MetroSports Magazine May/June 2015

MetroSports Magazine Keisher “Fire�

McLeod-Wells

May/June 2015

The Real Million Dollar Baby Maureen Shea

NY Daily News Golden Gloves and Jennifer Santiago Armin Mrkanovic

Roller Girls NY Metro Roller Derby

Contents

p. 24

May/June 2015

Features 4 2015 New York Golden Gloves The best of men’s and women’s amateur boxing.

Past champions Keisher McLeod and Jennifer Santiago 4 This Girl Is On Fire Keisher McLeod-Wells captures another title belt 14 Professional Boxer Maureen Shea The Million Dollar Baby claimed by both coasts.

21 Armin “Gazija” Mrkanovic 24 Like Urban Toreadors Women’s Roller Derby makes a resurgence and the best of the best is from right here in NY

Regular

2

Athlete of the Month

35 Sports Photo Tip 36 Photos From Around the Region 37 Coach’s Corner

Cover Photo (c) 2015 Sergio Solis Solis Photography

Action Photography by Clark Thompson

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MetroSports Athletes of the Month May/June 2015 MetroSports Magazine selects as its Athlete of the Month for May 2015 professional boxer and four time NY Golden Gloves Champion Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells. An actress and model, often sought out for her femininity and good looks, “Fire” is more than just another pretty face.

This tough competitor, fighting out of Brooklyn’s world famous Gleason’s Gym, is currently the reigning World Flyweight Champion of the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) and captured the New York State Flyweight title on May 30 in a unanimous decision at the Resorts World Casion in Queens, NY. Just days before this issue went to press, “Fire” shot a national commercial for Maybeline cosmetics at her Gelason’s Gym Home.

MetroSports Magazine has selected as its June 2015 Athlete of the Month professional boxer and motivational speaker Maureen Shea. A New York native of Irish and Mexican descent, this hometown world champion now lives and trains on the west coast at Knuckleheadz Boxing and MMA in Ventura, California. Known as “The Bronx Bombshell”, “The Real Million Dollar Baby” or simply “Moe”, this world champion is one of the nicest and most humble athletes we know. Moe is looking forward to her next professional fight at the end of May where she will quite likely pick up another world championship belt.

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MetroSports Magazine (MSM) is published six times a year by MetroSports Media. MSM is available online and can be downloaded in electronic format for viewing on tablet and handheld devices, laptop and desktop computers and purchased as full-color glossy print editions.

Founder: Warren Rosenberg Publisher: New York Sports Photo Group: nyspg.com Features Editor: John Chuhran Director of Photography / Layout / Web: Warren Rosenberg Associate Photo Editor / Social Media: Clark Thompson Photo Contributors: Glen Randmer, Dawn Olivier Sergio Solis Proofreader: Melissa Tougas Contributors: Thomas Chin, Fitness Advertising: For rate card contact warren@nyspg.com Please direct all inquiries to: warren@nyspg.com Visit us on the web at: MetroSportsMag.com

MetroSports Magazine accepts and welcomes photos, short articles, opinions and letters from our readers. There is no guarantee that unsolicited contributions will be published and MetroSports Magazine assumes no responsibility for failure to publish or for editing published contributions. The Contents of MetroSports Magazine consist of copyrightable and/or copyrighted material and cannot be reproduced without the express written consent of the publishers.

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2015 New York Golden Gloves

T

The Metro Region’s Best in Amateur Boxing

he New York Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament concluded its 2015 run this past March after three months of bouts scheduled throughout the N.Y. metropolitan region. Golden Gloves tournament bouts were held at such diverse sites as the Yonkers Empire City Casino and Police Athletic League, Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, World Wide Boxing Club in the Bronx, Tottenville High School in Staten Island and the Suffolk PAL in Brentwood. The 2015 finals were held in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.

The first NY Golden Gloves finals were held on March 28, 1927 in Madison Square Garden Since its beginning in 1927, more than 100,000 amateur athletes have participated in the NY Golden Gloves Tournament and forty-one have gone on to become world champions in the professional ranks.

Ten have become Olympians including notables such as Sugar Ray Robinson (1939), Vito Antuofermo (1970), Gerry Cooney (1973), Hector Camacho (1978), Mark Breland (1980) and Riddick Bowe (1995).

Sadam Ali, also known as World Kid Ali, was a two time NY Golden Gloves Champion, a U.S. Olympian and the first Arab American to represent the United States in the 4 | May/June 2015

Olympics. Riddick Bowe and Saadam Ali are the only two New Yorkers to become Olympians and both were NY Golden Gloves champions.

