual and as a team mate. You can put your energy into what is being practiced instead of worrying about making the next roster.

When your focus is practice, not bout day, you think about your daily cross training differently, and with the mind of making practice better. You know you’re going to be doing five minute jams at practice on Monday, so what can you do on your off day, Saturday, to improve your conditioning for it? Thinking about that every week builds into months and then years of cross training, almost by accident!

When you focus on practice, you get to struggle and laugh with all of your team mates in all the different situations. You get to love the sport and the nuance of the sport.

When our focus is bout day, we get caught up in the spotlight of it. We get caught up in the pressure of performance, but when we focus on practice day, we are all Superstars, and egos are left at the door because no one is watching. When our focus is practice, we work hard for two hours at a time. If we can work hard for two hours, we can definitely work hard for our piece of 60 minutes.

Practice is the proving ground for bout day.

Practice is where we get to push ourselves and learn.

Practice is where we get to high five our family and celebrate victories.

Practice is where we get to tell our friends that bad days happen, and that one bad practice will not equate to a lifetime of failure in the sport.

Practice is where we get to put our head down and do work.

If your heart doesn’t beat with excitement when prepping for training (sometimes up to 5 in a week), why are you in the sport?

Glory should come from within. Achievement should be felt when doing something awesome with your team mates. This is no longer an individual sport. No longer should we put the spotlight on those who have talent, who don’t come to practice or fundraisers or do committee work.The spotlight should be on the weekly warriors who sweat with each other and create the bonds that only practice time can.

Practice IS our sport. I feel like the leagues that recognize and promote that in their culture, have the most success over the long term.

Stop counting down to bout day. Start counting down to Monday.

Get more out of your mental game by training it. These books are a great start: The Mental Edge, Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You’ve Always Wanted, 10-Minute Toughness: The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins

Tampa Bay Men’s listening attentively.

For coaching and nutrition help for all athletes, or to ask questions, propose blog ideas, or just give feedback, leave me a comment, or drop me a line at DerbyAmerica@gmail.com. I’m always booking league coaching for all levels.

Don’t forget to visit Phantom Photographics’ Facebook to purchase photos and ask him about his cool shirts.

Uncategorized

Pick Things Up, Put Them Down – Merry Khaos Notes

Like my EAT BIG PLAY BIG notes, this is not going to be a verbatim dissertation of what we went over, but more the bullet points of things we talked about and maybe some WHYs involved. We talked about nutrition too, but because I have my notes posted from EBPB up and running, why don’t you just check them out and get the full picture of the athletic nutrition.

WHAT I MEAN BY LIFTING WEIGHTS

Big lifts – Build all over strength and power, utilizes the full bar
Barbells – Build stabilization muscles and helps support big lifts, small movements, and quick twitch.

Free Weights – Barbells and bars; your body must do the work to keep things in place
Plate/Smith Machine – Training wheels; no real accurate measure of weight. Some plate machines are useful (like the leg extension) but usually you can pass by these.
Cable Machines – The baby of free weights and plate-loaded; there is some stabilization work done here.

For some gym comedy, and to learn ‘how not to use the Smith Machine’ I highly recommend some BroScience.

Free weights and cables should be used as your supplemental workouts. Like your vitamin and protein supplements, they are the extra stuff you do to support the mainline of work. They should not be your primary form of ‘weight lifting’. Mostly because you’re not really lifting weights when you do them.

WHY SHOULD YOU WEIGHT LIFT?

The easy answer is: Because you play a contact sport.

Gnat King Kill getting it done. Strength effects speed and control. It allows him to deal with fast skaters and bigger blockers.

Show me one contact sport that does not require their athletes to weight lift. If your coach tells you to do dry land drills, do you question? No. You question weight lifting because it’s different and new and super difficult. The resistance to lifting in roller derby is not because it’s not helpful or proven to advance skaters – it’s because it takes more effort to do it. And, honestly, it can be intimidating.

From the physics standpoint think of this reason why you should weight lift:

If you can only squat 130 pounds, that means you can only push that much weight (approximately) into your wheels. If you have someone who is 170 pounds hitting you, but you can only respond with 130 pounds – who is going to win?

