Oops - slightly missed my personal target of at least a post per week while there's no televised tournament in progress. Busy, busy, busy :o)
So what's been going on in my absence?
Dennis Priestly may now be entitled to a bus pass, but he motored through the Australian Open Players Championship last week. The Menace took out Muffin Man Steve Hine, the two local heroes (well, as local as you can be in a country that spans 3 time zones; and anyway, everyone knows Paul Nicholson's from North Shields really) Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson, and finally Mark Hylton to claim the win. The victory should help him into October's World Grand Prix in Dublin, which would be nice to see.
I'm eagerly awaiting ticket details for the inaugural PDC Darts World Cup, which will be available from the beginning of September. The PDC have, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the World Cup will be held this December in Tyne and Wear, which is very much in your humble author's neck of the woods :o)
I'm looking forward to the World Cup - top two players in the order of merit from 24 countries playing as teams against each other; it sounds like an interesting format.
Question: who will claim the second England spot - Mervyn King or James Wade? I know which one my girlfriend would prefer :o)
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Monday, 16 August 2010
Get Well Soon Pieman!
Andy "Pieman" Smith, one of the most likeable figures in darts, is recovering from an operation on the leg he injured by falling off a stage onto an unfortunate crowd member during an exhibition in Ireland.
He competed in the World Matchplay and European Championship with his gammy leg, and threw some pretty good darts too, which shows real character.
Best wishes to him for a swift recovery.
He competed in the World Matchplay and European Championship with his gammy leg, and threw some pretty good darts too, which shows real character.
Best wishes to him for a swift recovery.
Friday, 13 August 2010
The Ups and Downs of Youth Development Schemes
90s Darting hero Rod Harrington has launched a PDC Youth Development Scheme recently, which has set the darts world talking.
Harrington says that he wants to discover the next generation of talent that can topple and succeed Phil Taylor - to maintain the standards set by Phil Taylor in the post-Power era.
This sounds highly laudable, and on one level it is; giving talented youngsters the chance to shine in their chosen sport is always good. More and better darts players is without doubt a good thing, and will be essential if darts is to keep growing and progressing as a sport.
Call it silly if you like, but I can't help feeling a little uneasy though.
One of the things that makes Phil Taylor so compelling as a sportsman is the fact that we know he began his career making bog handles in a pottery factory; that he began playing darts by throwing in pubs and clubs; that Eric Bristow gave him ten grand to focus on darts, which Phil repaid both in cash and by becoming the world's best darter.
Likewise other darts players; they're so compelling as sportsmen because they are real people. It is easy to imagine having a pint with Terry Jenkins, Ronnie Baxter or Barney because they began their careers playing with their mates in pubs and clubs. Professional darts players, no matter how talented, are the same as us. Even Phil Taylor is one of us.
The best professional footballers or cricketers, for example, just do not give off the same vibe. Many of them (not all, but many) were spotted at primary school. They had special coaching; they went to academies and training camps; they knew they were the best, knew they were going to be professional sportsmen and were ruthless; they played their hearts out for the talent scouts. They've never had ordinary jobs. Even when the football superstars are signing autographs or embarrassing themselves in nightclubs there is still a vast gulf between them and the fans, in a way which does not exist with even the very best darts players.
Worse, the system of pushing kids through elite sporting academies and teaching them that they are born to be the best can produce the kind of arrogant, tantrummy and self-obsessed prima donnas who truly believe that they have a separate superstar destiny and thereby get right up the fans' noses.
Professionalism is one thing, but darts is partly so great to watch because the players have real lives which are similar to ours. In encouraging professionalism in young darts players, the powers that be must not lose sight of the spontaneity, the honest and unpolished reality that makes darts players so much fun to watch.
Take an example from snooker, which is a stage or two further advanced along the path from amateur heroes to big-money professionals than darts is currently: Ding Jun Hui. I'm sure in his own way he's a perfectly nice young man, but there's something about his mechanical dedication and professionalism which is just deeply boring. Whenever I see him, I get the feeling he spent his entire childhood playing snooker in a bamboo hut with a man slapping him and shouting "didi mao!" every time he missed a pot (for those who have not seen the Deer Hunter, do).
The story of Alex Higgins, who played snooker in local pubs and clubs, tried his hand at being a jockey, and then decided to become a pro snooker player will always be more compelling than a (hypothetical) child superstar who picked up a cue at two, was coached from the age of 4, won every youth trophy going, turned pro at 16 and got signed on by Terry Griffiths. Why? Because Alex Higgins (may he rest in peace) was a unique character, whereas the equally talented youngster who's been through a snooker academy and youth tournament mill is the product of a system.
Such rigorous coaching and training in young players can often produce glittering match play, but far less frequently produces the Alex Higginses, George Bests and Jocky Wilsons who make sport so much more interesting all-round. It's not guaranteed of course; Andrew Flintoff was practically born with a cricket ball in his hand, but he's done his best to be interesting off the field as well as on.
