Last week was a rough one for me. I didn’t have the flu (thank goodness), and it wasn’t a cold…I just didn’t feel right. I was exhausted and a little dizzy (more so than usual), and it took some doing just to get through the week. That’s when I realized – the blog! I hadn’t yet done anything for my blog! Far be it from me to leave my readers with a FANdemonium-less week, so I put on my big girl pants and headed out to take in some roller derby.
I had no idea what to expect. Aside from reading a short profile on the league in Milwaukee Magazine a few months back, I knew nothing about the Brewcity Bruisers. I’m not sure I know a heck of a lot more now, although I’m not sure it matters. I do know I had fun. It was entertaining, even though I’m not exactly sure what it was all about.
Let me set the scene…
It all takes place at the US Cellular Arena. The planks of the Panther hardwood are pulled away, as is the turf of the Wave field. What’s left is cold concrete – a blank slate on which the flat track of the Brewcity Bruisers is outlined in bright orange paint. Surrounding the track are fans. And lots of them. There are also mascots. And although there aren’t quite as many of them, there are quite a few. Of course, there are also cheerleaders – or Beerleaders, as they’re called in this league. They too, have a mascot; it’s a keg.
It’s a lot to take in, and at times I started to think I may have spiked a fever that caused me to hallucinate. Is that a guy dressed up as a lime? Why does he have an umbrella? What’s with the guy in the chicken suit next to him? And why’s he wearing a cape? Is that a Yeti? The answers to all of these questions is either ‘yes’ or ‘I don’t know.’ But I realized I was in good company. Even the announcers questioned the participation of the lime and the chicken, but that was before deciding it didn’t really matter because it was all in good fun.
And that’s a perfect way to describe my experience. It was probably the first sports event I ever attended where I had little to no clue what was going on. What’s a jammer? How does a team score? Why do only two women wear helmets with a stripe, and two with a star? Luckily, the friend I went with knew a little and at least filled me in on the basic rules. (It may have helped to check out the rules before I went.) I’m sure I still didn’t understand it all, but hey…I had fun. So, who cares?
I know one thing for sure. I’ll be going to another Brewcity Bruiser bout in the future. Who’s coming with me?
