britishwrestlinglegends

Frank Rimmer:

The bad news never ends ! MICK McMANUS lost his beloved wife BARBARA this morning following a brave fight with cancer. To say that Mick is devastated is an understatement and discretion is asked by Step son Tommy if phoning. Thank you.

Well that's shite news.

One hell of a nice bloke & of course a legendary wrestler. My thoughts are with Mick & his family.

the Collins 'era' is a little hazy to me, i remember the whole hypnosis thing when it happened and remember the fights with Eubank and Benn but i haven't seen them since they happened.

 

Without being arsed to look it up was there any specific reason that Collins retired relatively young? whilst riding a big winning streak?

I remember watching the first Collins/Eubank encounter live. Collins came on straight away like a maniac & stayed at the same relentless pace for all 12 rounds! I said to my mate at an early stage that "There is no way he can keep this up for the duration" I still think to this day that he must of been on something. Not sure if the fight is on Youtube or not, but it has to be seen to be believed.....Very dodgy IMO.

Do keep us updated in this thread of any leagues you play in and how your teams are going. That goes for everyone!

Sadly i am long since retired. I was half decent & won a fair few KO's, Also took quite a few quid off people who fancied their chances. Deep down i knew i was not quite good enough as although i could always get big scoreS, The big checkouts usually eluded me (Trebles for show, Doubles for dough).

Our team was a bit different in the sense that everyone of us were mates who happened to play darts, Rather than a team of dart players. If the rules stated that only friends could form a sporting team, We would have been brilliant! We also used to regularly beat the pool team AT POOL!

Regarding women's darts there has to be more to the explanation that just "opportunity". Surely Trina Gulliver has the same opportunity to practice as Phil Taylor? She may not have his money, But practising darts is relatively inexpensive. If anything she probably has more time with less media attention etc. to deal with?

She also has to work a full time job. That's the thing, she is a, what, nine times world champ? Yet my mate signed a pro deal for three years after playing PDC for a year! I totally agree that, given the same amount of practice time, there is no reason why the standard wouldn't be the same but Taylor practices and works out for about 8 hours a day. If you work, you can't do that. When Scott Rand lost to Painter in the semi in the ITV tournament, he beat Wade and Barney in the previous rounds. The very next morning at 7am, he was starting his lorry. Now he has the deal, he can put in the practice hours.

 

It's all about getting sponsors, they get a percentage of your winnings. Women's darts doesn't have prize money so they don't get the sponsorship deals men do.

 

Anastasia is one of the biggest names on the women's scene, maybe Butch knows if she has a sponsor to go it full time?

Fair enough, I had no idea she had a job outside of darts.

As I said, opportunity. You're right, there are no physical reasons, it comes down to opportunity. At the high levels, sponsorship tends to go to blokes. Trina Gulliver is on course to reach the final again but it will be only two sets and I think there were only 8 contestants. There isn't the money in the women's game. Another thing PDC wanted to overhaul but Croft was a prick.

 

Good arrows on your average! Once I was playing a 1001 doubles match, my partner was playing shit and I hit 4 140's on the spin. When the fourth went in, one of the other team said "Jacksy Bastard" under his breath. My partner went nuts at him, asking how was it luck when I'd been hitting them all night?

That's what i love about darts, there is very little luck apart from the odd deflection you either hit the target or miss or hit the wire. It is probably the fairest sport in the world given that is almost impossible to cheat unless you include the bits of underhanded tactics your opponent can use to rattle you.

Regarding women's darts there has to be more to the explanation that just "opportunity". Surely Trina Gulliver has the same opportunity to practice as Phil Taylor? She may not have his money, But practising darts is relatively inexpensive. If anything she probably has more time with less media attention etc. to deal with?

Did it actually happen though?

 

A lot of guys I know are really good dart players and there average over a night is maybe 50. These are the guy's going up into county and super sixes on a Friday. They are excellent to watch and hammer in the big scores but there average is no where near 95 as it is a three dart average including check out's. So was yours over just one game? A set? whole load of set's?

Yes it did happen in a league game, But it was only over a game of 1001 (Team game) & 501 (Singles)

As for the women. The honest answer is down to living in a patriarchal society. Darts is unfortunately one of the last bastions of what I call 70's culture. Darts is a white mans game that is played in pubs, pubs are where men go while the wife stays at home to look after the kids.

