In How to Master the Sport of Darts, and found him to be obviously passionate about his sport, unlike a lot of overpaid athletes in sports such as baseball and basketball, where money is seemingly the bottomline.  Through my chat with Mr. Silberzahn, the sport of darts (and, for the record, I fully accept it as a sport) is something undertaken and participated in for one reason - love of the game.  And that is especially true of Mr. Silberzahn.  But, don’t take my word for it, see below.

End Score (Dennis Velasco): Hey, George.

George Silberzahn: I guess we’re both here (chat area).

Velasco: Yup.  Thanks for doing this!  Can you give me some basic info… how long you have been playing and how you were introduced to the sport?

Silberzahn: Yes. But, so I’ve got it right, what aspect of darts competition brings on your WTF reflex?

Velasco: Well, my experience with darts (and I’ve played it for fun) is for the most part, strictly playing it in a bar. Honestly, that’s about the only place. I just questioned how darts would make good tv, considering my experience, and while I was competitive, it was something only immediately shared in the moment between myself and whomever I was competing with.  How does that competive spirit transfer to television… just questioned that.

Silberzahn: OK, got it. Well, I got started in darts in 1960, just after military service. The same way you did, I think. There was a local league with about ten teams, but I didn’t get into that right away. I wasn’t “good enough.”

Velasco: OK, so you weren’t good enough, but how did you get into the sport as much as you are now?  Naturally, I’ll assume you eventually got good at it. LOL.

Silberzahn: It goes like this, for just about everyone. Some of the people I played against were in a league and suggested I’d be good at it, so I tried. There was, and is, a heirarchy in dart teams, leagues and locales. I was at the bottom and intrigued with how good the guys were in the upper levels. I went to see them play, got to know them and thought, “I can do that well.” I joined the next highest level of teams, was the second string guy, didn’t like being that, practiced and got to first string. I moved to the highest level league and did the same. And so on right up to international level. See, there is a “progression” ladder available to those who get bitten by the “bug.”

Velasco: Hmm.. interesting. Had no idea about the hierarchy as I obviously only played recreationally. But it makes sense… sort of like chess with being a “master” then “grandmaster.”

Silberzahn: I like to use an anology. As you started in the local “pond” I’m sure there was a “big fish” in it. But when you went to another tavern you might have gotten to see what “good” is from an altered viewpoint. Then if you traveled around your city your understanding of what “good” is expanded even more until you reach the national level.

No different than tennis, golf, sports writing or anything. So,when I’m asked by a newbie how to get “good” I ask in return what they think “good” is. Then we can talk about how much they want it and are willing to invest in time and treasure to get it.

Velasco: I like the analogy and you’re right about it being like anything else as I definitely saw it with basketball growing up. I always liked to play against the best and traveled around to find the best competition. 

So tell me, what is your reaction to people like me who really don’t have the bug and make some sort of negative or ignorant comment about darts?

Silberzahn: Ah, nice choice of question. If the cause of comment is some kind of Carry Nation syndrome I ignore the person. If it comes from lack of involvement or understanding I’ll spend all day helping folks find out what they are missing. You can put into darts what ever you wish and enjoy the game for that.

Darts doesn’t start as a passion but it grows into one.

I think a lot of it is triggered by a person’s competitve spirit. There are those who hide behind “I just play for fun” because they don’t have what it takes to win against better players. Patrick Chaplin, the British darts historian has described me as wanting to teach everyone how to play darts.

Velasco: I’ll admit that I wasn’t that great at darts when I played, but again, I was at a bar and had other things going in my mind, such as getting girls, etc. But, I did hate to lose and still sort of tried, but not hard enough… guess I probably just wasn’t that good! 

I can DEFINITELY see that Patrick Chaplin’s statement about you is dead on.
 
Silberzahn: I did a TV spot in Boston a few years back, with no warning it was going to be an adversarial interview. By the time I found out, it was too late and the interviewer made my passion and my sport look foolish. Since then I’ve been very wary. If I get the chance to explain what is so fascinating to the millions of us who indulge in the sport, I rarely leave a person not impressed with the whole thing. 

It seems sports writers and talk show people have a “thing” about any competitive effort that is not one of the “Big Four” sports in the U.S. I believe they are missing something. The age of the “best” darts players is between 35 and 45 years. That means they’ve been playing for twenty years, at least. Now that should indicate something.

Velasco: True.  The sport is definitely accessible to everyone. Do you think that some people think it’s not really a sport because of that?

Silberzahn: That’s the mystery. I haven’t heard a justification for denigrating another competitive effort that makes any sense. The “professional” sportsperson, football, baseball, tennis, whatever, can most likely teach a darts shooter (I’ll explain the difference between a player and shooter later) some things about running, jumping, physical mechanics and the like, but they can’t tell us a thing about competing. In fact they could learn a few things from us.

The reason it takes so long to acheive in darts is the maturity required to handle the pressure demanded at that level. Consider, the difference between a winning and losing effort is the width of a wire. Imagine the control and concentration required to maintain an edge when “Mr. Will Power” is doing his best to intimidate you with body language and mental attacks aimed at making sure you understand who the “big fish” is in this pond.

One of the great things about darts is what it offers to those unable to compete in physical sports. As those with feet and leg problems. They are in it big time.

Velasco: Am I right in that the difference between a “player” and a “shooter” is that the player concentrates more, strategizes about which targets on the board he’ll go for, while a shooter just “shoots” the darts at the board, not really strategizing. 

And can you tell me more about those with foot and leg problems?  Wheelchair-bound players… is this what you mean?

Silberzahn: You’re close with shooter vs player. Just add this: the game is enjoyable at whatever level you choose to play. A night out, a few beers with friends, or satisfying your ego with a superior performance. A shooter will be wrapped up in the competition, sometimes too much, and work on their game all the time in an attempt to improve. A player will enjoy the game for what it is to them and be the same each time out with no worries. 

I received a letter from a fellow in San Francisco who walks with two canes. He read my book and got back to me through my publisher to tell me how much he appreciated a couple of the hints because he was then able to win games in which for twenty years he had no chance. It is not unusual to see folks on teams who take a while to get up to the line, or can’t stand for very long, due to some ailment or another, but their smiles when they hit a good shot are every bit, more so really, pure than the others who are there. And they don’t need to have their scores handicapped to do that either.

I break down the darts population this way: 80% of those involved are recreational players, 18% are those who like to compete, but only 2% can really come close to national or international skill level.

Velasco: George, I appreciate the time and I’m sure you have other things to do, so how about in closing you tell me why you love the sport so much, as well as anything else you’d like to say.

Silberzahn: Thanks. Not many who are straight shooters outside of darts players.  Darts is an endeavor that challenges a person to overcome their degree of being spastic. The greatest thing is it’s basic simplicity. It’s like an onion though. As you get more involved and peel back the layers you find it more tasty, and almost addictive. This is the reason why a family can play in their home for enjoyment, or a person can look forward to standing on a world stage. Plus, for old guys like me, I can still play.

Velasco: Excellent.  Well, thanks a lot George for your time.  I still have my opinion about darts on television, but I do see darts A LOT more differently after chatting with you.

And, there it is.  Mr. Silberzahn did help me see the passion that dart players have for the sport and I really put a lot of credence in his word since he’s been playing it for so long… he’s been playing darts a lot longer than I’ve been alive!  I’m not sure I’ve necessarily changed my mind about watching darts on television, and since last week, I have watched a couple of episodes.  I think I’d derive more pleasure from playing… and who knows, as Mr. Silberzahn said, it’s a passion that grows.

Check out more about George Silberzahn at howtodarts.com.