Windy City Rolling With Jackie Daniels

It's 2015 and time for a new year with the Windy City Rollers.  I can't wait to get back to the action.  Their next night of action will be Saturday, January 10.

The Windy City Rollers are a women's flat track roller derby league based in Chicago at the UIC Pavilion.  They are a league of about 100 women, playing, promoting and supporting the great sport of roller derby.

As I learned last year, this is an actual sport.  They have retained some of the colorfulness of the roller derby I recall from many years ago, but they have implemented a real scoring system.  In other words, it is the best of both worlds.  It is a fun and flamboyant real competition.

One of my favorites at WCR has been Jackie Daniels.  After years of playing for the Fury, Jackie began her coaching career last season and will continue in that role.

Jackie is full of energy and passion for the sport.  She is a great ambassador.  She welcomed us from day one and has helped us along the way.

Between coaching and interacting with the fans, she is a blur of activity on game day.  That blur always seems to be having a blast, too.

I had the pleasure of seeing Jackie at the Black and Blue event a few months back.  It was great to see her and the other ladies in a different environment.  It was even better to see them relaxed.  Usually, it is hard to believe how hard they work at their spot.

I will be bringing more coverage of the WCR here in the future.  Until then, please go to WindyCityRollers.com to learn more about these awesome athletes and their fun sport!

Jackie Daniels and me in Chicago, IL-September 2014.

Windy City Rolling With Jackie Daniels

Last week, JohngysBeat.com attended the Black and Blue Gala, a fundraiser for the Windy City Rollers.  It was a blast!

We have attended several nights of action with the Windy City Rollers, but this was very different.  The women of WCR were not wearing their usual derby gear and helmets.  Instead, they were dressed elegantly and stylishly.  Because I usually see them wearing helmets, I didn't recognize many.  I admit I felt a bit silly not knowing them at first, but as the evening went on, I did start to figure out several of the ladies.  Of course, some of them helped me a bit by jogging my memory.

I interviewed Jackie Daniels of the Fury a couple times, yet I still didn't realize who she was at first.  With a little prompting, I did realize who she was.

Jackie has been with the Fury since 2010.  She is one of the toughest, most talented and most spirited members of the WCR.  

All of my interviews with the ladies of the WCR can be found at the JohngysBeat.com Windy City Rollers playlist on YouTube.  After watching the interviews, you can learn more about them at WindyCityRollers.com.  Best of all, you really should check out a night of derby action!

Jackie Daniels and me in Chicago, IL-September 2014.

On the Beat with Jackie Daniels of the Windy City Rollers 2014

Scheduling conflicts prevented JohngysBeat.com from returning sooner to see the Windy City Rollers.  Believe me, it wasn't for lack of interest.

As i have previously written, I remember roller derby from the old days, which featured theatrics over athletics.  When I stumbled upon the Windy City Rollers, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this roller derby is legitimate athletic competition, with a little bit of theatrics thrown in.  There are real refs who enforce real rules and real scores are kept.

Oh sure, the players have fun names, like The Jamburglar.  They also have fun mascots, like Fonzo McKnuckles.  If you are looking for over-the-top silliness, look elsewhere.  These ladies are serious about their sport.

On our return to the UIC Pavilion to see WCR, our first interview was with Jackie Daniels, bench coach for the Fury.  Last year, we interviewed Jackie when she was skating for the Fury.  That interview can be found at On the Beat with Jackie Daniels.

Jackie was a great place to start.  She briefly explained the concept and organization of the Windy City Rollers.  To the novice (like we were last year), this really is helpful.

As a former skater with the Fury and current WCR All-Star skater, Jackie also gave us insight on the transition to coach and filling both roles.  Jackie gave us a lot of info, in an interesting way.  It was a great way to get us back into the WCR groove and also to give potential new fans a nice starter lesson.

I really enjoyed talking again to Jackie.  Then again, I am a Coke guy.  What goes better with Jack Daniels than Coke?  (Sorry, I couldn't help myself).

The next night of WCR action is Saturday, May 17.  The WCR home teams will fight it out for the Ivy Cup.  You can get all of the info at WindyCityRollers.com.

Over the next couple weeks, we will be sprinkling in our other interviews from Saturday night's WCR action.  I hop you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed doing them.  I also hope you give WCR a chance.

On the Beat with Jackie Daniels at Windy City Rollers

Jackie Daniels is an All-Star skater for the Fury of the Windy City Rollers and she wears uniform number 07.  She has been involved in roller derby in some form since 2005.  It all started for her in Grand Rapids Michigan, with the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls.  Fortunately for Chicago fans, she relocated here after the 2009 season and joined WCR.
I had the pleasure of taking the interview lead with Jackie.  (As a committed Coke drinker, I go well with Jackie Daniels.)  Obviously, we had to talk about her derby name.  We also talked about her start in roller derby and her future.  She wants to be playing at an All-Star level at 40.  Usually I would say that is a long shot, but Jackie, like all of the WCR women, is dedicated and passionate beyond belief.    You have to be impressed with her after you watch the interview.
Check out WindyCityRollers.com, "like" Windy City Rollers on Facebook and follow WindyCityRoller on twitter to learn more about these and to get all of the news and updates.  Their next home event is on May 4.