Ad-Lib To The Blow Off!: The True Story of Professional Roller Derby, the Outlaw Leagues, the Chicago Mob's Involvement and More!

by Jim Fitzpatrick, Vanessa Fitzpatrick (Editor), Bill Hill (Editor)

Overview

They said it was the fastest-growing sport in America! It was followed by millions and sold out huge arenas across the country! Many of the sport's athletes became household names. Along the way, others tried to duplicate its success, but then it all disappeared! Roller Derby has since been revived and bastardized numerous times! For those who were a part of it, or failed trying to be, it was incredibly addicting. Most look back on it and feel it was the best time of their lives. Some became obsessed with trying to bring it back and recapture the glory.

This book will shatter kayfabe (a term used in professional wrestling in which events are portrayed as "real" even though they are actually staged). This is the true story of what really went on in and around the world of professional Roller Derby, Roller Games, along with the numerous other "outlaw" leagues and variations. You will be given an unprecedented look inside the sport, taking you not only into the infield and onto the banked track but also into the locker rooms and personal lives of some of the game's biggest stars. This book will finally explain why the original Roller Derby died along with showing its ties to some members of the Chicago Outfit (Al Capone's Mob). It will also provide answers to many other questions the fans have always wanted to know!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666290295
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	06/03/2021
Edition description:	Non Fiction, Sports History ed.
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.22(d)

About the Author

Jim Fitzpatrick turned his childhood dream of becoming a professional Roller Derby skater with the legendary. World Champion San Francisco Bay Bombers into reality. Unfortunately, injuries cut his dream short. In an effort to remain involved, he became a referee. Eventually, he mounted a successful “Rocky” like comeback, competing for Team USA in the 1993 Roller Game World Cup, in Tokyo, Japan. Fitzpatrick then went on to a successful career as a firefighter but later suffered career-ending injuries. Amazingly, several years later he helped revive professional roller derby and became the coach and General Manager of the Bombers! Fitzpatrick is currently working with producer/director/actor William Richert on an annotated version of Richert’s 1971 highly acclaimed Roller Derby documentary film, "Derby."