WRITE UP FOR WEEK # 13: GOING OUT ON A HIGH NOTE
CAPTAIN'S LOG: DART DATE 12-20-05
NOTE: This game was actually played on the orginally scheduled date, in the middle of the transit strike...
The Captain sounded his conch shell from the rooftop of his 73rd Street Apt. And the Dartbags answered the call. RJ fought the traffic in from Jersey. Cuppa Joe began his slow trek across the Brooklyn Bridge. Pike boarded the train from Connecticut. Big Friendly left his Fortress of Solitude in Ottawa, Canada to fly in. From all across the tri-state area and beyond, the Dartbags journeyed to Gaf East.
A transit strike had paralyzed Gotham City. But that didn't matter. There could have been a transit strike, a blizzard and an army of C.H.U.D.'s emerging from the city's sewers to dine on the flesh of men... it still wouldn't stop the Dartbags from finding their way to Gaf East for their rematch with the Who's Gerald Liefer? (aka, the Fockers).
This was about Dart Night. It was also about rallying around friends. And -- after the 22-2 beatdown we suffered last time -- it was about self-respect and the opportunity for payback.
With a near full contingent (only Lou could not attend) the Dartbags (Most Drinkin'est and Friendliest Dart team in the NYDO TM) would do battle against their nemesis. Though, as far as nemeses go, this is as good a bunch of guys as you're going to find.
Usually, the 'Bags start out with Pike first to, in the words of Ebbie Calvin "Nuke" Laloosh, "Announce our presence with authority!" But Glenn was in Grand Central Station. So Frank went instead, against Craig. The last time Craig and Pike locked horns there were a couple of 7 round humdingers. This time was a much more modest contest. Frank made it interesting in game one by dropping from 123 to 32, but Craig took out a double 8 for the W. In round 2, Captain Furious, stayed close and sunk a double 10 to even the score. 1-1 after the first set.
Of course, it was 1-1 after the first set last time. And Jay Leno was doing his monologue before we got back in the win column again.
On a side note, the question needs to be asked. Is Craig Nobbs doomed to suffer the same fate as look-alike and former Met Hero, Jeff Reardon? Falling from accomplished star riding high in the sport he loves to a desperate man turned to a life of crime? We hope not.
Up next Marty faced off against Mark. Farticus dropped the first in an uninteresting match. In the second, he hung tough. With a 29 left, he hit a 3 on his first dart. Dart number two.... just wide of the double 13! He almost brought the house down with that one. His last dart was wide as well and Mark didn't miss his chance to seal the win for the Liefers. So Farticus didn't quite upset one of the league's best players.... but it was fun to give him a scare. 1-3
RJ faced off against Captain Carlos in set 3. Arjay dropped the first. But then a voice came over the intercom.... "Paging, Dr. Morrow. Dr. Morrow... you're wanted in the OR."
Enter, the Surgeon.
Okay. That didn't really happen. In fact, I don't think the Gaf has an intercom. But thanks to our failsafe motivational tactic reseved only for RJ (i.e., saying "You suck!" repeatedly to him between throws), he seemed to recover his game. A pair of 95s and a timely double out sealed the deal and got the 'Bags back in the win column. 2-4
After the win:
Glenn: You still suck.
RJ: Thank you.
Who is GL? is a team of 6 Grenades. But to be fair, Neil is probably a little more like C-4 Plastic Explosive. Vince would face off against him in set 4. 'Cenzo shot well enough to earn a point against most people. Not this time though. 2-6.
Glenn and Julio squared off in Rnd 5. Good friends and great shots, this would be interesting. Pike extended out to a lead to put himself on 72- a nice out. Dart #1... a 5.... causing couple of dropped heads. (Oh, ye of little faith.) Next dart -- 17. Time to run down the checklist:
Shoulder waggle -- check. Arm shake -- check. Double Bullseye -- CHECK!
First class darts by Glenn.
In the second game, he put himself on 80... and climbed the ladder 20, 20, 40 to score another point. Great stuff. 4-6.
