Roller derby fans cheer skaters in armory

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marc Schultz

Albany All Stars were defeated by the Syracuse Assault City during roller derby action at the Washington Ave. Armory on Sunday afternoon.

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When Morticia D. Kay delivered one of her many bone-crunching hits Sunday at the Washington Avenue Armory, the sparse crowd in attendance erupted.

“Now that, was a hit,” said Tim Bleiffert, who was sitting in the second row, close enough to be able to get a good feel for the action on the track. “Wow, I really enjoyed that one.”

Morticia D. Kay, or Rebecca Howden, is one of the heavy hitters on the Assault City Assault Squad, a female roller derby team from Syracuse.

She said her job on the team can be difficult, but it is one she thoroughly enjoys.

“The referees see me making big hits, but I am just sturdy and sometimes they overreact and send me to the penalty box for no reason,” she said. “But, I love my role on the team.”

Howden also loved the result of Sunday’s match as her team smashed the Albany All Stars 204-81, in a contest that was never close.

A program distributed at the match said the mission of the Albany All Stars Roller Derby league is to promote female empowerment, camaraderie and carry on a tradition of women’s roller derby on and off the track.

On this particular day, it also provided something to do other than be cooped up at home or freeze outdoors. A number of interactive activities were set up to keep fans entertained throughout the nearly two-hour long match.

On the sidelines, face painting and other activities for children were set up and during halftime fans were encouraged to participate in a competition in which everyone threw a ball into the middle of the track. The person who came closest to the center was awarded a T-shirt.

Fans seemed not too distracted by the extras, focusing instead on the match for its duration, many standing and applauding a good play or a big hit.

Darcy Livingston of Albany said she enjoys watching female roller derby because it proves that women are capable to competing in contact sports.

“We see men roughing each other up in football all of the time but women can be physical too,” she said. “It’s fun to see them compete and go at it.”

But Howden explained that the roller derby she competes in is much different from the stereotypes that people often associate with the sport.

“We are trying to get away from wearing fishnets and having it look like a WWE [pro wrestling] affair,” she said. “We are athletes and we want to let people know that we are athletes.”

Members of both teams gave each other high fives after making good plays and good sportsmanship was on display. Even though the hometown team was handily defeated, many fans were didn’t seem to care.

Joyce LaRue of Albany was enjoying a cold beer and a hamburger while watching something she had been looking forward to for quite some time.

“I just had a terrible week of work and it’s pretty awesome to come down here and just relax and watch these girls beat each other up a little bit,” she said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll get another beer and maybe another hotdog.”