This is a very basic, crude example, but hopefully you get the point.

Why bench press? I learned during Beat Me Halfway that if you have Magnum PIMP doing truck-and-trailer with you, your arms and core better be able to hold up to the resistance he’s giving you. If he then directs you into a full-speed Screecharound, your arms and body have to be able to deal with as much power as he’s putting into you to transfer to your skates, to transfer to Screecharound to take him all the way to the line.

Arm strength has just as much a place in derby as leg strength these days, as illustrated by the Mass Maelstrom blockers. Photo by Tyler Shaw – Prints Charming Derby Photography

PHYSICS!

(and also, I was so sore the next day)

If you can push a sled with 150 pounds on it, you can push through a link giving you 100 pounds of resistance.

WHAT IS CONDITIONING?

We talked a lot about lift days verse conditioning days.

Your lift days are just that. You’re picking up heavy weight. Your conditioning days involve cardio work, particularly HIIT. This is your tire flips, your hill runs, your wind sprints, your heavy plyometrics. If you do Crossfit, those WoDs should be your conditioning days … so the extra days. WoDs every day will not build your strength the way lift days will.

Myself and McJagged picked up heavy things and moved them around, jumped on walls, and moved around kettlebells for conditioning work

WHAT DOES THIS FEEL LIKE?

Like with derby, we have to adjust to a new feeling when we start weightlifting. If you’ve done plate machines in the past, then you are not used to what it feels like to have 180# on your back, or to pick up 200#.

It feels heavy. It feels miserable sometimes. It feels like you might hurt yourself. Just like it feels when you’re doing a new advanced skill on roller skates. Like those one foot “chomps” or one foot plows.. Picking your foot up and putting it down in front of you, with your toes turned in and your knees touching? That’s terrifying! I was sure I was going to break my leg. I didn’t. And you won’t break your shit just because it feels heavy.

It’s supposed to feel heavy. That’s the point.

DO I NEED SPECIAL GEAR?

Not necessarily.

I wear knee wraps because I can feel things shift around in my right knee when I squat and it’s weird and I don’t like it. With lighter weight, you don’t need belts, wraps, wrist grips. As you start lifting, talk to people around you about the gear they have. You’ll learn when you’ll need to get a belt, or if you want to get gloves.

Wear flat shoes or no shoes. Those weird toe shoes? They actually work really well for lifting. So do Chuck Taylors. So does nothing. Just like you wouldn’t buy Bonts for your first pair of skates, you shouldn’t go buy the special fit lifting shoes before you start lifting.

WHAT ARE THE LIFTS I SHOULD DO?

No questions asked you need to do:

Squat
Deadlift
Bench Press

Lifts that I think you should incorporate:

T-bar Row
Front Squat
Hack Squat
Incline Bench
Sumo Deadlifts (or Sumo/Russian)
Upright Row
Overhead Press

WHAT SUPPLEMENTAL LIFTS SHOULD I DO?

This one is tough. It depends on your programming. Ones that I make sure I incorporate:

Leg Extension
Glut-Ham Raise
Pull-Up
Hanging Leg Raise
Bent Over Row
Lat Pull Down
Seated Row

WAIT – HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO DO?

Guess what? More reading for you!! What I recommend to EVERYONE is to pick up Mark Rippietoe’s “STARTING STRENGTH”. There is an app you can download called 5x5Stronglifts that will help you through the whole process.

Here’s the idea that I can pass on to you that I started with… 5×5. So you’re doing 3 lifts each day, 5 times, 5 reps. This does not include your 5 rep warm-up. When my plan was set for me, we did one lift for the upper body, one for the back, one for the legs.

My plan was this:

Monday – Back Squat, Bench Press, Upright Row
Tuesday – Front Squat, Overhead Press, Deadlift
Thursday – Hack Squat, Incline Bench, TBar Row
Friday – Back Squat, Bench Press, Sumo/Russian Deadlift

I then did 1 or 2 supplemental lists each day (unless I was crazy spent). Getting someone to help you set up a training plan around your skating schedule is awesome. I had a couple people helping me along the way. And don’t be afraid to tweak your schedule as you progress. After your first four weeks, you should be in a routine, but before that it’s ok to move things around and figure out what works best for you!