Tim hadn't yet arrive, so we moved on to cricket. The 'Bags sent RJ and Marty out in the first set in a diversionary tactic much like the one employed by Aragorn when he led the Army of Gondor to the gates of Baradur to occupy the forces of Mordor so that Frodo & Sam could destroy The One Ring in the fires of Mt. Doom.
Well, that's how I thought of it anyway.
The plan worked! They drew Neil and Mark. And they got crushed. Though, RJ threw some heroic darts -- much like the way Boromir in a valiant but vain attempt to fight off the Uruk Hai before eventually falling to the Uruk Hai Chieftain. (Okay. No more Lord of the Rings analogies) 4-8
Vince and Cuppa Joe faced off against Carlos and Julio in the second set. After dropping the first, the twoheaded monster known as Cuppa'Cenz (or VincenCup) roared back to take the second off of a very tough pair of opponents. That's how far we've come as a team. We are actually earning splits against the top players of the league without using Pike. 5-9
The 'Bags went with a rare teaming of Pike and Frank in the last set. The plan worked to perfection. Frank was competent and Pike was vicious. (R-7, R-6 and who knows how many R-5s). They took two off of Craig and Tom. And all of a sudden, the gritty, gutty Dartbags were trailing 7-9.
And there was a chance to actually even the match if the newly arrived Big Friendly Tim could take a pair off Tom. Unfortunately the lingering effects of jet lag, stop and go traffic and Canadian cuisine (Damn their circular bacon and elk meat!) was too much. He dropped a pair. 7-11
So we headed to the last round of the season. If the 'Bags pulled off a miracle 5 points... they could walk away tied.
RJ and Frank faced off against Neil and Mark. Mark started it with a 105-On and Neil finished it with a 140-Out. But in the second, RJ got the 'Bags in right away and both players shot well. In fact, they a shot at an out before letting the Fockers snatched the victory. A bitter loss. A "bile-inducing, f-bomb generating, "try to remember to use your left hand when you punch something" kind of loss. 7-13. Damn.
In making out the line up for the last round, the following exchange occurred.
Frank: Do you want to play?
Colin: Umm... Yeah. Okay. I have my darts with me.
Indeed he did. The two regular 23 Piranhas... and the third dart.... Ol' Rusty.
Thor had Mjolnir. Arthur had Excalibur. Colin has Ol' Rusty. Each a weapon imbued with magical properties causing them to strike for more damage/frequency then the laws of nature should allow when wielded by their owners.
Ol' Rusty was born on a cool March evening in 2004 when Piranha number 3 disappeared into the blackhole behind the radiator at Colin's 73rd Street apartment, never to be heard from again. (The Dart Gods work in mysterious ways. Never question them.) He reached for the only object around, a battered old bar dart that had been sitting on a shelf for untold years. Since that time Ol' Rusty, the misshapen brass bar dart used to complete his set has become a legend. A charmed third dart at the center of historic Dartbag events -- much like a cross between Billy Barool and Forrest Gump .
Some of the legend is pure myth (e.g., Ol' Rusty cannot physically be resheathed until it has tasted bullseye.)
Some of the legend is absolute truth (e.g., Ol' Rusty glows blue when McCarthy's people are near).
So with Colin having the foresight to actually bring his darts with him to dart night, the 'Bags put him and Pike together and sent them out to face Tom and Julio.
Some fine darts by Glenn (including a 95) kept the 'Bags in it. But their backs were to the wall. With Colin on 70 and Julio poised to take out 32, this represented, for all intents and purposes, a last chance. First dart... a double 10... that's 20. So far so good... second dart... 10. That leaves 40.
And behold! Colin produced Ol' Rusty and held her aloft in the pale Gaf light. Beaten and battered by wars gone by, she had lost much of her lustre... but none of her bite. Colin let out a deep breath and with that peculiar follow through (like a person shoving open a heavy door) he let fly. And Rusty, true to the mark, sank her teeth into the heart of the Double 20 and held fast! Victory is ours!
And the jubilant cries of the Dartbags sounded across the city waking the ghosts of the Mucky Skippers, Zulu Dart Kings, Dart Vaders and all others who tasted her bitter sting before!
