How did you get started playing darts?
I STOPPED AT MY LOCAL TAVERN AFTER BOWLING ONE NIGHT, AND A COUPLE OF GUYS WERE PAYING A MATCH SHORT HANDED, AND ASKED IF ME AND A FRIEND WITH ME WOULD LIKE TO FINISH OUT THE SEASON WITH THEM. WE DID, AND I WAS HOOKED, NOW I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 31 YEARS!

What kind of darts do you throw?
I HAVE BEEN USING A SET OF BOTTLESTON HAMMERHEADS - 26 GRAMS FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS, RICK NEY SIGNATURE.

Do you play steel, electronic or both?
I REALLY PLAY ONLY STEEL, I HAVE PLAYED A COUPLE LEAGUES, AND A FEW TOURNAMENTS IN ELECTRONIC, BUT I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE ELECTRONIC GAME TOO MUCH.

What do you say to folks who insist that electronic darts are not "real" darts?
I TELL THEM THEY ARE TOTALLY WRONG, ELECTRONIC DARTS IS A GOOD AND TOUGH GAME TO PLAY IF YOU REALLY LIKE IT! IF I DIDN'T PLAY STEEL FOR YEARS BEFORE ELECTRONIC, I PROBABLY WOULD LIKE IT MUCH MORE. BUT! I CAN'T STAND THE FREEZE OUT RULE.

Tell me about your tournament, league and blind draw experiences?
THERE ARE WAY TO MANY TO TELL, I HAVE PROBABLY PLAYED IN 600 OR 700 TOURNAMENTS, OR MORE, AND I USE TO PLAY IN 3 OR 4 LEAGUES AT A TIME FOR YEARS. THAT AND PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND BLIND DRAWS! I PLAYED DARTS 7 NIGHTS A WEEK FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS!!!

Do you travel to tournaments and which are your favorites?
NOT ANY MORE, VERY OFTEN, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I WILL GO SOME PLACE. MY FAVORITE WAS THE NORTH AMERICAN OPEN IN VEGAS, I WENT FOR FREE 23 TIMES. I ALSO LIKES THE WINDY CITY OPEN IN CHICAGO, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS I ENJOYED. I ALWAYS LIKED THE BUCKEYE OPEN IN COLUMBUS, OHIO.

How many teams do you play on, and how many times a week do you play?
RIGHT NOW I DON'T PLAY AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN VERY SICK THE LAST 2 YEARS, AND I WAS ONLY ON ONE TEAM, AND PLAYED ONLY A FEW TIMES, BUT I AM FEELING A LOT BETTER NOW. I PLAN TO PLAY ON ONE OR TWO TEAMS THIS FALL, AND PLAY SOME BLIND DRAWS, AND A FEW TOURNAMENTS...

What is your favorite pub to play at, and what would make the perfect dart bar?
MY FAVORITE PUB TO PLAY AT WAS PLACE CALLED MAJOR HOOPLES, IN THE FLATS, IN CLEVELAND OHIO, AND SHOOT THE BULL, IN WICKLIFFE, OHIO. THE PERFECT DART BAR WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PLAY GOOD COMPETITION, AND GET REASONABLE DRINK PRICES ALL THE TIME, AND NOT HAVE THAT ONE BAD LOSER OR AGITATOR THAT STARTS TROUBLE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO HAVE A FUN. I ENJOY A COMPETITIVE EVENING OUT, AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE GAME AND THE COMPETITION, I ENJOY THE PEOPLE THE MOST AND I HAVE MADE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS IN THE GAME OF DARTS!

Do you practice and what is your practice routine?
I STILL PRACTICE A LITTLE, BUT NOT MUCH ANY MORE. BUT YEARS AGO I JUST PLAYED AS MUCH AS I COULD, AND TRIED TO PLAY ANYBODY THAT WAS BETTER THAN ME. WIN OR LOOSE, I LOVED IT, BUT WINNING IS MORE FUN! FOR PRACTICE, I USUALLY JUST THROW AT THE DOUBLES & TRIPLES FOR A WHILE, AND THE PLAY A COUPLE GAMES OF 301, 501, OR CRICKET AGAINST THE BOARD, AND THROW A FEW AT THE BULLSEYE.

