Dartoid

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 …

January 1, 1998
Column 44
Washington, D.C.

Perhaps it is just me. The last time I traveled to Washington, D.C. looking for a game of darts I was captured and held hostage by a cabbie named Abdul and taken for a unrequested tour of the city.

This time I suppose I was fortunate (at least …

January 1, 1998
Column 43
Bangkok, Thailand

A seventy-eight game shot won me my pick of waitresses last night at the Cosmos Club, somewhere in the seedy bowels of Bangkok’s Patpong District. As the humbled owner of the place began to line up his girls for my survey and selection, common sense (and nearly twenty …

August 1, 1997
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Santa Elena, Venezuela

Life was simple some twenty years ago when, with my college roommate and just two objectives, I first ventured to this beautiful land called Venezuela. My goals were simple: to survive for thirty days on as little but Bacardi’s as possible and to pick up every Latin …

August 1, 1997
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Cincinnati, Ohio

Winston Churchill was absolutely right years ago when he described Cincinnati as the “most beautiful inland city in America”. On the other hand, if any of the cities I’ve seen in England served as his frame of reference, this ain’t saying much.

Nestled on the banks of the …

August 1, 1997
Column 40
My Garage

Some years ago I threw league darts with a former pro from Houston named Dave “Buddah” Fasnacht. He helped me with my stance and my grip and my mental game. And he gave me some advice that I’ve been trying to follow ever since. According to Buddah I …