Tuesday, December 7, 2010
\nColumn HR31
\nKudos to Tommy Cox (and The Netherlands) on a GREAT World Cup!<\/b><\/p>\n
Being in the land of the Shakespeare and considering the burning question facing the PDC one might turn to the Bard. \u201cDost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy can do all this that he hath promised?\u201d \u201cI sometimes do believe and sometimes do not: as those that fear they hope, and know they fear.\u201d That quote of course comes from As You Like It, Act V, Scene 4 as performed brilliantly by a 12-year-old Howard Reed in Ms. Warren\u2019s 8th grade class at Elmhurst Jr. High in Oakland, California. Huh?<\/p>\n
As suggested in this space previously those who were cheering with glee the demise of Phil Taylor might have done so prematurely. As this was written they are dining on crow (rare), fava beans and a nice Chianti. Taylor traveled to the first Players Championship after his exit from the Grand Slam \u2013 winning the Saturday and taking runner up during Sunday\u2019s play. Not to mix wines but not too Chablis. On Saturday at the Derby Moorway Leisure Centre Taylor defeated Mark Walsh 6-3. While the \u00a36,000 was welcome it got Taylor off the \u201csnyd\u201d he\u2019d been on since August 1. In the final Taylor would come from nil-3 down for the win. Walsh turned the table on Taylor with 6-4 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Changing a few words from the Bard, we\u2019re left with \u201cDo you believe that that Taylor can do all he has promised?\u201d Well maybe. Don\u2019t bet against him.<\/p>\n
WORLD CUP<\/b><\/p>\n
Then came the PDC World Cup when the duo of Phil Taylor and James Wade, as the late Larry Welk would say, were who were ranked \u201ca one-a-an-a-two\u201d in the world, spectacularly crashed out in the preliminary round to the guys from Viva Espa\u00f1a. Super Flack Dave Allen, on site, reported \u201cPhil Taylor and James Wade were sensationally dumped from the Cash Converter\u2019s World Cup by Spanish assassins Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas at the Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday night.\u201d Rather good that! All of a sudden for those who were dinning on \u201ccrow de la elegance\u201d it turned into prime rib and the Chianti became Dom P\u00e9rignon. There was a clue as Wade and Taylor were shown in the practice room warming up at opposite ends of the room. There did not seem to be a lot of fellowship going on. Hmmm. As The Netherlands\u2019 Raymond van Barneveld said after winning the World Cup, \u201cWe considered not coming because who was going to beat the world\u2019s #1 and #2, Phil Taylor and James Wade?\u201d The answer is of course the world\u2019s #1 and #2 Phil Taylor and James Wade with an assist to the Spanish.<\/p>\n
This was not your Old Dart Coach\u2019s WDF World Cup. This PDC event was made to be TV friendly and it was. That\u2019s opposed to the WDF version that is more like a Chinese Fire Drill, organized by the amateur darting ruling class, with apologies extended to Chinese Fire Drill\u2019s everywhere. In the first round play it was \u201creal\u201d pairs first to 6. The ODC watched with interest when Russia played Gibraltar because The Russian Fox Anastasia Dobromyslova was on stage. He has a \u201clove-love\u201d deal going on with her although she has yet to be informed nor probably would she care. Silly Fox. More Super Dave Allen, \u201cFEMME FATALE Anastasia Dobromyslova applied the killer touch to Gibraltar’s hopes as she teamed up with Roman Konchikov to take a 6-4 victory.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hitting the winning dart The Russian Fox forgot to take her dart out of the board. After doing a couple of hi-five\u2019s she noticed she had only had two darts. Whoops. During her match one blogger typed, \u201cI\u2019ll bet she\u2019ll go topless if she wins.\u201d The ODC\u2019s heart beat faster than a self winding watch at a self gratification contest. That was answered with \u201cI\u2019ll bet Phil Taylor has bigger ***\u2019s.\u201d End of contest as something\u2019s are best not known. When interviewed after the match Anastasia acted as the interrupter for partner Roman Konchikov who speaks only Ruskie, \u201cAsk him how he liked playing with you?\u201d \u201cHe says it is always a pleasure to play darts with me as I\u2019m a good very player.\u201d Not really, but she could have said this. The same interviewer asked the Welsh team as they were preparing for the final, \u201cDo you think you can win?\u201d What a moron. The answer should have been, \u201cNo, we are not as good as Netherlands. We stink and are going to lose.\u201d This chat guy makes \u201cchick\u201d sideline football reporters seem smart.<\/p>\n