Learn form on your own through the BUFF DUDES series. They’re really a great, short series of tutorials.

HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH TO LIFT?

Again, having a friend that knows lifting is helpful here. If you don’t, go to your gym and find the biggest dude or lady who is both strong in the upper and lower body (or ask someone at the desk of who to ask), and humbly request help.

Think of it this way: If someone came up to you at an open skate and said, “Hey you look like you know what you’re doing. I’m trying to get into roller derby, but I don’t know how to plow stop, can you watch me real quick to help me?” You’re not going to tell them to fuck off. Lifters feel the same way about their sport. I promise they’ll be nice to you.

Step one is to find your personal record (PR), also known as your one rep max (1RM).

Do not plan on doing your 5×5 during max days. You also shouldn’t try to max out multiple workouts for the same body part. For example, don’t try to max out back squat and front squat on the same day.

To max out, do your warm up weight (people can help you figure out what that would be… for me, my deadlift warm up has ALWAYS been 135#, and my squat started at 100#, bench was 45# … these are good starting points). Do 5 reps. Your buddy can help you go up in weight. Do 3 reps. Then up in weight and do 1 rep until you can’t move it. Boom. 1RM.

Plugging these maxes into your 5×5 Stronglift app will create a nice little “oh this is what I lift today” guide for you. You can contact me if you want something more specific.

You call it extreme, I call it “what it feels like 185# on my back”

SO I JUST LIFT FOREVER NOW?

Things can change up, but yes, now you just lift. In a 5×5 program, I do like incorporating a deload week either on week 5 or 6. A deload week is when you do your lifts, but at 50% of your max. It gives your body a chance to recoup.

When I first started this program, I was going up in weight for some of my lifts each week, not up for others. The stronglift app helps you with that.

Setting goals will help keep you focused and your training tight so that way you don’t get bored.

OTHER NOTES

You will plateau. You will have bad days at the bar. It happens. Just like derby. Sometimes you have enough sleep, you’re hydrated, you’ve eaten enough, and you just can’t squat the bar the way you did the week before. It’s ok. It happens. Seriously.

This can be new and can be scary. Just like derby. Don’t be put off from lifting by yourself because “You don’t want to hurt yourself”. There is just as much risk for injury in this sport as others. If you play derby, you know that you can have someone there with you, you can be in the process of being coached, and you can do one thing and still hurt yourself. Don’t fear injury for the sake of fearing injury.

You are probably not going parallel on your squats. If you have never squatted before, start with BOX SQUATS. Your new gym bro can find a good box for you. It should be low enough that when you sit on it, your legs create an angle lower than 90 degrees.

Your back is going to hurt. That’s because this will be the first time you’re fully using your back for a lift. All the time I hear “Oh man, my low back hurts! I must not be deadlifting right.” Or you’re deadlifting exactly right and you’re using muscles you never have before. Your back is going to hurt.

If your back is weak, your squats will suffer. “What?? But squats are a leg lift!” Yes, but the bar is on your back. So if you can’t support the bar, you can’t squat it. It’s possible that your squats may be lighter than what your legs can handle at first, because your back is not strong enough.

RECORD YOURSELF SO YOU CAN SELF-CRITIQUE AND GET NOTES FROM FRIENDS. It seems super narcissistic, but you can correct between sets sometimes! You can send the video to your friends from around the country and say “Hey is this parallel?” or “what am I doing wrong?”

When you’re lifting, EYES UP HIGH! Pick a spot towards the ceiling, look at it. Do not look side to side. Keep your weight on your heels, you should be able to wiggle your toes.

I think that’s about it!

Drop me a line if you want some extra help or have other questions about setting up your program. Your offseason program is going to be different than your in-season program, so I can help you with that stuff too. When in doubt, read books! 531, Beyond 531, and Starting Strength are the ones that have been recommended to me. Drop me a message at DerbyAmerica@gmail.com with questions or if you have anything you want me to address.

Check out http://www.GoHerbalife.com/k.grey if you need some supplements to make your lifting program max the f*** out. You can also learn about our 24 line at http://www.Herbalife24.com

Go lift things!

