Dartoid

July 1, 1998
Column 54
The King is Dead

When the letter arrived I knew it was bad news. My old darts buddy, Tommy Molina, just wasn’t one for penning newsy accounts of what was up in his life. His job had been dragging. His father had been in the hospital. Unemployment? Death? Like I …

July 1, 1998
Column 53
Chiangmai, Thailand

Near the tip of northern Thailand and roughly three hours by car, both east and west, from the Burmese (now Myanmar) and Laotian borders lies the centuries old provincial mountain town of Chiangmai. It’s here, both inside — and in the teak-treed forests outside — the old moat …

July 1, 1998
Column 52
Kathmandu, Nepal

The Indian Airlines Airbus A-340 touched-down gently at Tribhuvan Field outside Nepal. The temperature was a welcome 75 degrees, downright chilly compared to my last stop in the sweltering New Delhi heat. Around me the Himalayan mountains disappeared mysteriously into the top of the sky.

I simply don’t …

June 1, 1998
Column 51
Los Angeles, California

If I had a dollar for every hour I’ve whiled away in airports –flipping through discarded issues of USA Today and ogling teenage girls as they jiggle their way through the terminal — I’d be only slightly richer than if I had a dollar for every third …

May 1, 1998
Column 50
Two Worlds Meet

“Dartoid’s World” and the world of professional darts crossed paths recently at the Virginia Beach Cassic. For three days and two nights Dartoid and the likes of Stacy Bromberg and Jerry Umberger stood side by side at the very same line on the floor. Like buddies from …

May 1, 1998
Column 49
Pattaya, Thailand

The guy’s name was Nigel or Neil or something similar, not that his name much matters. He was the only foreigner, a Brit, employed among the large staff of botanists at the famous Nong Nooch Tropical Garden near Bang Saray, just east of Pattaya, Thailand. He was my …

February 1, 1998
Column 48
Getting to the Game

Under normal circumstances the act of going down to the pub for a few beers and a night at the oche is a simple maneuver. You grab your darts, the keys to the car and roll. You then drink too much, throw too long and spend …

February 1, 1998
Column 47
Birmingham, Alabama

Darts tradition not withstanding, if you’ve ever traveled to Birmingham, England you’ll understand why I prefer Birmingham, Alabama.

I used to have a good friend in Birmingham. England, that is. Ian was his name. Good shooter. World class drinker. All around fabulous guy. But I felt sorry for …

February 1, 1998
Column 46
Seattle, Washington

It must have been two years ago that a message appeared on my computer monitor from a guy I didn’t know who lived in a place I’d never been. Never could I have imagined that I’d actually meet this mysterious e-mailer. Never would I have dreamed that last …

January 1, 1998
Column 45
Brampton, Ontario Canada

A foolish mental lapse cost my partner and me the chance to advance to the finals earlier today at the weekly Saturday afternoon Blind Draw at the Spot One Pub (289 Rutherford Road) here in Brampton, Ontario. With just seventy remaining I calmly stuck my first dart …