02.12.09
How are the new rules working out?
So we are one match into the new season with new rules, faces and teams. How is it working out? Comments, questions and complaints go here…please keep it mildly constructive with the criticism.
Brian
01.14.09
To Call or Not to Call…
OK, so there is a proposed ballot measure to be voted on at the banquet. It is whether or not we should still call our shots for Cricket. I am hoping to start a little discussion here before Feb 7th, (12:00 noon in case you haven’t heard). So here goes…As I am sure most of you know S.C.C.D.A is unique in that we have to call our Cricket shots. This is pretty much unheard of in the rest of the dart world. Does it make us better than our counterparts not in Santa Cruz county? Does it make us worse?? If you go to an A.D.O (American Darts Organization) event and watch the top players throw you notice a certain rhythm to their game, a fluidity and strategy that doesn’t pause to let the mouth say what the brain already knows. On the other hand, how do I know that triple nineteen for points was really going for the nineteen at all? What if it went the other way, and I got the lucky dart in the wrong triple, what would I do?
My friend pointed up at all the plaques hanging in Double Oh and said, “If we go ADO, all those don’t mean shit.” I haven’t been around that long and I only have personal ties to a few of the names up there, but I get it. I feel like a part of something much bigger than just a player or a team. Like an elite group of dart commandos or something. Calling your shot is bad ass, and can intimidate players not used to it, especially if they are required to do the same. But more of us are going to non SCCDA events lately, and there ain’t no shot callin’ out there.
So, who does slop benefit? Obviously whoever gets sloppiest right? Who out there has played Mighty Mouse? Everyone. How much of that is slop, and how much is organized point enhancement from multiple targets? What I am saying is, only the least accurate will benefit from the grossest slop. Most of the slop is gonna be one hitters from missed bulls, or a flight assist into the lower numbers. So how much is one’s strategy gonna change? If the slop benefits everyone, the playing field is still level. It is a sort of a handicap, but since it is available to all, it is still fair. That is not to say I haven’t paid the price playing someone less skilled who racks up four hitters on eighteen while going for twenty. I should have closed that damn eighteen I guess.
So Bad Ass shot calling, or rhythm and fluid strategy? Elite skills, or better overall game? I don’t know. Help me decide.
Pointedly,
Brian Reed
09.15.07
Thoughts on Previous Editorials
Fellow Darters,
Having read Bruce’s editorial and Cliff’s comment, along with Cliff’s original editorial I am inspired to contribute some of my own thoughts. Personally I am delighted with how well this organization is run, and I am glad to be a member of it. I think the most important aspect of this organization (and the one most easily overlooked) is that it is a volunteer run organization. We all have jobs, careers, familys, classes and, well, lives to occupy most of our waking hours, and that things get done as well as they do within the SCCDA is a testament to the dedication to the few who have stepped up to do those things. And along those lines, kudos to Fred who has in recent weeks taken to posting the stats almost INSTANTAINEOUSLY. Impressive - thanks Fred. And to Cliff who seems to have things running quite smoothly regardless of whatever may not be quite up to date on the website. I know it’s got to be a ‘pain in the neck’ kind of job half the time. But schedules get done, website news posted, tournaments organized, banquets put together, disgruntled hands get held, new rules voted on, minutes kept, treasury tallied etc, etc, etc. Thanks to all of you who make it all happen behind the scenes.
I urge anyone who hasn’t already to take a few minutes and Google “dart league” in any region of your choosing (San Jose, for example). Go to any other league’s web site, and I think you will soon come away with an new appreciation of how great our organization is. There is room for improvement in ANY organization, but I sure feel like we’ve got it going on here. We all love darts, and I for one feel blessed that the SCCDA is even here. How lucky for us!
It’s a special thing we darters have here in Santa Cruz, and I urge you to take a moment next time you see any of the 9 or so individuals who have volunteered to keep this thing going and just say “Thanks.”
