PIC 1: Raymond van Barneveld after his victory over Michael van Gerwen.
It is nearly 24 years since the BDO and the PDC split and the Lada UK Masters broadcast on Anglia television. Who, from that point would have thought that it would be that matchstick that would ignite the flame in what is now one of the most popular televised sports in the UK, second behind football and growing all over the World.
They said that when the television boom came in Darts in the 1980’s that it was as big as it was going to get and for 30 years after that it seemed to be the case. Darts was a soft target, had a bad image and was trying to rebuild itself. No matter what side of the famous darting divide you sit on, it needed a much needed facelift and thanks in part to 16 rebels they did and cashed in on the offer that sky sports offered
With their American slick presentation style, they with the then called WDC would revolutionise Darts with walk-ons and the walk on girls. The success that we have today is very much down to their shoulders. When Dennis Priestley won the WDC World’s in ’94 for £16,000, all would dream, but few would realistically think that we would get to where we are today.
But now, this is a serious career option, with £300,000 going to Gary Anderson for winning the PDC World Darts Championship this year, the big bucks is coming to the tungsten. On top of that Barry Hearn (Chairman of the PDC) announced that over £10 million worth of prize money is to be won this year.
Jeff Smith playing at the World Cup of Darts.
This is a sport that continually shoves its critic’s opinions where they don’t want it. ‘Players get paid that much just to throw a dart’ people say. Well the counter argument is that you just need to look at the stupid amount of money Football players are playing. ‘All the players are fat and drink lots of beer’. Well although that might be the case years ago, you look at players like Jeff Smith (pictured), can’t see a bit of beer belly in him, not tattoos, a new image which has seen it become a more spectator friendly sport.
Modern day darts is a viewer friendly experience, Darts is an easy sport to follow, not like football where you can discuss all day whether a player is on or offside, whether it is handball or ball to hand, so it entices viewers in as you don’t need to be an expert, 501 down, first to hit a double, simple right. Then the razzmatazz that darts has. The MC, lights, steel barrier separating fan from player, beefy security guard, beautiful lass escorting you down the aisle, the music, slap of the spectator hands and the carnival atmosphere. Only at the darts could you be standing at the urinals next to a bloke dressed as a bride and sounding like he is heavy on the stella.
Darts is a sport that doesn’t have any hatred and any rivalry between players is friendly. When back in the 1980’s when Jocky Wilson and Eric Bristow had their rivalry, they may not have been best friends and my word did they want to beat each other, but they could never say a bad word about their opponent.
Because Darts, no matter at any level was used to bring people together and unite for entertainment and to entertain people. For no darts player it was no the ego, fame or money. It started by playing your mate for a few quid here and there. It was something that they enjoyed and they enjoy the fact that other people enjoy it. The other night Cristiano Ronaldo criticised the display of Iceland during their 1-1 draw with Portugal. That would not happen in Darts. It would be about winning first, respect and enjoyment.
Now Darts has come from as Dave Lanning once said ‘from spit and sawdust to champagne and stardust’. If there is a success story that is totally underplayed it is that of this sport. The top players are superstars, Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, has appeared in Coronation Street and various advertising campaigns. They get the superstar treatment, stopped in the street for autographs and photos and when they were in the doldrums for so long, they deserve the rockstar treatment.
The future is only looking brighter, the sport is going global, no more example more prominent than that of the PDC World Series which is currently in New Zealand, showcasing talent to us which would never get the oppourunity and opening up fan bases all over the world. Most sports shy away from places due to money, but the Darts people, don’t mind a little hit as long as the fans keep coming and keep showing their support, because that is what it is about. And if the fans keep coming as they are now, then the game could get that bit more brighter in the future.
Henry Deacon Media 