Defining darts in one word - Phil Taylor
One can take it to be the biggest advantage or weakness of darts. You place all other darts players on one scale of a weighing balance and Phil Taylor on the other and just observe the result.
When we talk about soccer there are players like Pele, Maradona and Zidane that pop up in our head almost instantaneously. Moving on to golf, we have Tiger Woods.
We switch over to basketball and the face that flashes right in front of us is Michael Jordon. However, coming on to darts and we have none other than Phil Taylor.
Frankly speaking, all these legendary players on one end, and then there is Phil Taylor, or the Power of darts. The 15-time champion is not just a player, he is a total institution of darts.
He has not just collected 15 trophies in a special section of his house. With each trophy that he won, the player inspired others to move towards darts and adopt this game on professional basis at the same time.
This is precisely what differentiates him from the rest of his contemporaries.
Even veterans like Eric Bristow respect him for all the tangible and intangible contributions he has made towards the development of darts and its promotion on various levels.
Moreover, apart from this, for Taylor, it is just not about being the champion on the oche. It is about earning the eternal glory that can provide him a place in the heart’s of people forever.
Putting it as frankly as possible once again, he has been able to do it. He has triumphed in winning the perpetual vote of confidence from his people.
They do not visit the arena with the intent to see Taylor emerging as the winner every time, because they understand that after all he is a human being.
They are more interested just to see him perform. To see him releasing his darts, irrespective of the fact whether he wins or loses.
They just want a chance to cheer for their all time favourite player under every possible condition.
This can comprehensibly be manifested from the fact that despite facing early elimination from Ladbrokes World Darts Championship, Taylor was still provided with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Why? Simply because his love with people is not affiliated with his winning or losing of darts championship anymore.
After facing a knock out from Ladbrokes, he did fumble a little at the World Cup of darts where he partnered with Adrian Lewis. He lost to an amateur Canadian player in his very first encounter.
Once again, his feeling of affection for his fans or vice versa did not diminish. Somewhere deep down, they knew that their Power and the Power of darts will rejuvenate soon.
As per their expectations, he was back in his usual momentum at the McCoy Premier League.
His start was however, surprising this time. When everyone thought his opponent would be able to overcome him, he bounced back with all his power.
It was definitely the return of the King. The King of darts. From there onwards it became impossible to stop him.
He defeated his opponent and reigning champion Adrian Lewis in his campaign opening match. This was later followed by his wins against the Dutch player Raymond van Barneveld and Kevin Painter.
With the Premier League still underway, the audience does not expect anything less from their champion.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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