13 Successes with 2 Ugly Bookends

CAPTAIN'S LOG: DART DATE: 6 - 23 - 08

'Bags start slow, Pull a Billy Wagner
But hold on for win 13-11

The 'Bags faced off against friendly rivals, Bullistics. We've been playing these guys it seems every seasons for the past few years, and even when they win the division (like last season) we can't seem to get away from them.

This will be a quick one because I'm headed out of town (update: I AM outta town.)

Singles 5 -7

Quiz -3, Pike - 0

Glenn actually shot very well. He opened up big leads twice and nearly was gone in 20 to 25 darts every time. But Paul made him pay for not doubling out (as well as for busting on 126). Glenn looked good. But Paul's doubles looked better. Credit where it's due. The game is about the last dart. You give The Quizmaster a chance, odds are it will cost you.

But if Pike shoots like this... we'll be fine.

Joe - 1, Frank -2

Joe and Frank played each other in league for the 100th time in the past 2 years. (The game was halted after the first leg for a brief cake-cutting ceremony). Neither player was really on. Joe took the first, and Frank stole a couple doing his "last dart" thing.

Brian -2, Vince - 1

The Hornet's Nest is what we call him, because he's at his best when he's stirred up. He was buzzing last night. Vince was amazingly consistent, starting every game with a score of 80 and twice hitting a T-20 after landing on 126. (We had some cosmic connection with the number 126. Pike busted on it, and Vince nearly took it out twice.) In game 1, he fired off 80, 140, 140 consecutively en route to a 21 darter (that could have been an 18 darter). But, once again, it always comes down to the last dart. And Brian shot well enough to hang around and make his doubles count. Disappointing.

James -1, Cup -2

James recalled Cup as a 19 shooter and was having a little fun with Cup, bemoaning all the 19s he expected Cup to hit. Cup said he likes to shoot up top now. James (never above a little joking around/gamesmanship) said, "You're a 19 shooter. I'll believe that when I see you hit a ton."

So Joe responded to James' opening 85, by hitting a Ton. Point made.

Solid darts from Cup who take the first and last leg to pull the 'Bags 5-7.

Cricket 5 - 1

Frank and Glenn drew Joe and Gerald. The Keeley boys weren't super sharp, but it was enough to overcome some of Joe's heroics... score it a sweep.

Cup and Vince vs. Paul and James. More solid darts from the 'Bags. They took 2/3.

Double 'O1, 3 - 3

Frank and Glenn were up first against Paul and James. But James was elsewhere. Eventually we decided just to let the last pairing go first. Vince and Cup were terrific. They took two and Vince even added a 96-On.

(Sigh.) It really went down hill from there.

It was late. Glenn was picturing his new, longer commute that awaited him early in the morning. Frank's pictured the mountain of work before heading out of town the next morning, and his decision to not eat dinner was now officially a poor one.

As the Bard once wrote... the evening had "drained the milk of our human kindness."

It was, however a learning experience. For example we learned that when the opposing player goes AWOL, and causes a long delay late in the evening: Do not...

... drink a bunch of whiskey while you wait.

... refuse to take warm ups because you are in a hurry to get going.

... allow the jukebox to go silent so that all you hear are loud conversations while you shoot.

... get so frustrated after you bust that you gun your very expensive dart at the board, snapping the shaft in the process.

... allow yourself to pull what is now known as "The Billy Wagner" (i.e., lose the final 3 points of the night out) of frustration and impatience.

... overreact and lose your cool and your dignity.

Lessons learned.

Needless to say, Quiz and James picked up their games. Glenn and Frank did not. And we dropped the final 3 games to end a good night on a bitter note

A tip of the cap to Bullistics. Nice guys to a man, and always worthy adversaries.

All Star Recap:

Vince: 575

Glenn: 275

Cup: 296

Frank: 95