Uncategorized

Writing new discourse: Taking the sexy out of women’s athletics

So I am going to veer away from my usual topics for a moment to discuss something I have always found very interesting: writing new discourses. What does that mean? Well for the non-communication majors in the crowd, a discourse is (simply put) the way we see something.

When looking at the social impact of Rent, you must do so through the looking glass of early 90’s America. To understand the implications of the language of Shakespeare, you must put on the mantle of the Elizabethan Every-man. Looking at it with modern language and text in mind will simply muddle the meaning behind the words.

That being said: there’s a lot of ‘sexy’ in women’s sports.

In modern America (and beyond our borders in this international community called the Internet), sex sells. There is also a belief that ‘no one wants to see women play sports’, so in order to entice an audience to watch what little athletics there are, we over-sexualize the participants.

To look at it from a psycho-analytical perspective, the mainstream media (primarily consisting of the male gaze) feels threatened by women who present themselves as strong. The media must either soften them to make them less threatening to the men by converting them to sexual objects, or must over-masculinize the women to make them non-threatening.

Search on google — Google search of “Women’s Beach Volleyball”. The internet says: “Don’t focus on the fact that she can bench press more than you because look at DAT ASS.”

(I don’t know if you can see it or if the screen shot is too small, but the other recommended searches? “Women’s Beach Volleyball camel” and “Hot women’s beach volleyball”)

While beach volleyball is not doing much to combat this overly-sexualized image, other sports are taking a more proactive stance.

If you have read this blog, you may have picked up that I play roller derby. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association has been focusing their PR and marketing efforts for the last three years, especially, on re-writing the discourse in which we see roller derby. We no longer want people to think of :

We want people to think of this:

dave wood oly — Gotham vs Oly – Hydra Championship Bout
Dave Wood Photography Used with Permission

Or even this:

Atlanta Derby Brat
Dave Wood Photography Used with permission

Going above and beyond to present the sport of roller derby as that – a sport – has been a challenge for the W.F.T.D.A. when you have competing roller derby organizations who are not on board with the same public relations mission. While flat track derby is very focused on the athleticism, the O.S.D.A., M.A.D.E., Renegade and R.D.C.L. organizations continue to present the public with bank tracks, fishnets and cute girls who skate (“tee hee, isn’t that hot?”). NOTE: This does not imply that these organizations are not seeking athletic credential for their skaters or that their skaters are any less legitimate in their training. I’m talking public image here. Creating a new discourse in this situation is exceptionally difficult.

Some people just don’t want understand the athleticism and prowess necessary for the sport. Well. Until they watch Sandrine Rangeon (yes that’s her real name) score 45 points in one jam when her team is down by 35 and a Bronze medal at Championships is on the line. Then you might get it. Or seeing Bonnie Thunders leap half the track, or On’Da Sligh spin, hop and slide her way around every opponent. Then they go .. “OOOOoooohhhhh. I get it now.”

Let On’Da Sligh blow your mind… she’s the one in the blue with a star on her helmet.

With the first Roller Derby World Cup having been played in 2011, those of us in the derby community are hoping that people soon to take our sport seriously. Next step might be the Olympics.

Speaking of the Olympics … SEUGE WAY!!

At least roller derby lacks one obstacle that another sport, a sport that will be making it’s first appearance in the 2016 Olympics, has: STRIPPERS.

I am speaking, of course, of Pole Dancing. They’re not even calling it “Pole Aerobics” or “Pole Gymnastics”. Nope. Cut to the chase. There seems to be identity crisis issues happening within this subculture of athletes. Yes, athletes. Like in derby, there’s an element of sex that is part of the culture. Ok, let’s be honest here. The culture of derby has been linked to sex through psycho-analytic means.

It’s more than culture for the dancers I have met recently. They understand that sex has been the reason that the sport has been created, but it’s no longer just about sex. Not for the athletes. I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand. How could derby not be accepted into the Olympics, but pole dancing was? Well, just like seeing Sandrine Rangeon score 45 points at Championships, I was shown a video that made me go “Oh. Damn. DAMN! That was awesome!”

