Let’s bring “it” back! By Lance Arsenian I have been playing darts for almost 20 years now and have seen a lot of changes in Medalist darts, some good and some not so good, but that’s just me, what do I know? I have seen so many players come and go and a small handful stick around of late. The one thing I have not seen is any growth in the area, there is just not enough young players in the game and some of us old ones aren’t having any fun anymore and quit. For a person who has seen and been on all sides of this sport over the last 18 years, I have to say, I have a valid opinion of how things have gone “downhill” over the years. I’ve been a Coordinator for the largest and most successful dart house of its time. I’ve been an Operator for 30+ locations and I also spent some time working for Medalist. So I think I have a good idea on how the dart world goes. I feel it needs a change so we can keep enjoying the game we love to play. I say bring “IT” back - the “IT” is the FUN! That’s not to say people aren’t still having fun. I remember having so much more fun playing in tournaments or just going out and playing the game. And talking with most of the players that are still around since I started, all say the same thing. We had the most fun going to tournaments back in the day, many moons ago, when they were all Draw tournaments and no handicap. That way, the one running the tournament, if they knew what they were doing, could make the teams as even as possible. Even if they were handicapped, there would only be a couple of points difference between each team. The entry fee was only $3 with $100.00 added and 60 to 70 players would show up! Heck, nowadays it’s hard to get anyone to show up for a $300 added tournament. Everyone is looking out for the $500, $750, or even the ridiculous $1000 added tournaments where all the biggest sandbaggers go. Yeah, I said it! Stop me if I lie. Are you bar owners ignorant or what? Don’t you wonder why your player turnout has been steadily dropping? The big Bring tournaments are killing this game. They most certainly do not attract new players to the sport. If they don’t have a rating, the other players will complain that they should be rated higher, because they might get beat with the handicap. Or the new ones play with their friends and get crushed because they have no idea what they’re doing and never want to play again. If it was a Draw tournament, they get to play with someone who does understand the game. Hopefully they would help the new player to understand the game and teach them how to play so they’d want to try it again sometime. The only way Medalist is going to survive and grow into the greatest program I know they want it to be, is with the player’s help bringing in new players that want to have fun. I hear from players all the time that say they wouldn’t go to a Draw tournament - they want to play with someone they know and can have fun with. Then I see those same players at tournaments, playing with those they know, and are still complaining about this, that, and the other thing. They really don’t look like they’re having much fun. Trust me, if the Draw tournament was all there was - they would go play - and I know they would have more fun, like we used to years ago. I would like to personally ask all dart houses if they would only have (and should have) one Bring tournament and one big added tournament each month. In the long run, you’ll see more new players at your location than you are now. Trust an old dart dog, BRING THE FUN BACK TO THE GAME - GET RID OF THE BRING TOURNAMENTS!!! Draw tournaments will actually increase your business. Plus, they keep the two biggest sandbaggers from teaming up, winning all the tournaments and driving your customers away. C’mon people, let’s bring “IT” back – it’s up to each and every one of us. That means you! Please forward your thoughts and ideas to Editor@themedallion.net. We want everybody involved. Thanks.
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