Gloves champions Alicia Ashley (1996), Jennifer Santiago (119 lb, 2004), Keisher “Fire” McLeodWells (110 lb, 2004) and Jody-Ann Weller (125 lb, 2010).

In 1995, the first female competitors appeared in the NY Golden Gloves and included Peggy Donovan-Ward (132 lbs), Denise Lutrick (139 lbs), Tanya Dean (165 lbs) and Helen Braxton (Super Heavyweight). Since then, the women have made their presence known in both the tournament and in the N.Y. metro region’s professional boxing scene. Among them are the Golden

This Girl Is On FIRE Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells a four-time Golden Gloves champion has gone on to a successful modeling, acting and boxing career, capturing her second professional championship, the WIBA World Flyweight title in a Ronson Frank promoted bout last January at the Five Star Banquet Hall in Queens, NY. (continued on page 8)

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

8 | May/June 2015

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Fire now trains and fights out of Bruce Silverglade’s world-famous Gleason’s Gym where, incidentally, she got married in 2007. As an actress, Fire has appeared in numerous TV commercials, the Mexican reality show “Reto de Campeones”, the film “Love the Hard Way”, and the documentaries “Prelude to a Fight” and “Warrior Women”. As a model, she has worked for Bobbi Brown cosmetics and Boost Mobile.

Like Maureen Shea featured elsewhere in this issue, Fire took up boxing, in part, to help cope with an abusive relationship.

MetroSports Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Fire.

Above: Monica Flores and Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells at weigh-in.

Q. As World Champion professional box- Below: Fire during ring introductions at her World Title fight. er, do your care to tell our readers anything about the importance of the Golden Gloves (GG) in your career?

Fire: As a four time GG Champion in my hometown of NYC, it was and still is of great importance to my Pro career. It gave me popularity in the boxing scene with fans of the GG’s. I was able to build a relationship with Lou Di Bella convincing him that I will be able to sell a lot of tickets, and give a great performance to secure a spot on his Broadway Boxing series. At first he had little desire to let women fight in the series. Lou always knew of my amateur career throughout the 6 years I competed at that level, especially the NY GG’s. He then decided to give me a shot on his series in NY (first refusing me several times saying that he doesn’t like seeing pretty women fight).

He was very pleased with all my performance and I feel that I played a major role in opening the doors for professional women’s boxing in NY. Continued on page 10 8 | May/June 2015

Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells at the Five Star Banquet Hall against Monica Flores for the Women’s International Boxing Association World Flyweight Title. All photos by Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

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Fire putting the heat on Monica Flores as her World Title fight nears an end.

After 4 fights with Di Bella Entertainment, and traveling overseas to fight a few times, I got the opportunity to fight with another promoter in NY for a World Title after my 8th pro fight. If it had not been for the popularity of the GG’s, I might not be a World Champion today. Best of all, I got to fight for the title in NYC for my friends, fans & family without dealing with the politics of trying to win one oversees.

Q. Your home-base for training is the world famous Gleason’s Gym. What has being part of this historic establishment meant to your boxing, modeling and acting careers?

Fire: Training and Working at Gleason’s Gym has been such a blessing. The owner, Bruce Silverglade, has been extremely sup10 | May/June 2015

me. I’m able to have up-and-close relationships with the gym’s members, trainers, and boxing fans. I’ve been recruited many times by photographers, directors, TV/ film producers, etc. to do photoshoots, films and commercials. Before boxing, I was pursuing acting and modeling the traditional way (auditioning & cattle calls) which is time consuming and hard to get booked. Now, most of the time I’m hired directly because of being at Gleason’s Gym, where I’m most comfortable and I’m full of life and personality there. The entertainment business loves a person with big personality, not just a pretty face, which are a dime a dozen in NY. Sometimes it’s hard for one’s personality to shine through at a nerve racking audition. Not so much for a World Champion!

The “Fire” File

Division: Flyweight Height: 5’8” Reach: 66” Stance: Orthodox Amateur Record: 36 W 6L Turned Pro: 2009 Professional Record: 7W 2L Trains at: Gleason’s Gym Championships 2003 Empire State Games 2004 NY Golden Gloves 2005 NY Golden Gloves 2006 NY Golden Gloves 2008 NY Golden Gloves 2014 WIBA Flyweight 2005 Ringside World Title 2008 Ringside World Title Website www.firetheboxingdiva.com

Above:mFormer NY Golden Gloves Champions Jennifer Santiago and Keisher “Fire� McLeod-Wells

Above: Jennifer Santiago in victory with her World Title bel Below: Jennifer Santiago at the Aviator Sports Complex.