Do you consider darts a game or a sport and why/why not?
WELL OF COURSE I CONSIDER IT A SPORT! WHAT SPORT IS NOT A GAME? ALSO, A SPORT IS WHERE YOU COMPETE AGAINST THE PLAYER, AND OR THE OBJECT ITSELF. IN DARTS YOU HAVE BOTH TO BEAT. IF YOU COULD THROW A PERFECT GAME EVERY TIME, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE. I HAVE PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD, AND HAVE BEATEN A FEW, HERE AND THERE, BUT I HAVE ALSO LOST TO A LOT OF PLAYERS, WHO WERE NOT AS GOOD AS I WAS AT THE TIME. JUST LET UP A LITTLE IN A DART GAME, AND YOU MAY BE WATCHING THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

In your opinion, what needs to be done in America to promote darts in a positive manner?
THAT'S AN AGE OLD QUESTION, WE USED TO THINK MORE SPONSORSHIP WAS NEEDED & MORE MONEY WOULD HELP, BUT NOW IN STEEL-TIP, THE TOURNAMENTS HAVE DWINDLED & SO HAS THE MONEY. IN SOFT TIP, THE MONEY IS SPREAD TO FAR - YOU CAN PLAY ALL DAY AND IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE FINALS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MONEY. OF COURSE, TV COVERAGE IS A MUST TO PROMOTE THE SPORT, BUT IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN HERE, AND WHO WANTS TO WATCH PHIL TAYLOR ALL THE TIME ANYWAY?

How do YOU help promote darts in a positive manner?
I HAVE TRIED TO HELP PROMOTE DARTS IN THE CLEVELAND, OHIO AREA FOR YEARS, ATTENDING AND HELPING AT EVENTS, AND TOURNAMENTS AND BEING INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL CLUBS. I AM A PAST ADO REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CLEVELAND DARTER CLUB FOR 17 YEARS, AND I AM A PAST PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT IN THE LAKE ERIE DART ASSOCIATION, WHICH I AM A LIFETIME MEMBER OF. ALSO, I WAS THE ADO REP FOR THE LEDA FOR YEARS AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE CLEVELAND EXTRAVAGANZA, THE CLEVELAND ROCK & ROLL TOURNAMENT, AND THE LEDA CLASSIC MANY, MANY TIMES. I RAN ADO QUALIFIERS, I RAN THE CLEVELAND QUAD CITY TEAM A FEW TIMES, I PLAYED ON THE QUAD CITY TEAM 27 YEARS IN A ROW, AND I PLAYED ON AND HELPED WITH THE LEDA ALL STAR TEAMS, AND CHALLENGE TEAMS. I RECRUITED MANY A DART PLAYER IN MY TIME, AND HELPED QUITE A FEW LEARN THE GAME ALONG THE WAY.

What makes up good sportsmanship?
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DEFEAT, NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO LIKE IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO LEARN FROM IT. IF YOU DO NOT LEARN HOW TO LOSE, YOU WILL NOT LEARN HOW TO WIN, AND YOU MUST ALWAYS BE A LADY OR A GENTLEMAN ABOUT THE GAME. IF YOU DO NOT WIN, SHAKE YOUR OPPONENT'S HAND AND DEAL WITH IT. I HAVE SEEN MANY A BAD LOSER IN THIS AND OTHER SPORTS, AND IT IS AN UGLY THING. It CAN AND WILL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A FOOL IN A MINUTE, AND I HAVE BEEN THERE. I HATE TO LOSE, BUT YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL.

