Monday October 06, 2025 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Info
Podcasts on www.BillMeyerShow.com Facebook – www.Facebook.com/billmeyershow
6:35 Will Hild, Executive Director at Consumers Research – www.Consumersresearch.org
Consumers’ Research launched a billboard in New York City’s Time Square exposing CEO Evan Greenberg for proclaiming that men not being allowed to use girls’ restrooms is “a threat to democracy.” The organization also launched a new Woke Alert exposing Chubb Insurance for its woke ways.
Consumers’ Research Executive Director, Will Hild is available to come on your show to discuss!
The Times Square billboard can be viewed HERE.
The Woke Alert can be viewed HERE.
These come after Consumers’ Research launched a seven-figure campaign exposing insurance giant Chubb for using its market power and resources to push a woke, political agenda, and sent a letter to the Departments of Justice and Treasury calling for a federal investigation for potential violation of President Trump’s executive orders and anti-discrimination laws. Since the launch of the Consumers First Initiative, Consumers’ Research has targeted companies that prioritize woke politics over consumers. With this new campaign, Consumers’ Research is focusing on the insurance industry, which is finally being exposed for using its outsized influence to push a political agenda.
7:35 Ira Mehlman, Media Spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform – www.FairUS.org
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8:15 Dr. Dennis Powers – “Where Past Meets Present” www.DennisPowersBooks.com Dennis is a retired professor of Business Law at SOU!
Roller Derby–and Southern Oregon
By Dennis Powers
Organized endurance roller-derby races date back to the early 1880s. A six-day “go-as-you-please” competition at Madison Square Garden, New York City, had 36 skaters competing for $500 in prize money. The winner, as well as another skater, died shortly after the six-day race was completed. This is not a sport for the faint of heart.
Speed and endurance races were held on both flat and banked tracks in the 1900s. In fact, an 8.5-mile roller marathon by a group of Chicago rink owners was held in 1908. Others were later promoted, including a 24-hour banked track race at Madison Square Garden six years later, where it wouldn’t be inconceivable that betting was part of the allure.
Leo Seltzer, a struggling Portland, Oregon film publicist (1903-1978) decided that cash prize-awarding dance marathons in the depression were competing against his Oregon cinema chain, so he began holding his own dance marathons, entitled “walkathons,” which could run as long as 40 days. He was successful, but thought this was “vulgar”.
In the mid-1930s, Seltzer (the “father of “roller derby”) saw that this was the future. He and sportswriter Damon Runyon created a structured game with more contact between the skaters—and the Roller Derby was created. Seltzer’s game and a traveling skating group evolved, especially during World War II, but in late 1948, New York City televised the competition–now with women to capture this audience–and this became nationwide.
By 1958, it was time for son Jerry to take over the day-to-day operation of the family business. Jerry Seltzer (born June 3, 1932), once again took the sport to great heights by syndicating Roller Derby telecasts, featuring the San Francisco Bay Bombers, which were shown on a network of 120 TV stations across the country. Roller Derby broadcasts then beat the competition in most markets.
Although with fluctuating audience interest–due to the rise of baseball, TV, and other sports–Leo Seltzer saw his game break attendance records nationally, as his son Jerry took over the enterprise. Although Jerry closed the business in 1973, a national group, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (“WFTDA”) had been formed with rules, support, and regional organizations throughout the world. There are now some 450 geographical leagues (primarily in the U.S.) in six countries.
At https://www.soderby.org/ is the Southern Oregon Derby Website. “SO Derby” is the first skater-run, skater-owned, non-profit league in the Rogue Valley. A new skater should also expect to invest $250+ in new gear if they don’t have any. Local game tickets are purchased thru its website, are held at the Medford Armory, with games starting at 6:00 PM. A typical schedule will be six games with tournaments to determine rankings. Medford has two teams–the “Ravens” and the “Krakens”–which play each other as well as an “all star” that competes outside of Medford.
The current schedule has 2 more away games to go and “SOD” is 4-3. Games have been against the “Krakens”, “Outlaws,” and “Ravens” from Reno to Medford. On some near 50 players on this team, you’ll find names such as “Naughty Maudie,” “Kablamo,” “MonkeyBizNasty,” “Killer Taco,” “London Rumbler,” “Madam Morticia (an actual mortician),” “Wyld Stallyn,” “Medieval Knievel,” “Five Foot Fury,” and more. There are apprentice programs, boot camps, and mandatory insurance from the national organization.
Points are scored by blocking to where one skater (called the “jammer”) laps the defenders with different rules, but in watching one game: blocks, trips (not legal), shoves (OK), bullying thru, crackbacks, and pushes prevail. These “jams” last two minutes and then another one is called. Scores are generally over 100 points with many starts, stops, and hits like linebackers. The players are from a variety of day positions, from the general manager of a top theatre to physical therapists, social workers, and “vet techs.” Each player must wear a helmet, mouth guard, knee and elbow guards, and wrist guards.
Bank Tracks are on the wane due to the size of facilities needed for permanent structures and upkeep. And sportscasters use a variety of phrases, but one that stands out, “Get your fluffy butt out here!”
Source: “Wikipedia: History of Roller Derby,” “Leo Selzer,” and “