Darts: Abominable No More

'Well back again, but only because I actually have a few things to talk about this time around.
First of all, as you all know from last time that I wanted a change from my 'Abominable Throw Man' nick name, for many reasons, but also because it is simply too close to Mark Frost's.
I had a lot of great feedback including "Superior" (I was born in Thunder Bay on the North end of lake Superior) among many others, but have finally settled on 'The Prophecy'.   I even went so far as to have myself a shirt made by projoy.

There is more news than that though.  I have decided that I will cut most league/team darts out of my life.
No, I am not quitting darts, far from it, however going out every week, I would be spending a decent chunk of money for only a few legs of darts, and most of that in doubles, where I'd only be playing half a leg.
Some great people, and some great times, but not enough darts and impossible to focus on your own game.
So, instead I will put my focus in to going towards specific tournaments, and using my time in in between to practice, with the odd blind draw thrown in if I feel the need to go out.   The money I would normally be spending on weekly league darts, will now be going towards going to tournaments every few months.

When Tuesday league ended on March 28 and I knew I was done with it, as well as the summer league that follows it, I felt regret, or even a kind of guilt, that I should be taking part and doing my part to support the league.  Bit by bit that feeling has started to fall away though and the effect is a positive one.

My practice has become better and more focused.  Ever since I have started darts I have felt a weight on my shoulders that I need to get better, I need to be good, and I need to do it now, because either the team simply needs it, or if they don't so I don't get judged as a bad player, which can and will happen off of only one or two games.   With league darts there is also too much emphasis on the team and the team winning, which is fine (and even fun) if you are in to it, but invariably it means that only one or two players on the team get the big games, the big challenges and the rest are relegated in the name of 'getting a few wins'.

Oh I like winning, heck I'd even go so far as to say I hate losing, but I am willing to suck it up and lose, if it means that I am growing and getting better.  

Growing and getting better also means being focused and "in the moment" for every turn, which I was not doing for league darts, where most of the time I couldn't wait for the night to be over.  Then the losses became both frequent and depressing, as I was getting nothing out of them, and wasting opportunities against some pretty good opponents.

Now the focus is on me, my own game, my own development.  

Will I never play league darts again?  Well there are two answers to that.  One is that I thought I might spare for a team, but now doubt I'll do even that.  On the other hand the whole quitting league darts is also a bit of a fib, as really what I am quitting is a certain format of league darts.  On Thursdays here in Toronto we have a league which is based on a four person format, and it is almost all singles and every body plays everybody.  
It is not a bad system, especially if you are lucky enough to be on a team where each individual can focus on themselves.  So, next Fall I expect to be out for that at least.

As for my current focus on Tournament, my first one will be the "2nd Annual Marion Carli Memorial Dart Tournament" in June.  I only plan on playing in the singles of that event, but it is a start, and to be honest I think if I have to choose I'll go with singles in most cases, at least until I can find a doubles partner who I am fully comfortable with,  but that's  not my focus right now.

Now I feel good, I'm loving darts, and stepping forward.

Thank you all, as always, for reading.  I hope someone somewhere out there gets some good from it.

Dave 'The Prophecy' Fox Sproull 

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P.S.  

and here is a quick snap of the new shirt bearing my new moniker. 
oh and those funny symbols actually say/mean something.  I'd be impressed if anyone 
knew/guessed.  

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