SCRG says good bye Fresno!
To our loyal friends and fans,
It is with careful consideration that the Smog City Roller Grrls have decided to retire.
Three years ago Jenn Balint had a dream to bring something unique and special to Fresno. Armed with her passion and resiliancy she set out to enlist the toughest, most intelligent and determined women she could find in Fresno. From that desire and willingness to grow, Smog City Roller Grrls was formed.
The mission of our league was to always represent Fresno with respect and pride, focusing on areas of Fresno who like SCRG were often overlooked. We found our fan base in the Tower District and Downtown. Our motive was to bring focus to an alternative women's sport and attention to downtown Fresno. We made a conscience decision to hold all of our events downtown in hopes that people from all over Fresno would recognize and appreciate the validity of this beautiful and important part of Fresno. We as a league felt connected in some way to Downtown Fresno; we also struggled to gain recognition and put in alot of hard work to break the stereotypes of who we were and what we did.
In the past year we as a family have dealt with some very serious issues; Some happy and some sad. We lost many of our veteran skaters. Some due to injuries related to the sport. We lost women due to pregnancy and the resulting parenthood and we lost one woman to a seemingly terminal illness she fought and won. Through these challenges a shift began to take place among our league and things werent as it was initially envisioned. We couldnt give Fresno less than our best.
Because key members were no longer able to maintain their place, SCRG took a back burner to other important factors in our lives. It was a painstaking decision to make. But in the end it was decided that if full attention could not be given to the league, we owed it to ourselves but mostly to our fans and friends to walk away with our heads held high.
We will always be SCRG. We will always be Fresno's first roller derby league. We hope that others take this cue and keep the spirit of roller derby alive. We hope that Fresno would be receptive to any who come after us. This was a long and arduous road for us but one that brings us great pride and satisfaction.
This was the most difficult decision to make. We understand the value Fresno has placed on us. We appreciate your support more than we can say. Hearing you chant our names over and over again brought us so much pride. Thank you for embracing us and standing behind us. We apologize if we have let you down but we pray that you understand that all good things must come to an end.
Again, we are so grateful to you, Fresno. We are proud members of this community and knowing that for a short time we were able to represent you in the most fantastic way is a pride we will carry forever.
To the local media for finding the validity in the Smog City Roller Grrls, we are forever grateful.
As we close this chapter in our lives we walk away with a simple phrase in our heads:
A princess always knows when to leave the party.
With love, respect and much appreciation,
SMOG CITY ROLLER GRRLS!
To famous guest:
I dont quite know why you would add to this thread the information you included as it does NOT pertain to SCRG in any way.
We were league owned and operated which meant we were not paid by the city, did not benefit from the "charity auctions" nor were we a thought in the "Sports Walk" venture.
I understand your frustration; the words you spoke hang from most peoples lips BUT, it does not pertain to SCRG.
We were a stand-alone entity, relying solely on our own private fundraisers, utilizing our own promotions team and put in the blood, sweat and tears of 20+ women, none who were on any sort of payroll by the city.
We retired due to many other reasons that do not include financial trouble. That was the least of our concern.
I appreciate your feelings being spoken however, I think you should've started a new blog about this situation.
I will repeat, this latest sports developement does NOT pertain to SCRG in the least.
First Falcons.Now the Grizzlies?.Bubba's Legacy continues.
Word around Downtown is the Grizzlies are next to fold. Last month according to sources the Grizzlies were broke yet it was the Falcons that folded first. Now the Grizzlies are fine?
And what about the money from the charity auctions? Why haven't the Jr. Falcons got the money yet from the charity auction?
Why were the Jr. Falcons only getting 20 percent of the money from the Chuck-a-Puck fundraisers?
Why were Falcons owners taking 80 percent?
Des anyone know if the Veteran's Home ever got the money from the charity auction for the Vetran's Home?
What's really going on here?
Isn't stealing charity money a felony?
The Downtown Stadium has been a waste from day one. Remember when Mayor Paterson "VETOED" it. Boo Hiss Booo Baseball Hater! He said the City aka taxpayers would be stuck with the cost of the stadium and we have been. The city owns it all including all half broken equipment in the food stands.