The athleticism, balance, strength, endurance and control the women who perform have is unmatched. If I said some of them perform with Cirque du Soleil, would that make their skills more viable? Would it make them more accepted? Many of them do. Many of those at the top of the competition circuit hold regular jobs or are performers in other rights.

So the PR question that they are facing is not only “How do we change people’s minds?” but “What is our identity?” While flat track derby has focused down it’s mission to being Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary. (Huh? See. New discourse) The pole dancer community must decide how much sexy to keep in their core.

And beach volleyball? Well. I just don’t think that’s ever going to change.

This definitely changed my mind about a vertical pole and the athleticism. This is Jenyne Butterfly, arguably the most talented in the field right now.

Uncategorized

Creating a brand, when the brand is yourself

In a previous post, I discussed my existence inside a brand that is inside a brand (Derbalife IS Herbalife and presenting two images can be tricky). I’ve also discussed damage control a little bit when it comes to the brand of Merry Khaos.

My job is health and wellness. My brand is myself. Everything I present to the world is a construction of my brand of me. No one will want to work with a health coach who is not working on her own health. No one wants to work with a derby coach who seems distant from the world in which she teaches.

Construction of brand and creation of image is a long process that builds up over time. It takes preparation and diligence. Since I am trying to demonstrate to the world that I am awesome at helping with sports nutrition and weight loss, I must put my money where my mouth is.

This is why I am goal-setting and tracking in a blog format. This way people can see my progress. Individuals can see the work I am putting into making myself better, and will grow to trust that I can help them do the same. I use the products that I promote and I tell the world about what they do for me.

It’s like Christmas!

Building a brand when the product is you… it is trickier than branding a product. A product is stagnant. It has no feelings or emotions. We place it how we want. We light it how it looks best. When you are the product, and your services and advice are what you are offering, everything you say do and present to the world comes to scrutiny.

This is why I am constantly posting positive affirmations, goals and the recognition of being human. I am like you. You can relate to me. You should buy the brand of Kristie Grey, Herbalife Health Coach or Merry Khaos, Derby Coach and sports nutrition guru.

So enjoy the brand of me. I intend on expanding [the brand] and making me the best me I can, so I can make you the best of you.

I’m not Team USA [yet] but watch out. by Juan Paden.

Uncategorized

When computers have vendettas

First, let me thank Christine Metcalfe and every Speech Team coach I have ever had.

Today was we came to our Advanced PR class to present our pitches for our midterm project. The project: create a media kit for an event, product or organization and then choose a media organization to pitch to. I worked on a media kit for WFTDA.tv and pitched ‘to’ Val Ackerman of ESPNW.

I practiced my pitch. On the school’s network I downloaded and tested my powerpoint and amazing W.F.T.D.A. video. This video is perfect. Perfect for my pitch! I couldn’t believe my luck!

I volunteer to go second since no one else wants to go. The screens were coming down, and as I logged onto the computer, I filled space by starting my pitch. Multi-tasking! I’m so awesome! Talking in public! Yes!

Powerpoint up! Slight hiccups in the process. No biggie. Perfect lead-in: “Why should you cover W.F.T.D.A. Championships and WFTDA.tv? I could tell you, but I’ll let these ladies.”

Nothing. Uh… Reload. Nothing. Try YouTube. Can’t find it. Get on Facebook. Won’t load. The whole time talking. Ok, fine. Chatter. However!! Public Relations class!! HERE IS THE VIDEO:

Uncategorized

Public Relations Debacle: Romney/Ryan Haz It

Political beliefs aside: what the heck has happened to the Romney/Ryan campaign in the last 30-ish hours?

Before the Presidential debate, photos of Vice President nominee Paul Ryan hit the web. No, not the ridiculous gym photos that were released. Photos of Paul Ryan in a soup kitchen washing dishes. However, most of us saw the photos attached to articles exposing a debacle. Were the dishes actually dirty? Were there even patrons in the soup kitchen? Did he even get permission to have cameras there? The event has been called a photo-op, not an actual act of volunteerism.

Of which has been eaten up by media and Romney opposition.

