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 Not the most original of titles, but it kind of fits
my mood right now. ‘Fits’ – that’s the word, really. What do we do each day? We try and make things fit, don’t we? Whether that’s for the day,
the week, the year or our whole life. Maybe our life is this humongous jigsaw, which you get in a great big box when you’re born and you then
spend the rest of your life putting the pieces together to get, of course, ‘The Big Picture’. Hah. Hah !!
Trouble is, its not that easy ‘cos God most times,
omits to put the picture of your life on the front cover of said Box to which you could refer from time to time to make sure
your on the right track. I know, those amongst you, who have the undoubted comfort of a religious belief, will say that that is your own picture reference
and you maybe right, or righteous – whatever. For me, and a few others who are not exactly unbelievers, just big sceptics, there aint no picture, so you
stumble around with the pieces trying to make’em fit and hoping the picture comes out right at the end. Trouble with Jigsaws is that you never know if
some of the pieces are lost until you get to the end and find that out, whoa, bummer!
Also, how many of us have half completed the darn thing and along comes
Larry, the cat, and whacks it all over the floor and you have to start again. Well, no different to life, I suppose. I’ve had the jigsaw of my life upset a few
times, not many thank you, but enough to know that it’s a jaw dropping moment for a while. The defining moment is beginning again and putting it
back together As your president Nixon once said, yes, old Tricky Dicky,
“falling down isn’t failure, not getting up again is.” Quite a pearl of wisdom, eh!
What has all of this to do with the Darts and the art of playing? Well, getting
back to my mood and wondering where all the pieces fit, I’m trying to figure if there are any pieces missing, using the Jigsaw metaphor, in Pro Darts. You
know, what do we need, specifically in America? Of course, it’s funding. Of
course, it’s TV which sort of goes together, but that’s too obvious. If we had them and we will, albeit slowly, would that make a great difference? Would
that make us complete?
I look at other Sports and try to work out why they have the jump on us. And
you know, it’s Player charisma. That’s the piece that’s always missing to
the extent I wonder if it’s in the box to start with. Phil Taylor is awesome from a pure Darting perspective, arguably the best there has ever been, but
he hasn’t got Charisma, bless him. He will never be seen modelling for Calvin
in his ‘skinnys’! Neither will John Part. Laz-e-boy recliners, maybe – no offence John.
Our Top performers are good, damn good. Their expertise is on a par with
Tiger, Michael J, and our own David Beckham on a skill per sport basis, but unlike the three I’ve mentioned, who have it in spades, ours just do not. Why
? Phil and John are pretty cool guys, could drop a few pounds, but they know that. However, that’s not the answer, anyway. Charisma, star quality,
is a state of mind and that is what they have to acquire.
To make my argument easier, (and less personal) lets imagine my perfect
Pro Player. One, who could be its highest earner, a role model for younger players and one who could be the figurehead of the Sport to take it into the
Stratosphere.
Okay, first off he has to be American. Black or white, it’s immaterial. Why?
The media here have no pre conceived idea of what a Pro Player is, so we have a Blank Canvas and you are the world’s biggest economy.
Secondly, does he have to be a he? Yes, I’m afraid so. Much as I love to
fantasize about women, in this case it has to be a Guy. Too much work to do, otherwise. Just not enough women play the game and from a role model
point of view, it would not run. Women’s Soccer is a case in point. Great exposure, but no fans and consequently no sponsors or TV.
Third, young, say early twenties, single and preferably heterosexual. Not
mandatory, however, as gay men, in the main, have great style and are very attractive to women. Sorry, Guys but it’s the female side of things, as they
are non threatening as in ‘hitting on anything in a dress’ and are usually great ‘shoppers’.
Fourth, they must look and smell good. Not in a ruggedly handsome way,
although that would be a bonus, but from a self-worth point of view. Attractive Guys, from an Advertising/Media viewpoint, are pretty much in love with their
own image. They have to be, it’s NOT a criticism, far from it. We know who
they are. You know, they are talking to you, but looking over your shoulder
at the mirror behind you checking themselves out. Vain? Absolutely, but how they look is a big deal.
Fifth – they have to be great dressers. On the cutting edge of everything
that’s fashionable. They become style leaders, not followers. David Beckham, arguably one of the top three Soccer Players in the World and
certainly its highest earner, is just that. Michael Jordan is, or was, that in America.
Sixth – gotta be able to hold a conversation. Must be confident in interviews,
and not just about Darts, everything. That means being aware of the world in general. Must read the Newspapers every day and not just the Sport pages,
nor do I mean National Enquirer. Knowing what’s going on is very important. Do you know what is worse than being ignorant – proving it!
Seventh is lifestyle. Falling outta nightclubs with a Porn Star on your arm
and half of the national product of Peru up your nose WILL make headlines, but not the ones your Sponsors were banking on. Living like a monk would
be just as bad for our boy. Everyone would be wondering what he was up to, and with no evidence, it would be made up, which would be a whole lot worse
because he’d spend all his life dismissing rumours which we all know are true. Oh, yes!
It’s a tough, but not impossible call. If the desire is strong enough, if the
incentive is big enough, if the discipline is brutal enough, our boy could come
through, not only for himself, but also for all of us. More would follow, as the
benchmark for success would be set. It’s a given that he must play, not only
as good as Taylor and Part, but better. He must have better concentration, better skill and better focus, but then he is the last part of the Jigsaw.
When I see him, I will recognise him immediately. Maybe its you ???
Oh well, back to my own personal puzzle.
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