Howie Reed’s Column

Monday, March 21, 2011
Column HR39
A Night of Shame

There is a very fine line between a “great sporting crowd” and a “mob of hooligans.” During the period of the Roman Empire thousands would gather in the Coliseum in the name of sport. Often that “sport” matched Christians against lions or slaves against bears. …

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Column HR38
Is “with” a preposition?

English teachers implore students to “never end a sentence with a preposition.” As the rule doesn’t apply to those who don’t know what a preposition is it’s a mystery why this rule is so important. One of the two people who regularly read this effort …

Sunday, February 27, 2011
Column HR37
The “Good Ship Taylor” is on the Prowl!

When it comes to sports TV commentators no one in the world can match golf’s David Ferriday. Englishman Ferriday, like those who saw the error of their ways hopping aboard the Mayflower, now resides in the USA. His knowledge of golf …

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Column HR36
Is “experienced” just another word for OLD?

There is a constant debate whether sport imitates real life or visa versa. (As if sport isn’t real life.) As in life, one works hard at sport to develop abilities and then reap the benefits. In an 1889 essay Oscar Wilde held …

Monday, January 31, 2011
Column HR35
Butler! King! Baxter! Croft?

The Old Dart Coach’s past mention that many tournaments have faded into the sunset was true but failed to acknowledge those that are still going strong. One of those is the $15,000 Camilla Classic held annually in Nueva Helvetia, California. WTF is a Nueva Helvetia? …

Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Column HR34
Take a Lesson from Darts History – There’s Not Much Left to Lose!

The Old Dart Coaches muses, as muses takes little energy, about days past when all dart tournaments were preceded on Friday evening by a blind draw at a local bar. His favorite was held before the …

Thursday, January 6, 2011
Column HR33
“Jackpot” Hits the Jackpot!

A number of years ago a young English dart player was in Las Vegas to play in the Las Vegas Desert Classic. Being big for his age – actually he’s big for any age – he was playing the slots at a popular Strip casino.…

Friday, December 24, 2010
Column HR32
Merry Christmas from the Old Dart Coach – and Mel Torme!

The Old Dart Coach on this Christmas Eve won’t be much help in this effort as he is suffering a severe case of the “Whips and Jingles.” This condition, also known as the “Ws and the Js,” was …

Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Column HR31
Kudos to Tommy Cox (and The Netherlands) on a GREAT World Cup!

Being in the land of the Shakespeare and considering the burning question facing the PDC one might turn to the Bard. “Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy can do all this that he hath promised?” “I …

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Column 30
The 2010 Grand Slam of Darts

In all sport there are seminal events or moments that simply defy description or explanation. Regardless one must try. In today’s world of Blackberry-mania those events would be described using term like “OMG!!!” or “WTF!!!” with probably 200 shouts of “UNBELIEVABLE!!!” tossed in …