@PreFlashGordon: And one more thing -- none of the classic Derby people used fake names for when they played. Weston may have been nicknamed the "Golden Girl," but folks knew her name. Annis Jensen may have been called "Big Red" -- but you knew her name. None of this modern day "I have to make up some pun for a name" stuff. If that's what they want to do, ok, but I find it cheapens the game to refer to some woman as "Auntie Maim" and even the playbooks don't have her real name. Ridiculous!
@PreflashGordon: Sorry, but I'll politely disagree. I've attended quite a few of the "modern" Derby games and I simply don't find it to be comparable to the original Derby. How exactly would you say I'm "knocking" it? It's an opinion, which you clearly disagree with -- fine and good.
I will say this definitively, though: they broke the molds when Calvello and Weston were made. Tough ladies today? Sure, but I'll never agree they come anywhere near Joanie and Ann. :)
Today's modern roller derby is all fine and good, but it will always pale in comparison to the original Roller Derby. There are no modern-day Joanie Westons or Ann Calvellos; now the teams all have players with fake names based on puns or punishments. Sure, it's cute, but to me, it's NOT the derby. It's more flash and fights then the original.
Like I said, the modern stuff today is fine; I'm glad it's been kept alive, but it'll never be as legendary as when Jerry Seltzer was overseeing it.
@voyage2k Don't let the names fool you. I'm a photographer for many modern roller derby leagues and the skaters are tough, tough mofo's. And no Ann Calvello? I could name about twenty modern skaters who have just as much charisma and toughness on the track.
There's no need to knock the present game so the past game can be good. Modern roller derby in its present incarnation is one of the greatest sports in the world. IMHO both today's game and yesterday's are awesome.
Is Wall Street fixed? I took as faith Efficient-Market Theory and trusted my own wily genius and insider knowledge till I lost all in latest crash. Scrounged 2 bits ,leveraged, bet against the T-Birds, back on my skates.
I grew up watching Roller Derby, and Joanie Weston was one of my moms favorites..She looked alot like my relatives who were Oakies from back in the day..Hard-bitten, Depression era kids and they never forgot it..tough women all the way around, and great too..
the reason you never saw very lopsided games was also that most teams were pretty evenly matched. the only team that won by 20 - 30 points were the T birds. in the 70s, it was not unusual for ralphie in a last jam to score 20 points.
my apologies. i read what you wrote as only two leagues skating unscripted, and immediately took the defense as i'm getting sick of explaining to people that roller derby is nothing like pro wrestling.
Really sorry about that. Should have paid more attention before jumping to conclusions.
Again, have to disagree. Like i said, i am a roller girl.
Our league in australia plays bouts that are totally unscripted. Games are often close, especially intraleague bouts. But i've seen many where the winning team is up by 40+ points. In fact our league played another a couple weeks ago and won 171 to 82.
If you think this sport is scripted then you obviously have no involvement with it or know what you are talking about.
ROLLER DERBY is hell of "real & dangerous" a master Classic Sports in the highest ranks. Your body & mind better be in tip top shape: a athletes body so to speak. Awesome vintage Classic interviews with two amazing Roller Derby icons the she-Demon Ann Calvello (totally frighten me as a child/and still do..'smile) and the mighty Joanie Weston may they both rest in peace. I love "all" the men & women that played this much beloved Sports & made it a legendary Classic: the SF Bay Bombers etc.,.
Roller Derby, despite what Joanie said, was EXACTLY like pro wrestling. The game results were definitely predetermined, but the injuries were real. I mean, I watched at least 500 games, and never, ever saw a game that one team won by 20 or 30 points. But who cares? I loved it!
I have to disagree. Being a roller girl i can tell you with absolute certainty that derby is as real as it gets. The hits are real. The falls are real. The injuries are real. And the outcome is most definately real!!
I used to watch Roller Derby on the now-defunct "SportsChannel" network in New Jersey roughly between 1985-87. They always showed the Bombers and Calvello/Weston going at it. Lots of great fun!
Bless you Ann Cavello, the greatest bitch Goddess of all time. She was great, the tan, the hair, the temper... amazing. My fav, though, was Margie Lazlo.
I used to have a list of all their names particurlarly the SF Bay Bombers, the Chiefs & the Pioneers as a kid (the later two came from Chicago & NY..'I think): from my Mom's Sports flyers/posters etc.,. where we used to go see them countless times at SF KEZAR it was so cool!!! Those legendary Iconic ROLLER DERBY stars "men & women" Calvello, Weston, O'Conner, Roman, Peanuts, Tucker, Butler, Lazlo, etc.,. w/their numerous Icon Roller Derby colleagues Team mates! Unforgettabel Classic Sport.
I used to serve sandwiches, potatoe salads, etc and sliced deli meats to Joan Weston at Herb's Deli from 1970-1974-then I went to UPS- worked with Herb, his son Bruce, Jim Ryan, Pat Casserly-SFFD Chief Airport Division now-does any body know what we did and can you help recall the good ole' days up there on Taraval St next to Scherbas?!!!!!! and the antique store next store? what was in that potatoe salad besides Herb's secret ingredient?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds "fun" & totally "exciting" and I bet who knows our Mom I'm sure venture by this Classic Deli Shop before & after the ROLLER DERBY games/as well as other eateries & plus she made some pretty hearty lunches too...'those were great times. I missed them so much! Thanks.
