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In his Opening Ceremony remarks ADA President Glenn Remick made reference to the on-going recession taking place throughout the county. I told him I would follow up with an article and unfortunately the recession in my job has created this slight delay. Time is tough and my sales area has grown allowing more cities to play darts in. That’s the good news. The bad news is finding the time to get out there! Anyways it was a great Championship and here is what I witnessed:
One of the things I really appreciate about the ADA National Championships is that they are always staged in spectacular and luxurious venues. This one was no exception. The Renaissance, a Marriott property, is truly the lap of luxury. And it could hardly be more convenient for an out of towner, like me – it’s right at the airport and right on the Interstate!
Another thing I appreciate, but have taken for granted in the past (and will not in the future) is the number of veteran, championship-class dart players who are in attendance. These are people who I have watched shooting highly competitive darts at major dart events all around the country for many years – Dan “Cujo” Lauby, Shane Meeks, Jean Purgold, Scott Ingram, Wanda Weaver, Brad Wethington, just to name a few.
As I have gotten older, I’ve come to realize the privilege I have, to be in a position to play at a sport I love and to be with people who share my passion and whose skill, good will and dedication, elevate and enhance the sport for all of us.
But on to the 18th ADA National Championships!
I checked into hotel the day before the Championships began. The ADA as usual was ready. Early arrivals got a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and a chance to either pub-crawl in Laclede’s Landing, a visit to the Gateway Arch or to the Lumiere Place Casino. The ADA leased a coach from Best Transportation, stocked it with Bud & Bud Light for the 23 mile trip to downtown St. Louis. Once we got to the AB Brewery Tour we were ready to go. The Tour was great with more complimentary beer at the end. From there we were off Laclede’s Landing. It sits between the Gateway Arch and the Lumiere Casino. I went with the group on the Pub Crawl. We had a great time, making new friends from the tour and over several cold Bud’s and some of those ravioli appetizers that are ubiquitous St. Louis pub fare. Many of the members took a break from the tour and strolled down the banks of the Mississippi River.
The afternoon went fast and it was back to the Renaissance and something new a blind draw doubles on Tuesday night. Championship Director Karl Remick was harried as set up was running a little late. Turns out a transformer caught fire and knocked out electrical power in the hotel. Once back on the electrical power messed up the computers so the pairings and results normally displayed on the “Leader Board” were announced over the loudspeaker. It was kind of fun, reminded me of some of the big pub draws I used to go to.
I should mention that there were 5 blind draws at this year’s National Championship – Tuesday through Saturday. There was an innovation within this innovation, too. The draws were “open”. In other words, anyone could enter, whether they already were American Dart League members or not. Of course they had to become ADA members to play, but there was a time when only members would have been invited to the event. Big difference and it made a big difference. The ADA scored a ton of new members (no pun intended) and the total prize money topped over $13,000 just for the blind draw entries.
Another special event was the “Division Rep” (DR) contest on Sunday. This was an event meant to recognize the special contributions being made to the ADA by the Division Representatives. There was a total purse of $500 and a drawing for free hotel rooms for the week. DR Cindy Castillo from Chicago won the drawing.
But I am getting ahead of myself. On Wednesday the hotel was filling up with members. Registration opened at 10 am followed by a Captain’s meeting at noon. Cricket singles started mid-afternoon and (after sharing a superb steak dinner at the hotel restaurant the “T-Bone Tratorria” with some old ADA friends) another “open” blind draw in the evening. We were off to a great start! All competition was held in the large ballroom with soft tip play on Shelti’s Eye2 machines on one side and Sportcraft English steel tip on the other.
Thursday morning was Opening Ceremonies – I am always impressed and pleased with the dignity with which the ADA officers conduct this event. Even though there have been events played before this day and the ones to follow were for American Dart League members only. Glenn and Karl welcomed the members and thanked the sponsors. The Top Seeds were introduced and awarded medals with cash prizes, Nate Bittner from “America’s Kid’s” performed the National Anthem…..the 18th Championship was underway!
This was a year of change and innovation – and all for the better. The singles events that used to be on Sunday were moved to Friday. The doubles formerly on Friday were moved to Saturday and the mixed triples and mixed doubles moved from Sunday to Saturday. I don’t know why they did all this, but the “flow” of the events seemed much streamlined and logical. Don’t ask me, I’m a dart shooting traveling salesman. I have trouble when my wife reorganizes my sock drawer. But again, just another sign of the professionalism that characterized the ADA management.
There were a couple of things that I heard about, but did not witness. One is unpleasant, but I think needs to be mentioned. There was some ugliness in the Thursday night team event. Unfortunately two members got into a running argument. The upshot is that two people are suspended from next year’s Championship. Anyone who has been around darts for a while knows that sometimes competition and temperament get the better of some players. But the ADA standards of conduct require that players behave in such a way as to respect, each other, the sport and, in this case, the fact that the event is the ADA National Championship. Let’s hope that our friends will use the suspension time to reflect on the honor and dignity they need to bring to the ADA dart court.
The second thing was very positive. It was the “Top Seed/Pro Lounge” located in the hotel penthouse. The view I am told was particularly spectacular with the airport and highway vista, with planes landing and taking off. The Lounge is a very private club. Only Top Seeds and Pro Darters are allowed inside. It is a place where these top players can relax prior to the singles while the unseeded members downstairs go through the elimination process to compete against. them. Thanks to our sponsor there was free Budweiser beer and appetizers. Soft and steel tip darts were there for practice. No one but these members and ADA management are allowed (not even spouses). This is why I can only relay what I heard about it. It does make me work harder to throw better so I can be a part of this.
Saturday and Sunday the American Dart League matches continued. After the mixed triples, mixed doubles and the Division Rep singles a non-American Dart League Open Doubles ended the Championship. The final event was determining who the “Most Valuable Member” is. These medals along with a $100. cash prize are awarded to the top eight members who participated in American Dart League events. A computerized program provides members points from every event. The better they finished, the more points accumulate. The more events you play the better chance you have at the MVM Title:
2009 ADA National Championship MVMs
Michelle Adams – Women’s Open Soft Tip
Sarah Labine – Women’s Neutralizer Steel Tip
Wanda Weaver – Women’s Open Steel Tip
Nicole Allocco – Women’s Neutralizer Soft Tip
Craig Erdey – Men’s Open Soft Tip
Robert Milton – Men’s Neutralizer Steel Tip
Scott Ingrum – Men’s Open Steel Tip
Shane Meeks – Men’s Neutralizer Soft Tip
It was a great week, but wait, it’s not over. The next evening (Monday, 10th), about 35 of us went over to Cardinal’s game. The ADA General Manager pulled some strings and secured a “private” box complete with free beer & snacks. The new Busch Stadium is just a couple of years old and a great ballpark. We enjoyed watching the Cards win over Cincinnati, 4-1. Sometime during the game (can’t remember when as I got tied up with the “two up, two down” members) the Cards management greeted the ADA on their large lighted score board sign. Great move! Busch Stadium is located in downtown St. Louis. With thousands of fans exiting the park there were tons of bars and night clubs open.
Tuesday, the 11th of August. It’s over! My trip opened attending St. Louis Franchise Owner Billy Dales Bud Pro Tour and nine days later. Many new friends, new adventures and lots of darts. A positive new chapter in the on-going book of the ADA National Championship!
Leaving the hotel I bumped into Karl on my way out. He was on break from conducting the ADA National Management Conference. Does this guy ever stop! He couldn’t tell me where next year’s Championships will be held but he did say a lot of members enjoyed the Show Me State!
Stick out the recession and we’ll see you at the 19th Championship.
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