Thursday, September 19, 2024
Column HR466
A COBB SALAD…
A Cobb salad you write? Yes indeed…
The Cobb salad was invented in 1937 at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. The owner of the restaurant, Robert Cobb, came into his restaurant hungry late at night. Looking around the kitchen he found little. Hunger won out so he pieced together leftovers creating what would become the “Cobb salad.” There’s another theory that the salad was actually created by his Chef Paul J. Posti in 1927. I’m going with the owner. Theory – who would order a Posti salad?
This historical “dart salad” is created by the Old Dart Coach. It has no calories or fat but contains some tasty bits of information to nourish a darter’s soul.
And now for the meat…
It was a big weekend for the ADO at the Witch City. On Friday, the players attempted to qualify for the 2025 WDF World Cup in South Korea.
There’s history on the ADO at previous WDF World Cups. The WDF World Cup was held for the first time in 1977 in London, England. The team from Wales, led by Leighton Rees, upset the British Empire. Rees won the singles and anchored the four-person team to victory. A pair of Englishman, John Lowe and Eric Bristow, captured the doubles. Lowe and Bristow would win 6 more World Cup doubles Their streak ended with the BDO player’s separation.
How has the USA faired, you ask?
The men have never won a singles gold. Tony Payne had a chance twice against Eric Bristow, missing doubles both times to close the match. As has been well documented, in 1985 the team of Tony Payne, Danny Valletto, Rick Ney and John Kramer defeated England (9-nil) for the 4-man team for Gold.
The ladies of the ADO have fared much better. The first ladies WDF World Cup was held in 1983 with Sandy Reitan Green winning the singles. The USA ladies won the overall Team Gold in 1987, 1993 and 1997. Eva Grigsby, Kathy Maloney and Stacy Bromberg respectively took home Singles Gold. Since 2009, the cupboard has been barer than a new baby’s bottom.
Fast forward to today…
Congratulations to the four that survived the complete round robin to qualify. Cali West (5-2), Aaja Jalber (6-2), Mike Neubert (8-3), and Bruce Robbins (6-5), will represent the US at the 2025 WDF World Cup. They will be joined by four others from the World Cup points system. What is the World Cup Points system? NO EYE DEAR as it seems the system is as secret as Jeffrey Epstein’s client list.
Add to the salad Jack’s World Series Dart Finals held last weekend in Amsterdam. With £80,000 waiting for the winner, it was a big deal. Throughout the event there were some great matches including two of the four quarter final pairings. Luke Littler skated into the semis 10-7 over Chris Dobey, as did a resurgent Peter Wright 10-4 over Daryl Gurney.
In one quarter, Michael van Gerwyn forced a final leg by missing 9 match darts. He then escaped the clutches of Luke Humphries after Humphries with 87 left hit 17, t20 leaving 10 with a single dart in his hand. He hit 5, opening the door for van Gerwyn with 40 to use one dart for the 10-9 win. Michael Smith was tied at 9 with Rob Cross who missed 3 at 40. Smith erased 25 after missing the bull on his previous 3 darts.
The semifinals were eerily similar. Michael van Gerwen led Luke Littler 3-2 at the break. Coming back, van Gerwen used but 12 darts for a 4-2 lead. Then the “fit hit the sham” as Littler reeled off 9 in a row in which MvG never saw a double. Michael Smith led 3-2 at the break, then took 8 of the last 12 for the 11-6 win over Peter Wright.
The final promised a lot when Luke Littler faced Michael Smith. Tied at 3, young Mr. Littler opened a can of “whoop ass” as he captured the next 7. At 10-3 Smith hooked the Big Fish (T70). When removing his darts he gave the Whisky Tango Foxtrot shrug. Littler won 11-4.
When making a salad one must always add a little spice…
David Fatum is a darter that isn’t afraid to speak his mind. After taking part in the ADO total round robin World Cup qualifier he spoke out: “Just because it has always been round robin does not mean it should be. Easily could gone best of 11 in next round. It’s about winning at the next level. I could be wrong, but I doubt it, Jim Widmayer,” said Fatum.
ADO Director of Operations Steve Brown replied: “The thing with round robin, nobody can complain about getting a bad draw.”
Both can be right. The question is: is the ADO’s function to prepare players for the next level?
Any salad needs a little bitter added and this Dart Salad is no exception…
The World Darts Federation is threatening disciplinary action against players who withdraw from matches. “Once the first dart has been thrown, any player that subsequently withdraws from playing a match may be considered to be bringing the game into disrepute and could face disciplinary action.”
This action was directly aimed at Deta Hedman, the WDF Athlete’s Representative who refused to play Noa-Lynn van Leuven. As you may recall van Leuven had competed against men earlier this year but has now decided he is a she and is competing in women’s matches.
Due to the ruling Deta Hedman has chosen not to enter the upcoming WDF Masters in Hungary. “I have decided I can’t give a 100% guarantee on that matter as my mental health is pretty shot right now,” wrote Hedman.
One view summed it up. “It’s a pretty bad state when a massive ambassador of the lady’s game has to pull out of entering something when organizations make unjustified threats to ban/suspend/fine players for standing up and doing what is right.”
Deta Hedman has stood alone protecting women’s darts. Many have written with support but not one lady has done anything to take a stand. Words are cheap. Action takes guts.
Hope all ya didn’t get indigestion from the ODC’s dart salad.
Stay thirsty my friends.