Hey, Anne Calvello, Joan Westin, the Jolters, Bombers, T-Birds, Chiefs, Warriors, Roller-Derby, Roller-Games, IT WAS ALL GOOD! I didn't know both Anne Calvello and Joan Westin had passed on...wow! I've just discovered these roller-derby youtube videos. They're GREAT!
Hey, I was priveleged to have watched her skate at the L.B. Sports arena in the late sixties. Ann Calvello was way before her time. She sported green, pink and polka-dot hair. The music industry, starting in the
1980's to now, should pay tribute to a true "Pioneer"! Since I was a T-Bird fan, she was the villain. But, just like Oz's "wicked witch of the West", she scared the living day-lights out of you as a kid, but as you grew up, you were sure glad she did! RIP Ms. Anne Calvello!
@alexisperez808 God Bless your aunt. As a young impressionable boy growing up in a Northern California suburb during the late 1960s and early 1970s, your aunt and a few other Roller Derby people were my heroes.
I sure miss the classic Roller Derby from the early 1970's. Especially Ann Calvello and Joan Weston. Watch Joanie clobber villain Sandy Dunn (#46) at 08:11. That was a regular event and a fan pleaser.
@PreFlashGordon: And one more thing -- none of the classic Derby people used fake names for when they played. Weston may have been nicknamed the "Golden Girl," but folks knew her name. Annis Jensen may have been called "Big Red" -- but you knew her name. None of this modern day "I have to make up some pun for a name" stuff. If that's what they want to do, ok, but I find it cheapens the game to refer to some woman as "Auntie Maim" and even the playbooks don't have her real name. Ridiculous!
voyage2k 9 months ago
@PreflashGordon: Sorry, but I'll politely disagree. I've attended quite a few of the "modern" Derby games and I simply don't find it to be comparable to the original Derby. How exactly would you say I'm "knocking" it? It's an opinion, which you clearly disagree with -- fine and good.
I will say this definitively, though: they broke the molds when Calvello and Weston were made. Tough ladies today? Sure, but I'll never agree they come anywhere near Joanie and Ann. :)
voyage2k 9 months ago
Joanie Weston always a BOMBER!
wildwildwest1414 10 months ago
Today's modern roller derby is all fine and good, but it will always pale in comparison to the original Roller Derby. There are no modern-day Joanie Westons or Ann Calvellos; now the teams all have players with fake names based on puns or punishments. Sure, it's cute, but to me, it's NOT the derby. It's more flash and fights then the original.
Like I said, the modern stuff today is fine; I'm glad it's been kept alive, but it'll never be as legendary as when Jerry Seltzer was overseeing it.
voyage2k 11 months ago
@voyage2k Don't let the names fool you. I'm a photographer for many modern roller derby leagues and the skaters are tough, tough mofo's. And no Ann Calvello? I could name about twenty modern skaters who have just as much charisma and toughness on the track.
There's no need to knock the present game so the past game can be good. Modern roller derby in its present incarnation is one of the greatest sports in the world. IMHO both today's game and yesterday's are awesome.
PreflashGordon 9 months ago
Is Wall Street fixed? I took as faith Efficient-Market Theory and trusted my own wily genius and insider knowledge till I lost all in latest crash. Scrounged 2 bits ,leveraged, bet against the T-Birds, back on my skates.
raydog699 1 year ago
Weston and Calvello would kick the shit out of The Predator AND The Alien. Twice.
OldeSkool1 1 year ago 4
I miss the days when the chicks could actually skate. None of this retro, slow flailing, wobbly stuff.
toddy1968 1 year ago
Honey you are a scary mess.
ibtnm25 1 year ago
It took REAL athletic ability to skate 35-40 mph for 25 years.
mralmeister1 1 year ago
i really miss the old derby back then the girls and guys were awsome wish the old games were still on tv
TheDerby1 1 year ago
I grew up watching Roller Derby, and Joanie Weston was one of my moms favorites..She looked alot like my relatives who were Oakies from back in the day..Hard-bitten, Depression era kids and they never forgot it..tough women all the way around, and great too..
dbd1353 1 year ago
the reason you never saw very lopsided games was also that most teams were pretty evenly matched. the only team that won by 20 - 30 points were the T birds. in the 70s, it was not unusual for ralphie in a last jam to score 20 points.
DJofDESTRUCTION 1 year ago
my apologies. i read what you wrote as only two leagues skating unscripted, and immediately took the defense as i'm getting sick of explaining to people that roller derby is nothing like pro wrestling.
Really sorry about that. Should have paid more attention before jumping to conclusions.
MrTamnus007 2 years ago
Again, have to disagree. Like i said, i am a roller girl.
Our league in australia plays bouts that are totally unscripted. Games are often close, especially intraleague bouts. But i've seen many where the winning team is up by 40+ points. In fact our league played another a couple weeks ago and won 171 to 82.
If you think this sport is scripted then you obviously have no involvement with it or know what you are talking about.
