Our featured Blacksnake Rollergirl for April 2014 is Notorious L.I.Z. of the Jesse Janes!
Name: Notorious L.I.Z.
Team: The Jesse Janes
Number: 3X
Seasons with the Blacksnake Rollergirls: 3
Seasons with Dead Girl Derby: 2
How did you discover the Blacksnake Rollergirls?
“Well I guess you could say the Blacksnake Roller Girls found me! I had been playing with Dead Girl Derby and was finishing my second season when I realized that I just could not afford the commute to Kansas City anymore. I didn’t want to give up roller derby, so I asked DGD to help me start roller derby in St Joseph. I wanted to bring something I loved so much to other women, but mostly I wanted the opportunity to continue playing! So with a lot of help from DGD, I started Blacksnake Roller Girls. I guess you could say BRG is my love child.”Explain the origin of your derby name.
“The lovely Ms. Kara Whiplash came up with it. She said that every time she say my name in the league group forum, Notorious L.I.Z. popped in her head, and it stuck. It helped that I couldn’t think of anything more creative on my own! I almost was Molotov Manley, or Flippin’ Pipkin. I do still get name envy every now and then, when I hear a name that’s really creative and fun!”Who inspires you on the track?
“You really gonna ask me that when I skate with so many inspiring women?! Sheesh, put a girl on the spot, whydoncha! I honestly have to say, and I’ve told her many times, that I wanna be like Jamalamadingdong when I grow up.”How has roller derby changed your life?
“It has helped me earn a new respect for myself, and remind me that I’m not a sum of my titles (mom, wife, boss, etc). I realized that it is true that one person really can make a big difference in a lot of peoples’ lives. It has also given me the opportunity to be just Liz for a few hours a week, just be me, and not have to be cook, maid, wife, lover, mom, nurse, detective, shoe locator, taxi, disciplinarian, snuggle giver, milk dispenser, baby soother, juice pourer, mediator, and reminder. It’s an amazing feeling to shed those things for a couple hours, put on my skates, and glide.”What is it about roller derby that brings out the best in Notorious L.I.Z.?
“Since I get to put myself out there for people to watch, I get to be outgoing and have fun doing it! No one wants to watch a roller derby girl who isn’t enjoying it, or at least fighting to win! You wouldn’t think by watching me, but I’m quite the homebody. Having to buckle up 3+ kids in a minivan (that right there takes more time than driving to the store) means it easier to stay home. I’ve has certainly mellowed out a lot. My mom used to call me a party-in-a-box. So the showmanship part of roller derby, hands down, gives me that outlet to be the extrovert that I really am.”
