I was trading notes with one of our esteemed SFDL board members, telling him a little more "play by play" from the Top Gun tournament yesterday...and he said the broader SFDL group might be interested in hearing more about it. So, here is my recap of the day...which, for better or worse, has also morphed into an essay on competitive darts in general based on my four years playing.
First, I'm going to also give a bit of my (fairly limited) darting background for perspective.
I started competitive darts (at the ripe old age of 48) in D League in the Spring season of 2012 on Jersey's team. After that I played one season in B (Nestor's team) before moving to A league, where Mike H gave me a spot on his team. I thoroughly enjoyed both of those first two seasons in the D and B leagues. They were competitive but not so much so that I was overwhelmed by the pressure. But don't get me wrong, I remember my first match in D league and I was a total basket case.
Quickly after I started throwing, I wondered how good I could get...and wanted to challenge myself to find out. What I found was there are rewards and demons to be uncovered. The rewards mostly come from fleeting victories over my demons (which often still defeat me).
Though I cruised through my D and B league seasons, I was far less successful in A league initially. I might have won 1/2 of my regular season matches, but I wasn't at all reliable under pressure. My failures tend to make me want to put myself in those pressure situations more often, and I started that process by "playing up" to the A league special events while in B league and even played the ADO qualifiers my first season in D league. If I won a few matches, that was a moral victory. I certainly didn’t go in expecting to win.
So enough about my dart resume, such as it is. Suffice it to say for me, today, darts is half social (I'm lucky to have a great team and have met some wonderful friends in darts!) and half a quest to conquer my demons, my own mental weakness and refinement of my "throw.” As anyone who plays knows, one little moment of indecision, one little twitch...and the dart just isn't going to find the double...in which case the match may be lost. It's an extraordinary test, every time out. And it's even more extraordinary when one REALLY wants to do well. The confounding thing about darts is the more you try...the more you want it...oftentimes the more likely it will slip away.
Fast forward to this year's Top Gun. When I got the invitation a couple weeks ago, I suggested someone else play instead of me. Someone who I thought was throwing better than I am right now. (I didn't throw much over the holidays due to family stuff, and am just getting back up to speed.) I was included on the Top Gun team nonetheless. The team looked to me (on paper...which doesn't always translate) to be a very strong one. I boldly predicted an SFDL victory on Facebook. (Hell, what do I know? But I do know the 10 guys on the team are pretty good shooters...if I could just hold up my end. See the fear and doubt creeping in?)
This year Top Gun included three league teams in addition to ours, two from the Peninsula/South Bay and one from Santa Cruz. Each team played a full 13-game match (all 2 of 3 legs) versus all three other teams round robin. The team with the most total game wins after the round robin (out of 39 games total) would win Top Gun. So it amounted to the equivalent of about 6 or 7 Wednesday night matches in one day (when you consider that all games, even doubles, were best of 3 legs). Each team has 8 players who are ranked by their captain 1-8. The match starts with singles, with the Top ranked players matching off first. The best players play against the best on the other team and so on down. Then doubles, then the team game for a total of 13 games. Robert ranked me 5th, which was both a compliment and a little stressful, since I'd expected to be 7th or 8th. (Which means I had to play better opponents than I expected.)
As Saturday approached, I became increasingly excited. Hey, the league even bought us cool shirts...we really better throw well! But with the excitement came some sense of apprehension. I really don't want to let the team down. I really don't want to let the team down. I really don't want to let the team down. I really don't want to let the team down.
I arrived at Beefy's a little after 10am for the 11am start...the first one there from SFDL. By a half hour. Just me and a lot of folks I don't know drinking way too early in the morning (more about that later) and warming up. Very little small talk. I'm in enemy territory. Loose lips sink ships. Robert arrives and the team starts trickling in as we suit up in our team shirts looking really good and getting compliments from a few of our foes.
Our first match opened with Mike, PK, Jhun and Craig all winning their first singles games. My turn next! I stepped up and could not hit a thing. Total meltdown. My brain was on overdrive considering every possible aspect of my arm position and twitching muscles. (When throwing well, none of those thoughts are in my head at all.) My scoring was 40-something after 40 something (with a few worse mixed in!). Somehow I took one of the first two legs when my opponent couldn't hit his out. But in the third leg my scoring was pitiful until my last turn when I hit a 118 to set up 36. I never got a shot at it when my opponent ended the game with his outshot and I was officially the first LOSER for SFDL in Top Gun. I've choked before and I'll choke again. But I was really not happy about this one. There was a long day ahead, and I knew I’d better get my shit together or I’d be the goat. That's really all I could think. Which, of course, is entirely counter-productive. Putting more pressure on top of the pressure.