MrTamnus007 2 years ago
ROLLER DERBY is hell of "real & dangerous" a master Classic Sports in the highest ranks. Your body & mind better be in tip top shape: a athletes body so to speak. Awesome vintage Classic interviews with two amazing Roller Derby icons the she-Demon Ann Calvello (totally frighten me as a child/and still do..'smile) and the mighty Joanie Weston may they both rest in peace. I love "all" the men & women that played this much beloved Sports & made it a legendary Classic: the SF Bay Bombers etc.,.
Baronesslace 2 years ago
Cavello the bead one Weston the good one i loved both of them..
ilcr55 2 years ago
Comment removed
ilcr55 2 years ago
Roller Derby, despite what Joanie said, was EXACTLY like pro wrestling. The game results were definitely predetermined, but the injuries were real. I mean, I watched at least 500 games, and never, ever saw a game that one team won by 20 or 30 points. But who cares? I loved it!
beatpunk9 2 years ago
I have to disagree. Being a roller girl i can tell you with absolute certainty that derby is as real as it gets. The hits are real. The falls are real. The injuries are real. And the outcome is most definately real!!
MrTamnus007 2 years ago
I used to watch Roller Derby on the now-defunct "SportsChannel" network in New Jersey roughly between 1985-87. They always showed the Bombers and Calvello/Weston going at it. Lots of great fun!
rfschober 2 years ago
Bless you Ann Cavello, the greatest bitch Goddess of all time. She was great, the tan, the hair, the temper... amazing. My fav, though, was Margie Lazlo.
kabardinka1 2 years ago
I used to have a list of all their names particurlarly the SF Bay Bombers, the Chiefs & the Pioneers as a kid (the later two came from Chicago & NY..'I think): from my Mom's Sports flyers/posters etc.,. where we used to go see them countless times at SF KEZAR it was so cool!!! Those legendary Iconic ROLLER DERBY stars "men & women" Calvello, Weston, O'Conner, Roman, Peanuts, Tucker, Butler, Lazlo, etc.,. w/their numerous Icon Roller Derby colleagues Team mates! Unforgettabel Classic Sport.
Baronesslace 2 years ago
ahahaha what a couple of badasses. hats off to the ladies, they were truly pioneers.
scorpiobean 2 years ago
I used to serve sandwiches, potatoe salads, etc and sliced deli meats to Joan Weston at Herb's Deli from 1970-1974-then I went to UPS- worked with Herb, his son Bruce, Jim Ryan, Pat Casserly-SFFD Chief Airport Division now-does any body know what we did and can you help recall the good ole' days up there on Taraval St next to Scherbas?!!!!!! and the antique store next store? what was in that potatoe salad besides Herb's secret ingredient?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
katiehuey 3 years ago
Sounds "fun" & totally "exciting" and I bet who knows our Mom I'm sure venture by this Classic Deli Shop before & after the ROLLER DERBY games/as well as other eateries & plus she made some pretty hearty lunches too...'those were great times. I missed them so much! Thanks.
Baronesslace 2 years ago
please, you say they passed? when? mahalo ,Richard
katiehuey 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
lol this video kind of made me horny
my M.S.N messenger is in my profile. Ch
280395 3 years ago
Hey, Anne Calvello, Joan Westin, the Jolters, Bombers, T-Birds, Chiefs, Warriors, Roller-Derby, Roller-Games, IT WAS ALL GOOD! I didn't know both Anne Calvello and Joan Westin had passed on...wow! I've just discovered these roller-derby youtube videos. They're GREAT!
zamcal2008 3 years ago
Hey, I was priveleged to have watched her skate at the L.B. Sports arena in the late sixties. Ann Calvello was way before her time. She sported green, pink and polka-dot hair. The music industry, starting in the
1980's to now, should pay tribute to a true "Pioneer"! Since I was a T-Bird fan, she was the villain. But, just like Oz's "wicked witch of the West", she scared the living day-lights out of you as a kid, but as you grew up, you were sure glad she did! RIP Ms. Anne Calvello!
florencioBB 3 years ago
Gd Bless both Joanie Weston, and Annie Cavallo they will never , never be replaced, so Roller derby will never return!!!!
huffnpuff2 3 years ago
She was the meaniest ever..She was the best...
56215656 3 years ago
she's my aunt :)
alexisperez808 4 years ago 3
@alexisperez808 God Bless your aunt. As a young impressionable boy growing up in a Northern California suburb during the late 1960s and early 1970s, your aunt and a few other Roller Derby people were my heroes.
R.I.P. Ann and Joanie.
rayjr62 7 months ago
Two great athletes in American history and mostly overlooked by most of the country. Where would the women's movement have been without these two?
midtowner 4 years ago 2
Ann Calvello has always been the skater that made me fall in love with Roller Derby in the 1960s. A great skating star and performer.
friendofthediva3 4 years ago
I sure miss the classic Roller Derby from the early 1970's. Especially Ann Calvello and Joan Weston. Watch Joanie clobber villain Sandy Dunn (#46) at 08:11. That was a regular event and a fan pleaser.
DoctrWatson 4 years ago