Los Angeles Thunderbirds

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The Los Angeles Thunderbirds (or T-Birds for short) were a highly-popular roller derby team that skated in the Roller Games league from the 1960's to the 1989 RollerGames revival. They, and the league, were owned by Bill Griffiths, Sr. in the 1970's, and then later managed by Bill Griffiths, Jr. from 1989 to 1990. They are multiple-time World Champions. In fact many say that they won so many championships, they lost count. Many of their contests were won in dramatic fashion, often winning by scoring multiple points in the last seconds of the game, when the T-Birds 'jammer' laps virtually the entire opposing team.

They were a weekly television staple on the popular Roller Super Stars which aired primarily in the Los Angeles area and in some syndicated markets.

The T-Birds are now owned by Bob Sedillo and continue to compete and train newcomers.

[edit] 1989 T-Birds Team

Manager/"Owner": Bill Griffiths, Jr.

Men:

  • 1-Matt Bickham "Stars & Stripes"
  • 2-Adam Gonzales "Speedy"
  • 3-Bill Bibbus "Billy Bob"
  • 4-Darryle Davis "Dynamite"
  • 6-Robert Smith "Icebox"
  • 8-Ralphie Valladares "The Living Legend"

Women:

  • 1-Gwen Miller "Skinny Minnie"
  • 2-Gina Gonzales "Go-Go"
  • 3-Debbie McCorkell "The Corker"
  • 4-Randi Whitman "Electric"
  • 5-Jennifer Van Galder "T-Bird Twin"
  • 6-Kristine Van Galder "T-Bird Twin"

(Source: RollerGames Magazine)

[edit] See also