In my little world, I won’t shut up about the Minnesota RollerGirls. Their next bout is coming up Sunday, April 24th and tickets tend to sell out. So get yours early if you want to go. (cheap…$8) I had to miss the first one, but the second bout happened to fall on my birthday and was fun as hell.

In case you haven’t heard the buzz about “new” roller derby, this isn’t that crap that was on Wide World of Sports in the 70s. This is more like a knock-down, drag-out bastard child of a day at the roller rink and professional wrestling. These girls skate under monikers like “Head Trauma”, “Snake Bite” and “Tara Nipploff”. There’s loads of room to stand back a little…but if you’re brave, you can sit a couple of feet from the edge of the track.

What else? PBR, live bands at half time, and all proceeds go to charity. All the cool kids are going.

There’s been loads of press lately, but here’s a few choice pieces:

KARE-11 Extra: A New Spin on an Old Sport (video)

Star Tribune: Let’s tangle: Roller derby is back
City Pages: “Would the WNBA Be More Popular If It Had Players Named Dixie Wrect?”

It was 70 degrees, sunny, Opening Day and the last game of the NCAA Tournament. If there was ever a reason to just call in sick, it was yesterday. Unfortunately, I didn’t. I hope everyone else did.

When watching the local news, play this game: What’s the bad news that KSTP’s Jessica Miles has to report? If this woman isn’t on anti-depressants after having to report on murder, death, dismemberment & fires every day of the week, it’s a miracle. Morning news in this city is a total fluff-fest except when you see Jessica Miles out in the rain/snow/wind telling us who died tragically. Maybe this should be a drinking game.
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I was taking a trip way up I94 the other day and noticed something very strange. First off, there wasn’t any traffic. Second, I was driving on an actual road. Yes, folks, they have finally finished the construction on 694!! I was so shocked to find out about it. I mean, it has been under construction since I was a wee little kid. I just thought it was one of those projects that will never finish. You know the kind; by the time they finish at one end, they have to go back to the beginning and start again. To be honest, I really don’t remember a time when it HASN’T been under construction. Anyway, that is all behind us now for awhile. I think I literally heard an “Ahh!” like angels singing when the realization hit me. I almost shed a little tear.

Up next is the finishing of 494. Then it is on to ripping up 35W and the Crosstown. That is gonna be one big headache that will be worked on for up to FOUR YEARS!! You thought it was a headache now, just wait…