Now about drinking. I have to admit that I got another drink to calm the nerves. Most of the better players I know (but not all...both Jhun and Craig are exceptions) rely to varying degrees on booze to calm the nerves. Even most of the pros you see on TV playing in England are drinking backstage. It's a not so good part of darts...but also part of the "battle with demons" that makes it so interesting.
Aside from the drink, I also got some advice from Mike on my throw. I think this is the first time anyone has ever offered mechanical advice to me in the middle of a match. Mike was even a little sheepish doing it (suggesting I might just want to ignore it all), since the risk is that you will get in the head of the guy you're trying to help. But he either recognized I was so already in my own head that there was no downside, or he felt confident I could make a good adjustment. I did make the adjustment and it made a huge difference. Probably half due to the added hope and confidence of trying something new and having a reason to believe I might throw better. Ironically, the flaw in my throw was related to the demons. I find my nerves are more apparent when I throw softly, so I was throwing harder. As result, I was releasing the dart too late and not allowing it any natural arc and/or "pulling" it. Putting that arc (and earlier release) back in the throw really helped me.
I was paired with Jhun for doubles (all 8 players shoot doubles too). I usually am worse in doubles than singles (probably due in part to the added pressure of having a partner I could let down), but there was no possibility of being worse than I started, and I threw pretty well, taking one of our two outs and hitting some big numbers. That win calmed me down a little....and I went on to win the rest of my singles and doubles matches to end 5-1 on the day (and also hit an out in the team game when both teams were down to 4 left). (Team games are crazy. Especially ones with 8 players a side and no chance to develop any rhythm. But there's nothing better than being the guy to hit that out!)
Unfortunately, between warming up and playing…and the fact that matches are happening on two boards…I didn’t get to watch all my teammates’ matches. A few highlights that do stand out in my memory:
• Jhun was a great partner. I played doubles with him three times. Having played against him a number of times, generally with an unfavorable outcome, I’ve decided it’s a lot more run to be on his side. The same is true for most of the guys I shot with. It’s really fun to get to be on the same team as friends that have generally been opponents.
• Mike started us off in the critical match with a clutch 3-leg win that went right down to the wire vs. Reu. Reu is one of the best shooters in Northern California and that was a true battle of the titans. Mike winning it was BIG in terms of getting us off to a good start.
• In our first team game, we got down to the end of the match with a 10-2 record (including my loss…can’t let it go...). We knew SCVDA was romping in their match too and needed the team game to stay with them. An unfortunate Triple 17 with 57 left put us on 6. A three then left us with 3 to go. The absolute worst number to be left. The team proved unable in a few turns to either take it out or leave 2. Robert came up and saved the day by hitting the 1 double 1. Much cheering ensued.
• Craig, Robert and Jhun each went 6-0! (Wow!)
I wish I could have watched more of the other games. My attention was focused on getting myself ready for my games…which no surprise I remember with some detail. My last singles game was my most important one. We were tied with SCVDA and our 13-game match against them would decide it all. Sure enough, my demons came roaring back! I split the first two legs and lost the diddle and saw my opponent throw a ton to put me a little behind in the last leg. Somehow the demons stepped aside long enough to allow me to hit a 100 followed by a 180...and a good out shot. Those good turns under extraordinary pressure are what keep me coming back, even after times when the demons win.
There were a few of us who had never played in this event before. Everyone did really well. It was one of those rare days that goes nearly perfectly. Kudos to my fellow masochists who choose to subject themselves to lots of stress to try for the next level in this "game." Each step up is new and the demons come back until you prove to yourself you can conquer them. You will never really be ready to take that next step until you do it. I have nothing but respect for anyone who comes out to challenge players with more experience than they have. Kudos to the SFDL and local darts for providing so much opportunity to do just that. For a few bucks, you can come down to Dolores next Saturday to play in the ADO qualifier. If you do, you will play some of the league's best players. You may not qualify for the regionals, but you might win a leg, or two legs or more. And the demons you challenge shooting against stronger competition will make Wednesday nights seem a little easier by comparison.
Thanks to Robert, Mike and the SFDL board for supporting us in yesterday's event. Thanks to my mentors (Lor, Don and Mike top the list) in this game who have been so encouraging. Hats off to Bert who was an alternate on this team after very recently moving up from C league himself. No one I know right now is doing more to push his game than Bert. (The guy drives from SF up to Petaluma to play in our singles leagues in addition to everything else he's doing!!)
