February 8, 2011

Hungry like the Wolfie

Man oh man was I dragging my feet yesterday. It's not my fault, though. It is the time difference's. As I said Sunday, the hubs' team had a Super Bowl get together at a local restaurant. Seeing as the game didn't start until midnight, we were up pretty late. I am still feeling a little weary...but I think I will make it :)

So, let's see. It has been just over 24 hours since the Super Bowl. You won't get another taste of football - well, besides the ever exciting CFL - until late summer. I imagine that the die hard fans have already hit the panic button and will soon be going through withdrawals. I think this scares a few of you football fans as well, or, better yet, very much pleases those of you who aren't fans!


But there is no need to worry. Quit panicking, crying and screaming, I have just the thing that will fill that gaping void that football left in your TV schedule.

World Championship Darts. Yep, you read that right, I am new found fan of the professional darts circuit. 


British Sky played the heck outta the BDO World Darts Championship over the holiday season. I mean, it was always on. Well, that and Snooker, but I can't stoop that low and bring myself to watch Snooker.

At first, we would laugh, skipping over the channel, thinking 'who in their right mind would watch darts on television". But then, one dark and cold night (with NOTHING else on TV) darts changed our whole perspective on sh*t.

Come on, don't stop reading now, I promise you won't be disappointed :)

Really, what is not to love about the World Darts Championship?! There's action, drama, love, excitement. And beer, lots of beer.

So, not only is it entertaining - the sarcastic commentary and camera work are great - but the fans at the event go crazy. You would not believe this party! It's like Oktoberfest, Halloween and a darts bar all rolled into one. There are costumes, signs, cussing, tears, dramatic shots of the players (throwers?) wives and girlfriends cheering. Oh yeah, those dart studs pull in the broads hand over fist. 

(source)

My favorite game to watch is 501. According to WIkipedia "There are many games that can be played on a dartboard, but darts generally refers to a game whereby the player throws three darts per visit to the board with the goal of reducing a fixed score, commonly 501, to zero, with the final dart landing in either the bullseye or a double segment."

Its fast moving and fun to try to keep up with the counting. In 501, the most you can get in one turn is 180 points, which is when all 3 darts hit the triple 20. A pretty difficult maneuver.

When this happens the camera dramatically zooms in, the announcer goes crazy, and the fans go wild. As soon as they hear the famous "One hundred and eeeeiiiigggghhhhtttyyy" the crowd is up and jumping around. Have a look at the first part of the clip below to have a better idea of what I am talking about. Just awesome. 


You think this guy gets chicks solely on his darts announcing skills. All signs point to yes!

Then of course we can't forget about the most important people there, the professional dart players. One look, and it is easy to tell that they are indeed pro 'athletes". I think it is their strength, agility and Adonis-like physique that stands them apart. Or maybe the 1980s style clothes and wicked facial hair. It's one of the two. 

(source)

Take Andy "The Viking" Fordham pictured above. Pure athletics, right? Well, he did win the 2004 BDO World Darts Championship. And was for some time ranked number 1...in the world. When was the last time you were ranked number one in the world...or in anything? Yeah, me neither. So this guys gets a pass.

But my personal favorite has got to be Martin Adams, aka Wolfie. Not only is he a great darts player, but he has one of the sickest intros of all times. They blare "Hungry Like the Wolf" when he is being introduced. Plus the crowd howls when we walks out. Awesome! 


He became champion for the second time at the 2010 BDO World Darts Championship and is quickly becoming one of the legends of the sport. I think the hubs might have to start blasting the Duran Duran before his games now as well. With a track record like Wolfie, why would not want to emulate his routine (or his facial hair for that matter)?

I heart Wolfie (source)
Also, I am pretty sure it is a requirement to have a badass nickname to play pro darts.  There is Bob "The Limestone Cowboy" Anderson, Steve "Magnum PI" Beaton, Richie "The Prince of Wales" Burnett, and Keith "The Milky Bar Kid" Deller. I could go on, but I'll spare you.

But all joking aside, it really is a fun and mesmerizing sport to watch. If the BDO World Championship ever comes on back at home, take 30 seconds, and I can guarantee you will be hooked.

I honestly hope I can attend a World Championship one day. No, I'm not kidding, I might even have to add it to my bucket list. And its not so much that I am a big darts fan, but I do love a great party :)
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24 comments:

  1. Hubby loves darts and always tries to watch the matches and I don't mind it either. They can be quite entertaining to watch!!!

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  2. When I was a kid, there used to be a TV commercial for a local Beer, called Haywards 2000. It was like this guy (who is having that beer) walks into a pub just like a cowboy (boots, fancy hat et all) and throws a dart from a long distance which hits the bull's eye. Girl is impressed. Then an old man comes and throws 2 darts while he is blindfolded. Girl is super impressed. Then he says... Haywards 5000. lol... The look on the Haywards 2000 guy's face is priceless at that moment!

    The commercial was stupid, but it was all so interesting just coz of darts! I think I was like 10 yrs old back then, and I asked my Mom to get me a dart board. I still have it! I should check these videos out right now :)

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  3. We actually watched darts the other day...my son was very impressed with the game, but I told him he had to be 20 years old to throw sharp objects at the wall! I don't recall it being so crazy....we must have watched the junior-pros.

