Captain Furious vs. Jimmy Wid: Beware the Guys with the Nicknames

I learned a few things from competing in the USA Dart Classic in Stamford, CT today. In particular, who you have to look out for.

Number 1) You want to watch out for guys with nicknames. Nicknames are reserved for people who are good enough not to get laughed at for having dart nicknames.

Number 2) Beware guys who have their names on their shirts. This goes for people who have their names on the front of their shirt, but even more for people who have their names on the BACK of their shirts. Say for example, the name "Fred". The name Fred in little letters on the left chest says "Hello, I'm Fred. I play on a dart team!" The name in big letters across back of the shirt says, "I am the one and only "FRED"! Feared across the greater Hartford area -- even up to and including parts of Rhode Island -- for the skill with which I crush the bullseye! Look upon my works ye mighty, and despair." See the difference?

Number 3) Beware guys who have their name in the form of their signature on the backs of their shirt. These people are among the most dangerous. You have to be pretty serious about the game to take the time and effort to transcribe your penmanship onto your clothing. (Although it makes me wonder if it's worth the risk of becoming an easy target for a new crop of check forgers every time you go to another tournament.)

Numer 4) If you are playing a guy who has a combination of all of the above at the same freaking time (i.e., a signature of their nickname on the back of their dart shirt, like Johnny K! in script.) , you are pretty much looking at a bug-windshield situation. And you're the bug.

As for me, well I don't even own a "dart shirt". I showed up with a gray Yankees t-shirt.

'Nuff said.

Here's what happened on Sunday, when the Dartbags' own Frank "Captain Furious" Murtha faced off against Jim Widmayer, or as it said on the back of his dart shirt... Jimmy Wid. Widmayer may be a former National 501 Champion who competed in the World Series of Darts, but he's never faced an opponent like Captain Furious who brings the awesome and frightening power that comes from tapping his bottomless wellspring of rage!

Widmayer: Shoot well.

Capt. Furious: You called down the thunder, well now you've got it!!!

Widmayer: (pause) ...What the hell are you talking about?

Ok. That didn't really happen. I just said "shoot well".

Jim won the first bullseye and went to work. A couple of Tons and he had opened a nice lead. He took out double top, leaving Frank sitting on 103. In the second game, Jimmy Wid started out with a Ton-40 and a Ton to get off to a big lead. But Frank hung in there with some 80+ rounds. Frank was sitting on 102 when Widmayer missed a shot at a double 10 (hitting a 15), ... and there was hope. But a 5 and a 7 by the Captain meant there would be no double out this time. Frank hit an 18 with his last dart to land on 72. And that was as far as he got. Jim hit 1, D-2 to take the second leg.

Overall, it was a respectable showing against a world class opponent. Neither game was a blowout (by Dartbag standards) and a lot of NYDO people were on hand, like Roger, Neil, Craig and and Carlos, so it was a good time. Plus, Jimmy Wid was a class act, shaking hands and saying "nice shooting" afterwards as opposed to being all "I-have-a-nickname-on-my-shirt-and-you-don't" about it. So I hope he wins it all.

It was definitely a fun, if somewhat surreal, experience. The room is huge and there are 40 dartboards set up. Ten more in another room. I would say that most (if not all) of the Americans who competed in the World Series of Darts on ESPN were there, so in addition to the people you know, you see semi-familiar faces everywhere. A couple of frosty beers, some top caliber darts... not a bad way to spend a Sunday. I'd like to do it again next year.

Tomorrow is steaknight. Where we dine on the flesh of the world's most tasty mammals. See you all there.