But that was only the first game. In game 2, Glenn failed to get in on turn 1 and like that, we were in the hole. But Colin got the 'Bags in and we had ourselves another dart game. This was a well-played crisp affair. Another nail biter. This time, Colin was looking at an 80-Out. And like, Glenn did earlier in the evening, he shot 20s, sinking a single, a single and Ol' Rusty pierced the double to take another stunning victory. Unbelievable darts by The Microwave, notching two wins and adding a chapter to the legend. And, it should be said, some great coaching by Glenn too -- (i.e., "I'm having him shoot for 10s", brilliant)
Personally for me, this was about as big a highlight as we've had all season. There are others, but this has to be right at the top.
Riding high on the sweep the Dartbags sent out VincenCup for the final set of the season. (Next week is bye). They dropped the first to Craig and Carlos. But, just as in cricket, Vince and Cup came back strong. Some manly darts by Cup (127, 133 along the way) paid dividends and with the Liefers already having missed a shot an out it was do or die time. Vince came up big by hitting the the double 4 to earn the split and with secure 10 points for the Dartbags.
What a great way to end the season. We earned a respectable 10-14 result off the same team that whooped us (shudder) 22-2 just seven weeks earlier. Not only that, we got everybody in the line up and we had a good time. This was one of those nights that --win or lose-- is what dartnight should be.
With 10 points we earned, we now have 128. With the 12 we get next week, we will finish with 140. So there will be no playoffs for us this season. But, there appears to be a very good chance that that there will be no relegation to B league either, which is what usually happens to A League rookies. It was definitely a different experience this time around. But we showed we belong. And we had a good time along the way. There were many highlights from this year that deserve mention. (We'll address that with a later post).
On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for offering their kind wishes, (manly) hugs, prayers and shots of whiskey. I appreciate them all very much. My situation is far from unique. On our team alone, six players have lost their fathers. Many of us have "been there" or will be there some day. So let's wish peace and happiness to those who are here and those who have gone before. Let's wish good times and good health for those we love; and a thankfulness for all we have -- including the ability to get together with good people on Tuesday night and have fun playing darts. I know I consider that a great blessing. Happy New Year, everybody.
-Frank
NOTE: This game was actually played on the orginally scheduled date, in the middle of the transit strike...
The Captain sounded his conch shell from the rooftop of his 73rd Street Apt. And the Dartbags answered the call. RJ fought the traffic in from Jersey. Cuppa Joe began his slow trek across the Brooklyn Bridge. Pike boarded the train from Connecticut. Big Friendly left his Fortress of Solitude in Ottawa, Canada to fly in. From all across the tri-state area and beyond, the Dartbags journeyed to Gaf East.
A transit strike had paralyzed Gotham City. But that didn't matter. There could have been a transit strike, a blizzard and an army of C.H.U.D.'s emerging from the city's sewers to dine on the flesh of men... it still wouldn't stop the Dartbags from finding their way to Gaf East for their rematch with the Who's Gerald Liefer? (aka, the Fockers).
This was about Dart Night. It was also about rallying around friends. And -- after the 22-2 beatdown we suffered last time -- it was about self-respect and the opportunity for payback.
With a near full contingent (only Lou could not attend) the Dartbags (Most Drinkin'est and Friendliest Dart team in the NYDO TM) would do battle against their nemesis. Though, as far as nemeses go, this is as good a bunch of guys as you're going to find.
Usually, the 'Bags start out with Pike first to, in the words of Ebbie Calvin "Nuke" Laloosh, "Announce our presence with authority!" But Glenn was in Grand Central Station. So Frank went instead, against Craig. The last time Craig and Pike locked horns there were a couple of 7 round humdingers. This time was a much more modest contest. Frank made it interesting in game one by dropping from 123 to 32, but Craig took out a double 8 for the W. In round 2, Captain Furious, stayed close and sunk a double 10 to even the score. 1-1 after the first set.
Of course, it was 1-1 after the first set last time. And Jay Leno was doing his monologue before we got back in the win column again.
On a side note, the question needs to be asked. Is Craig Nobbs doomed to suffer the same fate as look-alike and former Met Hero, Jeff Reardon? Falling from accomplished star riding high in the sport he loves to a desperate man turned to a life of crime? We hope not.
