Funny roller skating tid-bits

Roller Skating -- Facts to Amaze Your Friends by Steve Kelly Or, Skate Fast and Carry a Big Stick Disclaimer: Herein are indisputable rolling skating facts (really, look it up). The author is not responsible for any roller skating accidents that may result from reading this. The history of rolling skating is quite interesting, at least compared to the history of soccer. You're probably thinking that rolling skates were first known to our grandparents, but roller skates are older than the United States of America (talk about some rusty wheels). Belgian manufacturer Joseph Merlin (not associated with Camelot) produced the first roller skates in 1760. He surprised everyone at a formal London ball (that would be a "party") by rolling across the floor (like magic) on metal-wheeled skates while playing (badly, no doubt) a valuable violin. Because of the skate's minor performance limitations (so constructed as to not allow such maneuvers as turning or stopping), Merlin ran into a large mirror, seriously damaging the violin, and inflicting grievous bodily harm to various appendages, and his nose, which made first contact with the glass. This was not only the first public exhibition of roller skating, but was also highly entertaining, and led to more skating. On the negative side, it was rolling skating's first DUI.