Leading by Example
When you were growing up as a young boy, what did you want to do when you grew up?
When I was growing up it was not a matter of what I wanted to be when I left school, it was more of what I did not want to be! I am from a mining background, a great community were everyone lived quite happily together and it was expected that you followed your father and his father down the mines when you left school. If it was not for a stroke of luck I would have taken the same route. As it happened, a friend of mine who was in the building trade knew of a builder who had a vacancy for an apprentice carpenter. I started carpentry on the Monday, the same day I should have donned my helmet and taken the lift down the mine shaft. That is probably the greatest day of my life and cannot be beaten by throwing a few arrows.
How do you encourage the youth (and next generation) of darters?
I encourage youth darters by example. I do not turn up to these meet the start mornings and give coaching lessons. I try to dress, play and conduct myself in a way that will be a role model to the aspiring young and old players alike. Of course I fall down, that's called human nature but it is more likely to be made accepted if the good things far outweigh the bad. When I first started winning events worldwide, I built up a strong group of supporters. Their children now come to support me along with their fathers and mothers. I guess that is encouraging the next generation of players. Who knows? Maybe even the next generation, their grandchildren, will still be at the world pro events shouting for 'Old Lowey.
What would you change about the sport if you had the opportunity?
I am sure the sport changes itself regularly over the years. First it was the National Darts Association, then the British Darts Association. Along came the World Darts Council, then the Professional Darts Council (PDC) and all in the period of 30 years. That's one change every decade! I would not change the sport drastically. I would introduce a ruling that would work on the same lines as the President of the USA, were the maximum term of office is two terms or 8 years, then a new man or woman in charge must be voted in. This would stop all the dictators that exist in darts and they would be removed. After all, they did not take office as dictators, it came with the job.
Who in the world and not necessarily darters, do you admire most, and why?
I have many people I admire in the world. Strangely, only a few in my early days: Ali, Lauda, and Nicklaus, but as the years have gone by I have realized there are more people who have done a lot of good in the world and they are not just our sporting heroes. I have a favorite book that I read quite often by Robin Sharma called: "Who Will Cry When You Die?". It is a self-help book and one that is easy to read that works very well for me. After reading a few chapters I always think about the people I did not necessarily admire or even look up to a few years ago. Now, these people, through the learning of life have become not heroes but real people who tried their hardest in the most honest way to be decent. It is no good naming them as no one would know them, but to me, they are my real heroes.
What three words describe you best?
Loyalty, honesty and health.
The first is something I have always believed in. The second is something that was instilled into me from a Christian upbringing. The third is something I have been blessed with for so many years. I suppose you could change the sequence of those three words many times as the order they are placed in is not really important. The important thing is that the purpose of life is a life of purpose.
What are the qualities of good sportsmanship, i.e. "the passionate darter"?
I feel the qualities of good sportsmanship can be shown in one movement: a hand shake, which is the sign of friendship to all. Is anything else needed?
Well said John!
(Next Page - John's Number Plate)