Up next Marty faced off against Mark. Farticus dropped the first in an uninteresting match. In the second, he hung tough. With a 29 left, he hit a 3 on his first dart. Dart number two.... just wide of the double 13! He almost brought the house down with that one. His last dart was wide as well and Mark didn't miss his chance to seal the win for the Liefers. So Farticus didn't quite upset one of the league's best players.... but it was fun to give him a scare. 1-3
RJ faced off against Captain Carlos in set 3. Arjay dropped the first. But then a voice came over the intercom.... "Paging, Dr. Morrow. Dr. Morrow... you're wanted in the OR."
Enter, the Surgeon.
Okay. That didn't really happen. In fact, I don't think the Gaf has an intercom. But thanks to our failsafe motivational tactic reseved only for RJ (i.e., saying "You suck!" repeatedly to him between throws), he seemed to recover his game. A pair of 95s and a timely double out sealed the deal and got the 'Bags back in the win column. 2-4
After the win:
Glenn: You still suck.
RJ: Thank you.
Who is GL? is a team of 6 Grenades. But to be fair, Neil is probably a little more like C-4 Plastic Explosive. Vince would face off against him in set 4. 'Cenzo shot well enough to earn a point against most people. Not this time though. 2-6.
Glenn and Julio squared off in Rnd 5. Good friends and great shots, this would be interesting. Pike extended out to a lead to put himself on 72- a nice out. Dart #1... a 5.... causing couple of dropped heads. (Oh, ye of little faith.) Next dart -- 17. Time to run down the checklist:
Shoulder waggle -- check. Arm shake -- check. Double Bullseye -- CHECK!
First class darts by Glenn.
In the second game, he put himself on 80... and climbed the ladder 20, 20, 40 to score another point. Great stuff. 4-6.
Tim hadn't yet arrive, so we moved on to cricket. The 'Bags sent RJ and Marty out in the first set in a diversionary tactic much like the one employed by Aragorn when he led the Army of Gondor to the gates of Baradur to occupy the forces of Mordor so that Frodo & Sam could destroy The One Ring in the fires of Mt. Doom.
Well, that's how I thought of it anyway.
The plan worked! They drew Neil and Mark. And they got crushed. Though, RJ threw some heroic darts -- much like the way Boromir in a valiant but vain attempt to fight off the Uruk Hai before eventually falling to the Uruk Hai Chieftain. (Okay. No more Lord of the Rings analogies) 4-8
Vince and Cuppa Joe faced off against Carlos and Julio in the second set. After dropping the first, the twoheaded monster known as Cuppa'Cenz (or VincenCup) roared back to take the second off of a very tough pair of opponents. That's how far we've come as a team. We are actually earning splits against the top players of the league without using Pike. 5-9
The 'Bags went with a rare teaming of Pike and Frank in the last set. The plan worked to perfection. Frank was competent and Pike was vicious. (R-7, R-6 and who knows how many R-5s). They took two off of Craig and Tom. And all of a sudden, the gritty, gutty Dartbags were trailing 7-9.
And there was a chance to actually even the match if the newly arrived Big Friendly Tim could take a pair off Tom. Unfortunately the lingering effects of jet lag, stop and go traffic and Canadian cuisine (Damn their circular bacon and elk meat!) was too much. He dropped a pair. 7-11
So we headed to the last round of the season. If the 'Bags pulled off a miracle 5 points... they could walk away tied.
RJ and Frank faced off against Neil and Mark. Mark started it with a 105-On and Neil finished it with a 140-Out. But in the second, RJ got the 'Bags in right away and both players shot well. In fact, they a shot at an out before letting the Fockers snatched the victory. A bitter loss. A "bile-inducing, f-bomb generating, "try to remember to use your left hand when you punch something" kind of loss. 7-13. Damn.
In making out the line up for the last round, the following exchange occurred.
Frank: Do you want to play?
Colin: Umm... Yeah. Okay. I have my darts with me.
Indeed he did. The two regular 23 Piranhas... and the third dart.... Ol' Rusty.
