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 Over the last two months, since I last put pen to
paper so to speak, a couple of events have happened which I think bear sharing with you.
The first was that I was invited to The Houses of
Parliament in London. It’s sort of equivalent to your Senate and House of Representatives all rolled up into one big huge building. It was an
honor and, for me, a first. It’s not often an average ‘Joe’ like myself gets that sort of mail. I do get lots of mail, wouldn’t want you to think I was ‘Billy
No mates’, though most, truth to tell, is uninvited and sadly, half of an unsuspecting Amazon rainforest has suffered in the process. I digress.
The invite was for me to attend an Exhibition of Darts within our seat of
Government. “Who’d have thought it?” I reflected. From being caste as a renegade and a pirate by one governing body, to an invitation to the premises
of a slightly more exalted one in just a few short years. My, how life changes!
The Exhibition was staged by PDC at the request of a Member of Parliament
who has been campaigning for some time to get Darts officially recognized as a Sport. You see, it is currently only listed officially in England as a ‘past
time’ and, as such, is lumped together with Scrabble, Knitting and Chess, amongst others. That means no Tax breaks, potential Government funding
and one other thing (which I’ll come to later), which are afforded all ‘Sports’. So, potentially some benefits. I was tempted to say huge benefits, but being
a devout cynic, simple ‘benefits’ will do for now.
Invite in hand, I turned up at the appointed hour, got frisked which you’d
expect, seeing that all who determine the destiny of this Country of mine were on the other side of the security barrier. The Houses of Parliament are
extremely old, like 900 years old!
Originally built as The Palace for our Kings and the odd Queen (that’s Queen
with a capital Q rather than q as in, well you know), it gradually took over as the seat of government so that by 1512, Royalty gave it up and moved to a
new place. It was getting too crowded, I guess. So you can imagine the awe it struck in me to walk slowly within this great edifice, my eyes pointed
upwards at the immense porticos and columns, all shrouded in reverential hushed whispers. Who knows what decisions were being made by folk as I
passed them by, my mouth agape like a dumb tourist? I eventually found the Marquee out back overlooking the Thames where the presentation was to be
held and where I heard the familiar thud of tungsten on Bristle.
Now this is a classy joint, the likes the old game has never seen before.
Canapés and wine served by very posh waiters, not a pint or a bottle of beer to be had anywhere. I got there a tad late, not because I’m a bad timekeeper,
but because my Daddy always said it was not cool to be first at a party. I’m told MP’s (that’s Members of Parliament not Military Police) were queuing up,
Darts in hand just ready for some action as the doors opened. Some selected Pro’s were there to mix and mingle in the shape of Phil Taylor, Colin
Lloyd and Bob Anderson and it all went off rather well.
The Minister for Sport, Richard Caborne, said some kind words and MP’s
from all parties vied for TV time as News camera’s rolled on the Lords vs Commons (the two Houses - like your Senate and House of Rep’s) did battle
helped by our stalwart professionals. More wine flowed and more canapés canaped. They even brought out some rather tasty hot sausages and meatballs, I seem to recall.
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn was as irreverent as ever, which nobody seemed
to mind, which just shows that almost any publicity is worth a jibe or two for an MP if some positive TV time is to be had. That evening and the next
morning the event was on national Television and in the entire national press. Sure, there was some predictable negative stuff, but overwhelmingly, it was a
brilliant piece of PR.
The outcome? Sport England, the National Governing body of Sport, officially
recognized Darts as a sport. Only needs the Governing Sport bodies in Scotland and Wales to follow suite, which I’m told is a ‘shoe in’, and we are a Sport.
The press was exceptional, especially a piece in The Times which applauded
the decision and supported the view, not commonly taken, that Darts IS a sport. It described Darts as “a physical skill that is backed by mental
strength, which is the definition of ‘Sport’. It also described Phil Taylor ‘ like a frieze on a Greek Urn, body still, shoulder rock-steady, a classical study of
physical perfection. The arm moves only from the elbow, a perfect technique. But what gives him the edge is his mind. His mental strength gives him both
his physical steadiness and his ability to hit doubles and close out legs and sets to win matches” Eh, yeh. Couldn’t have said it better myself, but it came
way better from a National journalist.
Ooookaaaay, what does that get us? Well, certainly some Tax breaks which
helps the PDC and BDO too, which is kinda nice although I won’t hold my breath for the thank you card from Olly. Funding? Too soon to tell and if it
was forthcoming, I doubt it would be fortunes. Big plus? PDC is an officially recognized organization. We’re legit!
Real reason for the effort? Drug testing! Sport England and it’s wealth of
medical knowledge and testing teams will only anti up for recognized Sports. You can figure the rest. As promised by Barry Hearn last year, drug testing
WILL happen at PDC Events, and now you know that was a promise, not an idle threat. That will concentrate a few minds.
It reminds me of a famous Rock group who were on tour when a roadie stuck
his head round the dressing room door saying, “The police are here!” Absolute panic as various pharmaceuticals of choice were thrown out of
windows, flushed down toilets and better yet, swallowed only for ‘the sting’ of the band Police to swing by to say hello. Ha, Ha. Nothing to do with
anything just brings a wry smile.
That brings me to the other topic that I will share with you and that is my
deep appreciation of Dartoid’s views of late about the whole PDC/BDO issue. I’ve stayed away from the topic for quite a while because frankly I believe I’ve
said enough on the subject.
However, Paul has written and I quote: “The leadership of the PDC is moving
forward and promoting all that is positive about the sport of darts. They have the ability and the heart to pause when times demand it, look beyond the
oche and take action that benefits humankind. The leadership of the BDO is stagnant, essentially moribund, and, worst of all, jealous.”
Thank you Paul, very much. Eh, I think you may well be off the BDO
Christmas card list though.
Sometimes, I have to pinch myself at the heights we have reached since
those dark days back in 1993 when Tommy Cox and I along with fourteen brave players were ‘banned for life’ for daring to want something better, daring
to believe we could achieve it and having the sheer guts to tough it out.
I remember being told my ‘fortune,’ so to speak, by Lorna Croft (wife of Olly
Croft) in very basic language in The Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas when Tommy and I tried to prevail upon the World Darts Federation Executive to lift the ban
(to no avail of course). I remember Dennis Priestley literally left outside in the rain by his own ‘friends’ in his County Organization as he returned his
trophies, for they would not let him past the threshold. The tales of those times are legion, which is why the events I have just set down are very, very gratifying.
Lest we forget, I shall name once more the players who risked it all to make
a better game. Bob Anderson, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, Mike Gregory, Rod Harrington, Jamie Harvey, Chrissie Johns, Cliff Lazarenko, John Lowe, Dennis
Priestley, Kevin Spiolek, Phil Taylor, Alan Warriner and Jocky Wilson. Only Gregory and Johns would succumb to the bribes, threats and false promises
to return to the dubious fold, and they soon were not heard of again. If you pass these aforementioned players at a Tournament, just say thanks in the
name of Sport, our Sport.
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