I wish Rod Harrington all the best with building a PDC Youth Training scheme; I just hope that in training the next generation of Phil Taylors and Raymond van Barnevelds they bear in mind that if Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld's talents had been spotted at the age of eight and nurtured in professional darts academies by rigorous coaches and slick sports psychologists, all the talent and darting brilliance in the world wouldn't make them sportsmen as interesting and compelling to watch as they are today. Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and other top darts players are unqiue, one-off creations - you can't mass-produce them.
Don't take the real, honest, and compelling amateurism out of professional darts.
Harrington says that he wants to discover the next generation of talent that can topple and succeed Phil Taylor - to maintain the standards set by Phil Taylor in the post-Power era.
This sounds highly laudable, and on one level it is; giving talented youngsters the chance to shine in their chosen sport is always good. More and better darts players is without doubt a good thing, and will be essential if darts is to keep growing and progressing as a sport.
Call it silly if you like, but I can't help feeling a little uneasy though.
One of the things that makes Phil Taylor so compelling as a sportsman is the fact that we know he began his career making bog handles in a pottery factory; that he began playing darts by throwing in pubs and clubs; that Eric Bristow gave him ten grand to focus on darts, which Phil repaid both in cash and by becoming the world's best darter.
Likewise other darts players; they're so compelling as sportsmen because they are real people. It is easy to imagine having a pint with Terry Jenkins, Ronnie Baxter or Barney because they began their careers playing with their mates in pubs and clubs. Professional darts players, no matter how talented, are the same as us. Even Phil Taylor is one of us.
The best professional footballers or cricketers, for example, just do not give off the same vibe. Many of them (not all, but many) were spotted at primary school. They had special coaching; they went to academies and training camps; they knew they were the best, knew they were going to be professional sportsmen and were ruthless; they played their hearts out for the talent scouts. They've never had ordinary jobs. Even when the football superstars are signing autographs or embarrassing themselves in nightclubs there is still a vast gulf between them and the fans, in a way which does not exist with even the very best darts players.
Worse, the system of pushing kids through elite sporting academies and teaching them that they are born to be the best can produce the kind of arrogant, tantrummy and self-obsessed prima donnas who truly believe that they have a separate superstar destiny and thereby get right up the fans' noses.
Professionalism is one thing, but darts is partly so great to watch because the players have real lives which are similar to ours. In encouraging professionalism in young darts players, the powers that be must not lose sight of the spontaneity, the honest and unpolished reality that makes darts players so much fun to watch.
Take an example from snooker, which is a stage or two further advanced along the path from amateur heroes to big-money professionals than darts is currently: Ding Jun Hui. I'm sure in his own way he's a perfectly nice young man, but there's something about his mechanical dedication and professionalism which is just deeply boring. Whenever I see him, I get the feeling he spent his entire childhood playing snooker in a bamboo hut with a man slapping him and shouting "didi mao!" every time he missed a pot (for those who have not seen the Deer Hunter, do).
The story of Alex Higgins, who played snooker in local pubs and clubs, tried his hand at being a jockey, and then decided to become a pro snooker player will always be more compelling than a (hypothetical) child superstar who picked up a cue at two, was coached from the age of 4, won every youth trophy going, turned pro at 16 and got signed on by Terry Griffiths. Why? Because Alex Higgins (may he rest in peace) was a unique character, whereas the equally talented youngster who's been through a snooker academy and youth tournament mill is the product of a system.
Such rigorous coaching and training in young players can often produce glittering match play, but far less frequently produces the Alex Higginses, George Bests and Jocky Wilsons who make sport so much more interesting all-round. It's not guaranteed of course; Andrew Flintoff was practically born with a cricket ball in his hand, but he's done his best to be interesting off the field as well as on.
I wish Rod Harrington all the best with building a PDC Youth Training scheme; I just hope that in training the next generation of Phil Taylors and Raymond van Barnevelds they bear in mind that if Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld's talents had been spotted at the age of eight and nurtured in professional darts academies by rigorous coaches and slick sports psychologists, all the talent and darting brilliance in the world wouldn't make them sportsmen as interesting and compelling to watch as they are today. Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and other top darts players are unqiue, one-off creations - you can't mass-produce them.
Don't take the real, honest, and compelling amateurism out of professional darts.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Should snooker be more like darts?
First, a correction: in my last post I said the next televised darts was the Winmau World Masters. Of course it isn't; it's the World Grand Prix in Dublin. Mea Culpa.
Moving swiftly on, there's more lively debate over on the BBC 606 Forum as to whether snooker should be more like darts.
This is something that seems to exercise snooker fans (amongst whom I count myself). Snooker still draws large TV audiences, though there's a sense that people are losing interest.