 

The darts scene at grass roots level is for me more sexist, racist, homophobic and bigoted than football. I won't name names but I know county selectors who say they would never select a Muslim if one was good enough. Women are treated as "The fairer sex" in the darts world and, as a result, the opportunities aren't there like they are for men. Again, this is something the old mindset of the BDO have refused to even acknowledge, let alone rectify.

 

Look at the averages for county women's "B" teams. If you turn up regular to super league, or are friends with the selectors, you get picked. I've seen quite a few women pick up women of the match awards for a 16 average.

What i mean is are there any physical or psychological reasons? Why would the most naturally talented woman in the world with every opportunity to practice under perfect conditions not be able to compete with the most talented man? There is no issue of strength, So what is the reason?

I don't think Keith stuck up for it in terms of quality and TV deals, he even pissed on the people who run it if I recall correctly.

 

He just acknowledged why it still exists and the perks of its existence for Darts as a whole. Correct me if I am wrong Keith, but that was the jist of what I felt you were arguing.

You're bang on the money, Jim. Then again, we aren't the ones who think the BDO would benefit by not being on the telly.

 

BWL. Look at it this way. The PDC is the Football Premier League, the BDO is the Championship and league one and the county scene is league two. Super league is the Conference.

 

They have exciting games but the quality isn't that of the top flight. Look at the Adams Hendricks game, that was exciting but not because of good darts, because of missed darts. It was still exciting nonetheless. But I assume you won't have seen it, nor any in this years BDO.

 

You are the Tim Lovejoy of darts.

One flaw in your comparison, Whoever wins the Championship will not go around bragging that they have won the Premier League. I bet the BDO "World Champion" does!

Serious question: Why are Women professional dart players not as good as the men? I can't think of a single logical reason?

Exactly.

 

I dislike the BDO with the quality of darts and its T.V presentation, but I understand why it exists for reasons Butch mentioned.

 

That said, this year has been the worst I have seen their "World Championship" fucking horrible standard compared to both the PDC and the BDO of say 5-10 years ago.

I am sure you a both right with how the BDO benefits darts overall. It's just that i like watching GOOD darts matches & not RUBBISH ones, like the BDO have served up for years now.

On a completely unrelated note and since we've talked about Darting achievements in the past, I hit a 19 dart leg in a game a few days back. Was down to 36 after 15 darts, but took a further 4 to check out.

I've had an eleven darter & had a ninety five average in a league game once. Not bragging, Just saying

And I hit a 14 darter on the Lakeside stage once. Just bragging, not saying.

So that's why you stick up for the BDO! Are you the fat bloke who walks to the stage with a toy dog on a lead. Can't remember his name, But he also looked tacky & was well rubbish. Just like all the rest that are stinking up the Lakeside/BBC at the minute.

On a completely unrelated note and since we've talked about Darting achievements in the past, I hit a 19 dart leg in a game a few days back. Was down to 36 after 15 darts, but took a further 4 to check out.

I've had an eleven darter & had a ninety five average in a league game once. Not bragging, Just saying

I always want to like the BDO but it's just so mundane to watch, and I just can't cope with cunts like Martin Adams proclaiming to be the World Champion.

Could not have put it better myself

Indeed Murtz.

 

Anyway, any predictions for the BDO Championship anyone. I think Waites could finally win it, but I have been saying that for years.

Does anyone else care about the BDO? I certainly don't!

I hope that the crowd has turned on Taylor. The added fact that MVG is incredibly popular right now might add to that.

 

If MVG hits the ground running in the final the crowd will be 100% on side. Taylor will have no idea how to deal with that.

That scenario would really add to what on paper promises to be a cracking final! The darts crowd to get slagged off & rightly so for some of their terrible behavior, But what you can't take away from them is that they cheer who they want & don't let anything like patriotism get in the way.

Is there another sport anywhere in the world, Where out of the four remaining competitors you have two born in the country the tournament is located & two foreign players. Yet on the whole it was the foreigners that were cheered & home advantage counted for nothing.

MVG is going to spank Taylor. Barney and the crowd were getting to him tonight and the nerves were starting to show. He got lucky IMO that Barney left himself too much to do.