On May 30, 2015 at the Resorts World Casino in Queens, NY, the reigning WIBA World Flyweight Champion, Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells captured another championship title, becoming the New York State Female Flyweight Champion.

It was her third consecutive unanimous decision victory and her second defeat over Patricia Alcivar. MetroSports Magazine had the honor of conducting a brief, follow-up interview with the always gracious champ.

Q. With your win this past weekend, you now hold two titles. What’s next for Fire, professionally?

Fire: Well of course more title fights. Hopefully I don’t have to wait another year. Although I’m in my 30’s, I feel I’m at my prime.

Q. To what do you attribute your win?

Fire: My Team and my training regimen. I got a lot of excellent sparring with World Champions.

Girls bigger than me. (everyone is though). I ran the on the beach in sand twice a week, so my cardio was spectacular. I worked my abs really hard for this fight so I would be able to absorb body shots easily. I knew coming into this fight I would be coming in 6 lbs under the weight limit. My head trainer Delan Parsley had me shadow boxing with weights, 10 rounds straight, focusing mostly on my jab.

We knew it would be effective against the shorter Patricia Alcivar and her coming forward movement in the ring.

Q. The turnout for your fights and your social media following show that you’ve got a loyal fan base. What do you have to say to your fans?

Fire: I love my fans. They are loyal. They cheer hard for me when I fight. They send so much support and praises to me at my gym and though out social media. When I’m told that I am an inspiration, It always reminds me why I keep doing this. Because it’s definitely not the money. I love my FF&F (Friends, Family, & Fans).

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(C) Sergio Solis

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MetroSports Magazine | 13

The Champion Claimed by Both Coasts Maureen Shea: Bronx NY vs Ventura CA W hen you combine the great heritage of rough and tumble Irish boxers such as John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney and Mickey Ward with that of the great, fearless Mexican boxers like Julio Cesar Chavez, Carlos Zarate, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, then add in some toughness of the U.S. Marines, the NYPD, and you might very well find yourself staring across the ring at Maureen Shea, a champion of Irish and Mexican descent and the daughter of a former Marine and retired NYPD detective.

Known by a variety of colorful ring names such as “The Real Million Dollar Baby”, “The Bronx Bombshell” or, simply, “Moe”, Maureen Shea is one tough lady, having proven herself over a 27 fight career and capturing the WBC Featherweight World Champion

title with a defeat of Diana Ayala in Sinaloa, Mexico in 2011, the NABF Featherweight Champion title with a TKO of Liliana Martinez in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 2010, and the IFBA World Super Bantamweight Champion title in a unanimous decision over Angel Gladney in Oxnard, California last year.

During her amateur career and Golden Gloves fights, it was not uncommon to find Hilary Swank at ringside, cheering Moe on and occasionally stepping up to ringside to give encouragement. Maureen made her professional boxing debut at the

Born and bred in the Bronx, NY, Maureen Shea is of Irish and Mexican heritage. In November of 2006 she was introduced and dubbed, “The Real Million Dollar,” while boxing underneath Evander Holyfield at the Alamondome in San Antonio, Texas. This nickname stuck due to her role as the coach and sparring partner to Hilary Swank in her preparation for winning the Academy Award in the 2005 movie, The Real Million Dollar Baby. This international attention, however, doesn’t overshadow her aggressive stance as a world champion boxer.

Maureen practices a left uppercut at her former training site, Global Boxing Gym, in New Jersey

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Facing Page, Maureen gets set for her NABF title fight in Saratoga, New York

(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY on August 25, 2005, winning by TKO. While Ms. Swank’s acting portrayal of a female boxer won her an Academy Award for her role as The Million Dollar Baby, it was Maureen’s actual boxing prowess that earned her the name as “The Real Million Dollar Baby” a name first used in November 2006 when she fought on the undercard of an Evander Holyfield bout in Texas.

After moving on from Gleason’s, Maureen continued her training at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, NJ, where she also served as president of Global Boxing Gym and Global Boxing Promotions. Heading over to the West Coast, Moe now trains and fights out of Knuckleheadz Boxing and MMA in Ventura, California.

Maureen’s locker during her time training at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, NY.

In addition to her boxing career, Maureen has a growing presence as a media personality and motivational speaker.

