The Bronx Gridlock ascended to the Gotham Girls Roller Derby pinnacle in front of a raucous sold-out crowd at CCNY's Nat Holman Gymnasium, defeating the two-time defending champion Queens of Pain, 95-90.

The 2007 finale coincided with a tidal wave of positive local derby publicity, including the front page of that morning's New York Times. The buzz attracted a handful of local glitterati, including E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt, aka "Little Steven," aka "Silvio Dante" on HBO's The Sopranos. Next season, could we see Spike Lee and Tyra Banks squabbling over front row seats?

The fans also included visiting derby girls from Boston, Providence, Windy City, Kansas City, Garden State, New Jersey Dirty Dames, and Suburbia Rollergirls. A mixed ref crew from Gotham, Boston, Providence, NJ Dirty Dames, Garden State, and Connecticut called the action.

The bout opened with the announcement of a few 'fan favorite' awards, tallied via on-line polling. The Brooklyn Bomb Squad took 'favorite jeerleaders,' The Persuader (Queens) won 'favorite mascot,' veteran Lefty Leibowitz won 'favorite announcer,' and Flying Squirrel danced his way to 'favorite referee.'

In the first period, Bronx took control by staging a clinic in stifling team defense, pitching 10 shutouts in the initial set of 18 jams. The Bronx executed their trademark 'recycling' strategy at the front of the pack, with a lead blocker working to delay the opposing jammer by pushing her to the outside, creating enough space for a teammate to speed forward, fill the vacated space, and protect the line. This new blocker would then do the same, pushing the jammer outward while the original blocker, or a third teammate, would fill in the gap from behind. This rotational strategy requires team speed, communication, and discipline.

Meanwhile, at the rear of the pack, Queens was hobbled by the absence of Greta Turbo, lost to a October practice mishap resulting in spiral fractures of her tibia and fibula. Without Greta available, Queens had its hands full working to break up the strong Bronx wall in the back.

The injured Greta Turbo arrives at the 2007 championships, dragged around the track by Queens mascot The Persuader. Photo credit: Nicholas Tang.

First period action highlights included:

Jam 2 - Queens' Donna Matrix hit Bronx captain Ginger Snap off the track ... and directly into the legs of visiting Boston referee Jeff Da Reff, much to the delight of the crowd.

Jam 4 - Bronx's Beyonslay delivered yet another "YouTube moment," treating Queens jammer Suzy Hotrod to a short flight up and out of play.

Jam 7 - Aggressive re-engaging by Bronx's Speed McQueen made it impossible for Suzy Hotrod to escape Bronx's aforementioned recycling. Bronx's Beatrix Slaughter survived a huge hit from Rolletta Lynn to eke out a 2-0 victory.

Jam 8 - Bronx dodged a potentially major bullet after accidentally only sending 3 blockers to the track. Rookie jammer Luna Impact scored a 4-0 anyway, thanks to more recycling from Daizy Chainz and Kandy Kakes, who also drew enough penalties from Queens jammer Scarlett Rage to force her to the box.

Jam 11 - Bronx jammer Bonnie Thunders performed one of the most tactically brilliant plays of the season. Bonnie trailed opposing jammer Cheap Skate by a few strides, but with stunning defensive awareness, Bonnie grabbed teammate Ginger Snap and hurled her at Cheap, resulting in a long-distance jammer-on-jammer remote takedown.

Bronx closed the period with eight consecutive jam victories or ties, until Queens recovered from the onslaught with a 6-1 victory in the jam's final period thanks to a Ana Bollocks / Stevie Kicks wall at the front of the pack.

The halftime score was 57-30, and while Queens regrouped in the locker room, the fans were treated to jovial halftime performances by the Hungry March Band, their break-dancing gorilla, and the Gotham Girls Jeerleaders. Bronx mascot Skid Marxx and Queens mascot The Persuader circled the track on skates, attacking each other with comfy pillows.

Queens jammer Suzy Hotrod goes down after a hit from Bronx blocker Beatrix Slaughter and Bronx pivot Kandy Kakes. Photo credit: Nicholas Tang.

Additional fan-balloted awards were announced, with Queens jammer Suzy Hotrod winning the 'fan favorite jammer' and 'overall fan favorite' titles. In a surprise to no one, Beyonslay was named 'fan favorite blocker or pivot.' Bronx's Luna Impact won 'fan favorite rookie,' thanks, no doubt, to her personal cheering section, the Lunatics. Queens picked up the 'favorite team' fan award, and in the most important award of the evening, Bronx's Brigitte Barhot's incessant flirting was rewarded with the 'hottest rollergirl' title.

In the second period, Queens worked more diligently to control the front of the pack. Ana Bollocks, previously playing mostly in the rear, shifted her focus to the front of the pack, resulting in several long delays for Bronx jammers. Queens also did a better job of surrounding Beyonslay, attacking on her with more double-teams and a more constant barrage of harrassment.

Both teams spent more time in the box in the second period, and as the fatigue grew it was more difficult for blocking packs to maintain tight formations, resulting in big scoring swings. In jam 2, Cheap Skate scored a 9-0 while Bonnie Thunders chilled her heels in the box, and two jams later it was Beatrix Slaughter with a 9-0, followed by a 7-0 for Bonnie Thunders as Cheap Skate took a turn in the pokey. Seven jams into the period, Bronx led 87-45 and started to methodically kill the clock, settling for low scoring jams, and victory seemed in hand. However, skaters from both teams were hitting the ground with increasing frequency -- exactly the kind of chaotic environment which can facilitate a big scoring run.

