An uncommon game for the common man

One of the things that has had a lasting effect on me from my time in England in the 1980s is the game of darts.

Darts is a common man’s game in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, birthed in pubs with no major investment needed for those who want to play at home.

Part of the time during my few days off over Christmas was spent watching a live stream of the World Darts Championship (WDC). It is a sport that I got my family hooked on as well years ago and we cheer for a great finish as much as Sooner fans do when OU scores a touchdown.

People might question how a person could get excited over what is seemingly a boring game. It’s not boring at all. Much like having more respect for PGA golfers after trying to play golf yourself, the quality of the play of professional darts players is underrated until you try to play the game yourself.

Like soccer, it hasn’t reached the popularity in the U.S. that it has elsewhere in the world. There might be one or two Americans that qualify each year for the WDC, but the vast majority of players are either European or Australian. They hold rock star status in their home countries.

The rules are fairly simple. Two players start at 501 points. The players take turns throwing three darts on each trip. The quickest to zero without going over is the winner of the game and you have to end on a double. For example, if you have 40 points left, you would have to hit a double 20 to win.

The game has changed quite a bit since my time over there, though not in quality of play, but in presentation. Darts in the 1980s were televised from glorified pubs. While an opponent took his turn at the board, a player was likely to go to a little table set up for him and take a drag from his cigarette and take a swig from a pint of beer before coming back for his next throw.

Now, with the major tournaments at least, it is a big production held at the largest venues. Water bottles have taken the place of cigarettes and beer. There are players with larger than life personalities with nicknames like “Super Chin” and “Snake Bite” and others that are more quiet and reserved, but just as good.

For the fans in attendance, it is a big all day party. Many come in crazy outfits and costumes. They cheer for their favorite players, but also acknowledge when his opponent has a great trip to the board.

The highest number of points a player can get in one three-dart trip is 180 (three triple-20s), which always sends the crowd into a frenzy. Another frenzy inducing event is called a “nine-darter”. It is the fewest amount of throws a player can get from 501 to zero. Basically, it’s throwing a perfect game.

Just to give you an idea of how hard to accomplish those are, I used to play quite a bit and in all the time I played, I got a 180 one time. I still remember it. My dad and I were playing a game in the rec room of our house when I hit it. You would have thought I had just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl by my reaction.

In professional darts, individual games are called legs and the first person to win three legs wins a set. Then the first person to win a certain amount of sets wins the match. The number of required sets to win increases the further a player goes in a tournament.

As a write this, the WDC is on a Christmas break and they were scheduled to start with the round of 32 on Wednesday.

Just to give an idea of how much I enjoy it, a trip to the WDC is on my bucket list. Sarah and I have every intention of going at some point after we retire.

To get a taste at what it is like, go to YouTube and type in “darts”. On the first page are highlights from this year’s tournament and also the complete championship final match from last year’s tournament for those that want to get the full affect.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year.