 

No need for the shit at the end, Barney seemed to be trying to be a good loser, raise his hand and have a chat but Taylor was having none of it.

Also did you notice how long Taylor made Barney wait for a handshake, Then tried to avoid eye contact or a conversation? Made my theory about dart players being professional, Totally incorrect. That & when MVG hit the 9 darter, Wade totally no sold it.

So? Phil Taylor was convicted of being a sex pest.

Was he committing this crime while being interviewed on TV? Adams drunken interview was! That was my point, A point you seemed have missed.

No I didn't miss it, I just simply didn't give a fuck about it as it has no relevance whatsoever.

If it had "No relevance" why not ignore it, Rather than compare it to an incident that had nothing to do with being unprofessional at work?

So? Phil Taylor was convicted of being a sex pest.

Because the BBC want to show it and pay for the privilege. Do you think they should simply not bother because the production values aren't that of Sky?

 

Are you suggesting that not being on TV would be more beneficial? Seriously?

Being on TV is not the be all & end all IMO. Have you seen UKW on Sky? That wrestling show benefits nobody, Even if they make a few quid (Don't think they do?) The venue is terrible & the "Wrestling" is worse.

Personally if i could not compete with what is deemed your closest competitor, Surely you have to ask yourself why? & what can i do to bridge the gap? How long have the BDO been playing second fiddle? Years! & yet there seems like no light at the end of the tunnel? How long is it since nearly every top player jumped ship due to their lack of ambition? & still years later i see no ambition to truly compete.

At least they get our License payers money, Which keeps Martin Adams in beer Eh? That funded his drunken interview, Which was a fantastic example of where they are going wrong. When was the last time you saw a Sky pundit or a dart "World" Champion under the influence when they are supposed to be doing their job?

I want Barney vs MVG, but the total opposite could happen.

 

I will also go with Taylor vs MVG, but anything could happen, its really wide open unlike other years. No way the BDO will match last nights game with their tourney next week.

Why do the BDO still bother? I rarely bother with them, But when i have the whole thing seemed soooo second rate

That's like asking why do anyone else bother when there is WWE?

 

BDO are the grass roots organisation. It is rotten to the core and are a victim of the arrogance of the top brass but without them, and their involvement with youth and Super League, there wouldn't be the quality that is in the PDC.

I meant why do they bother with TV? The whole presentation looks awful by comparison. They could still do there own thing without exposing their product as what i see as second rate.

I want Barney vs MVG, but the total opposite could happen.

 

I will also go with Taylor vs MVG, but anything could happen, its really wide open unlike other years. No way the BDO will match last nights game with their tourney next week.

Why do the BDO still bother? I rarely bother with them, But when i have the whole thing seemed soooo second rate

Who's gonna make it to the final then? I am going for a slightly predictable Taylor/ Van Gerwen clash. The same Van Gerwin who Eric Bristow said would never win anything because he threw too fast?

With Hatton promotions last card and Martinez last fight both on Primetime i don't like the look of it.

I rang to complain. They said i have the "Ringside" magazine type programme on Thursday nights! I said "I want to see quality boxing at no further cost than i am already paying, Not people talking about it!"

Would they dare put every half decent Premiership game on PPV & let the majority of the rest of the Premiership games be snapped up by Channel 5? "The home of Sport"????? Not if you like boxing & only pay for the sports package!

Most of the tops darts players come across as wankers, though.

 

Correct. The way they talk about games and how they are playing etc riles me too, I love darts and love how big it's become on the whole but come on, it's a game of arrows when all said and done.

What bad behavior has we had so far in the World Championship? Jackpot & Painter disagreed on the quality of their match. What else? Richie Burnett seems like a sore loser, But on the whole i would say they conduct themselves in a professional manor & have provided a lot of entertainment for people who prefer to avoid the the festive season.

Strangely enough, given the mentalness going on in the Religion Thread recently, my Aunt knew Steve Beaton's sister years ago and she (his sister) is a Jehova's Witness. Or at least she was when my Aunt knew her.

 

Before Loki asks, I don't know if she took it up Trap Two.

So The Bronzed Adonis's sister is also my sister. Cool

What has happened to the boxing on Sky? Where is it? If you don't want to pay even more with PPV's you get better coverage on Channel 5 of all places.