In April I reported on the Weekly Volcano’s blog (www.weeklyvolcanospew.com — home to all your South Sound blogosphere needs) that the Dockyard Derby Dames were being strong-armed out of their longtime practice digs at the Skate-N-Station in Parkland.



Apparently, the powers that be at the Skate-N-Station liked the Dames so much they wanted to force the rollergirls to hold all of their competitions at the facility. If the Dames didn’t agree, well, the Skate-N-Station would simply tell the Dames to find a new place to practice.



Guess what? It’s never wise to strong-arm a Derby Dame. But attempting to strong-arm the whole league is even crazier.



Shocking no one except perhaps the Skate-N-Station, the Dockyard Derby Dames weren’t about to be forced into anything. They took matters into their own toughened hands and began searching for a new practice space. Though that quest continues to this day, it hasn’t slowed the momentum of their 2008 season. Saturday, June 7 the Dockyard Derby Dames will hold a fund-raiser at Hell’s Kitchen to raise money to help send their travel team to San Diego for a bout later this year. It’s just one of the many signs that the Dockyard Derby Dames are alive and thriving.



Musically, James Hunnicut, 3 Inch Max, Dead Precious and Satan’s Ashtray will play the Derby Dames’ fund-raiser Saturday, part of a night that promises to include as much pure punk rock as roller derby charm. Seems like the perfect combination. Other planned activities include Jell-O wrestling, a kissing booth, raffles and arm wrestling.



“The show at Hells Kitchen is to raise funds to send our girls to San Diego to play their league. There will be 14 players, two alternates, and two coaches going,” explains Slim Finnegan, captain of the Femme Fianna team and a self proclaimed “OG” member of the Dockyard Derby Dames.



“The 2008 season is a product of all of our hard work and ups and downs over the last two years. We have great production, more organization, and we are bringing in other leagues around the state to bout our teams. Our travel team is in full swing. We have a community care committee that is dedicated to donating a percentage of funds from every one of our bouts to charities and organizations in Tacoma. We are involved with just about everything that is going on this summer in town. We are very busy little bees! It’s very fulfilling, and an extremely exciting sport that we are proud to be a part of.”



It’s an excitement that Finnegan and other Dames are proud to be a part of, and an excitement that’s catching on throughout the City of Destiny. Support for the Dames seems to grow with evey bout and every tumble. Tacoma blogs are littered with Dockyard Dames hype, and everywhere I go people are talking about the league — from Black Water Cafe to Buzzard’s CDs. The Dockyard Derby Dames have got Tacoma by the balls, for lack of a better phrase, and they show no signs of letting go anytime soon.



Part of their appeal seems traceable to their makeup, and the diverse group of women that fill the ranks of the Dockyard Derby Dames.



“We have every type of women on our league. We have stay-at-home moms to lawyers within our midst. We are very driven and dedicated to make all aspects of what we do work,” says Finnegan.



“We train very hard for the sport. We spend hours setting up and planning for our bouts. We get involved with the community in ways that will promote and enrich Tacoma. We work hard. It’s very positive and empowering. That’s what people should know.”



And the Parkland Skate-N-Station should have known not to f*** with them. But that’s all history. Fianna says she’s hopeful the Dockyard Derby Dames will soon have a permanent new practice facility — right here in Tacoma.



“Our search for a practice space has been a long and arduous one. We were shocked at the blackmail type treatment we received from people that we had been in a business relationship with for 2 1/2 years. It was a real bummer,” says Finnegan.



“We think our search has finally paid off. The Armory, on South Yakima right behind the jail is giving us a go. We have a trial run practice with them on June 10. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping they will love us and pet us and call us their own.”



That’s what I’d do if I was the Armory. Without question.



James Hunnicut, 3 Inch Max, Dead Precious and Satan’s Ashtray will provide the punk rock backdrop for Saturday’s Dockyard Derby Dames fund-raiser at Hell’s Kitchen. Couple the music with a chance to meet, mingle and get drunk with real live Dockyard Derby Dames, and you’ve got an evening that won’t miss. If I was Weekly Volcano scribe Steph DeRosa I’d take my top off in excitement, but I’m not, so I’ll just advise you to show up. It’s the least I can do. 



[Hell’s Kitchen, James Hunnicutt, 3 Inch Max, Dead Precious, Satan’s Ashtray, Saturday, June 7, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]