Joel is a darter who was referred to me as someone to inteview, as he is a passionate darter, and that's what it is all about. It's great to understand how another darter thinks, read on:

What year did you start playing darts?
99'ish

What got you interested in darts and how did you begin playing?
My mom and aunt played the Southside Dart League. Everyone should play in that league if they are able. Good folks. (Unfortunately my mom and aunt don't play anymore.) From my mom, I learned anyone can play the game...Both my mom and my aunt were athletes and they had the hand-eye coordination innately.

Who were the darters that you hung around with when you started playing?
Nick Cecere started with me. Dan Look (hope I spelled that right), and Mike O'sullivan were the first "darters" whom I met.

Are you still friends with some of these folks today?
Sure. Nick's one of my best friends.

Were you a natural at darts or did you hone your skills? Did you have to work at it?
I sucked. But, with a lot of practice, I got better.

From the beginning, what compelled you to play and why do you continue to play?
The need for competition is what keeps me playing! I continue to play because I am sucked in and can't get out. I did quit for a couple of years but so much for that idea.

What kind of darts do you throw, and where did your first set of darts come from?
I throw several different darts. I have a custom set for plastic, and I throw a modified Unicorn Carver. For steel, I usually put Jeff Pickup points on the Carvers or 22 gram Bristow PP (Power Point), if I need them heavier. My first set were hand me downs from my mom.

What kind of dartboard was your first board?
Steel. Nodor, I think.

Do you have a dart room at your home?
Nope. The basement has a board up though.

Do you consider yourself a passionate darter and why?
Yes, I hate to lose.

From your experience, what qualities make up the passionate darter?
Drive, desire, the need to improve.

What is your preference, steel-tip or electronic?
Steel. I prefer steel-tip because it is tradition and it's the way the game is meant to be played. Although I play more plastic...

What to you say to those who insist that electronic are NOT real darts?
The darts are real, the chalker is fake, it's all electronic and not a real person keeping score like in steel.

Which is more challenging, steel or electronic?
Electronic, because the difference in skill is much closer between players. There is a bigger drop off in steel from good to not good.

Playing electronic, does it get boring to aim for the bull so much?
Yes, I am terrible at the bull. It's my biggest weakness. Although I have won a couple 501 singles.

With all those quarters in the electronic games, is it possible to make any money at electronic tournaments?
Yes, and sometimes good money. You have to watch your other expenses.

What was your first tournament? Where was it? How did you do? Who did you partner with?
The Windy City Cup. I did terrible and I don't even remember who my partner was.

Over the years, what are your favorite tournaments?
The Bullshooter, Windy City Open, The Stupid Juice Open in Moline (picture at right from '2006 Stupid Juice!). Fun times!

What tournaments do you attend every year?
The Cup, The Bullshooter, Illinois State plastic if the Cup isn't the same weekend. I may go to Atlanta this year...WC Open, The Stupid Juice.

What tournaments haven't you attended that you would like to compete in?
The PDC US tour! Not ready for that yet.

Tell me about your first blind draw...
Brutal, I stunk. It was at Mitty's on the north side.

What are your favorite draws?
Cousin's and Time Out are the only one's I go to. Occasionally I'll pop up at Di's Den on a Friday night.

What is your favorite out?
170, I only know 1 guy ever that took it out.

What is your cricket strategy?
Close all the numbers and make sure that I have more points than my opponent to avoid a tie.

What gives you confidence at the line? Do you get nervous before a big match or playing on stage?
My ego. Yes I get nervous, however, you get used to it and play through it.

How do you get into the zone?
Breathing, and focusing on the task at hand.

What are your faults as a darter that you would like to work on?
Sometimes I hit the five or the one, while aiming for the twenty...

Who has been your favorite women's partner in tournaments?
Not fair to pick faves. Playing with Dawn Hamrin was fun, we won a few tournaments.

Who had been your favorite men's partner in tournaments?
Nick Cecere. Once a year is all he can take of me though.

What goes through your mind when you step up to the line?
"Boy, I bet my butt looks huge in these pants"

What do you think when you draw a partner who has never shot darts before?
I like the challenge. I've won with 1st timers.

What have been your favorite teams to shoot on?
It was the Little Ringers. The first is always the best.

Which are your favorite dart pubs?
Frank's in Dixmoor. They have great pizza. Steve Pavlin's place in Antioch is fun. Time Out. $5.00 pitchers.

What makes a good dart pub owner?
Good boards.

Who is your dream dart partner in a tournament?
One that hits everything they shoot at...

Which darter, whom you don't know, would you like to meet? What would you talk about with him or her?
Ronnie Baxter. I bet it's fun being Daniel Baldwin's stunt double.

