As the man put it ‘This is no mean city’. Glasgow fans did night one of the Premier League as proud as if Denis Law, Jinky Jimmy Baxter or Jim Watt had been at the focus of the sporting spotlight.
For a start, Black Spot Sidney for once became Mystic Meg and made some spot-on predictions. I said on Sky News that Wade would pip Taylor and give Phil his first defeat in three years and I said that Manley/Part would be a thrilling draw. Full marks on both counts.
First, let’s look at Phil’s defeat. In a personal chat he has told me of backache that is connected with his planned weight loss programme. It makes sense that his balance will be affected by where he drops the excess pounds. I would also worry about the new, thick torpedo darts. I am told they lie flatter than the old ones but that would seem to totally alter the ‘stacking’ pattern. Once Phil could simply practice his way to top performance, but now life is more complex. Look out for a belter between The Power and Adie Lewis at Plymouth this week. Backlash, tungsten venom and brilliance from Phil? I’m saying NOWT!
All of you who have blogged me about Ted Hankey will like this one. Asked about crowd reaction, spritely Peter Manley had this to say at Glasgow. ‘Hankey goes on about chucking people out when THREE folk boo him - I get booed by THREE THOUSAND every Thursday night!? Doncha love him, darts’ own brazen broker’s man?
And didn’t John part show his world class in getting the draw against Pete with a bull finish.
DAVE DELIVERS
Dave Allen is to be congratulated on producing a brilliant programme for the whole of the Premier League matches. I would encourage any of you fans to beg, borrow or whatever a copy. It is glossy and full of great articles on the players – including Comrade Sid on the greatest games. Also, John Gwynne gives professorial wisdom on the trials and tensions of top darts.
Also thanks to Dave for letting me know that Aussie legend Russell Stewart has qualified to play in Las Vegas this summer. Russ liked a pint and was always great company, and, ginger tache twitching, he could play a bit. Remember Dave Whitcombe’s return to the big time a couple of years ago at Purfleet? Ooh the pure nostalgia: it brings a pearly trickly tear to a veteran’s eyes.
MURDER ON THE BOARD
I’ve just finished reading ‘Murder On The Darts Board’ by Justin Irwin, who jacked in his good job running a major charity and tried out playing the darts’ circuit for a year. The brave lad did not have a right lot of success with the arrows, but he certainly had a laugh or two. There are some very funny scenes when our hero meets Bobby George, gives a boozy hug to Keith Deller at a holiday camp in great Yarmouth and generally tries to make the grade and become one of the lads.
I fell about at the last chapter which describes a visit to the world championship qualifiers at Hull with Lionel and Caroline Sams and Peter Evison. In the car going there some of the party start supping cans of lager at 9a.m. then scream at Justin for drinking Benylin for his cough! ‘Yer stinkin’ the motor out mate.’
The book is a must-read for darts fans - a great chance to see ‘oorsells as others see us.’ And the author’s drink and fantasy-fuelled efforts to play ring a bell with me. I was taken back to St John’s College, Cambridge in 1960 when the tossing bug hit me and I trod the primrose path to the oche. No higher praise can I dish out…