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MetroSports Magazine publisher Warren Rosenberg with his former student, and Champ, Maureen Shea

Photo (C) Dawn Olivier for The College of Westchester

In 2008 she starred in a segment of the Emmy Award winning MTV series, MADE, in which she coached a ballet dancer to box. Because of her performance and the strides she made as a trainer, she was named one of the MTV series “Toughest Coaches”. Maureen is also a regular commentator for 8countnews, BxNet Radio and Breathe Boxing Radio. She is a frequent motivational speaker, most recently speaking at the Teen Voice Leadership Summit in Ventura, California.

Maureen is the current International Boxing Association (IFBA) Featherweight World Champion and the current North American Boxing Association (NABA) Featherweight Champion. As a world ranked professional boxer who has fought numerous times on National and International television, she has had the distinguished promotors Top Rank, Dibella Entertainment and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. She has also sought out motivational speaking roles to share her journey and struggles, as an effort to motivate and encourage others. This positivity is seen in her background as a registered coach for USA Boxing, where she continues to mentor amateurs and encourages young men and women to give boxing a try.

With a record of 24 wins against 2 losses and no draws, Maureen is preparing to fight for the 122 lb Junior Featherweight IBF World Title in a bout against Yulihan Luna of Argentina. We asked Maureen a few questions.

Photos (C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

Q. You’ve recently used the hashtags #bronxgirl, #femenineandfierce, and #worldchampion. What does each of these mean to you?

Its funny because people make fun of me for hashtagging so much.

Maureen: I use feminine and fierce because I have finally truly learned and understand what it means to be able to balance my femininity and my fierceness in and out of the ring. It isn’t easy, as a fighter we have to channel some pretty deep feelings to push us in the gym. I like to call it a controlled rage. So I explain that more as a fierceness and the balance is being feminine.

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Bronx Girl is easy. I am and always will be a Bronx Girl Its so true what they say about taking a girl out of the Bronx but not being able to take the Bronx out of the girl. Its funny because I didn’t really understand that saying until I moved 3,000 miles away.

Very different culture on the west coast. The people just don’t understand some of my mannerisms or gestures. I know it seems odd but its definitely a “Bronx” Thing . You would have to be from the Bronx to really get it. Its great,keeps things interesting, and they love the accent!

World Champion, pretty much states the obvious. :) Q. MetroSports Magazine focuses on sports in and around the NY Metro area. Your recent Facebook post, “You know you’re from New York when…” indicates that while you now live and train in California, you’re still a NY girl at heart. What do you miss most about NYC? Maureen: There is so much to mention! But I think, mostly, its the familiarity. Its easy to forget how far you come when you live somewhere where there isn’t any reminders. I miss hearing the accents, of my fellow NYers. Its funny when I run into a NYer out here we could talk forever! Just because we can relate so much. its a very different culture and I LOVE that about NY. The diversity, culture and FOOD!! Es-

cially the Pizza!

Q. Moe Shea 2015 looks trim and cut like we’ve never seen you before. Can you share some of your training and nutrition secrets?

Maureen: First let me say, Thank you! It has been a long journey for me. Getting to know my body and learning to work with it. Mentally, physically and spiritually. Balance is Huge!! I believe it all starts with the mind. Once I learned how to work with my mind and align it with my heart and desires I learned to trust my body and myself more.

It is an everyday practice It is so easy to get caught up in todays world. For me, keeping a solid regimen has been key. If I mess up or stray from that regimen I forgive myself and get back on track. Its easy for people to “fall off” and “stay off”. Usually because they are beating themselves up and end up on a cycle. I am all too familiar with cycles. Emotions play a BIG part In all of this. And it is no secret that I am a VERY passionate person. Anyone who truly knows me knows that.. With passion comes emotions. Understanding your emotions and directing your energy into a healthy positive focus is key in overall Health and wellness in my opinion.

Q. What was your most memorable fight – and why?

Maureen: Wow, I have been asked this question before. I am so blessed to have had some AMAZING fights and memorable moments in this sport. It would be hard to choose just one. But I would have to say the most impactful for me were 3. My first two losses because I had to sit back and figure out what went wrong and how I can change it. It made me really look at myself and my situation and career. I realized what the pain of a loss felt like, not once but twice.. I grew so much as a person and fighter from those two fights. They really helped shape me as a woman and a fighter and set me on a new found course.

The 3rd would be my WBC world title fight I won in Mexico. It was when I moved to California and I went into that fight with a new coach (Joseph Janik) , new home, new support and new life. I felt that the fighter you see today was born in that moment! It was just me and Coach Hoss out in Mexico.