Days like yesterday keep me obsessed with throwing darts and fighting the demons.
The SFDL just got out of a grueling 8 hour dart tournament called Top Gun. The Top Gun Tournament started about 10 years ago when the SCVDA had an inner A League event but had issues getting attendance, so they decided to open up the tourney to Northern California Dart Associations. The SFDA vs. The SCVDA was the first open invitational of the Top Gun as we know it, several years ago.
Yesterday, Saturday February 27th, 2016, at 11:00am at Beefy's Cabin in Sunnyvale, four Bay Area Dart Associations met and did battle for 8 hours! The Santa Clara Valley Dart Association (SCVDA), The Peninsula Dart Organization (PDO), The Santa Cruz County Dart Association (SCCDA), and us, The San Francisco Darts League (SFDL) were in attendance this day.
Normally Mike Hathaidharm (our VP), is in charge and captain of the Top Gun Team, but Mike felt that someone else should captain the team if we were to go to battle this year, so I took over the Captain duties while both Mike and I made our top four or five picks as essential members of the team. Then I chose a few more members based on the A League rankings, some people weren't home at the time I called, some folks got two calls, I didn't leave a message due too the fact that if someone got back too me a day later, AFTER we chosen a team, it would bring disappointment which I wanted to avoid if possible. There was also an entire A League team which were at a soft tip darts tournament the day of the event which I am sure 1-3 members could have been serious consideration for the team. So yes, this team could have easily changed with many different combinations of players and still been just as successful!
A lot goes into creating, choosing and being prepared for the day long event. I remember a time that we pretty much tried every way a team can be chosen, from holding a qualifier, going by rankings, going by past season, going by a players confidence, or even a players path in our league!
I would have to say that this year we pretty much used all those techniques, to get the team we had, also a bit of luck may have played into the equation.
As the Top Gun Team is your top eight players PLUS two alternates, who will, in most probability, will not get a chance to play, but in the same breath must be ready to play on a dime if necessary. From my perception of it all, the choice involving an alternate has its own unique qualifications in addition to shooting well. A good attitude is a must for an alternate, the ability to jump into character, so-to-speak, is also high on the choice list. Finally, availability, is the most tried and true final requirement. As a note, there could be a team of four woman to compete against other woman the the respective leagues participating, but none of the other teams had a strictly woman's team playing, so we could not field one.
Because this year, we were informed just a month before the tournament date, it makes choosing a competent team that much more intense. I have certainly been in the position where I thought I belonged on the Top Gun Team and was not chosen. It seemed like confidence in myself as a certain winner was not there and as years have now gone by and I've had time to reflect on those days, I can truly state that I really wasn't ready to have the mindset for being a Top Gun.
Practicing is a start, having multiple nights of dart shooting gets you honed even more and attending shoots like Saturday nights at Tim's Four Deuces is great competition. But does even all that get you a spot on the team? Not really, unless you are coming in first all the time or you're ranked in the top ten of the A League. Another thing we recruiting spot is people who attend major dart shoots like the Camellia in Sacramento this past February 14th. The Las Vegas Shoot in January and when we hold it the SF Open! Do you punch the dartboard or wall when you're dart doesn't hit its intended target, well that might get in the way of you becoming a Top Gun member. There are better ways to express your disappointment!
My advice to anyone who wants spot on the team, practice, put a board up at your house or apartment, attend weekend shots if possible, get your team together for a practice night, have a good attitude, be a team player, and remember the age old advice of "Triples for show and doubles for dough!" Make sure your practice regime has you going around the board 1 through 20 then bulls-eye in doubles. I remember it used to take me two days to complete around the clock in doubles. Now I can do it under a half hour.
Top Gun S.C.V.D.A. Action
From Left to Right: Bert Jensen, Kimber Sterling, Robert Adams, holding his
son Ryker, Niels Juhr, next to Niels Michael Hathaidharm,behind Mike,
Erwin Ganschow, in front of Mike,Juhn Catanyag, Pakorn Tatsuwande,
Marc Aquino and Craig Cudney.
I don't know what other captains do for this event, but ranking each player by skill level is tough! (I did accidentally list Kimber up one spot) Even Kimber himself felt he should have been ranked a few spots lower, but I felt confidence in every player, every player but myself! I put myself last of the ranked players, playing clean-up, also for the reason as captain, I can chat with and watch all players prior to my own performance at the oche, this way I know who's nervous who's scoring well, who's doubling out and who's missing their doubles. This way when I do the pairing of doubles on the team I can match players skills together, like play a player hitting trips with one hitting doubles! As a captain you won't know that unless you watch the matches and ask the right questions when you miss a match.