Both America and Canada advanced to the group stage with preliminary wins. Canada with former World Champion John Part eliminated Belgium 6-5 in a match that it appeared no one wanted to win as missed doubles were the order of the day. Darin \u201cBig Daddy\u201d Young was \u201cflipping\u201d spectacular in American\u2019s 6-4 win over Sweden. In ten legs he had six 180\u2019s and erased five doubles. Bill Davis had his troubles scoring and hitting doubles \u2013 other than that he did well. Davis did though save his best for the final leg when he scored good and hit the winning double to advance America and help the ODC win a beer from the Fat Swede.<\/p>\n
QUARTER FINALS<\/b><\/p>\n
Once the PDC World Cup reached the quarter finals the format changed as teams were played in two groups of round robin. USA had drawn into what appeared to be the Group of Death that included Wales, Scotland and England. That situation changed when Spain took out England. The format changed to two singles and a doubles with singles worth a point and the doubles two points. American didn\u2019t do well losing to Spain 3-1, Scotland 4-0 but beat Wales 3-1. The game against Wales didn\u2019t propel them into the top two in the group so they were out. Darin Yong was again brilliant. One old timer called the ODC to say, \u201cHe\u2019s the best even out of Philly.\u201d High praise. Canada also departed the scene at this point.<\/p>\n
THE SEMI FINALS<\/b><\/p>\n
At this point only a fool or a novice would have bet that the final would not be between Netherland\u2019s and Australia. Viva Espa\u00f1a, the giant killer, had to take on Netherlands who behind the brilliant play of Raymond van Barneveld was on cruise control. Australia with Simon Whitlock playing like Simon Whitlock can was a cinch to be in the final. At this stage the teams would play four singles worth one point and a doubles worth two points. Should the teams be tied at three then a one leg doubles 501 would be played. In throw back mode the players would go for the bull to decide who threw first in the event of a \u201csudden-win\u201d leg. To the surprise of no one the Netherlands pair of van Barneveld-Stompe went through the Viva Espa\u00f1a duo like Montezuma\u2019s revenge through a tourist by a 4-0 score. Wales-Australia should have been a walk-over but as ESPN\u2019s Lee Corso likes to say, \u201cNo so fast my friend.\u201d Australia took a 3-1 lead on their way to a possible \u00a340,000 first place check in this \u00a3150,000 event.<\/p>\n
Wales only singles win came when former BDO World Champion Mark Webster capitalized on \u201calmost-Aussie\u201d Paul Nicholson\u2019s failure to hit a winning double. Down 3-1 Wales needed a win in the doubles for the 3-all tie and then needed to win the one leg playoff. They got the doubles to level the match at three. Simon Whitlock won the bull in the sudden-death leg, then kicked it off with a T80. Wales answered with a pair of T40\u2019s but Australia landed in three dart range first. Wales Barrie Bates had been, to be polite, \u201cnot playing well.\u201d With Simon Whitlock next at the line Bates needed 116 for the win. No problemo. 60-16-double tops. Game, match and on to the finals for Wales. Bates said afterwards, \u201cThose were the three biggest darts of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE FINAL<\/b><\/p>\n
Wales, still pumped up from their semi win, were able to split the singles with Mark Webster taking both of his 8-4 and 8-6 over Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompe. Bates would continue to struggle losing 8-4 and 8-4. Still Wales was tied at two with a chance to win the doubles and then the \u201csudden life\u201d playoff leg. Could lightning strike twice? Could this be \u201cd\u00e9j\u00e0 vu all over again?\u201d Nope, but Wales didn\u2019t go quietly. Netherlands took a 3-1 lead in the doubles when Webster led a Wales charge to level at three. van Barneveld erased 60 for a brief lead of 4-3. The little guy with the big darts, Barrie Bates, then vaporized 136 to level once again, this time at four. They would tie again at five with doubles by Co Stompe and Mark Webster. The next two legs went in the Dutch column when Stompe hit a double 14 then broke serve with double 9 for a 7-5 lead. Stomp then hit a T80 in leg 13 while van Barneveld hit a double 4 for the win.<\/p>\n
