Sally Tapasa
Well, smack my ass and call me Sally! After years of begging, our friend, Sally Tapasa has finally agreed to do an interview with the Medallion. As many of you know, Sally is the type of person to shy away from any and all publicity. So when she says she’s ready to do an interview, you know there must be something on her mind. Listen up! Let’s find out exactly what this Tacoma, Washington based, longtime dart player has to say for herself.
So, what gives girl, why now?
Well a lot of my close dart friends and family members get asked a lot who is she and why does she slap her ass. So I figure I would let people know who I am. So when they see me slap my ass they know it is something I do when I am shooting my best darts or just having a great night!
Where did young Sally spend her childhood?
I was born and raised in HI, moved to CA when I was 12 years old and then when I was 18 moved here to WA.
What kinds of interests do you have outside of darts?
I love to bowl, take drives, go for walks, swim, see a movie, and spend time with my children and family members, having a BBQ (Oh yeah, my husband is famous for BBQ’s).
Tell us when and how you first began throwing darts?
Back in 1999 November. I started out as an ADOI player. I use to go with family members up to the Thunderbird to sing karaoke with a dear brother whom has passed away two years ago, and the dart coordinator kept asking my brothers and sister in law for players because they needed one more player. So my brother Herman asked if I would play. The coordinator paid for my entry fee and quarters I said why the hell not. So as I started to play. They brought me in as a T2, like I knew what that meant, but because my family members were all high rated, they thought I would be a hell of a shot.
Well to make a story short, I shot with this guy named Darrell who always wears a cowboy hat. He used to make comments; “you shoot like a damn girl, you don’t know how to shoot, why did they punish me by sticking me with you” and other things. It was my first time shooting and I thought, wow this was suppose to be fun and they asked me to shoot. So I got mad, went home, woke up my brother Able and told him to teach me. We spent 24 hours on the dartboard I would practice in between cleaning, cooking, and yeah basically it became my world. I went back to shoot a tournament at the Thunderbird and played against Darrell in the first round pick and yeah, shot my butt off and started slapping my ass and having a blast!
So that’s how that whole trademark ass-smacking thing came about?
Well some people need to drink to shoot, but when I shot against Darrell, I shot so well by inflicting pain on myself. So that is how I came about slapping my ass. Plus I like pain (lol).
What was it about the game that got you hooked?
The intense players I shot against, hanging out with my big brother and other family members, and just meeting new people.
What was your rating when you began and what is it today?
When I played league that next season, my brother brought me in as a T4 because I shot so well and everyone complained about me being a T2. I have climbed every year since I started playing. The highest rating I have ever been was a 9. I am a 3 now only because I quit playing in 2005 due to home situations that needed tending to. I came back as a T9 in 2006 and dropped drastically. Right now my main concern is my children and their education and my job, but I still come out to have fun with my friends and family once in awhile.
How often do you get out to play these days?
Not often enough due to my kids playing sports and them banning me from darts for their sport seasons. Baseball this season and next season; football and volleyball.
What steps have you taken to elevate your game?
Well when I was playing all the time I practiced and practiced and practiced. My brother taught me different strategies and outs. I improved every year I played consistently.
Are you superstitious before a big event?
Never. It’s a game that I enjoy whether I shoot like crap or shoot awesome.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
My greatest achievement in darts was when I became a 9 – the top female in ADOI darts and one of the female dart players to be feared. Every time I would go to a dart tournament with my best friend Lula Davidson, people would say let me take my money and go home. Jokingly, I hope.
Where is the coolest place you’ve ever been?
Well everywhere that I have gone was great. I got a chance to meet new people, shoot against and with great dart shooters, and just love it all. One year I went to the Bullshooter in Chicago and had a blast.
What is the one thing (non-living) that you cannot do without?
Is slapping my booty. I invite anyone to go right ahead if you see me, slap my booty as hard as you can. I love it! I am a fun-loving person and I am not shy.
Who are your favorite partners for leagues or tournaments?