    I want a pair of the dart thunder sticks!

    Cheers

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  4. You need a jersey and to watch roller derby for an inspired nickname. A friend in London is obsessed with catching dart tournaments and even posted a fan note on FB a couple of weeks ago when he was trying to meet his "idol" all he got was distant stalker photos. It was hilarious.

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  5. @ Leetid - awesome that he watches it too. You're right, it can be quite entertaining
    @Apfel - haha, that commercial sounds great! How funny that it stuck with you after all this time. Nothing like beer and darts, huh?!
    @THW - No joke, you might want to have him wait on that one. The US championships are pretty tame (lame) compared to these British ones. They really know how to party, I guess!
    @Morgan - haha, too funny! I am glad that there are other dart crazers such as myself. Now, onto find a nickname :)

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  6. Haha!

    As the wife to an avid bowler (we watch the PBA shows every week and have been to a few tour stops) I have come to have an appreciation for lesser known sports like pool, horseshoes and log rolling (okay maybe not that last one!)

    I didn't know they had a professional darts association though--guess you learn something new every day :)

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  7. I love to play darts when the billiard table is occupied. But I have to tell everybody to be behind me coz I tend to shoot people's head with the dart. LMAO

    http://brownbugz.blogspot.com

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  8. Thanks for visiting me at A Season for All Things. I look forward to getting to know you better through your blog. I'm your newest follower. ~ Ellen

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  9. @KT - If you have a chance, like I said, you won't be dissapointed! Maybe now I will have to check out bowling, lol
    @Brownbugz - haha, wow, not playing darts (or even standing close to the board) when you are around!
    @Ellen - Well you are welcome Ellen, thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Sorry, this was the only way I could reply back to you. You can make it where people can email you back by editing your profile, show email. I thought I would get spam but I have not.

    Anyhoo . . . Story about that NLCS game. I was laying in bed in tears (literally) with my head covered because I just knew that we were done. Pujols hit the HR off of Lidge and I jumped up and I was screaming, crying and dancing all at the same time. Unfortunately, Astros came back to take NLCS from Cards. I was at that last game. It was the very LAST game at old Busch. Horrible.

    BTW, I was a big Craig Biggio fan and Cardinals now have Burkman, aka, "the Cardinal Killer." LOL

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  11. hahahaha... that's awesome.. you know, i never realized how addicting darts can be.. we got a game for WII with darts on it.. and it's ridiculously FUN.. esp with some cocktails and friends. I can imagine this would be pretty fun as well (to experience) .. :)

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  12. You are too funny. Who knew darts could be so exciting?!

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  13. So glad you stumbled on my blog, too! I am your follower #127 and I frequently live in a state of Zombiedom... LOL!! I'm not a big sports fan, though. *GASP*

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  14. We don't normally watch any sports, but dart championships might be right up our alley. That looks hilarious.

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  15. @ April - good to know! I know, there should be an easier way to comment back. I was at the game that Pujols hit that homerun, literally sucked the life out of the place. And I had no idea Burkman was now a Cardinal. I'm outta the loop!
    @Laura - it totally is, and that Wii game sounds great. You're right, maybe after a cocktail or two :)
    @Shalyn - just chalk it up to another weird aspect of my life! Haha
    @Holly - Well thanks for stopping back by. I should make you a Zombie Week icon for you :)
    @City Share - you gotta watch it!

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  16. I'm following you froom Hump Day Whatever Blog Hop
    Monique
    http://armsofasister.com

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  17. Following you now from the Wednesday Blog hop!

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  18. Hi - I love the title of your blog. I'm following from the Hump Day Blog Hop where you are featured! Congratulations!

    Tina "The Book Lady"
    Family Literacy & You

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  19. never watched darts. but your post made me laugh and curious. may just try it out.

    Follower 130 from hump day wednesday.
    http://www.bassgiraffe.com/2011/02/weekly-linkups-30.html

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  20. Following you from the hop new GFC follower~Shari

    http://www.1grown2togo.blogspot.com

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  21. Hi! I'm loving the art you made me- I was having problems trying to decide how to incorporate everything people have made for me, so I invented a brand new page and it links back to you... check it out!
    Thanks again. It was also due to your willingness to help that I finally worked on the blog header I had been putting off.
    Cheers!
    Meri

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  22. I'm a new follower via GFC from Hump Day Whatever!

    I don't watch sports (except boxing) so I really don't feel like I'm missing anything.

    Carli
    http://www.grandmasguide2life@yahoo.com

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  23. @ Monique - thanks so much for stopping by!
    @Tina - thanks girl! Happy Hump Day to you!
    @Erika - haha, well at least your honest. Thanks for stopping by
    @1 grown - Thanks for stopping by Shari!
    @Meri - glad you enjoyed it, really like your new header :)
    @CarliAlice - thanks to you too for having a look around. Happy Hump Day!

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  24. ewww! I prefer a little less...less man, less hair, less "awesome-ness"! Darts, for me, ranks right up there with watchking poker on ESPN. WTH?!! IT is NOT a sport. You're telling me there is nothing else athletic on in the world that we can watch???

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Whoomp, there it is!