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The 14th ADA National Championship is now history! And an historic event it was as ESPN’s SportsCenter covered the Championship as a feature for the Nevada episode 50 States in 50 Days…..more on that later.
Held at the Riviera Hotel & Casino August 3-7, 1000 members and guests attended. This event is the world’s only darts championship to bring both electronic soft tip and English steel tip darters together. Great darts were thrown over the five days of competition. Sponsored by Michelob AmberBock and Coca-Cola the competition unofficially started on Wednesday with two “warm-up” events.
The first warm-up, a draw doubles was added to the schedule to compliment ESPN’s 50 States in 50 Days program. This program started on July 17th at Fenway Park in Boston and continues for 50  consecutive days ending September 4th in Wisconsin. The ADA was fortunate to have ESPN select our National Championship when they stopped in Nevada on August 3rd. “Our members can take the credit for making this coverage possible” reports ADA President Glenn Remick. “Without the added Wednesday afternoon warm-up event there would have been no event for ESPN to report from. We simply added the event, passed the word via web site & electronic mail to our members. The end result was over 250 members participating!”
The SportsCenter episode featured the Cross family from Delaware. Bill Cross, Jr. is a great competitor and is the 2003 & 2004 National Champion (he was also MVP last year). In addition to Bill; his father, grandfather, mother, brother & son play! ESPN sent a crew to the Cross family home and interviewed the entire family at Bills’ home. Then they visited Papa Ray’s the Cross’ host American Dart League sponsoring pub. I’m pleased to report ESPN treated our sport with the respect it deserves, a first class act!
Opening Ceremonies started Thursday morning’s events. President Remick conducted the Opening Ceremonies and in addition to introducing the participating sponsors and invited guests Remick also crowned the eight Top Seed members. The Air Force Honor Guard followed presenting the American Flag and professional singer/entertainer, Michelle Johnson concluded the ceremony singing the National Anthem. The Championship was officially underway!
Over the next four-days competition was fast and furious with great darts thrown on the new Shelti Cougar Eye 2 machines and the AmberBock steel tip bristle dartboards. The Championship was a tremendous success but not without “bumps in the road” along the way. Remick adds, “Adjustments were made at this Championship to align and adapt it for television. In addition to attendance by ESPN, a television director and independent producer attended. Based on their input we will be making additional changes to next year’s National Championship and the 2006 Regional Championship Series. This is exciting and these adjustments will bring us closer to bringing the ADA to television.”
A special thanks to ADA business partners Coca-Cola, Dart World and Laramie Screen Printing for their cooperation at this event and throughout the year.
Click here to view Complete Championship Event Results & Photos
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