Darts, on the other hand, seems to be going from strength to strength with impressive and increasing TV audiences and more televised matches than ever. The World Matchplay this year set new TV audience records, for example.
The difference between the first darts matches I remember watching (late 80s and early 90s) and today's televised tournaments is huge (unles you're watching the BDO, when they still feel oddly old-fashioned), but I remain unconvinced that snooker would benefit from a huge injection of noise and razzmatazz. Darts has always been a loud and happy sport whereas snooker, although not always played in the cathedral-like atmosphere that prevails today, would not lend itself readily to the noise and enthusiasm of a major darts tournament.
Whatever the snooker authorities do, I hope it works.
Moving swiftly on, there's more lively debate over on the BBC 606 Forum as to whether snooker should be more like darts.
This is something that seems to exercise snooker fans (amongst whom I count myself). Snooker still draws large TV audiences, though there's a sense that people are losing interest.
Darts, on the other hand, seems to be going from strength to strength with impressive and increasing TV audiences and more televised matches than ever. The World Matchplay this year set new TV audience records, for example.
The difference between the first darts matches I remember watching (late 80s and early 90s) and today's televised tournaments is huge (unles you're watching the BDO, when they still feel oddly old-fashioned), but I remain unconvinced that snooker would benefit from a huge injection of noise and razzmatazz. Darts has always been a loud and happy sport whereas snooker, although not always played in the cathedral-like atmosphere that prevails today, would not lend itself readily to the noise and enthusiasm of a major darts tournament.
Whatever the snooker authorities do, I hope it works.
Monday, 2 August 2010
European Championship - Day 3 and Super Sunday
In my humble opinion, the last two days demonstrated clearly why we love this sport so much. The theatre, competitiveness and darting brilliance shown by the players was fantastic, and made for two great days of entertainment.
I won't go into every match in detail - reports can be found on the PDC website - but I will recall a few highlights. Terry Jenkins and Wayne Jones put in brilliant performances - it was great to see Jenkins showing what he's really capable of after a run of poor form, beating Simon Whitlock and Colin Lloyd - himself throwing some superb darts and right back on top form - and also great to see Jones performing so well on TV. His defeat of Raymond van Barneveld in the semis was one of the most enjoyable darts matches I've ever watched, as both players traded tons, ton 40s and terrific finishes like top trumps in the playground.
Barney himself survived a very near major upset against Bernd Roith on Day 3, with the Tubingen caterer showing real talent to come that far. Ronnie Baxter threw some great darts before going out to Colin Lloyd in a scintillating quarter final, and Terry Jenkins pushed Phil Taylor hard before succumbing in the semi finals.
Sadly, the Power comprehensively demolished Wayne Jones in the final. With the quarters, semis and finals in one day it seems Jones, who had played brilliantly all day, just could not maintain the standard; it would have been great to see Jones push Taylor all the way, but his final defeat should take nothing away from a great performance throughout the week.
Phil Taylor took the Championship in fine style and deserves every congratulation; some may be disappointed to see him win yet again, but I think that focusing on the final outcome misses the fact that the rest of the tournament was packed with excitement and drama.
Congratulations and thanks to all the players for a cracking week's darts. I think - and do correct me if I'm wrong - that the next televised darts in the UK is the BDO's Winmau World Masters at the end of October. Should be interesting... :o)
I won't go into every match in detail - reports can be found on the PDC website - but I will recall a few highlights. Terry Jenkins and Wayne Jones put in brilliant performances - it was great to see Jenkins showing what he's really capable of after a run of poor form, beating Simon Whitlock and Colin Lloyd - himself throwing some superb darts and right back on top form - and also great to see Jones performing so well on TV. His defeat of Raymond van Barneveld in the semis was one of the most enjoyable darts matches I've ever watched, as both players traded tons, ton 40s and terrific finishes like top trumps in the playground.
Barney himself survived a very near major upset against Bernd Roith on Day 3, with the Tubingen caterer showing real talent to come that far. Ronnie Baxter threw some great darts before going out to Colin Lloyd in a scintillating quarter final, and Terry Jenkins pushed Phil Taylor hard before succumbing in the semi finals.
Sadly, the Power comprehensively demolished Wayne Jones in the final. With the quarters, semis and finals in one day it seems Jones, who had played brilliantly all day, just could not maintain the standard; it would have been great to see Jones push Taylor all the way, but his final defeat should take nothing away from a great performance throughout the week.
Phil Taylor took the Championship in fine style and deserves every congratulation; some may be disappointed to see him win yet again, but I think that focusing on the final outcome misses the fact that the rest of the tournament was packed with excitement and drama.
Congratulations and thanks to all the players for a cracking week's darts. I think - and do correct me if I'm wrong - that the next televised darts in the UK is the BDO's Winmau World Masters at the end of October. Should be interesting... :o)
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