Darts Again!
This was the beginning of the dart league season of 2001/2002. The night was cool with a drizzling rain falling steady all night. The team had met at our home base, Trios. But to start the season we were to be the visiting team. Ma Ma Connie’s was the name of the establishment we now found ourselves traveling to. Up ahead of us were Brian and Heather, married this past summer, and in my car was Jason, Lonnie, and myself. Josh is the sixth member of our team and was unable to join us this week.
Jason had prepared for the moment by burning a CD with some of our favorite darts songs. We had already listened to "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and were now listening to "L.A. Woman" by The Doors. In my mind I was running through my mental checklist. I like to envision each of the cricket numbers and put into my mind where I want to focus my sight when throwing for that number. The 20’s are almost always the triple. I tend to throw a little high on the 20’s so if I aim for the triple I tend to hit the fat part very easily and often times hit the triple. 18’s, and this is the order I like to throw in, I aim towards the lower portion of the triple. Once again on the upper board I hit slightly above my point of focus so I hit the fat section often. 19’s and 17’s I like to aim just below the triple giving myself a good chance of hitting a triple or at least a single. 15’s come next and I focus on the upper left corner of the fat area. 16’s upper right corner of the fat area and the bull my focus is on the center whole of the red center.
I have found that if I run through my points of focus before hand I don’t have to think this through before each shot, my mind and body just do it. Once again as so many before me have said, "Just throw the freaking dart!" Take care of all these points of focus during practice so you body and mind do it without conscious effort. One last thought of preparation, make sure I don’t cock the wrist once I bring the arm back. I was changing the position of my hand causing the dart to angle upwards and then having to readjust it during the forward throwing motion. Now I am ready to focus on the conversation in the car and let the music put my mind in the mood to throw some darts.
Shaking off the raindrops as we enter the establishment we find the home team is busy warming up. Good, they are here ready to play and the barmaid is ready to serve us. A round of beers, some warm up throws, friendly greetings, and now it is time to play...
It almost worked that way but the captain of the other team was new to setting up the dartboard for league play. The rest of us were trying to remember how it worked as well. It became a comedy of errors and many times of having to go back to the main menu to start the process over. I played my own part in messing up the process but I also helped in solving the various mistakes made along the way. This beginning, while unintentional, caused one of their best players to become very agitated and I am sure threw him off his game in the beginning. I love to see players on the other team that can be rattle so easily. They are easy marks and fun to watch fall apart.
The games began and we won the 1st six games. Some of the games were a blowout while others were close to the end with one of our players stepping up and making the throw when we needed it. Brian began slow but quickly played at his level. He earned himself a White Horse and proficiently hit the bulls. Lonnie’s first time playing in a league shook of his nerves and began hitting points helping out which ever partner he was with. I know at times he felt like we were carrying him, but that was not the case. He provided great support and at least twice threw the winning dart. Jason threw well and kept us in the game a number of times with key points when it looked like we might loose that game. Myself, I started strong, threw poorly my second game, and then threw very well the rest of the evening. Well, that is not quite right. The last game of the night, with a 10 to 1 game lead I did not throw well. We had done so well all night long and it was one of those times we threw as if it didn’t matter. In the standings at the end of the year that last game might matter very much. I need to work on this point of the game and prepare myself to play to the last dart even if we have the night won long before. It is not a matter of making the other team look bad but of the final standings of total games won and lost.
I am tempted to leave this last part of this story but I know my fellow teammates will expect to find this as part of the story. I seemed to be the center of attention of one of the ladies from the other team. She remembered me from last year as soon as I walked in the room. She was constantly commenting on my throws, whether she was throwing after me, and just general comments through out the night. It was great amusement for my team and I am sure it will be brought up through out the year. I have good feelings about this year and the chance to be the top team. We have good players and more importantly we enjoy playing the game together. Next week we will be home and hope to continue our winning ways.
Until then, may your flights never fall out.
Dave