Darts: One for all..

A nice out hit by the Wife..

Seems I am running late as far as getting anything posted and I am not sure I have anything in particular to post about!  I could easily skip a week (or two) and think that would be a legitimate option. 
Except that I am here now and typing and so I may as well subject you to some of my ramblings.  (maybe take a moment to brace yourself? Take a seat? Maybe a little Gravol?)
I suppose I can talk a little bit about some thoughts about not being simply a dart player, but being a dart player on a team of other dart players.  
I am not sure if I have mentioned it or not, but I really like my current team. I like it a lot.  After the summer season a core of us are going to go on to form the foundation of a team for the Fall.  
So what makes for a good team?  That is an interesting question and maybe a better question to ask is what DO I want out of a team?  Is it a group of experienced veterans with a track record of winning big games, or maybe a group of fun people with darts as an excuse to joke around and throw a few darts?
Or maybe you get a team like ours, that maybe doesn't have the experience, but shows a bit of talent, a huge love of darts and a 'go for it' attitude?  
As you all know I am developing as a player and hungry to develop. Perhaps hungry enough that at times I have hurt myself for wanting what I wasn't ready for yet, rather than letting it happen. (as I am doing now).  
I have some notion that I have a 'somewhere' to go and I'm really amazed that I have found a team that isn't either 'already there' or ' just don't really care'.  
I wonder how it is for most people as they progress through league darts? Certainly some good teams and some bad teams, some motivated teams and some unmotivated teams?  Is it normal as a developing player to be on a team of people on the same page as you and have a winning attitude? (and the willingness to put some work into it!) I suspect to some degree, but overall not so much.  
A positive attitude is worth tons. perhaps more than you suspect and it can be a big lift to your team mates as well.  Two weeks ago my team mate Jason and I were in a cricket game against an A team.  So far early on this season Jason has maybe been the better shooter of the two of us.  Well moot point arguing who is the better of us, as we get our rear end handed to us in the first of a three leg set. Ouch!  I look over at Jason and I see a flicker of something, frustration, or doubt or some other negative emotion and I tell him "It's alright. It's always alright"  From there we both threw great darts, and I threw possibly the best darts of my life in a game of 'need it got it' that ended with us taking the next two legs and a W for the team.  
The point here, and I know it is a cliche but the saying 'it aint over till it's over maybe applies more to darts than it does to other things. Or maybe a better question to ask is what what you rather have, a team of players that never quit and fight hard to the end or a group of pessimistic fatalists that buckle at the first sign that it isnt going to be an easy run? I know my answer!
Darts can be such an individual game I dont always think about it from a team dynamic, but as a league player the team dynamic is a big part of it, isn't it?  

Speaking of good attitudes and positive messages one of the readers of this blog sent me one that I think really sums up a great attitude to bring into things, especially when it looks like the going might be on the tough side.   I hope you all like it too.  Makes some good sense I think!

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

President T. Roosevelt

What do you think about that quote?  How would you sum up your thoughts and values in regards to competition?  Perhaps it is not something you have given thought to before?

Ok, well that's it. I know a bit of a rip off but it's been a busy time at work so maybe a little less head space to come up with ideas.  Just know I'll do my best to churn some sort of pap out on a regular basis whenever possible. 
Just as long as you all keep reading, I'm there! 
Oh, and don't forget to check out the contest!  I should have been giving out prizes by now!

See you all next time!

David 'The Abominable Throw Man' Sproull