Oh my, I really don’t have a favorite person or people, I love everyone and enjoy shooting with everyone over the years. But some inspirational dart players I have learned a lot from include, my brother Able, my husband Hele, Anthony Dotson, aka “Adot”, Jimmy Allen, Melvin Cherry, Rick Sutton, my best friend Lula Davidson, Vicki Cord, Beverly Allen, and Ron Bramsche.
How do you feel about competing with higher-rated players?
I love it. They make me shoot my game. I enjoy the intensity and pressure they give me and it’s a learning experience.
Have you introduced any new players to the sport?
Well not new players. My sister Janet use to play for ADOI before I ever knew about darts, but quit after her first season. I did introduce her to Medalist. Our little sister Tamara started playing so she could hang out with us. Her older sisters ended up enjoying the game as well. There have been many friends and family members come and watch, hang out, interested and all, but yeah, all in fun.
Which are your favorite dart houses and why?
My favorite dart house was Jimmy G’s. Dart coordinators, Steve and Jackie Heyman were two of the greatest dart coordinators I have ever known. This place was fun, great people, big dance floor to shake my apple bottom booty, and yeah sing karaoke with my best friend Lula Davidson.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met and how did it happen?
I feel all the high rated dart players that I have met are famous in their own way. I have never met any superstars or music stars, but I am not missing anything because I have met and shot against and with Anthony Dotson, Jimmy Allen, Melvin Cherry, Rick Sutton, McKyver, Big Joe, John Husman, Jimmy from Wah Longs, Jim Pope, Larry Hope (RIP), Al, Yelena, Beverly Allen, Lynn from ADOI, and oh my gosh, a lot of great shooters up north, here down south, and yeah, Chicago for the Bullshooter, and all.
Remind everyone who your rather well-known husband might be. My husband Hele is known for his staggering to the line, tossed out of his mind but still shooting white horses, hat tricks, three in the beds, and oh yeah my favorite, shanghai’s. I have been married to him for 19 years and we have five beautiful children together. We are grandparents to a beautiful baby boy, Tyron, who lives in New Zealand with our oldest son Johnathan and his wife. Hele, I love ya!
Working and where?
I work for a phone company here in town.
What are your feelings about the direction of the sport these days?
Well I am not playing enough anymore to know what is really going on, but I hear a lot of people complaining about the one-game elimination at State and the handicap during league. I have a lot of fun playing darts regardless – just slap my booty and I mean hard, and call me Sally!
Would you make any changes if you were in charge?
Well for one, the paperwork that we do while playing league, I would do away with that and get cards to put into the boards to keep track of all the stats, etc. It has been a success with the ADOI association.
Who has been your biggest influence(s) in darts?
My big brother Tin-Man Able when he was playing. A lot more dart players, but too many to holla out to – you know who you are. My Samoan niggas, and yeah my girlz boobies, booties, and nipple dipplers and all. Ha ha ha ha
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from the game?
To always remember, it is not the dart player you are shooting against, but the dart game on the board. My brother use to say “Be one with the board.” (I know it sounds funny, but it works.)
Does it bother you when players drink only water?
No never, because I use to be one of those water drinkers. As long as I had pain on my booty, I was good. The moment I start drinking; no feeling resulted in no good darts. Ha ha
What is your beverage of choice?
Everyone who knows me knows I love my Malibu and coke, and yes, chocolate cake shots! Yummy!
What makes you an interesting person?
All my friends and family members say that I am the most happy-go-lucky person ever born, but I think the most interesting thing about me is my personality. I love to have fun, love to dance wherever, whenever and slap my booty. Love pain, hummm yeah!
What does the next year hold for you and where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully still having fun with family and friends, back up to my 9 or better, and having fun doing it.
Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
I love having fun, enjoy my time out playing darts. I don’t mean anything by slapping my ass if I shoot against you. And if you don’t know me, come on over and say hello, I would love to meet ya. Go ahead and slap my booty!