PDC World Cup Champs: The Netherlands. “On Thursday when our flight was cancelled we thought we might not even make it to the tournament so it’s incredible for us to win the World Cup,” said van Barneveld. “I’m so proud, both to win the event and to play with Co. He has been brilliant throughout the weekend and he has been telling me for three weeks that he had a dream we would win the tournament.\u201d Dreams do sometimes come true.<\/p>\n
STUFF<\/b><\/p>\n
Too often the men behind the scene don\u2019t get the credit they deserve. During the telecast it was mentioned that PDC executive Tommy Cox was responsible for the format. Well kudos to Mr. Cox. Kudos are many \u201cattaboys,\u201d many pints of lager and a \u201cway to go Tommy.\u201d Had this had been a WDF event the format would have been changed to ensure that England advanced for the telly. When the WDF World Cup is played the host nation\u2019s four person team usually has to beat \u201cfailed to show\u201d and \u201cwho?\u201d to reach the semi finals stage. But the PDC? No way Jose. Their professionals.<\/p>\n
When you ask an Englishman for advice it should never be in regard to dental hygiene, preparation of food or dress style. \u201cI rather like the shirts worn by the teams,\u201d opined commentator John \u201cThe Giggler\u201d Gwynn. They were horrid and ugly \u2013 they looked like 1970s bowling shirts that had been worn everyday with nary a wash. The WDF World Cup has unique attire which is a plus. Take note Mr. Cox. Sid Waddell had a line about van Barneveld\u2019s superb play, \u201cHe plays darts like Stradivarius plays the fiddle.\u201d Correction. When Stradivarius plays a fiddle it becomes a Stradivarius.<\/p>\n
Finally it can now be revealed that the ODC was cheering for the guys from Spain. He has a soft spot in his heart for Spain. Back in 1982 the ODC was competing in the Mediterranean Open Darts in Torremolinos. While well fueled with \u201cstupid fluid\u201d he entered the Torremolinos Disco Dancing Championship. My old pal Dixon emailed asking the following, \u201cWill the Torremolinos Disco Dancing Championship runner-up 1982 ever dance again?\u201d The answer? Yes, when the stupid fluid flows or the band plays YMCA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Being in the land of the Shakespeare and considering the burning question facing the PDC one might turn to the Bard. \u201cDost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy can do all this that he hath promised?\u201d \u201cI sometimes do believe and sometimes do not: as those that fear they hope, and know they fear.\u201d That quote of course comes from As You Like It, Act V, Scene 4 as performed brilliantly by a 12-year-old Howard Reed in Ms. Warren\u2019s 8th grade class at Elmhurst Jr. High in Oakland, California. Huh?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Reed","author_link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/author\/howie-reed\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Being in the land of the Shakespeare and considering the burning question facing the PDC one might turn to the Bard. \u201cDost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy can do all this that he hath promised?\u201d \u201cI sometimes do believe and sometimes do not: as those that fear they hope, and know they fear.\u201d That…","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":17,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"howie-reed","display_name":"Howie Reed","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/111howie.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/111howie.jpg"},"first_name":"Howie","last_name":"Reed","user_url":"http:\/\/www.dartoidsworld.com","job_title":"","description":"Astute, often controversial, and always humorous, the Old Dart Coach, Howie Reed (a former rodeo cowboy and advertising executive), is heralded as the Dean of Darts Chroniclers - the most prolific and widely followed writer ever about our sport. He goes back decades with the legends and knows where the skeletons are buried (just ask any of the ADO and WDF old-timers!). Here are four well-known facts about the Old Dart Coach: 1) he is a Republican, 2) he loves the ladies, 3) he can drink most anybody under the table, and 4) he throws darts as bad as Dartoid."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5376"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}