From The Publisher…

Jul/Aug 2009

Dear Readers:

This month features the program for the largest singles dart tournament held in North America, the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic VIII.  The purse is a whopping £200,000, which translates, at the current exchange rate, to over $325,000 in US currency. The best players in the world will be in attendance and the excitement in the hall will be amazing. The tournament will be televised live on Sky Sports TV to millions of viewers in the UK and European countries.

So, why aren’t there more of you in Las Vegas? In what other sport can you actually compete against the best players in the world for only $125, which by the way, includes two tickets for all televised sessions for the rest of the week? How can Americans call darts a ‘Sport’ if so few of us are interested in coming out to watch the best players in the world compete? How is it that there are thousands of fans paying very high dollars for a spot on the grass at PGA golf tournaments, or a seat in the stands at a football, basketball, baseball, tennis or a hockey game?

Wake up America! The Sport of Darts is more than your weekend dart tournament or your Wednesday night dart league. It’s about the Stars of the Sport. It’s about coming out to watch the ‘best of the best’ try to knock the other guy off the pedestal. It’s a chance to see, and maybe talk to, Phil The Power Taylor, who just happens to be the ‘best of the best’. You know, he’s not getting any younger and if you miss him here in Vegas, it’s a long way to go to see him in England. It’s about collecting signatures, shirts, patches, pins and other memorabilia from players, events and leagues. It’s a chance to say, “I was there! I saw Phil The Power Taylor.  I talked with him and shook his hand!”  It’s about attending a ‘Happening’ with a whole bunch of other folks bitten with dart fever.

 So you missed Las Vegas? Well, you’re in luck! You have another fantastic chance to be a spectator at one of the most exciting dart competitions in the World. The World Cup XVII will be held in Charlotte, NC this September. There will be the best players from 36 different countries competing for the World Cup title. This could be a once in a lifetime event for many as the World Cup is not held in the US very often. In fact, this will only be the third time in history that the American Darts Organization has hosted the World Cup…and YOU could be a part of it! (See the ADO Newsline for more information.)

We also want to take time out to recognize and give kudos to our Stars of darts for their accomplishments in some of the most prestigious events held in the US these past months.  Ray Carver who won the Men’s Masters Singles Cricket Level A, and Stacy Bromberg who won both the Women’s Masters Singles 501 and Cricket at the TEAM DART World Championships. Scotty Burnett who won the PDC North American Darts Championship and earned a spot in the final 32 of the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic. Scott Kirchner and Stacy Bromberg who were the Top Guns at the BullShooter World Championships. Finally, we must congratulate those of our players who made the ADO World Cup Team and will be representing the US in Charlotte this September: Brian Blake, Jim Widmayer, Steve Brown, Ryan Barnette, Stacy Bromberg and Marilyn Popp. We’re sure these top players would love to have your support at the World Cup!

Let’s not forget our neighbors up North! While Canada is currently in the process of selecting their World Cup Team, we want to invite our neighbors to come to Charlotte and cheer for their Champions. It’s not so far from the border and it’s a chance to be a part of World Cup XVII. We also want to recognize the National Darts Federation of Canada for their tremendous Youth Darts program. There’s none like it in all of North America! Over 300 youth players attended the Ontario Provincial Youth Playoffs this year…and that’s just one youth provincial playoff! The commitment and effort of the NDFC to promote Youth Darts is second to none!

Bottom line? While you’re planning out all your purchases for seats at your next big sporting events, add the World Cup XVII (September 23-26, Charlotte, NC), the US Open (August 23, Atlanta, GA) and one or two of the next PDC Players Championships (London Ontario, August 16 and Atlanta, GA, August 22) to your list. You won’t regret it! See you there!