Howie Reed’s Column

Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Column HR180
Unibet 2016 World Grand Prix

Just finished watching the £400,000 Unibet 2016 World Grand Prix… (Yes, “prix” is pronounced pre, not as the reader might imagine su padre pronounces it. “Bad Padre.”)

There were sellout crowds at the CityWest Resort/Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Watching on the telly, the …

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Column HR179
The Moon, a Weapon of Mass Destruction, Apples, and Fags

Before the Old Dart Coach became acquainted with the late Barry Twomlow and the likes of Misters Lowe, Brook, Nickson, Markovich, Baxter, Ovens, and Jones along with Ladies Batten and Ralphs his favorite Englishperson was Winston Churchill. The ODC …

Thursday, September 15, 2016
Column HR178
Welcome to The Three Dot Lounge!

The Old Dart Coach is a big fan of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bruce Jenkins.  Besides being a top-notch sports writer, Jenkins is also the son of Gordon Jenkins who did much of the musical arranging for Frank Sinatra.  He created a mythical …

Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Column HR177
If you come for the King you best not miss!

The roots of darts are embedded in Motha England, so it’s only natural that Kings and Queens be crowned. For eons, Phil Taylor has been the anointed King. The Queen? Deta Headman would be the logical candidate, but England …

Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Column HR176
A busy weekend ended. A busy weekend about to begin. 

Back when the Old Dart Coach was wending his way through various colleges, there was a popular saying when walking into a class for the first time and seeing a large number is Asians: “Oh sh–, look at all …

Monday, August 8, 2016
Column HR175
Darts and the Golden Age

Last time…

“Marvelous” Michael van Gerwen had just won another major, the World Matchplay, as he knocked the stuffing out of Philip Douglas Taylor. The PDC is becoming King Michael and his Court.  Also when we were last together, the Old Dart Coach announced …

Thursday, July 28, 2016
Column HR174
PDC World Matchplay – a Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Having passed the halfway point in the year, is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? That’s the time of year when, according to myth, “The children (are) nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums (dance) …

Monday, July 18, 2016
Column HR173
Rest in Peace Dick McGinnis 

Tuesday, July 12, 2016, dawned like any other summer day in Las Vegas, Nevada. The skies were cloudless, an intense sparkling powder blue – the as yet bearable sun calling visitors to “Come on out and burn. Let’s start another summer day.” That placid …

Monday, June 27, 2016
Column HR172
Happy Independence Day America (and England!)

The Old Dart Coach has some flaws in his persona. He will on occasion take advantage of a person, place or thing. As a proud English-American, he had a watchful eye on the recent vote in the UK regarding their membership in the …

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Column HR171
Muhammad Ali and Darts

Alfred Lord Tennyson once wrote that in the spring “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” (To be clear, “Al Lord” was not a distant relation to darting great Mr. Stefan Lord who most recently penned, “Lunch?” as his contribution to the …