I have just got word that my book ‘Bellies and Bullseyes’ has been short-listed for a top literary award.
The British Sports Books Awards will be judged in March next year and my book is in the autobiography section. I did not write the book as a total life story, more as an account of my love affair with darts since The Indoor League in the 1970s. On reflection, I got the dart bug as a teenager and continued it at Cambridge University – to the detriment of my studies in Modern History!
I hope the sports journalists who make up the judging panel like a laugh since the zany antics of Jocky Wilson and Bobby George loom large in my scenario…
ERIC ON FIRE
I was joined in the commentary box by the lively-tongued Brissy for the Dennis Ovens versus Colin Monk clash at Ally Pally. It was absolutely fascinating to hear Eric expound the basics of ‘bullying’(as taught by him to Phil Taylor) as Ovens showed his class. Eric hammered away the theory of the key shots that Dennis made to make Colin’s head drop. Ovens just ground his opponent into the dust and won 3-0 in sets. Then Eric really got going saying that the BBC have apparently lost several sets of his world final of 1980 win against Bobby George. ‘I better not ask the Beeb for any of me favourite footy matches on tape – they’d probably send only one blooming half!’
Trust the Cockney One to tell it like it is…
MASON THE ENIGMA
Chris Mason has been a darting phenom since the age of about ten. He studied Embassy tapes and practised for hours. But sometimes the glitter only appears in patches. Last night’s clash with Steve Brown was typical. Mason’s average at the end of set one was a miserable 59 and he looked a goner. Then the class gradually seeped out: the throw got faster and crisper and the cheeky face creased in concentration. He won the last NINE legs of the match and could be a threat to the top lads here.