Thanks,
Roger Heitzman
08.20.07
SCCDA Editorial/Blog submission
Hello Fellow Darters,
Our new and improved website is looking good. I was a little surprised to see the All-Star invites posted so soon. Perhaps there should be a note explaining the names may change with the standing? I still hold the hope that someday the minutes to the board meeting will be brought up to date as well as the the rules, which are over a year old, also be brought up to date.
I was of the impression that having elected a “web supervisor” these updates would happen. We used to have sponsored links as well as links to our sponsor (pubs). I will personally seek out some paying sponsors if I can be provided with our rates.
100h7 club now has a page at Myspace.com/1ØØh7club (that’s two zeros in the url)
Why no editorials submitted so far? For me, I like to comment on the issues before the board. At this time the actions of the board are a complete unknown to me and I would guess to the majority of our members. What are you up to?
Publishing the minutes for tonight’s meeting would be outstanding!
Cheers,
Bruce Rich
06.06.07
SCCDA Needs Your Help
Hello,
I’ve been waiting for someone who checks out our website on a regular basis to come up with our first editorial. Well, I’ve had the request out for over 3 months and no one’s submitted anything. So I guess I will be the first…
As we all take a breather from the last dart season, start to prepare for the next and think ahead to the end-of-the-season banquet I think what I would like to talk about is apathy. What is apathy? Well, the basic definition is, “an absence of emotion or enthusiasm”. How does this apply to darts? Certainly not in the way most people play! I’ve seen anger, frustration, joy and a host of other emotions over the course of a close game, so the last thing I can do is accuse most anyone in the league of apathy when it comes to playing darts.
How about supporting darts? Well, I’ve encountered a number of people who put a fair amount of effort into getting non-member players more interested and into the league. However, there is one area that I unfortunately have not seen enough emotion or enthusiasm expressed for some time. That is in the business of running the league.
This season we have 6 out of a total of 8 Board of Director positions coming up for re-election. In addition league members will be voting for the possibility of a 9th position, Web Supervisor, that would also be voted upon. Now I believe that in a couple of these position the incumbent will be running for re-election, but that still leaves 4 or 5 positions that we need at least one person willing to fill the spot. It would be great if there was actually a choice of electees.
Here’s where the apathy part comes in: We need more people that want to help make the Santa Cruz County Dart Leagues even better. We need people that are enthusiastic about darts and want to make it easier for others to find out how fun the sport can be. I’ve talked to a few people about becoming officers and have been met with answers like, “I don’t have time for it” or “I really don’t like going to meetings”. Well, you know what? Neither do I. I am constantly in a struggle between my personal life, my business life and the time I spend playing darts or helping the league run as smoothly as possible. It isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but I have also experienced times when the league wasn’t running as well as it should and the frustration I felt when things fell apart. I realized that the best way to avoid that happening was to jump in and help out however I could.
Fortunately the bad times have been minimal for this league. I want to keep it that way. The only way to do that is to have emotional and enthusiastic people on the Board of Directors. People that MAKE the extra time for darts because they really like the game, and the Santa Cruz leagues especially, and they want to keep them available to everyone. Do you have a specialty talent that would help the league in its endeavors? Can you manage a website, are good at public relations, know and talk to almost everyone on a particular league? These are only a few of the qualities that would benefit the league! However, even if your abilities in these areas aren’t the strongest, if you have the desire and energy to help the league then the SCCDA needs you!
Look, I know you’re out there I just haven’t found you yet and I may not if you don’t put yourself forward and let the Board know that you’re interested in helping. Even if you’re not sure what position would be best for you, if you talk to one of the Board members we can help you figure that out. What’s most important is that you want to help. Let’s not let apathy result in the league being less than it should!
The above are strictly my opinion as a long-time SCCDA member and this is an editorial which means your comments and questions concerning the above is more than welcome. Please keep in mind that abusive or offensive posts will not be tolerated and will be removed.
Thanks,
- Cliff Cormier (SCCDA Commissioner)