Thor had Mjolnir. Arthur had Excalibur. Colin has Ol' Rusty. Each a weapon imbued with magical properties causing them to strike for more damage/frequency then the laws of nature should allow when wielded by their owners.
Ol' Rusty was born on a cool March evening in 2004 when Piranha number 3 disappeared into the blackhole behind the radiator at Colin's 73rd Street apartment, never to be heard from again. (The Dart Gods work in mysterious ways. Never question them.) He reached for the only object around, a battered old bar dart that had been sitting on a shelf for untold years. Since that time Ol' Rusty, the misshapen brass bar dart used to complete his set has become a legend. A charmed third dart at the center of historic Dartbag events -- much like a cross between Billy Barool and Forrest Gump .
Some of the legend is pure myth (e.g., Ol' Rusty cannot physically be resheathed until it has tasted bullseye.)
Some of the legend is absolute truth (e.g., Ol' Rusty glows blue when McCarthy's people are near).
So with Colin having the foresight to actually bring his darts with him to dart night, the 'Bags put him and Pike together and sent them out to face Tom and Julio.
Some fine darts by Glenn (including a 95) kept the 'Bags in it. But their backs were to the wall. With Colin on 70 and Julio poised to take out 32, this represented, for all intents and purposes, a last chance. First dart... a double 10... that's 20. So far so good... second dart... 10. That leaves 40.
And behold! Colin produced Ol' Rusty and held her aloft in the pale Gaf light. Beaten and battered by wars gone by, she had lost much of her lustre... but none of her bite. Colin let out a deep breath and with that peculiar follow through (like a person shoving open a heavy door) he let fly. And Rusty, true to the mark, sank her teeth into the heart of the Double 20 and held fast! Victory is ours!
And the jubilant cries of the Dartbags sounded across the city waking the ghosts of the Mucky Skippers, Zulu Dart Kings, Dart Vaders and all others who tasted her bitter sting before!
But that was only the first game. In game 2, Glenn failed to get in on turn 1 and like that, we were in the hole. But Colin got the 'Bags in and we had ourselves another dart game. This was a well-played crisp affair. Another nail biter. This time, Colin was looking at an 80-Out. And like, Glenn did earlier in the evening, he shot 20s, sinking a single, a single and Ol' Rusty pierced the double to take another stunning victory. Unbelievable darts by The Microwave, notching two wins and adding a chapter to the legend. And, it should be said, some great coaching by Glenn too -- (i.e., "I'm having him shoot for 10s", brilliant)
Personally for me, this was about as big a highlight as we've had all season. There are others, but this has to be right at the top.
Riding high on the sweep the Dartbags sent out VincenCup for the final set of the season. (Next week is bye). They dropped the first to Craig and Carlos. But, just as in cricket, Vince and Cup came back strong. Some manly darts by Cup (127, 133 along the way) paid dividends and with the Liefers already having missed a shot an out it was do or die time. Vince came up big by hitting the the double 4 to earn the split and with secure 10 points for the Dartbags.
What a great way to end the season. We earned a respectable 10-14 result off the same team that whooped us (shudder) 22-2 just seven weeks earlier. Not only that, we got everybody in the line up and we had a good time. This was one of those nights that --win or lose-- is what dartnight should be.
With 10 points we earned, we now have 128. With the 12 we get next week, we will finish with 140. So there will be no playoffs for us this season. But, there appears to be a very good chance that that there will be no relegation to B league either, which is what usually happens to A League rookies. It was definitely a different experience this time around. But we showed we belong. And we had a good time along the way. There were many highlights from this year that deserve mention. (We'll address that with a later post).
On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for offering their kind wishes, (manly) hugs, prayers and shots of whiskey. I appreciate them all very much. My situation is far from unique. On our team alone, six players have lost their fathers. Many of us have "been there" or will be there some day. So let's wish peace and happiness to those who are here and those who have gone before. Let's wish good times and good health for those we love; and a thankfulness for all we have -- including the ability to get together with good people on Tuesday night and have fun playing darts. I know I consider that a great blessing. Happy New Year, everybody.
-Frank
posted by Captain Furious at 10:27 AM
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