{"id":5378,"date":"2010-12-24T02:42:38","date_gmt":"2010-12-24T02:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2010\/12\/column-hr32-merry-christmas-from-the-old-dart-coach-and-mel-torme\/"},"modified":"2010-12-24T02:42:38","modified_gmt":"2010-12-24T02:42:38","slug":"column-hr32-merry-christmas-from-the-old-dart-coach-and-mel-torme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2010\/12\/column-hr32-merry-christmas-from-the-old-dart-coach-and-mel-torme\/","title":{"rendered":"Column #HR32 Merry Christmas from the Old Dart Coach – and Mel Torme!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday, December 24, 2010
\nColumn HR32
\nMerry Christmas from the Old Dart Coach – and Mel Torme!<\/b><\/p>\n

The Old Dart Coach on this Christmas Eve won\u2019t be much help in this effort as he is suffering a severe case of the \u201cWhips and Jingles.\u201d This condition, also known as the \u201cWs and the Js,\u201d was brought on by copious amounts of stupid fluid taken orally before, during and after the Las Vegas Bowl football game. He is expected to recover before Santa arrives so he can sing along with Brenda Lee\u2019s \u201cRockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”<\/p>\n

For the 32 players who are no longer in the World Championships at London\u2019s Alexandra Palace, called the Ally Pally, they\u2019ll have a year to recover from exiting after first round play. With a total prize fund of \u00a31 million this is the time to be at the top of your game or suffer the consequences.<\/p>\n

That was the question that Phil Taylor had to answer in his first round match with Gary Mawson who plays out of the USA. Did he answer? Well, yes and no. Mawson said prior to the match, \u201cHe\u2019s past his prime. I\u2019m going to pull the biggest upset.\u201d Mawson is half right as Phil Taylor, while probably not past his prime, sure didn\u2019t deliver \u201cprime darts\u201d against the former mailman from Toronto. He did deliver an 88 average and some sloppy finishing but got the \u201cW.\u201d Sure Taylor won 3 sets to nil but after \u201csome prime\u201d cruising in the first set 3-0 he struggled taking the next two sets by 3-2. Mawson and Taylor both missed a pocketful of doubles at times finishing like two guys from a beginners league. Mawson set up the match with Taylor beating the lone Philippines entry Juanito Gionson 4 legs to 1 in a preliminary round. Taylor\u2019s win set up a possible match with former Champion John Part.<\/p>\n

That won\u2019t happen as Part got bounced by Denmark\u2019s Per Laursen who had won a preliminary round earlier in the day. For the three times World Champion Part it was his second first round exit in three years. This time he went out 3-0 (3-2, 3-1, 3-2) after leading 2-1 in the first set. The frank speaking Dane said after, \u201cI think it’s the biggest win I’ve had. He had a lot of darts at doubles and I punished him.\u201d Be interesting to see what he says after Taylor although his honesty is refreshing.<\/p>\n

James Wade is one that is always honest. If some don\u2019t like his answers they shouldn\u2019t ask the questions. After his easy win in the first round he was asked how his draw looked down the line. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t looked at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you have to have looked ahead to maybe a meeting with Barney?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

So much for that interview.<\/p>\n

As a \u201con a given day sport\u201d there were some surprises during the eight days of the first round. One was Mark Hylton taking out Steve Beaton 3-2 (3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1) who had played well in taking out Phil Taylor at the recent Grand Slam. Not a surprise, maybe, was the fact that Dennis \u201cLike Wine Gets Better\u201d Priestley dropped just two legs in three sets appearing in his 21st World Championship. “When I set off in 1991 I wasn’t as nervous then as I (am) now, 20 years on. I thought it would get easier when I got older but it hasn’t. I’m more unpredictable now and I could do a 100 average, but I could be well below that and I’m more inconsistent, and that leaves a doubt in my mind.\u201d Next up for Priestly is Scot Gary Anderson. “The last time I played Gary I beat him but this is a longer format and I need to bring my A-game onto stage.”<\/p>\n

