Announcer and Amateur Gynecologist

by Whorecules

Doc Derby, better known as Greg Roberson, is the official voice of the Memphis Roller Derby. He can be found working the mic seven days a week on Sirius Satellite Radio and once a month at Collierville's FunQuest. Over the years Greg has been a radio personality from one end of the dial to the other. Chances are you haven't just heard his voice. Greg was the drummer for Reigning Sound on their first four studio records. He has also played on records by Lover, the Knaughty Knights, Jack Oblivian, and the Compulsive Gamblers. Greg had the privilege of being the drummer and band leader for the last live incarnation of Arthur Lee and Love before Lee's untimely death in August of 2006. Greg has also written and produced songs for The Shazam, The Subteens, and Her Majesty's Buzz. Greg's talents have also been displayed on the big screen. He was the music supervisor for "Going All the Way", and can be seen as the DJ in the strip club scenes of the "People vs. Larry Flynt."

I recently met Doc Derby for coffee to find out more about him. Between his playful flirtations with nearly every woman in the shop, I was able to learn a few things.

Whorecules: How did you become involved in Memphis Roller Derby? Who got you into it?

Doc Derby: I did something I never do. I went to the Blues Ball with a friend of mine. We ran into a group of derby girls who were there and I recognized Dirty Constance. I told her that I had been hearing about all this stuff about the roller derby and that I was a huge roller derby fan. She didn't believe me and I told her that I still have my programs from when my dad and I used to go to roller derby bouts at the Mid-South Coliseum and that every Saturday night after Soul Train, I watched roller derby. (I am a big fan of Johnnie Weston and Ann Calvello because I got to see them skate. I am actually that old.) I told Dirty C that I wanted to be the announcer and the next thing I knew I was at FunQuest meeting the derby girls and trying to get to know them.

Sometimes, I still don't recognize derby girls when they come up to me. Their faces that is. I recognize their numbers, their uniforms and ... their asses. I know all these girls by their butts!

W: Who is Doc Derby?

DD: I came up with the name because Dirty C said I needed some kind of theme. Jokingly I said, "I will be Doc Derby. I will wear a Mexican wrestling mask and scrubs with a stethoscope." She took me seriously, but I had no intentions of being anything but Greg. It all happened by accident. I guess I do need to go get a Mexican wrestling mask and some scrubs and some tongue depressors or something. I want to be a gynecologist you know. That's why I got into this. I thought where better to start doing some amateur gynecology than with the roller derby.

W: What would you say is your favorite thing about being a part of the Memphis Roller Derby?

DD: The bouts themselves. They are really amazing. It's a lot of fun to see it finally come to fruition. It's amazing to go from not having roller derby for so many years to not only having it again, but having me call the bouts! That's what is fun for me - the action. Not that the parties aren't really cool. I love those, but the bouts are the best part.

W: Being the announcer requires knowing a lot of information. How do you stay on top of it?

DD: I have a lot of help, but I work better under pressure. It's like you put me on the spot right there in front of 1,000 people and I perform my best no matter what I am doing.

W: What would be your derby fantasy come true?

DD: To be the voice of the Memphis Roller Derby five years down the road and to have it on Turner South Sports Network or ESPN and to see all of you ladies on television.

You thought I was going to say, "Have babies with some of the girls," right?

W: How do you think that derby today differs from the derby that you saw back in the day? What is the main difference?

DD: There were male and female teams. It was a lot rougher. When I was a kid they didn't wear all the pads. They had little hats that didn't do anything-they still ended up with concussions. It's not as violent now, but I know that as soon as I say that there will be a brawl and people will lose teeth and stuff!