T_Birds update

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Permalink Reply by Tim Patten on July 11, 2009 at 6:55am

As far as I know there are so few T-Bird skaters around any more it would be impossible to put a T-Birt team together!

Let's help bring the T-Birds back and make them BIG!

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on July 11, 2009 at 1:52pm

Last thing I read about here, I think "Commisioner" made the post on it, stated that the jury trial is over and it went in favor of Bill Griffiths, Sr., but the judge in the case hasn't made his final ruling yet. Usually in most jury trials or trials in general without a jury, the judge would set up a date anywhere from 6-8 weeks after the trial and make his final ruling in the case.

From what I understand, Bob Sedillo can NOT market or promote or do anything RGI related during this time until the judge makes his final ruling. After that, Bob Sedillo may not have RGI to promote, and will be back in the hands of Bill Griffiths. I do agree with Tim.....promote the league the right way, and it will be as big if not bigger than ever. I'm sure Bob Sedillo did what he could to promote the games, but you can't be successful if there are less than 75 people in the stands each game. The last game that was played last year in Antelope Valley in November, I believe, they had a better turnout because of the "meet and greet", and they probably advertised the hell out of it......which really works because you are getting it out there.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Patten on July 11, 2009 at 4:51pm

Lets see how the ARSD is gonna sell at the POMONA FAIRPLEX. with professional banked track roller derby. The old T-BIRDS, or what ever is left to them will be skating....

The skaters in the LA area all promised they would sell 2 tickets each. That's about 80 seats promised to be sold.

October 24:
Pomona Fairplex California
Firebirds vs. Devils

November 7:
Pomona Fairplex California
Firebirds vs. Devils

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Permalink Reply by kevin pierce on July 14, 2009 at 7:35pm

that is more fans than you had at your game at the Antioch Fair....I think there were about 50 at that one

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Permalink Reply by Tim Patten on July 16, 2009 at 11:20am

Wasn't that something?

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on July 12, 2009 at 10:41am

I guess I'll be making it seat #81, as I'll be at the game in October. I didn't know about the November game, but I might make plans for that one as well. I'm going to finally make the trek up to Pleasanton for the game between the Bombers and Red Devils on Aug. 1st. I'm looking forward to it, and already have the money set aside to get my butt up there......and take some pics again! ;-)

As far as the derby goes now...until someone else gets RGI up and running again, and promotes it the right way, we're going to have to rely on Dan Ferrari and the ARSD. I'm not sure about the L.A. Derby Dolls or anything like that. I'd rather see the real banked track derby! Best stuff to watch! :-) Nothing personal to the flat track skaters....just my preference. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Grand Poobah on July 12, 2009 at 6:22pm

The L.A. Derby Dolls aren't a flat track league. They skate banked track. Though they did send a team to the state's flat track tourney this year. Cross-training, I'd imagine.

They took the national championship of legit banked track derby leagues at last year's tournament, and came within two points of a repeat this year.


You may be confusing them with the local WFTDA league, the Angel City Derby Girls. Different league, different surface.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on July 12, 2009 at 8:35pm

Thanks for the correction, Grand Poobah. I thought that the Derby Dolls were a flat track league.

I hope that someone gets another league going, whether it be RGI (Which I doubt) or something else. I heard of another league possibly forming, could be the same one David Gerry is alluding to, but you never know. I love the Derby, and I hope it thrives again. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Michael Capps on July 25, 2009 at 11:26pm

Cant hear or fine out anything???????

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Permalink Reply by Grand Poobah on July 26, 2009 at 3:58am

I think David Gerry nailed it about two posts up from yours. Unless someone wants to license those trademarks from Bill Griffiths again (or buy them), there probably won't be another team called the L.A. T-Birds (unless the trademark goes unused or undefended for I think ten years). Griffiths doesn't seem to be interested in running a league himself. He's sued the last person who licensed the trademarks from him, and possibly the one before that (Tim Olague)?

Throw in the other suit (that one against someone who apparently used the name without licensing it) and you get the impression that he's pretty serious about maintaining his trademarks (and in getting paid what the contract says he should).

As to whether someone else would feel that the name(s) L.A. T-Birds, L.A. Thunderbirds (and I guess RGI) are worth whatever he'd be asking for it these days puts another big question mark as to whether the T-Birds will reappear under that name.

If someone's got enough money to get a track, practice space, uniforms and all the rest, the skaters that played with the last version of the T-Birds are all still around. It's not like Dan Ferrari has the L.A. skaters he uses under contract and is paying them enough to maintain exclusivity. The team would just have to go by a different name.

A rose by any other name...

I don't believe the Seltzers ever trademarked their team names (instead they had marks on the name of the sport). Which is why the team names still tend to be in use. Sometimes by multiple promoters. Which if pro derby took off again, could maybe be a problem? I dunno. There's lots of "prior art" out there.

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Permalink Reply by Jokey on August 23, 2009 at 12:09pm

One thing that has to be said is that the T-Birds name clearly isn't worth anything anymore. Verne Gagne thinks Griffiths has a delusional view of their value.

I miss them as much as anyone but it is clear that as long as we cling to the belief that the Thunderbirds are the ONLY team that can bring the sport back at the national level, Griffiths will not only have absolute power but will keep the sport in his basement.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck, a.k.a. "Mr. Neato" on July 30, 2009 at 4:29pm

Just for the fudge of it, I looked at the Court website in Orange County to see if there was anything else happening since we heard Bill Griffiths, Sr., won his breech of contract case against Bob Sedillo. All there was posted, was the rulings being entered for Griffiths, and on the countersuit. The most recent activity in the court was on July 9, where Bill Griffiths filed papers for expenditures, I believe it was, but that was it. Nothing else showing. If it was something other than expenditures, I'll correct myself.

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