City: Birmingham, AL

Category: Spectator Sports

Address: 3521 Ratliff Rd.

Description: Like your sporting entertainment pierced, tattooed, bruised, and ready to kick you in the you-know-what? Well, then roller derby just might be for you. Straight out of a bad 1970s movie, roller derby is back with an underground vengeance in Birmingham and other cities across the country. But don’t underestimate these ladies: They take the sport seriously, often training three to four times a week preparing for competition. There are rule tests and skating assessments that the women must pass before anyone can play—and there is nothing staged about what they do. It’s an energetic sport where the fans feel like an active participant as they scream their support for the home team or vociferously boo the out-of-town team. Attending it is an event in itself. With names like Black Eyed Tease, Motley Kruel, and Sookie Smackhouse, the women skating in circles while elbowing and jockeying for position have the temperament to live up to their inventive names. It’s a combination of fun play and fairly serious intent. Don’t be surprised if the emergency medical personnel attending each game are utilized at some point. It’s serious fun for all.