Essential Roller Derby Book
Frank Deford, sports writer of excellence, captures the heart of 1960s-1970s roller derby through his descriptive narration of the sociological background of those who roll on the banked track (he also explains the title of this book), the psychological differences in how male skaters react to the rough-and-tumble of this contact sport versus the female skaters' reaction, and the philosophical nature of the typical roller derby fan. Granted, this work is dated and did not view the underground revival of the sport (particularly among females) but Deford deals with the definitive declaration of this sport in its televised, synidicated zenith. He drops names like Charlie O'Connell, Joan Weston, and various San Francisco Bay Area Bombers greats. Deford likes this sport and anyone who reads this book will come away with a profound appreciation of a sport he or she saw when a kid.