No one from my home town , no one from the US , No family or friends cheering me on. Just me and coach. We actually asked the driver who had been taking us to and from the gym and hotel to work the corner with Hoss.. It was EXACLY how I needed to win that title!

See Maureen in the Award Winning Film, “Fight Like a Girl”: www.FightLikeAGirlTheMovie.com

18 | May/June 2015

Above and Below: Photos courtesy of Maureen Shea. Maureen and Fans with North American Boxing Federation Title Belt

Q. You’ve been called “The Real Million Dollar Baby”, and “The Bronx Bombshell”. Which one do you think best describes you?

Maureen: The one that best describes me is MOE haha. Its funny. Coming up I the game I never thought of a “fight name” and I figured the fans would just give me one and that’s where the two you mentioned came from. I am happy with whatever I love both because they each represent a piece of me.

As always, Champ, its been a pleasure.

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NYC’s Boxing Royalty Gather in Brooklyn at the Aviator Sports Complex

(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

1.MiguelCallist.Panama.FormerWBASuper LightweightChampion,WBALightweightChampion,PanamanianLight weight and Panamanian Super Lightweight Champion.

3. Paulie Malignaggi. Brooklyn NY. Former IBF Light Welterweight and WBA Welterweight Champion. He won the NABF Welterweight title in a defeat over Zab Judah on his home turf at the Barclay’s Center in 2013.

4. Junior Jones. Brooklyn NY. Two time Golden Gloves champion, US Olympian, and professional World Champion at the bantamweight and super bantamweight levels, beating then undefeated Marco Antonio Barrera.

5. Will Rosinsky. Queens NY. An FDNY firefighter, Rosinsky is a four time Golden Gloves Champion and former US Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion.

6. David Diamante. Ring Announcer.

7. Maureen Shea 9. Vinnie Mad dal one. Queens NY. A former minor league baseball pitcher, Maddalone is a hard-hitting heavyweight with 37 wins, 28 by knockout.

10. Gabriel Bracero. Brooklyn NY. NABF Super lightweight Champion and WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Champion which he won before a Brooklyn home crowd at the Aviator Sports Complex.

11. Luis Collazo. Brooklyn NY. Former WBA Welterweight Champion.

12. Gary Stark. NYC. A three time Golden Gloves Champion and former NY State Super bantamweight Cham pion.

13. Felipe Gomez. Boxing Promoter.

15. Jarrell Miller. Brooklyn NY. Golden Gloves finalist who is undefeated in 12 professional fights as a heavyweight. Miller began his fighting career as a kickboxer.

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(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

Armin “Gazija” Mrkanovic The Bosnian Prince

A

long with champion professional fighters including Maureen Shea, Jennifer Han and Jennifer Santiago, Armin “Gazija” Mrkanovic is one of several successful fighters currently or formerly managed by Luigi Olcese. Mrkanovic, a resident of Queens, NY, began his fighting career as a mixed martial artist, competing in the Chuck Norris World Combat League, where he compiled a 7-4 record fighting for Team Force.

(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

Mrkanovic’s 2004 heavyweight Golden Gloves fight against Joe Deninno is remembered as a particularly interesting bout because during the course of Mrkanovic’s two round victory, Deninno once wrestled Armin to the mat and then, with a diving leap,threw them both right out of the ring.

Since turning pro in 2011, Mrkanovic has compiled a 7-2 record in the cruiserweight division with six of his nine bouts staged in his home town of NYC. He is ranked second in the world by BoxRec among all 17 active professional fighters from his native Bosina and Herzegovina.

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Send your request to Warren@nyspg.com

“like urban toreador In the Dire Straits song Skateaway, composer Mark Knopfler sings, I seen a girl on a one way corridor Stealing down a wrong way street For all the world like an urban toreador She had wheels on her feet...

But the roller girl she’s taking chances They just love to see her take them all

O

f all the sports covered in Metro Sports Magazine, few can claim as rich a NY-based history as roller derby.

Although originally conceived in Chicago’s Ricketts restaurant in 1935 by Leo Seltzer and later mapped out by Seltzer and sports writer Damon Runyon in Miami in 1937, the sport as we know it today has deep NY Metro area connections. The first nationally televised roller derby event was broadcast from NYC’s famous Polo Grounds in 1946 and later from the 69th Street Armory beginning in 1948.

The world famous Madison Square Garden, then located on 8th Avenue at 50th Street, was the site of the first Roller Derby World Series in 1949. Today, the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame is located in Brooklyn, New York City’s largest borough.

