The Worlds

Hello again. Its been over a week now since my last post and thank you to everyone who sent me e mails and what not over the last week from Canada and the USA. A few of my predictions for qualification came in and a few didn't ask I expected. The draw has put together a few interesting games and I'll give you my NAP at the end as I wreckon I have a dead cert for the first round which begins Monday. A week is the longest I've gone without posting but thats because the first 3 weeks in December are quiet on the circuit and only the odd exhibition here and there occurs. This weekend Ronnie Baxter will be in Kinnegad and Wozza will be in Lucan Friday and Bray Saturday before jetting off to London to meet his first round opponent Alan Tabern on Tuesday night. Ronnie has an earlier birth and will kick off the 2007 Championships against Adrian Gray on Monday at 1.10pm.

I was at home at the weekend and before you think I'm going to start slating my locals towns darts again I'm not. It was an interesting 3 days though I must say. After my article a few weeks back I got as I was expecting... a mixed reaction. Most people were Shaking my hand saying "well done". Another group had the opinion that "about time someone upset their baby" which was the way it was put if I remember correctly. Some people didn't say anything to me and others waited until I was gone before mentioning it. Everything I expected.

I dont usually and never have given up on things in life but I'm not going to bring this issue any futher on this occasion and here is why....
At the weekend I noticed numerous things and am going to play percentages here in my assumption of what I think. There was always going to be a follow up on my article from a few weeks ago but as I said already as soon as this article is wrote I'm finished with it as I think fear will stop you going to an alternate format. Old fashioned family value comments of "that wont work" and "thats bullshit".....a well educated opinion. "we tried that before and it didn't work"....not in the last 20 years you didn't.
I have said all along that the game would benefit in Tramore with a proper league format by playing every team twice. This is the case. Having had pints in Bohans, Murphs, O Neills and The Ledger over the weekend I heard varied views from all over and the town is so divided its not even funny. In Londis on Saturday morning I met a league player who mentioned my article to me. I asked him was he playing in this league? He said yes. I asked him how he got on Thursday night? He answered they were hammered with which he followed with "but sure we're in it to make the numbers". As true as God thats what he said. If you ran a home/away season long league with 11 teams it'd be a success. 16 at the moment with 4 or 5 of them self confessed as a "making up the numbers team". A league is not about making up numbers. Fuck those teams out. They are doing more harm than good. Its different if they are crap but want to play. 11 teams to commit to that would be easy.

In alfies last night 2 teams from the pub were having a challenge match amongst themselves. How fantastic is that. In the Ledger Saturday night they were having a throw on the board and there was about 7 or 8 initials on it waiting for their go. How fantastic is that. We had 16 in O Neills last Monday night and 11 in the Sea Horse. Thats 27 playing on a Monday night. Over half of what you would need for a successful league. Alfies packed last night with people enjoying a challenge match while a fund raiser to pay for the Waterford team bus to the west was going ahead elsewhere. One of the biggest events ever in Ireland by the INDO being run in Cork this weekend where all the best players in Ireland were warming up for the Inter Counties while the Waterford team were playing a handicap to raise money for there bus or whatever. Where is the aspiration in this. No wonder the boys played their challenge and were happy too. My point is here is why the hell are they even playing in the Counties when the players have no aspirations to play in the biggest INDO tournament of the year for big money. I feel sorry for the Tramore lads here to be honest as they could make up a decent team if TK,BC,KC,MP,PP AND SO ON were left play together instead of some captain spliting them up thinking he's doing great for the county whereas really all he is doing is looking after his West Waterford lads.

I'm always open here on things and having spoke to Ken at the weekend and others too might I add there are ways and meeans to alter this format. I've never suggested my way or no way all I want is for people to be left play. Ken who I think is the best player in the town agreed with this but put points for and against forward too, and all excellent points and worth dicussing. Saw young Dave Howlett hit his highest checkout EVER the other night in the Waterfront when he hit a magnificent 148. All the benefits from playing the game. He has only recently established himself in a good league team and the benefits are already showing of regular darts.

What else is funny too is how judgemental people are in different areas. O Neills people wont play outside of O Neills, Alfies wont play outside Alfies, Bohans have their designated players. Sea Horse are trying to establish themselves. The GAA are the GAA and I know nothing about them. Fenor will only play in Fenor and Dunhill have great handicaps on Saturday nights. But people with the exception of a few are not willing to travel anywhere else to play UNLESS a league fixture means they are due to. Its amazing. Everything I wrote about in my previous article a few weeks back goes around in a circle as if it were a politicians constituency and your sole objective is not to support the opposition....I.E someone who plays in O Neills saying that he is not going all the way down to the Sea Horse to support the handicap as its too far down but if they draw them in the league they'll have to go. What I'm saying here is that even though nobody are supporting the local handicaps like they should the game is still alive down there.

Anyway like one fella said the other night when I was gone home even though I'd been there 7 hours. Who am I to go on about Tramore Darts as I dont live there anymore. I dont live there anymore because I'm in places like Holland, UK, Belgium and USA along with Japan in 2007 with the game I love which is darts. I've decided that no more thought is going into darts in that town from my point of view and I'm now prepared to let in rot. Maybe reverse psychology will work but I'm quiting putting it down. You are down so far in my book you cant get any lower. The game will die.

Anyone wish to leave a comment after this post feel free but I will not be debating anything or replying to anything. I know 75% want change but I'm now going to continue with my job on the professional side of the game and stop trying to help my own town. Do whnt you want lads. Its not personal. The game will die.

Anyway people my NAP of the first round in the Worlds is a 9/2 treble with Mick McGowan to win 2/7......Rico Vonck to win 1/1......Ritchie Burnett to win 6/5.
Put the house on it men.