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 I have, over the last ten years of writing in BEN,
praised a few folk and had my fair share of criticizing folk too. I like to think I have been even handed meting out both in equal measure where I
believed it was due.
This month, happily, I want to praise and
compliment a merry band of darters who have utterly surprised me, pleased me, and almost brought a tear to my eye. Now that’s hard
because I’m a cynical S.O.B., as a lot of my friends and foes will testify. I always believe there’s an ulterior motive in most actions, never
quite accepting the deed for what it is. It’s a cross I have to bear, alas.
Who are these wunnerful people? as Elvis would say after his third fried
Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich. Why the Professional Dart Players Association, of course, and I mean it most sincerely. Why you ask, as if you
doubt that I am, indeed, sincere. Well, it’s like this.
Players, especially Professional Players of any Sport, not just darts, are an
insular bunch. They care, for the most part, only about themselves. This is more profoundly demonstrated in individual Sports rather than Team Sports.
You know, I totally understand that too. In individual Sports, it’s a dog eat
dog mentality. Has to be. If you want to be the very best, you must try beating the holy ‘C’ out of your brothers on a weekly, or in some sports daily,
basis like tennis and golf. You have to be a loner or at best someone who nods to your fellow competitors in the hotel lobby, but that’s the probable
extent of the ‘brotherly love’ towards them.
Dart Pro’s are way friendlier towards each other, born, I guess, from the
games roots in the bar and tavern. Yet, I’ve sensed throughout my time in this sport of ours, some 25 years, that the ‘bonhomie’ is only skin deep,
especially where the more successful players are concerned. It increases the pressure if you have to administer the ‘coup de grace’ on the oche and
you’ve been carousing the previous night away with the same guy. Well, I’d find it hard, and I do not think I’m that different from your average Pro.
So, with this ‘arms length’ attitude towards each other (and I know most
Pro’s would disagree that they have that attitude), it must have been hard for them to sit down and talk about officially formulating a ‘Union’ or organization
that would collectively look after themselves, make rules, and most importantly, abide by them. I see the wisdom in banding together as it
always is better to bargain collectively than as individuals. Way more power.
But the actual day to day running of it is tough and just the ‘who’ is actually running it, even tougher. That’s where the insularity comes in.
The idea of a Union appeals to most folk of a like-minded calling. It gives
strength, protection and a forum for ideas and complaints. However, the hard part is electing people to serve as its officers and servants because that
takes time, dedication and a very, very thick skin from the individuals lucky
(or unlucky) enough to get elected. Most will run a mile from getting involved, citing family commitments, elderly parents or an undisclosed medical
problem of an intimate nature, for declining office. Far easier to criticize the poor guys who do take the job than actually step up to the plate themselves.
Ah, human nature, don’t you just love it!
The Current Organization (PDPA) actually first drew breath way back in the
late seventies/early eighties spearheaded by John Lowe. Even in those days,
there were problems with the BDO, Lowe, and his fellow Pro’s of the time.
They felt it necessary to band together, if only to have an official ‘talking shop’
. Lowe, to his eternal credit, set it up properly with a legal constitution and it met very quietly, on a regular basis.
Why the secrecy you ask? Well, the dear old BDO, then as now, never
countenanced any collective forum of players, or officials for that matter, in case they plotted insurrection. After all, that’s how they came to power, so
they knew the process at first hand. A players Union smacked of rebellion and quite simply would not be tolerated. Don’t be fooled by The Players
Association that exists now alongside the BDO. If it ever got ‘uppity,’ it would be dealt with very abruptly.
Lowe’s organization came into its own when the PDC (or WDC as it was then
known) decided to do its own thing. Lowe emerged, as if from hibernation, with his Union intact and set up to work with PDC to better the then
disastrously neglected future of The Professional Game on television. The Association kept the Players who had left the BDO ranks together, at times,
despite enormous pressure from all quarters. Pressures of threats, bribes and insults to break up and return, chastened, cowed and beaten to the
Fatherland. The Players today owe those players a tremendous debt. That
said, there is also a debt of gratitude overdue to the current and recent past administrators of the ‘Union.’
Now I like that word ‘Union’ although a lot of players do not. It is a proud
name for a noble cause. That it may have been misused across the years should not be a deterrent. Many, many professions owe their existence to
their Union who have fought for fair wages and conditions. Yours is no different.
Yes, from Lowe’s original formation has grown an organization that, well,
‘works’ and that’s a compliment. Its most recent past spokesmen have been Rod Harrington and Dennis Priestley, who, I know at times, considered the
job a poisoned chalice. They felt it harmed their playing form and made it impossible to play at the peak of their ability.
Why? Well, the only times the expanding ‘rank and file’ membership would
talk to their representative was at tournaments. Not easy to concentrate and stay focused when Joe Blow taps you on the shoulder at the tournament, and
usually on the practice board, and demands to be listened to there and then about something either totally inconsequential or confidential. You see, the
spokesman for the Union is the bridge from it to the PDC. He attends PDC Operation meetings and thus is privy to the forward planning of tournaments,
their structure and prize funds. His function is to ensure that his members will be satisfied with the event in all its aspects and negotiate to that end.
In the process, he knows many things that are confidential and just can’t
divulge them to his members, usually because they are not confirmed and are only at a planning and discussion stage. Some players hear of events
that are ‘possible’ and after a few beers are ‘confirmed.’ So you can see the need for a representative who is strong and dependable and able to withstand
the incessant cajoling for information. Harrington and Priestley stuck to their,
at times, thankless tasks with determination and true grit. I should know, as
I faced them often across the negotiating table and they didn’t take prisoners!
One of best moves was the insistence that the disciplining of players was
taken out of their hands and also out of the PDC’s. It’s a tall order to ask a
current player to fine, or worse still, dock ranking points from a fellow player.
Imagine your No. 33 in the rankings and the guy in the dock is No 32. The next TV tournament requires top 32 players. Mmmmmm, now let me see,
shall I fine him or just maybe dock him points?
Hence the formation of the independent Darts Regulation Authority (DRA),
which is made up of Non Playing Darts Folk, who know the game backwards. An accountant and a lawyer are included. It ensures that the rules and
conduct of the game are adhered to, to the letter of the Law and it can penalize anyone, not just players, even little old me!
Today, the PDPA, under the chairmanship now of Peter Manley, has
amassed, by careful and prudent administration, a fair bank balance. So much so, that they have announced a series of ‘Pro Player’ tournaments to
use the money, with a contribution from the PDC, to enhance the professional lives of its members. I can’t fault them. It’s just a great move.
The prize fund is an impressive $178,000, not exactly chump change is it!
The series will comprise five separate tournaments over twelve months each with a $35,500 prize fund including pretty much $9,000 to the winner. The
tournaments will have only singles events. With the current membership at 300 and expected to grow to 500 inside twelve months, it has come a long,
long way from the half dozen players in a back room bar twenty years ago in the soft glow of candlelight, scratching out a constitution with a quill pen on
parchment. (Just kidding about the candlelight!). Peter and his Board have
done an impressive job. To be frank, way better than I thought possible, and I
acknowledge that, as we all should. In today’s darts world, where doom and gloom are seemingly the order of the day, The PDPA is a success story.
Give me an Amen!
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