The sport of roller derby is governed by the Womens Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), with several roller derby leagues calling the NY Metro area home. The Suburbia Roller Derby and the Gotham Girls Roller Derby leagues are part of the world-wide WFTDA which hosts teams in almost all US states as well as numerous foreign countries. Prior to full acceptance in the WFTDA, teams must first apprentice in one of the sanctioned leagues.

24 | May/June 2015

rs�

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

Above. Yonkers Backyard Bullies (Blue) skating against the Wilkes-Barre Rolling Radicals (Green) Below. Backyard Bullies jammer Teams with names such as the Stuttgart Valley Roller Girls in Germany, the Okinawa Kokeshi Roller Dolls in Japan, the London Roller Rockers in England and the Auckland Pirate City Rollers in New Zealand are matched by sister teams in the New York Metro region such as the Hudson Valley Horrors, Suburban Brawl, Backyard Bullies, ApocaLips, DracuLadies, and New York City’s Wall Street Traitors, Queens of Pain, and Grand Central Terminators.

Adding to the allure of the league and team names are the names taken by individual skaters such as Daisy Doomsday, Sing Sing Slammer, Swillin T’Killya, Lash O’Ninetails, and Auntie Climax.

You can catch some Metro area flat track roller derby action at the Hyde Park Roller Magic at 4178 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park and at the Yonkers PAL, 127 North Broadway in Yonkers.

26 | May/June 2015

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

MetroSports Magazine | 27

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

DracuLadies pivot (black with striped helmet) putting the “can opener� on an ApocaLips jammer (red with star on helmet)

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com (C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

(C) Clark Thompson, ClarkShots.com

Other NY Metro region flat-track womens’ roller derby leagues include the Long Island Roller Rebels and Suffolk County’s Strong Island Derby Revolution, along with the New Jersey-based flat-track leagues the Garden State Roller Girls, the Brandywine Roller Girls, and the Shore Points Roller Derby.

The NY Metro region’s own Gotham Roller Girls captured the 2014 Blood and Thunder World Cup Championship beating over 200 leagues from across the US and around the world. They are considered to be the premier league in the world.

Attesting to the recent growth in popularity of womens’ Roller Derby was the 2011 documentary film, Yonkers Backyard Bullies (Blue) vs Wilkes-Barre Rolling Radicals Derby, Baby, produced by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Robin Bond and Dave Wruck and featuring actress Juliette Lewis. As the film’s press materials state, Derby Baby “...explores the drama, the friendships, and the addictive nature of the women’s flat-track roller derby, including never-before-seen bout footage of the international flat-track roller derby champions.”

Its is “a story about love, addiction and rink rash.”

Perhaps nothing is more indicative of roller derby’s popularity in the NY Metro region than the 5,600+ participants and fans who swamped our Facebook page over a 24 hour period in our contest to select the As Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits Opposite page, clockwise from cover photo for this issue of Metrotop right: (1 &2 ) DracuLadies sang, Sports Magazine. Our boxers, both (in black) vs ApocaLips (red).

“No fears alone at night she’s Golden Gloves and professionals, (3) Backyard Bullies (blue) vs sailing through the crowd didn’t stand a chance against the Rolling Radicals.

Come slipping and sliding punishing vote of our Metro-area Life’s roller ball roller girls.

Slipping and a sliding All photos by Clark Thompson.

Skate away that’s all” Clarkshots.com 30 | May/June 2015

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The USA is a dominant worldwide force in women’s flat track roller derby with Team USA winning the 2014 Blood and Thunder Roller Derby World Cup which took place this past December in Dallas, Texas. The NY Metro region’s Gotham Girls roller derby league played a prominent role in that win.

According to Perry Brown, formerly the Technical Director, a writer and editor for Roller Derby Illustrated which was the prominent publication covering the sport in its heyday of the 1970s, “the Gotham Girls are the best in world, sending such power players as Bonnie Thunders, Fisti Cuffs, Mick Swagger, OMG WTF, Sexy Slaydie, and Suzy Hotrod to compete on Team USA.” Eleven NY Metro region leagues stand within the top 250 among the international rankings, headed by the Gotham Girls at #1, Suburbia at #101 Garden State Roller Girls at # 120, Connecticut Roller Girls at #136, Long Island Roller Rebels at #165 and Hudson Valley Horrors at #222.

Pinkey Swears, skating as a member of Team Portugal in the Dallas World Cup, is a member of our Metro area’s own Hudson Valley Horrors, League president and coowner.

