{"id":5908,"date":"2020-11-25T22:06:02","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T22:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2020\/11\/column-hr293-congratulations-jose-augusto-oliveira-de-sousa\/"},"modified":"2024-02-14T22:21:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T22:21:39","slug":"column-hr293-congratulations-jose-augusto-oliveira-de-sousa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2020\/11\/column-hr293-congratulations-jose-augusto-oliveira-de-sousa\/","title":{"rendered":"Column #HR293 CONGRATULATIONS Jos\u00e9 Augusto Oliveira de Sousa!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, November 25, 2020
\n<\/strong>Column HR293<\/strong>
\nCONGRATULATIONS Jose Augusto Oliveira de Sousa!<\/strong><\/p>\n

For those in the Colonies may I wish you a\u00a0very Happy Thanksgiving. \u00a0It\u2019s the one day of the year that we feast on turkey, a bird that just days ago was yelling \u201cBAHH.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t fool a darter.\u00a0 For those into history the recorded first Thanksgiving the Colonies celebrated was in 1621.\u00a0 The Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest.\u00a0 The party lasted three days with the Pilgrims, mostly English, inviting the natives – then called Indians – to share in the festivities.\u00a0\u00a0While the exact menu is not available it is known that “Golden Elixir” was plentiful.<\/p>\n

After many gourds of \u201cMeade\u201d were consumed the Pilgrims broke out the darts.\u00a0 What transpired was the first Blind Draw Doubles in American history.\u00a0 The pairs were drawn with Pilgrims in one hat and the Indians in another.\u00a0 This event, Pilgrims & Indians,\u00a0foreshadowed\u00a0children for years playing Cowboys & Indians.\u00a0 The format?\u00a0 301 double in and double out, best of 3.<\/p>\n

As today’s Colonists were preparing for turkey, football and family fights the PDC was deep into the 14th staging of the BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts. \u00a0The tournament consists of a 32-player field with the winner walking away with a nifty \u00a3125,000.\u00a0 The group stage players toed the oche in the best of 9, best of 19 in round two, then best of 31 onward.<\/p>\n

With\u00a0more darts than pages in the bestselling book\u00a0How to Understand Women<\/em>\u00a0the Grand Slam went on and on and on.\u00a0 Two-time defending champion Gerwyn Price, going for the hat trick, got sidetracked by \u201con the rise\u201d Nathan Aspinall 10-8.\u00a0 Price didn\u2019t fall without a fight.\u00a0 Aspinall jumped to a 7-3 lead when Price roared back closing to 8-7.\u00a0 The next two were in Aspinall\u2019s pocket to move to a decider.\u00a0 Price missed 2 darts at d4 to extend the match allowing\u00a0Aspinall to erase 92 on the bull.\u00a0 He would exit next round to semifinalist\u00a0Dimitri\u00a0Van den Bergh 16-15.<\/p>\n

It would be up to Simon Whitlock to end Michael van Gerwen\u2019s run for a third Grand Slam title.\u00a0 Whitlock collected his third TV win of the year over van Gerwen racking up 20 T80\u2019s as part of the 16-15 decision.\u00a0 Whitlock trailed 2-0, 9-5 and 11-7 before drawing level at 13.\u00a0 van Gerwen collected a 146-check on his way to a 15-13 lead.\u00a0 But van Gerwen missed eight match darts and Whitlock marched to victory.\u00a0 I feel on top of the world,\u00a0<\/em>said Whitlock.\u00a0 It’s incredible – I think this is my best victory I’ve ever had in darts<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0To beat Michael when he’s off his game is another thing, but to beat him when he’s playing well – which I thought he did today – is amazing.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Whitlock\u00a0would get his comeuppance in the semifinals when Portugal\u2019s Jose de Sousa upended him 16-12.\u00a0 It looked as though Whitlock would continue his roll with 2-0 and 5-2 leads which included a pair of 12 darters.\u00a0 Leg eight went to de Sousa as did the next 6 of 7 giving him an 8-6 lead.\u00a0 Then, when tied at 8 de Sousa took the next 7, including\u00a0a \u201cbrace\u201d (a brace being more than one) of 121 checks, two double tops and two double 18s)\u00a0and was one leg from victory – and done.<\/p>\n

In the other semi James Wade took advantage of a missed bull for the match from Dimitri Van den Bergh for the 16-15 win and trip to the final. \u00a0It looked like gloom and doom for Wade as he missed doubles to fall behind 5-1.\u00a0 Wade would be Wade though and would use d10 to move within 1 at 10-9.\u00a0 They would level at 14 when Wade then took 4 of 5.\u00a0 Van den Bergh posted a 14-darter to lead 15-14 but then missed the bull for victory in leg 30.\u00a0 Wade leveled and then won with T40, T80 and a \u201cgoodbye\u201d 76 for 12-darter a trip to his 3rd<\/sup>\u00a0Grand Slam final.<\/p>\n

