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The ADA’s Pro Darter Certification Program (PDCP) continues to gain momentum across the country. On January 1st 2006 the ADA will introduce the first “Professional Certified Darters” to our sport. I’m pleased to report the program is receiving attention from the media and big business as well. Since we introduced the (PDCP) in January of this year the ADA office has been “flooded” with questions and comments about the program.
From the countless e-mails we’ve received they leave no doubt that many darts players do not understand how a professional sports program is developed and then maintained. For example, in regards to our sport simply throwing great darts does not make one a “Pro Darter”! Perhaps the e-mail from Karl Hartman and then my response will help those understand just how a professional program works:
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From: Karl Hartman
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005
To: gremick@adadarters.com
Subject: Are You Serious? Become a dart Pro?
Okay, help me with this. I just read your "Become a Pro Dart Player" article and I can't stop laughing. I'm throwing 27PPT Steel and somewhere around 33.5 PPT in soft tip. I'm no where near the pro level. A 17.5 PPD average in steel tip darts would not even get you on the 'A' league in this town. Someone would have to have a minimum of 20PPD just to scratch the bottom of the 'A' league players feet.
So, trying to understand, and holding back the laughter for a moment. I'm quite honestly looking for an explanation. How is calling a decent (17.5) B level player a pro, raising your standards. And what about the real A Level players. Isn't it a bit of an insult to be lumped together with, frankly speaking, such poor players?
Honestly...I'm just seeking your thoughts.
From: "Glenn Remick, ADA President" <gremick@adadarters.com>
To: "'Karl Hartman'"
Subject: RE: Are You Serious? Become a dart Pro?
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 09:47:15 -0500
Hello, Karl:
Thanks for your e-mail and comments re: the ADA's Professional Darter Certification Program.
Over the past 12 months I have been working with both Fox and ESPN in an
effort to bring Professional Darters to their networks. First and foremost I had to explain to them there is no such thing as a Professional Darts player in the United States!
There are plenty of "self-proclaimed Pro's". There are dart machine manufacturer "Pros" (you can only be a Pro while competing on their machine - now there is something to laugh at!) or "rankings" based on tournaments but no other methods to certify the weekly league darter as a Pro. In defining a Pro the networks, and more importantly, corporate sponsors look more at the character of both the organization and the Pro more than their ability. In particular the organization's "Code of Conduct & Code of ethics" (all organizations representing Pros have them).
In developing the ADA Pro Darter Program I profiled the Professional Golfers Association (PGA). I also met with Fred Schreyer, Professional Bowlers Association Commissioner. Needless to say each organization has many Pro's. However, PGA Pro's are not all equal to Tiger Woods! Yet they strive to reach his ability. The same applies with the ADA Pro Darter Program. For example, the 17.5 points per dart average you refer to is the minimum required to become a Pro. The top Pro's averages on January 1st of 2006 will certainly be higher than that.
Currently the ADA's top darters are Tom Stewart (soft tip) with a 30.9 ppda and Jason Lindroth 20.8 (steel tip). You can find Tom & Jason with the other top fifty ranked American Dart League members at the following ADA web site link: www.adadarters.com/adl/top-darters.html
The top Pro in each Region is the "Resident Pro". One of their requirements is to perform three public appearances a year. For example earlier this year State Farm Insurance called the ADA office seeking a Pro to do an exhibition at the conclusion of their annual Sales Convention. They did not ask or even care about a points per dart average or their ability. They simply wanted a “Pro”! I could not meet their request this year but informed them there will Pro's next year. They look forward to having an ADA Pro at their convention in 2006!
You informed me your points per dart average is 27 steel and "somewhere around" 33.5 soft. These are very good averages! Where can I find Karl Hartman ranked in an organization and/or on a web site? My current average steel is 23 and 35 soft (when I actively played it was much higher). In 1985 I had the honor of being selected Captain of the United States World Cup Team. We traveled to Brisbane, Australia and finished second, the best the United States has ever done. There I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to many other Captains. As Pros their countries allocated funds to pay for their trip and accommodations! Twenty years later we still have no Pro's!
So, while laughing at the ADA's Pro Darter Certification Program, sadly the rest of the world continues to laugh at you & our country! Until you are credited somehow by a national organization you are simply a "leisure time" player who has selected darts as a "hobby" (that is how the networks categorize you & others regardless of your ability). I leave today for Las Vegas to conduct the $75,000 14th ADA National Championship that begins next week. On Wednesday it will be covered by ESPN's SportsCenter as part of their 50 states in 50 days program (2.5 million watch SportsCenter every day!). During our Championship I have scheduled meetings with a television director and a television producer to discuss bringing the 2006 Regional Championship Series and ADA Pro's to television.
In closing, if you would like to be a Pro, compete on television, and be sponsored, recruit 11 other darters and develop an American Dart League division (4-three person teams). If not, look for the ADA Pro's on television hopefully as early as June of next year.
Try not to laugh too hard!
Glenn Remick
Pres., ADA
www.adadarters.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Hartman
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 11:39 AM
To: gremick@adadarters.com
Subject: RE: Are You Serious? Become a dart Pro?
Thank you very much for the excellent reply. I see that you have a long term plan and a well thought out program. I sincerely applaud your efforts and would genuinely like to see darts in the USA succeed and grow. I have a better understanding of what it is you are trying to do and I sincerely thank you for responding to my E-mail. I have kept a copy of your reply and will share it with others should the issue arise. I hope you find some great "civic minded people” to represent your organization but I also hope the representatives can shoot darts.
Good luck with your vision. And once again, thank you for your prompt and quite thorough response. I'm sure you are busy so I genuinely appreciate the time and effort it took to respond. I hope the Championship is a tremendous success.
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In closing, Karl’s e-mail was typical of many others received. It took three years of research & development to launch this important program for our sport including consultation with the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).
Soon our top darters and our sport can look forward to achieving the long overdue respect it deserves. Not only from the general public but other professional sports.
Look for the ADA web site for the list of Pro Darters in January.
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