Foodstands with nasty dirty floors, broke ice machines and broken sinks?
Does the Health Department give the City a free pass on the violations?
And speaking of the Falcons/Gizzlies/Fuegos stew: what happened to the legacy project?
Where was Autry during all this?
He was in the Starbuck's dreamin of his imaginary rivers,lakes and planning his Zillion Dollar Tour
Whatever hapened to Sport's Town?
Well Bubba can enjoy the lights on the trees that a million dollars bought at taxpayers expense.
while said to see Derby on hiatus......
Looking forward to next years matches. at least we stil have monthly pro wrestling down at the Radisson. Jan 4th should be a killer show!
www.northamericanwrestling.com
Thank you to ALL of our
Thank you to ALL of our amazing, loyal fans! I can't wait for next season!!!
xxox Betty Rocker xxox
Yay!
We look forward to the new season, hope to see you at our first bout on March 21, 2009 against the Battle Born Derby Demons of Reno. We will be holding our bouts at the Fresno Fair Grounds, located at:
1121 S. Chance Ave.
Fresno, CA 93702
HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE!
Pookie #49
NOtown Roller Derby (formerly SCRG)
wording
look, I'm not trying to start a squable or anything, but it is a new league even if it based largely in former scrg skaters. one league ended, another started. and I've talked to a few of the former scrg/current notown skaters. I set up Myspace relations for myself and my podcast. I'm wholeheartedly supporting the new league.
new derby league
It is not a "new" league sprouting up, it is the remaining members of SCRG, around twenty, who are continuing the league, just with a different name.
NOtown Roller Derby (formerly Smog City)
For more information about NOtown Roller Derby (formerly Smog City Roller Grrls) check out www.myspace.com/notownrollerderby or contact us at notownrollerderby@gmail.com
Thanks Ed!
Unfortunately there will always be people who try to create drama and scandal from something so genuine and pure.
NO ONE is trying to ruin anything for anyone, least of all any new derby teams. I am all for keeping the legacy alive.
I truly appreciate those who supported SCRG and continue to do so after the fact and for those who understand what this post is about.
As I said in my post, I hope that Fresno continues to support those who come after SCRG!
dear guest
who said derby was dead?
lola's post said scrg was calling it quits. and, she also said, "We hope that others take this cue and keep the spirit of roller derby alive. We hope that Fresno would be receptive to any who come after us."
doesn't sound like anyone is trying to ruin it for others. quite the contrary.
and, another commenter even gave a link to the new derby league sprouting up.
Derby ain't dead...
only the Smog City Roller Grrls name is.
Sad to see people who talk about loving derby try to ruin it for others.
Eloquent.
Eloquent.
Name is gone...but DERBY IS NOT
This post is addressed to the wonderful fans and supporters of The Smog City Roller Grrls.
It was with great sadness that at the end of our 2008 season our founder and leader retired and the name of Smog City retired. We WILL still be rolling and we WILL still be battling, just under a new name. A new Board of Directors was appointed to continue the sport or roller derby in Fresno, CA and it is with great pleasure that we introduce NOtown Roller Derby and the Raisin' Hell Derby Diablas. You might recognize many familiar veteran faces that you have come to love, but we have also welcomed many FRESH MEAT skaters into our derby family and look forward to watching their skills and talent grow on and off the track. We wish to carry on the legacy of SCRG and write a new chapter in our book. We anticipate that our first season under a new name and leadership will be successful, and we hope that our FANTASTIC FANS continue to support us in our endeavor to bring an exciting sport to the City of Fresno!!! We WILL continue to put on great shows.
Be on the look out for us next season at the Fresno Fair Grounds!
Much Derby Love,
http://profile. myspace. com/index. cfm?fuseaction=user. viewProfile&friendID=435303502
Tip of the hat to SCRG
You ladies did an amazing job. Anybody starting up there own thing (no matter what it is) should look at how you guys did it.
Thanks for all the good times Downtown and at Club Fred.
----------
www.thefresnan.com
many thanks
thanks for all the blood, sweat, and tears you ladies put into it. thanks for all the enjoyment. thanks it all.
:(
This sucks royally. But thank you so much for what you Grrl's did and gave something for Fresno to be proud about.
Post new comment