Oh, baby what a finals finish, but first…<\/p>\n

The final began with de Sousa showing all the signs of a 46-year old talented rookie falling behind 3-0, wasting three T80\u2019s with 9 stray doubles.\u00a0 But he would right the ship with a T30-check to enter the break at level 5.\u00a0 After leveling at 6 de Sousa took 6 of the next 8 for a 12-8 lead.\u00a0 Although he dropped 2 of the next 3 de Sousa would get to 14-11 – only two legs from the title.<\/p>\n

Wade stayed on stage during the break to little avail – when behind a pair of T80s de Sousa mucked about on the double but still got the leg to move to 15-11.\u00a0 Wade answered with a 161-check as de Sousa sat on the winning leg.<\/p>\n

Would the rookie feel the pressure and choke?<\/p>\n

At 15-12 and with Wade at a low 2-dart double and de Sousa on 158, de Sousa stroked 60, 60 and d19 for the title – winning a “major”\u00a0in his initial appearance!<\/p>\n

One announcer called him a debutant.\u00a0 At 46 he’s a little old for a debutant but what the heck, it’s his day.\u00a0 Go with it.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0PDC has become so good that to quote\u00a0Jim \u201cThe Bizz” – what \u201cdarts, bloody darts!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The tournaments, Players Championships, this tour and that tour – it all becomes a madding blur.\u00a0 Writing about a pair 12 dart games has become commonplace.\u00a0 The focus now is on the drama that is in evidence at every darting event – whether it be the PDC World Championship or a Blind Draw at Joe’s Bar and Grill, mostly bar.<\/p>\n

The Grand Slam produced a couple of zingers…<\/p>\n

Every so often a darter takes to the podium to proclaim someone the “best ever.\u201d Lately, that person has become called the Greatest Of All Time or “GOAT.\u201d\u00a0 When playing doubles and missing a double the ODC was called the GOAT.\u00a0 Different meaning.<\/p>\n

On the first day Michael Smith had his way (don\u2019t go there) with Lisa Ashton 5-1.\u00a0 Smith averaged (averages are for losers) 102, which is PDC good.\u00a0 After the match Smith called her \u201cthe best female darts player ever.\u201d\u00a0 To set the record straight Smith appears to be a nice gent that made a sincere but common mistake.\u00a0 Any athlete who tries to equate players from one era with another makes that mistake.<\/p>\n

I played Lisa in Germany and she beat me.\u00a0 Now we don’t play many women but not being rude, I don’t think Lisa is a woman in that sense of fact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>(Michael, you\u2019ll be running that statement back.)\u00a0 She could play darts better than anyone of us here and when she’s on, she’s on so I’m glad when I got the chance, I took it every time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Old adage: “When you\u2019re in a hole stop\u00a0digging.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

I know Trina’s (<\/em>Gulliver) won how many – nine or ten world titles – but Lisa Ashton is the best ever women’s darts player.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Mensa will never call the Smith household.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s Gary, Gary Anderson – always good for a little controversy (pronounced \u201cCon-Trav-Is-See\u201d by those who refused the Colonist’s help in improving their language).\u00a0 The Flying Scotsman with the engaging smile always provides good copy (when understood).\u00a0 The ODC uses written transcripts to decipher\u00a0Anderson\u00a0during his\u00a0remarks the ODC enjoyed a tray of Eiffel Tower French brie complimented by champagne and, of course, Anderson whine.<\/p>\n

Anderson was upset after he saw off young 18-year old Adam Gawlas 5-3. \u00a0He went on a bizarre TV rant.\u00a0 \u00a0He insinuated the 18-year was \u201csnarking\u201d and \u201csniffing.\u201d\u00a0 The ODC understands sniffing (aka, the Biden effect) but \u201csnarking\u201d is a new one.<\/p>\n

Any one whose played darts knows that \u201cgamesmanship\u201d is just part of the game.\u00a0 Anderson doesn\u2019t accept that theory.\u00a0 He seemed upset that \u201cgamesmanship\u201d raised its head.\u00a0
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Gamesmanship – PATHETIC.\u00a0 They’re not dart players, they’re just COWARDS!\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>This from a guy whose dropped more bombs on the oche than a darter on Sunday morning after two days of beer, sauerkraut, boiled eggs and broccoli.\u00a0 Please.\u00a0 Anderson would get hammered by Michael van Gerwen 10-2 next round, not whine or brie.<\/p>\n

Of course, if a turkey goes \u201cBAHH\u201d in Scotland it\u2019s in real trouble.<\/p>\n

Stay thirsty my friends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For those in the Colonies may I wish you a\u00a0very Happy Thanksgiving. \u00a0It\u2019s the one day of the year that we feast on turkey, a bird that just days ago was yelling \u201cBAHH.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4126,"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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those in the Colonies may I wish you a\u00a0very Happy Thanksgiving. \u00a0It\u2019s the one day of the year that we feast on turkey, a bird that just days ago was yelling \u201cBAHH.\u201d\u00a0","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\/5908","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\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5908"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6232,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5908\/revisions\/6232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5908"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}