Jam 11 was a highlight for fans of hitting and defense. Beatrix Slaughter and Scarlett Rage lined up to jam, and Scarlett was soon sent to the box for her fourth minor. Queens badly needed a 'stop,' and their blocking lineup of Donna Matrix, Stevie Kicks, Ana Bollocks, and Suzy Hotrod delivered, pounding Beatrix while Scarlett served her entire minute. Scarlett emerged from the box, and then it was Bronx's turn to shine, keeping Scarlett away from the front of the pack. The full two-minute jam ended without either jammer ever emerging from the pack, and Queens had dodged a major bullet.

In Jam 12, Brigitte Barhot took advantage of a 4-2 blocker advantage to score 9 to Cheap Skate's 4, who was rocked by some heavy hits from Luna Impact. This was the end of the good news for the Bronx, who now held a commanding 93-59 lead, with time for just six jams remaining. However, this 34 point lead was not nearly safe against the explosive Queens of Pain team. Observe:

Jam 13 - a zero-zero time killing jam called off by the Bronx.

Jam 14 - Suzy Hotrod nimbly jumped over Kandy Kakes' leg on the inside line to claim lead jammer. Bronx's jammer (Luna Impact) was sent to the box for her fourth minor, and Suzy took advantage by scoring eight. After Luna emerged, Suzy attempted a jammer-on-jammer hit which went awry, and Suzy was awarded a major penalty for an illegal takedown. Suzy tried to call off the jam, but the alert referees knew that Suzy had lost her Lead Jammer status the moment she committed the foul, and they resisted the temptation to hit the four whistles. Bronx 93, Queens 67.

Jam 15 - With Queens jammer Suzy Hotrod trapped in the box, Queens teammate Ana Bollocks kept Bronx from scoring any points, relentlessly harrassing jammer Beatrix Slaughter and creating a 0-0 jam. Bronx 93, Queens 67.

Queens blocker Hyper Lynx tries to keep Bronx jammer Beatrix Slaughter from slipping by. Photo credit: Raymond Haddad.

Jam 16 - With tired packs increasingly difficult to identify, Scarlett Rage picked up a 9-0 shutout against Brigitte Barhot, who was sent to the box after Queens' Donna Matrix goaded Ms. Barhot into picking up her fourth minor. Bronx 93, Queens 76.

Jam 17 - Suzy Hotrod streaked around the outside of the Bronx pack to pick up lead jammer, and then raced, largely untouched, for an improbable 14 points. Brigitte Barhot escaped the penalty box, but was soon wiped out by a huge block from Cheap Skate, and then commited a major by cutting the track to escape the pack. Bronx 93, Queens 90.

In just four jams, Queens' explosive jammers had made up 31 points, setting up a three point deficit with about 1:20 on the clock and the Bronx jammer in the box. Needless to say, the crowd was bonkers, now being treated to an unexpected nail-biting ending.

Bronx fans were seeing unwelcome flashbacks of last season's bout against Queens, when the final jam began with a four point lead -- and Queens' Suzy Hotrod scored a 5-0 to win the game. Queens went to the Suzy Hotrod jamming well once again, but this time she only had two blockers to help her -- Donna Matrix and Scarlett Rage, as blocking teammates Cheap Skate and Hyper Lynx were relegated to the box. Bronx's Brigitte Barhot was forced to jam for a third consecutive jam, by virtue of still being trapped in the box, along with blocking teammate Beyonsl·y. Bronx put out their fastest blocking package -- Pop Rox, Bonnie Thunders, and Kandy Kakes -- knowing that they would need all available speed in order to outrun Hotrod.

The Bronx blockers came through, keeping Suzy trapped in the 3-on-2 pack long enough for Barhot to quietly escape the box, surprise the Queens blockers, zip through the inside, and grab lead jammer status. With about 35 seconds left on the clock, Barhot could have immediately effectively ended the bout by calling off the jam, but instead she gave Bronx managers and fans a collective heart attack by waiting ten or fifteen more additional terrifying seconds (and picking up two additional points). Apparently, that's the kind of derring-do you can get away with when you're the 'hottest rollergirl.' Queens was shut out, Bronx was victorious, 95-90, and the Bronx fans quickly lined up outside the restrooms to change their underpants.

The utterly characterless Nat Holman Gymnasium at City College of New York. Home sweet home! Foreground: The Golden Skate, symbolizing excellence in the field of roller derby. Photo credit: Raymond Haddad.

The bout marked the end of the Gotham careers of Rolletta Lynn (an original Austin skater from the BBGW days), Joey Hardcore (a veteran skater from the very first GGRD exhibition in 2004), Jocelyn D'Jewels (a tough package affectionately nicknamed 'Balls!'), Tera Dyketal (a bad-ass dancer on wheels), and Pop Rox (official GGRD hairdresser).

Gotham's All-Star travel team visits the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls on December 1st, after which the league plans to collectively collapse from exhaustion.

Jammers:
Suzy Hotrod (Q) 44 points, 13 jams
Beatrix Slaughter (Bx) 32 points, 11 jams
Bonnie Thunders (Bx) 31 points, 14 jams
Cheap Skate (Q) 29 points, 10 jams
Brigitte Barhot (Bx) 25 points, 8 jams
Scarlett Rage (Q) 17 points, 13 jams
Luna Impact (Bx) 7 points, 3 jams

Penalties:
Bronx - 84 minors, 11 majors, 28 trips to the box
Queens - 92 minors, 8 majors, 26 trips to the box