11-20-2013, 11:15 PM
This past Saturday I was finally able to watch Melissa and her team, the Southern Misfits. Walking into the facility and seeing the skaters warming up, doing moves (that I can't do!), the music was jamming (pun intended)... I'll admit, I was kind of excited! That was until they asked if I would help score. It turns out that scoring is really easy, and it was actually a blessing because the two ladies with me at the table filled me in on so much. I knew the object of the game, but I didn't know many of the details: penalties, power jams, why a jammer would call off the jam, why the lead jammer has an advantage... all those things I would have missed if I wouldn't have been an NSO with those ladies. I asked them so many questions... I felt like Melissa must have felt the first time she watched a Saints game with me.
As for the game... what a heck of a season closer! They played a new team, the New Orleans Brass, and they were all guys! I was told most of the guys were either refs or had done some coaching. This was their first bout as a team, and they came out swinging. They actually led the entire first half, and a good bit of the second. They had such a good lead that I almost asked the ladies if the Misfits team could catch up. Right then, the Misfits got a power jam and scored 29 points to take the lead! It was very exciting, and very hard for me not to cheer! (I actually did cheer during the first jam and the ladies told me the scorers need to stay neutral. Embarrassing.) The Misfits went on to win 144-93. I couldn't have been more happy for, and proud of, my wife (and her teammates.) I am just so impressed by the game. It's fast and exciting, and the skills the players use are truly unique. Melissa loves practicing, playing, and talking anything derby, or anything skating for that matter. I can't wait for next season to start and I know she can't either.
As for the game... what a heck of a season closer! They played a new team, the New Orleans Brass, and they were all guys! I was told most of the guys were either refs or had done some coaching. This was their first bout as a team, and they came out swinging. They actually led the entire first half, and a good bit of the second. They had such a good lead that I almost asked the ladies if the Misfits team could catch up. Right then, the Misfits got a power jam and scored 29 points to take the lead! It was very exciting, and very hard for me not to cheer! (I actually did cheer during the first jam and the ladies told me the scorers need to stay neutral. Embarrassing.) The Misfits went on to win 144-93. I couldn't have been more happy for, and proud of, my wife (and her teammates.) I am just so impressed by the game. It's fast and exciting, and the skills the players use are truly unique. Melissa loves practicing, playing, and talking anything derby, or anything skating for that matter. I can't wait for next season to start and I know she can't either.