Shriners & Roller Girls work together Help American Lung Assoc. & Relay for Life

There's no beef between rival teams, just derby fun

BY MIRANDA WHITWORTH, Contributing writer | Wednesday, Mar 30 2011 04:56 PM

Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 30 2011 05:44 PM

Bakersfield Diamond Divas Hamburger Feed
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Noble Park, 700 S. P St.
Cost: $5; includes burger, beans, potato salad, chips and iced tea
Information: 322-3848
Kern County Roller Girls vs. Bakersfield Diamond Divas
When: Doors open at 6 p.m., bout starts at 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: 34th Street Rollerama, 1004 34th St.
Admission: $10, adults; $5, children
Information: 327-7589

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Desi "Von Drop Ya" Manos and the rest of the Kern County Roller Girls will face the Bakersfield Diamond Divas in a bout on Saturday.

Looking for an exciting date that's a little out of the ordinary? Forgo the standard dinner and a show and get in line for a day of burgers and battles as the local roller derby community gathers for a raucous event that will leave your stomach and your need for entertainment thoroughly satisfied.
On Saturday the Bakersfield Diamond Divas and the Kern County Roller Girls will make Bakersfield roller derby history as they go head to head in the town's first local league-on-league bout. Kern County Roller Girls founder Dezi "Von Drop Ya" Manos said up until now the derby community has been too small for a true local competition.
"When derby first came to Bakersfield, we would always book bouts with leagues from out of town. Now that we have really grown, the Bakersfield Diamond Divas and Derby Revolution are leagues that have A and B teams. So the Kern County Roller Girls has now expanded to become a league so we can compete against the girls. We are the 'baby' league in town and kind of the underdogs in the bout."
While she may feel young when it comes to leagues, she is no baby. Manos has been involved with roller derby since it came to Bakersfield in 2007. She was a member of the first team in town, the Bakersfield Roller Girls, before heading off to join Derby Revolution and then founding the Kern County Roller Girls. With so many team changes and girls moving from league to league, there is the perception that there may be bad blood between the groups. Manos said that is not the case, and this weekend's all-local bout will prove that in the sport of derby you'll only find competition when the skates are on.
"Automatically people think turf wars, yet when you actually look into the derby world, it is this big sisterhood. We are teammates and we are friends. All of the skills and drills that you learn -- you can't do it without the help of the other leagues. We play like we play when we are on the rink, but when we are off we have nothing but love and respect for each other."
As with all roller derby bouts the home team designates a charity to benefit from the night's proceeds. The Kern County Roller Girls will be hosting this bout and have their sights on helping the health of local lungs. The Bakersfield chapter of the American Lung Association is the bout's charity and with two local teams competing, the proceeds should be plentiful.
"We are expecting a huge turnout. The Diamond Divas have an awesome fan base and they are always packed. So they are going to come to our house with their fans and then we will have our fans, too. It's going to be pretty packed," said Manos.
The bout will take place on the Kern County Roller Girls home court: 34th Street Rollerama. While the venue provides concessions, the Bakersfield Diamond Divas have come up with a way for you to fill your stomach before the evening's festivities begin, teaming up with the Kern County Shriners for a Hamburger Feed at Noble Park. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. they will be serving up burgers, potato salad, beans, chips and iced tea, all for $5. Half of the net proceeds will go toward the Shriners Club, and the other half will be used by the Divas for the American Lung Association and Relay for Life.
Diamond Divas acting public relations manager Bonnie "Roxy Von Carnage" Holt said her league got involved with the Shriners after a suggestion from the EMT they use whenever they host a bout.
"Our EMT 'Stitches' is really involved with the Shriners and gave us the idea. We were happy to get on board with the event. We love to help the community, and we will always collaborate with others to benefit everyone," she said.
Shriners secretary Steve "Hamburger" Woford, who earned his nickname from the three years he has spent manning the grill during the club's biweekly hamburger feeds, said he's glad the club is involved in Saturday's event.
"We are out there the second and fourth Wednesday every month serving the Shriners, Masons and all of our friends. When the girls came to us, we were happy to do it as long as they took care of the tickets," he said.
Those tickets will be available at the park, so head on out for the barbecue in the afternoon before the evening's contest.
When it comes to the bout, show your support with team merchandise, which will be on sale. And feel free to show your colors without worrying about a rumble. Manos said Saturday's groundbreaking event is all about unity.
"We are two different leagues playing each other, but it's the same city so it's the same sport. This is about bringing Bakersfield together and growing the sport even more."