Friday, November 23, 2012

Idolizing the Undeserving I

Seems like so long ago since I last wrote a story, probably because it was.  I've been very busy since being done dirty by a handful of douchebags on the Denver Roller Dolls' travel team, the Mile High Club in 2010.  Travels to a number of other leagues at all different levels of the sport, taking the occasional character assassination cheap shot from those ignorant of the realities of my story, meeting others still drinking the derby Cool Kids Aid, and a new team, who I've come to appreciate over the past year.

Something I didn't really understand until my wandering nomad year between leagues in 2011 was how glorified certain parts of the derby community are and what those folks do with that small piece of glory or fame or whatever you want to call it.  Being outside of the one league I'd ever known really allowed me to see a whole different side of this game.  And because I'm so popular as it is (hahahaha), why shouldn't I type up my own personal thoughts on this silliness.  And that's all these are, my own personal thoughts based on my six years in the sport and my experiences within it.

I think the best place to begin is with the training camp/boot camp phenomena that's at an all-time high.  I have been a part of a number of these things with varying degrees of success.  I think the concept of such a thing is a solid idea and could help the sport grow a ton.  But I generally don't think these have had enough of positive impact on the sport.  Why do I say that?  When I think of some of the people that have been given this opportunity to influence others, they don't care about the people they work with.  They won't remember your names, they won't listen to your stories, and they generally won't be able to help but a handful of skaters within any large group of skaters.  I watched this happen firsthand when I went overseas to a league in Europe in 2010.

I won't say I'm perfect, but I'm a hell of a lot better than most people that might come into your league.  I say that because I have a work ethic that most don't and I also don't price myself like I'm a shiny gold turd straight out of the ass of Buddha himself.  I do this because I'm not trying to make a living at this.  I don't see many leagues that should be paying others for help at this stage.  Most leagues don't have the money to afford it and the majority of the people out there will just bring you some stale drills, some primadonna attitude, and take advantage as much as they can.  Sucking the derby teat as it were.

And that's what I witnessed in 2010.  We had a league that was so gracious as to host four people from my original league (this douche narrator included).  And before I get going, I should mention that this vacation was a game-changer for me.  The things I saw from the people I traveled with disgusted me to the point that I knew our friendships could never be the same.  To start with, let's talk about the two skaters that went with me.

End of this chunk!

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