Roller Derby – “Grease” style

ALLIE HULCHER/ REPORTER

Sandy and Danny.  Summer nights and summer…fights?  The Dixie Derby Girls Roller League is ready for its double header – “Grease” style.

The double header’s theme is “Summer Fights,” and will be held at the VBC  South Hall Saturday.

Doors open at 4 and tickets are 12 dollars at the door, or 10 dollars in advance or at the door if you’re wearing a “Grease” costume.  Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Alabama.

The Rocket City Rollers as the Pink Ladies will fight the Mississippi Roller Girls at 5.

The Raging Rockets team will be dressed as the T-Birds and will fight the Jacksonville, FL Roller Girls at 7.

The derby brawls usually bring in between 600 and 800 people, said Erica Ortiz, the co-chair for marketing and public relations with the Derby.

“This one is one of the larger ones,” Ortiz explained, because there is only one more derby this year.

Ortiz said the excitement in watching roller derby is because of all the action that is constantly happening on the floor.  There are five skaters from each team on the floor.  One skater wears a helmet with a star on it and is called a “jammer.”  The jammer’s goal is to pass as many of the other team’s players, called “blockers,” as possible.

“It’s the only sport that plays offense and defense at the same time,” said Ortiz, who has been a jammer with the Dixie Derby for three years.

Summer Fights will also have a halftime performance based on “Grease” and a costume contest with the chance to win prizes.

“Come see something you normally don’t see with sports,” Ortiz said.  “We have a great time with all of our fans and try to engage them as much as we can.”