Since 2005, The Arizona Derby Dames (AZDD) have been the fastest growing all-girl roller derby in the state of Arizona. The AZDD was founded by four women, Suzy Homewrecker (XXX), Joan Threat (50), All The Way Mae (213) and Prima Donna (32), who were all originally players in the Arizona Roller Derby League. That first season, I remember watching only three teams bout against one another--The Coffin Draggers, The Brutal Beauties, and The Bombshells. Over the next few years, The School Yard Scrappers and The Runaway Brides were added to the roster.

Over the last few years I have watched the league grow exponentially. While it was the group's extreme DIY and abilities to make it work in the space they had to work with, I am extremely proud to see what they have accomplished. To grow from The Castle Sport's Club where a fire marshall once threatened to shut down a bout when over 800 people were in attendance to The Arizona Veteran's Memorial Coliseum where I witnessed over 3,000 roller derby fanatics cheer on the AZDD in their new banked track. That is an amazing achievement in under five years.

Not only do the girls love the competitive action they get on the track, they are passionate about giving back to their community. From the AZDD website: “Efforts of the women in the league have benefited St. Vincent DePaul's food bank, the Arizona Coalition for Domestic Violence, the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family Christmas program, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the ANASAZI Foundation, the Manna House, the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix and the national Keep-A-Breast organization which benefits breast cancer research and many other charitable organizations.”

Here at Bookmans we have a few employees who have grown to love roller derby as much as I do. We try to attend as many bouts as possible and are known as “The Bookmans Girls” to many of the AZDD players. While at times I miss our bench behind the Beauties at the Castle Sports Club, I am so proud whenever I enter the A.V. Coliseum. The new banked track is impressive and I love watching the new sense of pride and professionalism come from the teams. Plus, it's pretty darn cool to see the Bookmans commercials playing on the big screen. Who can resist the league motto, “Live Fast, Die Pretty.” Indeed ladies, indeed.

Don't miss out on the next bout June 19th where the Bombshells face the Coffin Draggers and the Brutal Beauties taken on the Runaway Brides! To learn more about the Arizona Derby Dames visit their website. You can also check out video of the new banked track here. And don't forget about our amazing censorship video.