Dart Players take aim at championship
by Sam Passow
Staff Writer
People throw darts in bars all the time, but there are also statewide
leagues for players of different skill levels.
A team of local dart players recently played in a regional
championship.
Benders 1, a team sponsored by RD Benders, a bar in the borough,
faced OGD,
a team from Firewater in Hackensack on June 20.
The match was completed in RD Benders on June 27. As of press
time, Benders
1 was winning 14-10. Benders 1 consists of captain T.J. Pagliuca,
Joe Car,
Bernie Crabtree, Tim DeVries, Mark Joustra, Bob Race and Bob
Tafuri.
The two teams were conference champions in the New Jersey Dart
League
Platinum Division. There are about five major leagues in the
metropolitan
area, said Henry Magee, president of the New Jersey Dart League.
"People outside the game don't understand that (leagues have) been here for
so long," Magee said. "This league has been here for 23 years."
Magee has been competing in darts for about 30 years. Although he knows dart
leagues have been around for a while, he thinks the recent popularity is
because it provides an alternative to just sitting in a bar and watching
television.
Playing darts also gives people a chance to socialize. Even as they faced
off, Benders 1 and OGD joked with each throughout the night.
The Benders 1 team all met by playing in other leagues together.
Race has competed since 1998. He started when a bartender invited him
to
play. The chance to compete attracted Race to the sport.
"It doesn't matter how tall you are, darts is the great equalizer," Race
said.
Crabtree said the leagues' different skill levels give everyone a chance to
compete.
"No matter what level you are, you can fit in somewhere," Crabtree said.
He started competing in 1995 after a friend asked him to substitute in a
league.
Pagliuca enjoys the personal challenge that comes with the sport.
"It's just you against the board," he said. "It does come down to other
players, but it's just you out there."
Most of the players participate in more than one league and can play up
to
three nights a week, Crabtree said.
Players sometimes take advantage of the less-competitive leagues to practice
for the higher level competition. Most of the players also have their
computerized scorekeepers at home to practice with.
Magee said the sport is definitely accessible for everyone.
"You can be male, female, short or tall," he said. "It doesn't matter if
you're willing to put in the time."
There are no separate female leagues, but several teams have female players
competing.
For more information log onto www.njdarts.com or call 201-991-9383.
Sam Passow's e-mail address is [email protected]