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Dear BEN,
Trying to get your girlfriend or spouse to play darts is sometimes difficult. Earlier
this year my wife, Kelly, became interested.
So, as many have done before, I purchased a set of darts for her. Two weeks later, she played in her first tournament. Not having good success, but learning. I was very proud.
Kelly said, “Everyone was so helpful and nice.
I couldn’t believe my partner in the draw, Charlie Daniels, wasn’t mad. She even encouraged me.” I told her, “That’s the way most dart people are.” “Most,” she asked? Unfortunately, I said “Yeah.”
Well in her second tournament about two months later, I decided to play mixed doubles with
her. What happened in cricket was one of the most horrifying matches I have ever participated in. I was not only embarrassed, but the lack of
sportsmanship by the other team was on a level I have never witnessed before. Especially since the lady we were playing and her husband are well known in
the dart world. As a matter of fact, she is in the top 15 in the nation, has made many ADO woman’s finals and has also played on the ADO East-West teams.
During the match, we jumped out to a lead winning 1-0.
During a crucial shot in the second leg, the lady’s husband made a shot she didn’t approve of. She cussed him within an inch of his life, calling him all sorts of profanities, loud enough for half the room to hear. Several matches next to us stopped and watched as they couldn’t shoot as for all the yelling. Embarrassed, my wife turned to me and smiled. She leaned and whispered in my ear, “Are all teams like this?" “No,” I replied, “thank GOD they are not.”
After some more ranting and raving by our opponents.
Kelly hit the winning Cork. We won 2-0, my wife’s first win in a tournament. When she went to turn and shake their hands, the other lady turned and left without shaking anyone’s hand, cussing her husband under her breath. I said, “Good match, better luck next time,” and stuck out my hand to shake. He looked at me without shaking my hand and said, “We can play for money. We have beaten much better than you will ever be.” I turned and said, “Good luck to you in the rest of the tournament.”
Before the start of the next match, I took my wife aside and tried to apologize for the
other team’s behavior. She said, “That’s ok, when that lady started cussing, I knew we were going to win. That’s why I smiled.”
Ahh, the simplicity of a new player…
Good luck to all and happy holidays! Thanks.
—Ron Jovi
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