The matches against each Association consist of eight 501 singles, four 501 doubles and one 8 person team game of 1001, for a total of 13 games. One point per game, game is best 2 out of 3, so if you win two games straight, you do not play the third game.
After drawing the high card for the initial leagues place in who plays who first, we drew the SCCDA led by Captain Steve Ritchey. As a captain once you rank your team that is the exact order you play them in the 501 singles portion of the match. 8 singles top against top all the way down to the eighth player of the team. Mike H. drew Darin Heath and started us off with our first win! Meanwhile Pakorn was playing on the oche next door against Trenton Heath with PK taking the win! Now it was Jhun and Craigs turn, Jhun playing against yet another Heath! Jackson Heath and against Craig was Lamont Graves. Both SFDL Top Gunners giving us another win point each! Kimber and Marc's turn up against Steve Ritchey, While Erwin got Lance, Steve took out Kimber. (Read more through the eyes of Kimber!) And now it was Marc and my turn up at the oche! I don't know much about Marc's game as I was concentrating on my first games poor darts loosing the first 501 to Eric (who incidentally beat me in the first round of 501 singles at the Camellia Classic in Sacramento just a few weeks earlier this year!) Being a game behind and knowing my next game I had to get the win or I would not be leading by example and could become 'that guy' (you know the guy who loses out of everyone winning!?) So I buckled down and shot a very good game to win game two, not really a convincing win but a tie breaker third game was needed! I started to slide back into old habits hitting 45's and 26's, but lack of giving up lead to bam a 140 which got me back in the game followed by a strong 85 and we were battling neck and neck, I had 61 left, my first dart hit triple 15 leaving me with 16 left, wire, wire... I really wish I hit that 61 out, but Eric missed his out 78 I believe and I stuck the double eight 2nd dart! Captain Captain!
We were up, 7-1, but we heard the SCVDA was also on a roll I think they were also 7-1. I started to piece together our doubles teams. Mike H. offered his advice and someone else offered theirs, in the end I choose to match people up with whom they were familiar with. Mike H along with Erwin (same team during league) PK with Marc (same team during league), Jhun and Kimber (the one without any teammates on the Top Gun Roster) and myself and Craig (same team during league). This doubles set up would be what we stuck with for the duration of all the matches. With the exception of the PK/Marc pair, we all won our doubles matches, yeah, now our record was 10-2, pretty good so far, I thought. Last game team 1001, keeping the ranked order I set in the beginning, we ended up winning for a final 1st match record of 11-2 vs. the SCCDA.
We had a glorious 5 minutes break, when all the teams finished their first match. Some folks went to a Taco Truck outside the venue, other teams ordered pizzas, we all had our own ways of keeping the fire burning. Myself and Craig had a huge breakfast at Black Bear Diner called 'the volcano', so I wasn't hungry until 4 or 5pm.
2nd match time vs. the PDO. Captaining the PDO was John Haug. With the same ranked line-up we took all 8 games straight. Our only loss of the match was in doubles when Julian Ruiz and Tim Atwell took out Mike H and Erwin. Our doubles teams took all four games and again we took the team game with Kimber providing us with the out shot! (I think he made up for his singles loss in our first match!)
Our last and final match vs. The SCVDA! We were tied and this heads up match would lead to the TOP GUN winner!We knew it was going to be a tough tough match! First up was Mike H. vs. Reu De La Cruz, one very tough and most often winning and being front runner in the BAD (Bay Area Darts) singles league that Brian Jackson runs. But Mike H. must have been on his game because we got the point! But what I thought was going to happen, started to happen, Pakorn got beat by Jimmy Nolan, while Jhun beat Phil Murry, then Craig broke us away from the win/loss struggle, as he beat the well respected player Dick Wescott with an epic third game double out that no one seemed to want to hit! Then Kimber wins over the very competent Fred Murphy, while Erwin got beat by Pete O'Brian. Marc and Robert took their turns and respectively got the win point! we were now 6-2, a seventh win would clinch it for us! We all huddled and spoke of any new strategy that we may want to implement while choosing the doubles..we thought they would try and stack their teams, but in the long run we went with what worked so far and although Mike and Erwin did not take the first doubles match the rest of our doubles squad came through with win points, so officially Pakorn and Marc got our seventh win, clutching the Top Gun honors! We were exhausted, happy and now no pressure for the final 1001 team game. I got to close us out with my first dart in the double twenty for the win! 10-3 over SCVDA!
Our overall record for the day was 33 wins - 6 loses.
