Rolling Thunder: The Golden Age of Roller Derby & the Rise and Fall of the L.A. T-Birds($18.38Value)

Description

Scott Stephens received his first set of roller skates at age six in 1966 – and soon he was staging Roller Derby games in his backyard. Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s, it was impossible not to have heard about Roller Derby and the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, whose games were televised. In fact, many of the T-Birds were just as popular as those on traditional sports teams such as the Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams. When Stephens started training at the new T-Bird Rollerdrome in Pico Rivera, it was mainly because he loved roller skating on a banked track. He had no idea that the Roller Games league was low on skaters. From 1978 to 1981, from his seat on the infield of the track and on the track itself, Stephens was part of everything the games had to offer, including its underground scene of shadowy characters and venues, adrenalin seekers, and alternative lifestyles. He loved it! Trace the history of Roller Derby and Los Angeles’ flagship team, the T-Birds, with this brilliant account highlighting the sport’s booms and busts. "The book is so meticulously researched and reported as to be a virtual encyclopedia. Stephens is an entertaining writer whose passion about this subject is likely unmatched by anyone else. This book is unquestionably a treasure trove for anyone who followed T-Birds in their prime years and loved the Roller Games." - blueink "Rolling Thunder is a thorough sports history that's embellished by fascinating backstage access." - Laura Leavitt, Clarion "Surely the best and most accurate book ever written about the history of the banked track sport." - John Hall, Roller Derby Hall of Fame "It's a vivid book that melds history with the personal, telling the story of the athletes and behind the scenes characters who made roller games a part of pop culture and echoes today in modern derby." - Steve DeBro, 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story "There is humor, pathos, drama, triumphs, and tragedies. Read about the in-fighting that took place both on the banked track as well as in Management's Boardroom. Stories that are still debated today among roller derby enthusiasts. - Bill Griffiths, Jr., Thunderbirds team owner, son of Bill Griffiths, Sr. "Scott Stephens and his new book"Rolling Thunder" might just prove to be to the Roller Games league what the late Frank Deford and his legendary book "Five Strides on the Banked Track" was to the Roller Derby." - Ed Koch, Las Vegas Sun Sportswriter, Author of Roller Derby Requiem "Scott has done extensive research, and being a former skater, his first-hand experiences add so much more to his book!" - Jim Fitzpatrick, pro skater, coach & GM for the San Francisco Bay Bombers "Very well researched history of the Los Angeles Thunderbirds and the National Skating Derby in all its incarnations. Goes behind the scenes with much information that has never before been revealed. A must-read for any fan of the banked-track sport." - Phil Berrier, National Roller Derby Hall of Fame "The cold, hard, and sad truth about the rise and fall of a beloved sport. Truly this is a must-read." - Martin Spencer, Editor, RollerSports Report "Author Scott Stephens lays it out in simple terms how a league could be successful in today's market." - Sharon Brock, Roller Derby Renaissance "This book is the ultimate guide to roller derby!" - Rebecca Wasik, Sports Journalist, Golden Gate Sports "If you purchase one book this year, Rolling Thunder is the one to get." - Mark Nowotarski, Indie filmmaker "A former roller derby skater traces the sport's roller-coaster ride." - Kirkus "Scott, I admire you and yourwork." - Jerry Seltzer, former owner of Roller Derby, son of founder Leo Seltzer Scott Stephens is the CEO of Liquid Blue, Inc., and earned a bachelor's degree from Alaska Pacific University. Since 1996, he has managed the musical group Liquid Blue and was the band's lead vocalist and songwriter for more than fifteen years. The group appeared in more than 120 countries and holds a Guinness World Record. He also spent four years as a Roller Derby skater, including time with the Los Angeles T-Birds. He founded and edited Raw Power magazine in the late 1970s. He splits his time between surfing locales in San Diego, the Philippines, and Costa Rica.