My good friend Rich Z, professionally known as Nixon Kutz, was kind enough to send me his interview about what it’s like to be a Roller Derby Referee just in time for Causal Friday. Woo hoo!
The sport of women’s roller derby has been around for almost 100 years with few changes to the “flat track” rules since the 1930s. One of the first promoters of roller derby was sportswriter Damon Runyon, who is best known for writing the short stories that were later adapted for the musical “Guys and Dolls” — and, of course, for inspiring the term “Runyonesque”.
Although the popularity of professional women’s roller derby has waxed and waned throughout the years, it has remained one of the few women’s contact sports (besides “jello wrestling”) that has entered the popular culture — iconic enough to even be featured on VH1’s Rock of Love 2 reality show last season.
But what it is like to officiate at a sports event that races around a track at 20 miles per hour and has a vibe somewhere between the X-Games and rubgy? Is it fun? Is it dangerous? Do the crowds really go wild when someone goes down? (Editor’s Note: Nixon Kutz asked me to tell you this in answer to these questions: “ Yes, it is dangerous, people do get hurt. Is it fun? Hell Yeah! The crowd doesn’t go wild when someone goes down, they go wild when they see a well placed, hard hitting block executed!”)
Let’s find out about the wild world of roller derby from Nixon Kutz:
When people ask you “what do you do?” how do you describe your job?
Well one of the things I do, outside of my regular profession, is I am a women’s flat track roller derby referee. Actually, I am the head referee for the Morristown Madams. They are the flagship team for the Western Jersey Outlaw League. My duties are overseeing the other 6 referees necessary to a roller derby bout, interfacing with the statisticians and score board operator, along with also watching the action on the track. There are times when it feels like I am a cat herder.
What are the things about your job that you love?
I enjoy the fact that it is somewhere between an amateur sport and a professional sport. The true meaning of sports-person-ship is alive and well in this sport. These women go at it tooth-and-nail when they are on the track, but off the track there is a level of camaraderie not always witnessed in other sports. On top of the fact I am a third generation quad skater and love to skate.
What are the things about your job that you hate?
When I am officiating a bout it is hard not to root for the ladies when they make an awesome move or put a hard hit on the other team. It would not look good for me to be yelling ‘YEAH!” when I am doing my best to be an impartial judge.
What education, training, vocation or just plain luck would someone have to have in order to get a job like yours?
That is easy just show up and volunteer. I started about 1 year ago in April of ’07 and the next month I was chosen to be head referee. It basically involves reading and understanding the rules and how the game is played.
What is the funniest story you can think of that involves your professional training or your job?
It was when I was a guest referee for another New Jersey league’s bout. At the end of the bout I was off to the side talking with my girlfriend and this young woman, who had been a spectator, walked up and asked if it was ok for her boyfriend to take a picture of me and her. She said I was her favorite referee. I never really saw myself in that light; I always thought it was about the ladies on the track.
that sounds like fun! i guess they don’t have ‘couples skate’ or ‘reverse skate’ at the rink. boo hoo!
thanks for a dose of a cool job i never considered–but i look horrid in stripes, so it’s a no-go for me.
It’s okay CWG, I look horrible sprawled out on the floor after tripping over my own skates — so I guess it’s a no-go for me, too!
“…iconic enough to even be featured on VH1’s Rock of Love 2 reality show last season.”
That’s my league the LA Derby Dolls!!!
And if you want to see reverse skating, one of our girls was showboating in our last bout and skated half a jam backwards:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laderbydolls/2468308070/in/photostream/
Glad I’m not the only one who watches ‘Rock of Love 2′!
This does sound like a very Cool Job.
I remember watching Roller Derby on TV as a kid. They always showed the same two teams, I think one was from Kansas and the other one always lost. It was kind of like watching the Harlem Globetrotters play.
Those Harlem Globetrotters are something; no stopping them.
Coming from the UK initially I had only ever seen Roller Ball on TV (the film – I think that is what it was called), so was amazed to read this.
@twergi – Welcome! Be warned that if you are part of the team that was so completely entertaining on Rock of Love 2 you may end up here on My Cool Job yourself! I loved all of the pix that you linked here!
@Khyri – Of course not, dear! I found myself feeling sorry for Bret more often than not this past season. Where do they find such insane people?
@planetross — I know exactly what you mean. When I get around to writing about another of the cool jobs that I’ve had in the past, I will make you green with envy that it briefly involved Curly Neal actually balanced a spinning basketball on my finger!
@sengdroma – Welcome to you! Amazingly, roller derby is a ‘real sport’, although it is usually less violent than the movie Rollerball! And I do hope you saw the original version with Paul Newman — it was much better than the recent remake.
Psst. James Caan. Paul Newman was in Slapshot.
@pannonica — You are so right! Duh, me! I must have taken too many hits to the head at the last roller derby match…
All I remember about the James Caan movie ‘Rollerball’ was that I went to see it with my cousin who was six months older than me, and she was far more into blood and gore than I was. I didn’t enjoy one second of it.
And that was in the UK, too! I see it was rated AA which is defined as “Suitable for those aged 14 and over”. Looking on IMDb, it was released on Sept 3, 1975 which was four days before my 14th birthday. I guess I just scraped in there…
one more thing…is the eyepatch for aesthetics or is it for an injury sustained on the rink?
ps. WE WANT MORE COOL JOBS, so get on it!!
here are some *unsolicited* suggestions:
1. caricature artist
2. bat boy for a MLB team
3. the lady that dresses up as the statue of liberty and stands on the street in new york
4. a roadie for a band
thanks, pal.
@ CWG: The answer about the eyepatch is “neither”. Rich Z (aka Nixon Kutz) did, in fact, suffer an injury many years ago which led to his wearing an eyepatch today, but it was completely unrelated to roller derby.
I am so used to Rich’s eyepatch after all these years that it didn’t occur to me until you asked the question that a one-eyed referee would be a very funny thing! I have just called Rich and asked him about it and he told me that:
a) He gets a lot of questions about whether it is an affectation or a fashion accessory;
b) He’s cool with the game announcer mentioning that he likes to “keep an eye out” for violations during roller derby matches; and
c) Yes, chicks dig it.
as for your P.S. I have a few things in the works and am just waiting for some additional emails…including one from a rock musician in Indonesia and one from the owner of a hot air balloon ride company. Will that do for now? As for the rest I’ll make a few inquiries for you!
my P.S. Years ago in NYC I got to hang out for an afternoon with the gal who was the “Statue of Liberty” in Joe vs. the Volcano and now it is killing me that I can’t remember her name!
JENNIFER STEWART played the statue of liberty.
you know you love me now.
Very cool! I don’t have the advantage of being a “third-generation quad skater” so I’m learning to skate and to ref at the same time. It’s one of the best gigs ever.
Morristown, eh? I have a large friend who plays halftime shows there…
[...] Thursday I received a call from my good friend Rich Zaleski (aka Nixon Kutz, Roller Derby Referee) letting me know he had an extra ticket to attend a taping of the ABC game show “Who Wants To [...]