Toeing the Oche'

A short professionally retired non dart throwing wanna with the non-de-plum of UntallPaul has a question about the title of this column. “Oche’, whatever in the *&%@ Oche’ is. How does the term “Throwing Darts” strike
you ? Towing the Oche sounds like you’re headed to the lake for a day of fishing.” Checking with the Old Dart Coach he relayed the following story. “Back in the day a group of lads were sharing a pint or 10 while having
a friendly game of darts. As the pints consumption increased there arose a dispute that one of the fellows might have been putting his toe over the throwing line. To rein in this rascal a box was place on the line preventing the alleged cheater from putting his toe over the line. The box ? From Oche’ Brothers Brewing. The throwing line became the Oche’ where the player always “toed” the Oche’ hence “Toeing the Oche’”. That’s his story and he’s sticking with it

The German Darts Championship
Tis the holiday season with Christmas just around the corner and up your block. One would think with the holiday spirit Phil Taylor would allow someone else to win a championship. Think again as Phil “Scrooge” Taylor
is the Grinch that stole the German Darts Championships. Probably a little literary license with the term “stole.” He really didn’t steal his 22nd title of the year. He flat took it with the authority that is the hallmark of his reign as King of Darts. If PDC players were looking for a championship under their 2009 Christmas they were sadly mistaken. Taylor took home £20,000 which improve his Merit of Order winnings to £887,088 barely ahead of second place Raymond van Barneveld who has banked £247,937.

Taylor’s toughest test came in the quarter finals when Adrian Lewis had a chance but couldn’t convert. If Taylor has a flaw, never proven, it’s that he sometimes gets the “walk arounds” when it comes to doubles. Lewis
led 2-nil with a 13 dart leg and a Taylor missed 100 finish. Taylor got one back on 12 darts that included a 180 with 82 out. Taylor missed double tops as Lewis follow a 174 with a double 12 for a 3-1 lead. When Lewis missed double top to go up 4-1 the fat lady licked her lips. Taylor tossed a pair of consecutive 13 dart effort to level it at 3 which became a 6-3 lead. Two errant darts at tops made is 6-4. Lewis then powered up winning the next 2 legs in 11 and 10 darts to tie it at 6. The 10 darter was 134,180,140 then 47 out with double tops. Taylor broke the tie when Lewis missed a bull finish with double 16 for a 10 effort. Lewis tossed back to back 180’s down 7-6 and had 2 darts at a double, He missed and Taylor didn’t for the 8-6 win. Lewis had the advantage in scoring average 107.85 to 106.80. As the ODC says, “Score for show hit double of dough.”

The Jocky Wilson Cup
In the previous Golden Age of darts there was no one more entertaining than “The Wee One” Jocky Wilson. He was Scottish darts, one hell of a player, great with the public and one that would have a slight drop of the magic elixir with you. He once sued a manager to get out of a contract claiming he was drunk at the time he signed. The judge ruled he wasn’t drunk a ruling that mystified all that knew Jocky. Recently the two best from England Phil Taylor and James Wade played the top two Scots Gary Anderson/Robert Thornton in the inaugural Jocky Wilson Cup played at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow. Over 3,000 fans pack the place to see England lay a 6-0 whitewash on the Scots. The score was less important than the fact that Jocky was being honored. The Old Dart Coach has some fond memories of Jocky Wilson most of which probably shouldn’t be repeated in this Politically Correct world. One incident sticks out.

“We were playing in the Mediterranean Open in Spain. Jocky had just won The Embassy which made him the World Champion. He was there to play the men’s singles winner of the Med Open. If the men’s singles winner beat Jocky in best of 10-1001 his prize money would be doubled. Jocky beat him 6-nil with the Med winner never getting below 548. “I didn’t like him or I’d of let him get close.” Each night there was Cabaret. One night the star attraction was the world champion table tennis player. He did his routine then asked for a volunteer from the audience. Jocky volunteered. The pro had Jocky serve. Jocky’s serve was returned by the Champ using about a 12 inch frying pan. As the rally continued the next return was a 10 inch frying pan. As the rally continued the frying pan’s got smaller and smaller. Jocky got madder and madder. He failed to see the humor of this guy making fun of him by playing with increasingly smaller frying pans. Finally the pro had a pan less than one inch in diameter. He returned the ball only to have Wilson take out his false teeth, return the ball for the point. The crowd went nuts, Jocky strutted back to his seat and the pro slunk away. Those that messed with “The Wee One” did so at there own peril.” From Toeing the Oche’ a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
May all your triple’s be 20’s, your first double true and your lager cold.