I have to admit that I am really quite pleased and perhaps even proud of myself.  being as new to darts as I am I have always known and been comfortable with the notion that it would be a very long and steep road towards any kind of real competence as far as sticking darts where I want them to stick.  What I am not however, is a numbers person. I am not just 'not a numbers person' I am horrible with numbers and this has haunted me as my Achilles heel in darts as out shots can be quite a distraction for me.  
Well lo' and behold I have decided to put in a little bit of time, and while still not a numbers person I have actually managed to memorize out shots from 100 down to about 65.  I did it Bobby George style, pretty much just memorizing them like phone numbers.  I don't have them down 100% but I'd say 90% and it's amazing what a boost they can give to your game.  Obviously knowing what I need to peg out doesn't make my arm work any better, but I think knowing it give the brain that works the arm less things to worry about and hence more focus on the job at hand of making the darts stick where I want them to stick. Results so far are looking positive, but lets see how i do moving forward. So far I've pegged a 96 and a 89 and a few nice close calls. (no out but left the double).  I'll keep you all posted but in the meantime if you are new to darts I'd recommend learning your out shots.  

Moving off the topic of darts, some of you may not be aware that I am also the laziest member of the moderating team for author Graham Hancock.  My moderating work mostly consists of sitting around watching the other moderators do a lot of hard work and then interjecting the odd pithy comment here and there. Now for those of you who don't know Graham Hancock he is a cornucopia  of interesting and thought provoking ideas but writes mostly on issues of historical mysteries and more recently on consciousness .both it's nature and ethics.  His books are engaging, amazingly well researched, enjoyable and incredibly controversial.  He openly posits questions about our established understandings and suggests and provides evidence as to why we might consider alternate views. He is excruciatingly cautious in saying "I think there is something to explore here" rather than "I am right!" and never has made any claim to being a scientist. Nonetheless he can be the frequent target of derision and portrayed somehow as an 'enemy of science'.
Recently he has given a talk on TED (along with Rupert Sheldrake) which was jumped on by TED's anonymous 'science board' along with a series of unfounded allegations that to TED's credit has since been retracted.  However they are now trying to make Graham and Rupert's talks fade away quietly.  
I am not suggesting for a moment that anyone reading this has to agree with what Hancock is saying but only that he presents his arguments in a reasoned and reasonable manner and that to dismiss his ideas with blanket dismissals such as 'pseudoscience' is disingenuous and counter-productive to advancing understanding of both orthodox and unorthodox ideas.
With that in mind I direct you all to this conversation on TED and hope that whether you agree or disagree with Graham's ideas  that you will add support behind his and Rupert Sheldrake's request for a proper debate on these issues.  

TED Talks and a call to debate with Graham Hancock


I think it is a debate well worth having and quite frankly would be an incredibly interesting one.  If you are for the free and open (but moderated) discussion of ideas then please check this out and add your voice! 


-Cheers!


See you all next time!!


Dave 'The Abominable Throw man' Sproull 

The amazing and near unbelievable story of how I got my new darts began when I started to become the unwitting victim of Loki, the half giant trickster god who had decided to make sport of me by shape shifting into the guise of my opponents and substituting himself into games to steal victory from me no matter how tantalizingly close I got.

Of course I had no idea of this deception, only that I was performing strongly in games only to see victory fade away to defeat at the last possible moments.

My perils however had not gone unnoticed as Odin himself through his ravens Hugginn and Muninn had seen what had been transpired and both angered by Loki's ill behaviour and touched by my determination decided to intercede on my behalf and bid his son Thor to ride his chariot to a certain mountain and to strike the summit of that mighty summit with his magic hammer, Mjolnir and indeed a mighty blow was struck causing three small pieces of Asgardian tungsten to break free. The thunder god took these fragments and returned to his father.

It was then that the dwarves were set to work fabricating a set of dart barrels out of the tungsten Thor had hewn from the mountain, and when they were done they were so splendid they caused the all father himself to smile in appreciation.