Who do you admire in darts?
THERE ARE A lot OF PEOPLE I ADMIRE AND THERE ARE TOO MANY TO MENTION. AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME ARE GONE NOW...THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CLEVELAND AREA THAT I HAVE ADMIRED, AND A LOT AROUND THE COUNTY ALSO. IN CLEVELAND, I HAVE TO SAY I ALWAYS ADMIRED TONY MONEY, FRANK PRATT, AND ANDY BRESTOWSKI, I LEARNED A LOT FROM THOSE GUYS, AND I ALWAYS LIKED K.C. MULLANEY FROM CHICAGO, JERRY UMBERGER FROM PA, AND STEVE BROWN, FROM MO, BUT AGAIN THERE ARE WAY TO MANY TO MENTION AS I WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY! What darters would you like to meet?
THERE REALLY ARE NONE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MEET, THERE ARE STILL A LOT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BEAT! I HAVE MET AND PLAYED THE BEST IN THE WORLD, BUT LIKE I SAID ITS NOT HOW GOOD YOU ARE THAT I JUDGE YOU, IT IS THE PERSON IN YOU. THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCELLENT PLAYERS OUT THERE THAT I WOULDN'T GIVE 2 CENTS FOR, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND I GUESS THE ONES I STILL WANT TO MEET ARE PEOPLE WHO I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF YET.

What words of wisdom do you have for darters who are just starting out?
PLAY, PLAY PLAY, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOSE. BUT DON'T EVER ACCEPT LOSING AS OKAY - BE A LADY OR A GENTLEMAN AT ALL TIMES, GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, AND REMEMBER GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN DARTS. YOU CAN MAKE SOME AWFUL GOOD FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL LAST THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

Do you subscribe to Bullseye News Magazine?
YES, AND I HAVE FROM DAY ONE, IT IS A WONDERFUL PUBLICATION, AND I HAVE KNOWN JAY TOMILNSON SINCE BEFORE IT STARTED. HE IS A CLASS PERSON, AND HAS DONE HIS SHARE TO PROMOTE THIS GAME AS WELL AS ANYONE I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

Tell me three things that most darters do not know about you...
THAT I DO HAVE OTHER INTERESTS BESIDES DARTS - I HAVE BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES "IS THAT ALL YOU DO IS PLAY DARTS?" I HAVE PLAYED SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, GOLF, BOWLING ALL THE WHILE PLAYING DARTS ALSO, AND BELIEVE ME, MY BODY CAN FEEL IT NOW!

AND THAT I AM MARRIED! A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER REALIZED I WAS MARRIED BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT GO TO DARTS WITH ME VERY OFTEN. IT'S NOT BECAUSE SHE HAS ANYTHING AGAINST DARTS, BUT SHE HAS VERY BAD ASTHMA AND THE SMOKE WOULD REALLY BOTHER HER - SHE TRIED A FEW TIMES.

AND ANOTHER THING - I AM ALWAYS A DAY LATE & A DOLLAR SHORT, I HAVE NEVER THROWN A PERFECT GAME IN COMPETITION, THOUGH I THREW A 7 DART '301, A 9 DART CRICKET GAME, AND A 299 GAME IN BOWLING. AND I WAS ABOUT AN INCH AWAY FROM A HOLE IN ONE IN GOLF, BUT NEVER PERFECTION! OH WELL, MAYBE SOME DAY!
What are you doing when you are not playing darts?
THESE DAYS, I AM AT HOME WITH MY WIFE, WATCHING A LOT OF TELEVISION, AND TRYING TO HELP HER AROUND THE HOUSE AS MUCH AS I CAN (OF COURSE I CAN NEVER DO ANYTHING RIGHT ACCORDING TO HER) AND ALSO SPENDING AS MUCH TIME BEING WITH MY 5 GRANDCHILDREN - AGAIN, AS MUCH AS I CAN.

Also, do you have a picture or two to include in this interview?
NO, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO PICTURES AVAILABLE!

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, I REALLY ENJOYED THIS! GARY 88 HULL - CLEVELAND DARTER CLUB, LAKE ERIE DART ASSOCIATION. CRANE PRO DARTS...

Editor's Note: Thanks for the interview Gary, it sounds like you have been playing for quite some time and have done a great deal to help promote darts. Good luck to you in the future and without a picture, we'll just have to imagine what you look like. Take care and thank you for the interview!