The final 2014 World Cup standings were: 1st Team USA 2nd Team England 3rd Team Australia 4th Team Canada 32 | May/June 2015

MetroSports Goes 1-on-1 with “The Commissioner”

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etroSports Magazine had the distinct honor of interviewing Jerry Seltzer for this issue’s feature on women’s roller derby. Jerry was the owner of the original women’s roller derby league during its heyday period of 1959-1973 during which the sport sold out such venues as Madison Square Garden and the Oakland Coliseum. He followed his father, Leo Seltzer, in heading the league. During his reign Jerry was known, simply, as The Commissioner. A succesful businessman, Jerry remains active in advising today’s roller derby leagues. He also remains active in the sports and entertainment industry, handling ticket sales for 600 leagues throughout the world, including our own NY Metro Gotham Girls.

Speaking about the glory days of roller derby, Jerry noted that, “our games were seen on 110 television stations in US and Canada, including WOR-tv in New York. Our game was not just women, but a team (i.e. New York Chiefs), composed of men and women. A game was eight 12 minute periods with the women competing against the women and the men against the men, with the score cumulative. Our largest crowd in the Tri-City area was at Shea Stadium in 1973, with over 27,000 in attendance....Our record attendance was at Chicago White Sox Park (known by that name in 1972) when over 50,000 jammed into the park.”

Gerald “Jerry” Seltzer

JS: I ran the league basically as a family business, and after 15 years ran out of steam......we used the funds from one season to operate the next, and when the country ran into the crippling gas contract in 1972-73 it affected attendance, travel, and arenas shutting down to save heat.

Q. Do you think that roller derby is on its way to recapture the glory and fan base of past years?

JS: Today’s game is DIY with the players paying to play, and skating a game that I feel is more aimed at the way they want to play it rather than as a major spectator sport....and they have every right, having resurrected the game from oblivion.......I believe that with some modifications it could be presented as a successful attraction, but there would have to be some changes in the sturcture of regional leagues, ownership, etc, and I honestly belief the majority of players do not want to let go of their sport.... and as long as they can maintain their Q. Why do you feel the sport fell leagues, why should they? I think they are content with where they are. from the public eye in the 1970’s?

Why Do They Do It ?

An Interview with Kimberly Reichert aka Vixen Von Bruizen

etroSports Magazine had the M opportunity to interview one

Q. What recommendations do league and require a small army you have for young women who of volunteers and NSOs (Nonof Suburbia’s more prominent are thinking about becoming in- Skating Officials). If that all skaters, the Suburban Sprawl’s volved in roller derby? seems like too much, then you Kimberly Reichert, an Executive are destined to become a fan!!

VvB: Roller derby is a business.

Assistant by day but the fierce Check out the web page for a loVixen von Bruizen out on the All the promotion, training, and cal team. Review the roster and track. She retired from the sport paperwork to keep the league run- pick some players to focus on at just last year. Here is our inter- ning is done internally by league the bout. Then come to a bout members. I think you should DO and enjoy the competition. view.

IT!!!! There is a place for you Q. Why do you think women’s in the sport. If you want to be Q. Having retired from the sport roller derby has become so popu- a skater, first, evaluate your fit- last year, what do you miss most lar in recent years - for both fans ness level and ability to commit about it? the time. Leagues have a training and participants? period in which all new skaters VvB: I miss skating. It was a VvB: I think the draw of roller are referred to as, “Fresh Meat” tremendous amount of work to derby is how different it is as a It is during that time you’ll learn learn the intricacies of the game sport. If you’ve been a sports the skills necessary for the game. and implement them correctly fan, or a jock, you’ve watched If you’ve found that hitting (and within the team. There were mo& played most sports available. being hit, while skating) has not ments on the track when my felBaseball, football, basketball, deterred you, keep working and low players and I did not need etc... You know some profession- soon enough you’ll be placed on verbal communication to know al teams and players and maybe a roster to play in a bout. HOW- EXACTLY what we were gosome college teams as well. The EVER, if you find the physical- ing to do. It wasn’t telepathy. It game of roller derby that my fam- ity of the game is too much then comes from HOURS and YEARS ily watched in the 1970’s is not maybe you should become a sup- of work you and your teammates the same game that is played port staff member of the league. put in TOGETHER. Those were today. The legality of the hits, Bouts are hosted by the home beautiful moments of pride as an teams & players, the RULES, are athlete. all different. It’s a game of strategy and strength. It appeals to the fan that wants to see hard hits and smart plays. But it also appeals to the fan who is a student of the rules and the grace of playing.

