Montreal, Canada versus Asbury Park, NJ

Jersey Shore Roller Girls are swelling with patriotism. Playing against a roller derby league from another country will do that to you.

But as the Oct. 3 bout – where the JSRG All-Stars battle the Montreal Roller Girls’ Sexpos in Asbury Park Convention Hall – might also be a chance to improve (?) Jersey-Canada relations, we thought to point out some facts about these Quebec folk so we can understand our cultural differences. You know, some “We Are the World, We Are the Children” type stuff before the hip checks and booty blocks begin 8 p.m. Saturday.

So brush up on your French (Montreal is a part of French Canada, after all), check out these facts, and get your tickets for Saturday (That’s tomorrow, people!). www.jerseyshorerollergirls.net


DID YOU KNOW?
-- Females from Canada are called “canadiennes.” You can sound French if you pronounce the last syllable as “ehhhhhh” but with a nasally N thrown in.

-- The Canadian flag has a giant red leaf on it. One of the few countries to celebrate foliage in such a national way, really. In fact, the flag for Montreal has a lily (fleur-de-lis), rose, shamrock and thistle on it. We looked it up, dude!

-- If your Spanglish speaking skills involve adding “EL” in front of English words, the French-lish version would mean adding “LE.”

-- But seriously, Montreal folk speak English too. Sheesh.

-- Montreal was “discovered” by French explorer Samuel De Champlain and would eventually grow to a colonial epicenter of the fur trade. They had quite the cache of pelts, those folk.

-- Because of Prohibition in America, during that time Montreal became a boon for Americans looking to bootleg alcohol. Thanks for keeping us Americans illegally intoxicated, Montreal!

-- The drive from Montreal to Asbury Park, N.J. takes approximately 7 hours and 4 minutes via I-87, or 8 hours and 47 minutes via I-81. (Thanks Google maps).

-- The Montreal Sexpos roller derby team are of course named after the now-defunct baseball team the Montreal Expos. The franchise up and moved from Canada and are now the Washington Nationals. (wink wink)

Armed with this information, we hope you better understand the history and customs of Montreal, allowing you to enjoy the Oct. 3 bout that much more!

Don’t say we never taught you anything!