Second round action starts Monday December 27th at 1:00 pm GMT. GMT? Computer folk, which include geezers like the ODC and people without real lives, can watch by going to Justin TV and then clicking where it says to click.<\/p>\n

ADVICE? NO THANK YOU?<\/b><\/p>\n

Having recovered somewhat from the \u201cWs and the Js,\u201d the Old Dart Coach wants everyone to know that he\u2019s happy because his two pals Denis \u201cThe Heat\u201d Ovens and \u201cRocket\u201d Ronnie Baxter will be playing in the round of 32. That Christmas present was tempered however by an article in a recent issue of BEN. BEN is a quality dart publication that fired the ODC back in the day. Silly folk they.<\/p>\n

Even though the ODC hasn\u2019t read the article he knows what\u2019s included and couldn\u2019t care less. It\u2019s another of those \u201cthis is what you should do for darts in America\u201d stories from the other side of the pond. Anne Kramer posted an answer on her website at Anne Kramer’s Reply to Dick Allix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The English for some reason seem to be of the opinion that all that\u2019s necessary is for them to speak \u2013 the \u201csubjects\u201d then follow and everything is \u201cpeachy keen.\u201d Don\u2019t work that way and hasn\u2019t since we told old King George where he could put his Tea Tax. That\u2019s right where the sun doesn\u2019t shine\u2026 in Boston Harbor.<\/p>\n

The PDC was not exactly going gangbusters until Barry Hearn came on the scene. He had television connections, an ability to attract sponsors and promotional talent. He probably knew \u201cJack Squat\u201d about darts but did know about making money. He did so with snooker and boxing.<\/p>\n

The article may have included the information that the PDC has given up on America. Not North America as they\u2019ll still have a tournament in Hockey Puck Land next year. Well America gave up on the PDC a long time ago.<\/p>\n

As Ms. Kramer points out, \u201cthey came to our sandbox to play.\u201d They came with their rules set up for \u201ctheir\u201d players. It\u2019s always all about them.\u201d They came to pillage, rape and plunder, assuming (one can only guess) that the natives would worship their godlike abilities while paying tribute with Coin of the Realm. They took over the North American, Windy City and Peachtree Opens \u2013 that are all now in the bone yards of dead tournaments. Nice job guys. You take something that works and break it.<\/p>\n

It had to be the English way or no way. Guess what? It was and it is. Put that in your watercress and cucumber sandwich.<\/p>\n

And oh yes, it\u2019s not a flipping biscuit it\u2019s a cookie!<\/p>\n

Always the self serving cling-on individual, the ODC also wants it known that he was asked by 91.5FM Radio in Phuket to name his favorite Christmas songs. Each Wednesday Mr. David Brook and Doris the DJ (he\u2019s a Scot and a guy which might explain using the name Doris) host a chat show seeking input from celebrities from throughout the world. 91.5FM is \u201cThe Sound in the Land of Smiles.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ODC\u2019s favorite Christmas song is \u201cThe Christmas Song\u201d as sung by Nat King Cole. The opening lyric is \u201cChestnuts roasting on a open fire\u2026 Jack Frost nipping at your nose.\u201d The song was written by the late Mel Torm\u00e9 and Bob Wells during a blazing hot summer in 1944 in Southern California. \u201cWe wanted something cool,\u201d said Torm\u00e9.<\/p>\n

The ODC, always cool, ordered that this space end with the last line from The Christmas Song: \u201cAlthough it\u2019s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

God Bless<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Old Dart Coach on this Christmas Eve won\u2019t be much help in this effort as he is suffering a severe case of the \u201cWhips and Jingles.\u201d This condition, also known as the \u201cWs and the Js,\u201d was brought on by copious amounts of stupid fluid taken orally before, during and after the Las Vegas Bowl football game. He is expected to recover before Santa arrives so he can sing along with Brenda Lee\u2019s \u201cRockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4124,"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 center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Column #HR32 Merry Christmas from the Old Dart Coach - 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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\/5378","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=5378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5378"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}