Odin then touched his mighty spear Gungnir upon them, once twice thrice and thus did the highest of the Asgardians both enchantment and a special name imbued herein

It was on a cold clear crisp March night on a Wednesday. a day that should be noted in days long past was known not as 'Wednesday' but instead as 'Wotan's day' I came face to face with an owl before my home where no such birds have been known to dwell and of which sort of bird I had never in all my life set sight. I was amazed and delighted by the sighting of this bird, but what I did not know on that very night was the own was no owl at all, but rather Odin himself who in owl form had travelled to Midgard, the world of men.



The next morning I walked out to where the owl had been and made a most amazing discovery. Set into a tree stump were three dart barrels gleaming in the winter sun. Tentatively I reached out and touched them and instantly was filled with knowledge of their name and purpose and history. They were called Silfr Sigr and were made by dwarves and a gift to me from Odin himself.

Well my winning streak has come to an end on what was a mostly miserable night of darts. The team we were playing against were all fine to play with, but some spaces just arent ideal for darts and some quarters just a little too cramped.  Shame, since their pool table area looked simply gorgeous.
The highlight of the night was trying my new SEWA darts out against the number one ranked player in 'C' league.  I am kicking myself, but perhaps my focus by that part was too far gone as in the first leg I outscored him and was down to a double nine while he was still with hundreds of points. I just couldn't put it away. He caught up and won.  The next leg he pegged an 87 out and I was sent packing.  Shows how much a roll experience can play I think!! 
One other thing I would like to do is talk about a young Canadian dart player from Parkhill Ontario who is looking for some sponsors.  Here is the letter he posted to the SEWA darts forum...


Hello, 

My name is Steven "Ringer" Wilcox. I am 14 years old and a Youth dart player from Parkhill, Ontario. I am currently sponsored by the Puma Darts Company (New Zealand) - only six Canadian Youths share this honour. Also I am sponsored by the Cosmo Darts Company (Japan), one of only two Canadian Youth players to have this distinction. 

I'm writing you today in hopes of gaining some sponsorship for up-coming dart tournaments I hope to attend this year throughout Canada, aiming to 
qualify for the WDF World Cup tournament. 

I've played darts for seven years and have over 100 local and provincial titles. I was invited to a dart summer camp last year in Shanghai, China and was the only Youth player from all of North America to attend. 

I have played in England's Professional Darts Corporation events, playing against the world's best youth and even adults. 

In March, I will be playing in the Ontario Provincial Youth Championships. Previously, I have won the Doubles event, been the Runner-up twice and placed Third in Singles. 

The largest events I hope to attend this year will be the Silver Cup tournament in Alberta, the Salmon Harvest tournament in BC and the World Cup qualifier tournament in St.Johns, Newfoundland. 

The expenses of playing in St.John's alone, the air fare, hotel, entrance fees and a chaperone, will total $2,200 - so you can see I greatly need your help. 

I'm looking to raise these funds by offering businesses an opportunity to have their logo or business name on my Professional dart shirt. Patches can be as large as 4" wide and 3" tall, and can be placed in a few different spots. The left sleeve grants the most exposure while playing. The left pocket and right chest are also well-exposed. The right sleeve is for smaller patches. 

By supporting me, you will gain much media attention through the tournament attenders, newspapers, radio and social media such as Facebook and YouTube. 

I will also be happy to come in for a photo op at your location for your specific promotional purposes. 

A patch on the left shoulder is $500, one for the chest is $300 and one for the right sleeve is $200. 
We also accept tickets for airfare or hotel accommodations at the event locations to help with lowering my costs. 
As always, with any donation, proof of attending event and follow ups are always done. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and I hope to talk to you soon. With your support and investment, I will be representing our local area, Ontario and perhaps even all of Canada. 

Yours truly, 
Steven Wilcox 

You may contact me through my father Ron at 226-378-9275 or email at dartfan180@hotmail.com


I am posting this because I like seeing that their might be a bright future for Canadian darts.  I also noticed mentioned later on in the conversation that one of the people who had sponsored Steven was none other than Anne 'Sleepy' Kramer who I interviewed for this blog and  clearly one classy lady.  For that reason I would say save a little money after sponsoring Steven and order yourself a copy of Anne's  new book.  U.S. Link  U.K. Link  I think this book will be well worth getting!! 


See you all next time!!