However, with the debate happening, the GOP had the hope of everyone forgetting about the soup kitchen. Mitt, or “Mittens” as he has been dubbed by the Social Media Public, had such a strong showing in the first debate against Obama (who apparently had taken too much Xanex the first time through) that his lack of facts did not seem to affect the final win. So, he had an opportunity to make it aaaaallll better for Camp Romney by doing it again. Lies or not. However, Mitt has a habit of talking… And that gets him in trouble.

Now, there has been a social media storm about “Binders Full of Women” including a Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr page. So… now how will the Republicans respond?

Uncategorized

Khaos Crisis Management

Today I had my first experience with crisis management as the brand of “Merry Khaos”. It was not a pleasant feeling and I have to say that I hope I do not have to do anything like this again. It is a terrible feeling to know that someone was hurt or offended, especially when you are directly to blame.

On Sunday night, I attended the Black Rose Rollers’ intra-league bout as an Herbalife vendor. An intra-league bout is when a league splits up into ‘home teams’ and plays. Sometimes they are permanent teams that run year round (like Philly Roller Girls’ Broad Street Butchers) and sometimes they are fun teams that are created and then disbanded just for one night.

At the after party, I was wearing the hoodie of the league I recently left. A small girl, program in hand, approached my circle. She handed Briann Jam her program and a pen for her autograph, and then Slamorous. Then she looked at me, hesitant, and extended the program to me. It was extremely loud, so if she did say anything, I did not hear her. I thought the hesitation was because she did not know who I was. I thought she asked me because she didn’t want to miss any skaters, and she wasn’t sure who I was.

Honestly, I have a heck of a time distinguishing skaters when they’re not in uniform! Some of the girls had changed into street clothes, so I figured she thought I was a Black Rose. I did not want to mislead her, and I did not want to ‘steal glory’ from their night. Aside from that, Harrisburg did not have any home bouts in the last 12 months that I had skated in. So, I told the girl that I didn’t skate; I could sign it, but I don’t think she wants me to. I am skating in the next bout though and I hope she likes me enough for me to sign that one.

She tilted her head at me and quietly left.

Today, I hear from friends in the league, that her father was posting nasty, passive aggressive statements on Facebook about stuck up derby girls who wouldn’t sign her daughter’s program. Turns out, she has been watching Harrisburg skate for a few years and she knew EXACTLY who I was. Oi.

I contacted the father and explained what happened, and though he was not happy he was satisfied with my reasoning. “You have to understand,” he said, “You’re a celebrity in this community. You have to know that everyone knows you.”

I wonder if Suzy Hotrod ran into this when Gotham was getting big?

I asked him for his address and his daughter’s name. I am going to be sending her an 8×10″ photo from this season, one of my favorites ever taken. I’m also going to include a personal note and an 8×10″ photo of the team that I happen to have. Maybe some stickers too.

On twitter, I got a mention from another BRR skater who was asking about the incident. So hours after I thought I had the issue solved, I had to re-address it. I hope I have responded in the proper manner. I got my Chobani coupons in the mail today, and I want to be as quick to fix this as they were.

Uncategorized

Chobani’s quick response

I love Chobani. I have one every day as part of my low carb, low fat, high protein diet. Often, I will eat a plain flavor, but when I want a treat I reach for mango, passion fruit or (my favorite) blood orange.

Today, I found something in my blood orange Chobani. A sharp piece of plastic.

The piece is about as big as it looks .. not very. However, I couldn’t just let it go. So I took this photo and immediately tweeted @Chobani about it.

Then I set a timer.

Within 4 minutes and 30 seconds, a response was tweeted back to me with the proper e-mail address to send a message to. Care@chobani.com. So I sent them a message with the photo. Then I set the timer.

Within 5 minutes, again, there was a response in my inbox. Extraordinary! Chobani truly is the Queen of Social Media and wins at “Best Public Relations Response Time”. They sent me specific instructions on what to do so they can check out their other lot complaints, and also will be sending me coupons.

(I’m not nuts about the fact that I have to send them a self-addressed stamped envelope, but you can’t win all the battles, right?)

So thank you, Chobani. I’m going to have a hard time with fruit on the bottom yogurt for a bit, but at least you’re trying to make it better.