As a former participant and self proclaimed jock, I loved learning Drawing Courtesy of Taryn “Crash Sprawldisplat” Ballesty via Facebook the skills and strategy.

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Sports Photo Tip Sponsored by Hunts Photo & Video

34 | May/June 2015

Sports Photo Tip of the Month Dutch Tilts and Angles

you want to convey a real sense of dyI fnamic action in your sports photos, try tilt-

ing your camera so that your subject cuts across the frame of the photo on a diagonal angle. Diagonal angles are widely used in photography, videography and graphic design to convey a sense of action or motion in an otherwise static, still picture.

The Dutch Tilt is a compositional technique used in photography to create the feeling of unease, danger, anxiety, or disorientation. It consists of an intentionally angled composition where the normal perspective is rotated, skewing the normal vertical and horizontal planes of the image. Also known as the Dutch Angle or Canted Angle, the technique derives from a cinematography technique first used in post-World War I Germany.

(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

In fact, many believe the word Dutch is actually a corruption of Deutch and purists may call the technique the Deutch Tilt or German Tilt. The DutchTilt is frequently used in advertising and sports action photography to convey a sense of edginess. Try doing a web search on the words “photos using dutch tilt” and you’ll find lots of examples.

Better yet, simply look at the logos created for Major League Baseball, the Indycar Race League or the NBA and you’ll see that those graphic designers used a version of the Dutch Tilt to convey a sense of action and motion in their images.

(C) Warren Rosenberg, nyspg.com

MetroSports Magazine | 35

Roy C Ketcham vs John Jay “Pin Cancer”

Photo by Clark Thompson. Clarkshots.com Photo by Clark Thompson. Clarkshots.com

The Coaches Corner

The Importance of Keeping a Fitness Journal Thomas Chin

D

ear Diary. These are two words that many of us at one point or another have written down. While diaries are thought of as a childish hobby, the idea behind them shouldn’t be limited to those of younger generations. The act of recording and putting down your thoughts is extremely important, especially when it comes to ones health and fitness goals. Keeping a fitness journal can help your active lifestyle in so many ways, from tracking progress to changing up your routine to reminding you why you do things in the first place!

Many people that embark on fitness goals complain after a while that they don’t see results. Well, the best way to measure results is to have something to compare to. Keeping a fitness journal allows you to track and compare things like workouts, meals, and most importantly numbers! Trying to remember what that delicious, low calorie meal you had the other day was? Write it down and its there

forever. Or better yet, on a specific diet? Track your calories daily and weekly to ensure you stay on your path. Following a workout program and don’t know if you’re making progress? Write down your exercises and what you did with what weight, sets, reps, etc. to really see how far you have come! There is nothing more satisfying than looking at your starting numbers and ending numbers and seeing major improvements!

back to the beginning reminds you of why you’re doing what you’re doing. If you’re ever down on motivation, just take a look back to the early days where the desire to get results was burning! That’s sure to rekindle the fire and get you going again. So what are you waiting for? Start jotting down, and prepare to see a better you!

But what happens if you get tired of your fitness grind? Runs are getting boring, the diet is getting stale, and you’ve hit a plateau in the gym?

Well, with the help of a fitness journal, you can write down everything and switch things up! Need a change in the foods you eat? Flip a couple pages back to what you ate last week.

Need a fresh workout? Look back a couple weeks to find something you haven’t done in a while. The beauty of writing things down is that its always there for you to go back and do it again! Not only that, but going

Photo by Clark Thompson. Clarkshots.com

MetroSports Magazine | 37

U.S. Army Black Knights Womens Rugby team from West Point against the Norwich University Cadets at West Point, NY. In a game earlier this past season, Army lost to Norwich in the finals of Brown University’s 7s Tournament finishing in second place overall.

38 | May/June 2015

Above: Gymnast from Lana’s Gymnastics Club in Flushing Queens on Vault at the April Spring Fling Invitational at Dynamic Gymnastics.

Below: Gymnast from Chelsea Piers Gymnastics works the Beam Above: Lana’s Gymnastics competitor shows her Beam skills.

Below: Chelsea Piers gymnast in her Floor routine at the Dynamic Gymnastcs Sping Fling, home of Olympian Teodora Ungureanu.

Images from Dynamic Gymnastics 2015 Spring Fling Invitational. photos by Warren Rosenberg

MetroSports Magazine MetroSports Magazine| |3939

Photo by Glen Randmer

Westchester Table Tennis Center April Tournament

Photo by Glen Randmer Photo by Glen Randmer

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Photo by Glen Randmer

Photo by Glen Randmer