What have been your best experiences playing darts?
All of my single's wins. Nobody but me to count on.

What have been your worst experiences playing darts?
My single's losses. Nobody to blame but me.

What are your pet peeves with regard to darts?
My pet peeves are the smokers and the wait for them. People that complain about pointing in cricket. People that are snoots about steel over plastic. They just are too embarrassed they can't hit the big targets.

What's the best way to learn your outs?
Practice. When you're on the expressway use the mile markers. You pass each one a bunch of times, say a different way to go out for each time you pass one..89 -trip 19 double 16.. 89 -trip 17 double 19.. plastic open out - 89 trip 13 bull. Etc...

What is the biggest mistake that darters make?
Not practicing and thinking they should be good.

Do you have practice routine? How often do you practice and how do you practice?
Yes I used to practice hours and hours per day. Now just an hour a day if a tournament is upcoming. If no tournament, I'll throw everyday but just around the board on doubles 2x not moving until I hit one obviously. My old practice routine was endless doubles and cricket triples shooting. And games of 501 against myself. Always on a steel board.

Is it better to practice alone or to play against others?
Practice alone. It's better to work on things.

Do you help others with their outs?
Yes. Not in a major tournament though. They should know their outs, but in league and draws, sure.

What do you think of the DartMasters (at Di's Den)?
Suck. They are too difficult to see the LCD lights, too difficult to work with and I just don't like 'em.

Who do you admire in darts and why?
Eric Bristow. Always arrogant and always on. Til the dartitis...

What is the greatest thing that you have learned playing darts?
I can be a jerk sometimes.

What mistakes have you made playing darts at draws, league and/or tournaments?
Rushing to the line to shoot. I always do it and it is wrong.

Looking back, would you do anything differently with regard to darts?
I blew some opportunities not showing up for a couple of tournaments. That's a bad move that people don't forget.

What is the most number of teams that you have played on at the same time?
5 - It was stupidity and the desire to play all the time. And, NO! I would not do that ever again - the teammates were great and I made a lot of friends but it was a different bar EVERY night.

Who has your greatest mentor or teacher been in darts?
Lumpy, Joe B., Jimmy Damore.

How would you encourage the beginning darter?
Get darts you're comfortable throwing. , or have you ever had a Black widows, Phil Taylors and GT's aren't necessarily the best darts for you.

How were you encouraged to play and improve?
By people complaining they got me in a draw. That's why I never complain about a partner.

Why haven't you ever run for a position on the WCD board?
No time. No pay, No appreciation. It's a tough job that I give credit to anyone for doing.

What are your favorite dart websites?
SEWA, The Passionate Darter. There are no others.

Do you subscribe to Bull's Eye News Magazine?
Not anymore. I don't care to see the same faces on the cover every month. I understand the hardships but I think there should be more grass roots darter interviews.

Would you ever travel to England to play darts?
Yes, maybe in 2009, if I improve enough.

Who are your favorite professional darters?
None. Why? I don't want to ever play one and be in awe.

What have been the biggest and best changes in the dart world within the last decade?
American pros. Better quality darts. Maybe not better quality personalities though.

If you were a visionary, what changes would you like to see in the dart world in the next decade?
A real American darts circuit. 12 regular tourneys and 4 majors...

How did you get your nickname?
A sweatshirt I wore at at a draw one night. What does it mean? "He said Hey Pooh Bear. you gonna shoot?" and it stuck.

What have you done with all your trophies and plaques?
I haven't kept them. Dart shirts? Never wear them.

What are you doing when you are not playing darts?
Lately I've been playing online poker.

Are you a reader, and what is your favorite book?
Yes. Any mystery probably, especially anything by Agatha Christie or Grisham. The Great Gatsby is fantastic! I love mysteries. And I like Tom Clancy, too. TV, books all of it.

Tell me three things that most darters do not know about you.
If they don't know they don't need to.

What three principles do you try to live by?
Work hard, raise my kids right, play hard.

What do you want darters to know about you?
Nothing good.

Do you have family, wife, kids and do they play darts? Do they support your darts?
Yes, no. And no.

Lastly, any funny, emotional, and/or entertaining dart stories?
Wait for my book for those...

My thanks to Joel (AKA Pooh Bear) for his time and energy for this interview. It's always interesting to read what other darters are thinking, how they began and what keeps them going. Personally, I have never given much thought to my breathing at the line, but Joel is the 2nd or 3rd darter who has mentioned the importance of this. It's always good to learn a new perspective or two or more from other darters and that is the reason for these interviews.

Again, my thanks to Joel for his time and energies for this interview


Sherilyn and Joel, AKA Pooh Bear
At Chicago's Windy City Open, September, 2008 - USA