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When you think of darts it is unlikely that King’s Cake, a Parade and the Superbowl come to mind. If these things do pop up in co-location with thoughts of our sport then you would have been right at home at the recent ADA 2008 Midwest Regional tournament (St. Louis, Missouri, January 31-February 3, 2008). Throw in a fierce snowstorm, a Thursday afternoon of darts at Hooters, a Groundhog Day thaw and you’ve got one of the most frantic, most fun ADA Regional events that I’ve ever attended.
So, I’ll start at the beginning, which for me was the day before the tournament started (Wednesday). In addition to being an ardent ADA darter, I am the Sales Director for a national company and therefore I always try to make some business calls in the cities I visit for ADA events. So it was that I arrived a day early, checked into the Hilton at the Ball-Park Hotel (where the Midwest Regional was to take place) and did just that. This was a good thing on two counts, I made some solid business contacts that day and I beat by about 24 hours the blizzard that followed me into St. Louis. That’s right, on Thursday, the first day of the Midwest Regional, a huge snowstorm blew in and shut the St. Louis airport down!
Even though it was my first Mid West Regional this event was no stranger to the Hilton. For the past five years this hotel has played its host. Located a just a block from the mighty Mississippi River and almost directly underneath the famous Arch it is next to the new Busch Stadium. Not to mention a walking distance from two casinos and a dozen great downtown restaurants.
I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have gotten to town until I ran into Kevin Graham, who owns the Chicagoland ADA franchise. His flight from Chicago was diverted to Kansas City because of the weather and what should have been a one-hour plane ride took Kevin nearly 12 hours to complete.
As for me, I spent Thursday afternoon in the warmth of the Kiener Plaza Hooters, which was right across the street from the Hilton. This Hooters features darts and is part of one of the “Private Label” ADA leagues. The ADA had arranged for a blind draw contest at Hooters, in addition to cash prizes the winners received free entry to the blind draws of the Midwest Regional. Now that was fun!
Did I mention that Sunday, February 3, the final day of the 2008 ADA Midwest Regional was also Superbowl Sunday? I had been wondering where I might catch some of the Super Bowl action while munching on some Buffalo Wings. Dilemma solved – Darts, Hooters, Super Bowl, it all just came together.
Thursday night - back at the hotel as the snowstorm raged outside - was dedicated to the 501 singles events – both steel tip and soft-tip competitions were held. I know I have mentioned this in previous articles, but I am always impressed with the careful thought that goes into the ADA programs and events. I’m talking right now about the “Best of 3 – Best of 3 sets” format that is unique to the ADA. For those readers who might be unfamiliar with this format members' play a minimum of four; maximum nine games. You win a best of three advances you at most tournaments. At ADA Regionals you must win a best of three twice! No luck here, good darts advances you to the next round.
By the time Friday afternoon’s Cricket Singles contests were underway the ADA members who had been delayed the storm had arrived. I saw ADA darters from Mississippi, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, I never got the official word, but I’m pretty sure there were a record number of participants at the 2008 Midwest Regional. Incidentally the Cricket Singles was also a best of 3, best of 3 sets.
I’ll tell you what thought crossed my mind as I watched the Cricket blind draw doubles that night. I noted that Budweiser was standing proud as the official beer of the Regional and that Beam Global (Jim Beam Black/Hornitos Tequila), who had signed on last year, were once again backing the ADA. I looked at all of the ADA members - some whom I recognized as ADA Certified Professional darters - and franchise owners gathered in the room and I thought this is big- this is what the ADA is all about.
I did not get an opportunity to ask Karl Remick, Championship Director if he knew that the St. Louis Mardi Gras Parade was to take place on the weekend of the ADA Midwest Regional. Nor did I inquire as to whether if he knew the Hotel was the Headquarters for that Parade. He said nothing and only smiled.
The St. Louis Mardi Gras parade, I’m told, is second only to New Orleans. And St. Louis begins its Mardi Gras season with a musical procession through the part of the downtown known as “Soulard” located just blocks from the Hilton.
I’ve got to say that choosing to share the hotel with the Mardi Gras parade headquartered there was a stroke of genius. I always find the ADA events to be exciting and when a touch of Mardi Gras is added the result is magic. What a great time, there were hats and beads everywhere and both bars in the Hotel lobby were 2 and 3 patrons deep.
Everywhere I went something was happening. Directly outside of the Championship Michael and Joyce Stafos, owners of the St. Louis Dart Shop set up shop. It was a pleasure to meet them and they had a great selection from their store for the members. Just inside and down at the steel tip area I found Charlie Hanes and Card Parlour Darts. Charlie flew in from Denver and is the inventor merging poker and darts into one great game. I think I spent as much time playing his game as I did in the Regional events.
After I wrapped up playing I wandered back down to the lobby and discovered that many of the guests at the Hilton were there for Super Bowl parties as well as Mardi Gras. The Hotel was rocking non-stop by Saturday afternoon when the women’s and men’s doubles events commenced. By the time the evening’s mixed doubles & draw doubles got under way, the atmosphere throughout the hotel was inescapably festive. And speaking of atmosphere, temperatures outside the hotel rose into the 70’s. Amazing how fast seven inches of snow can evaporate…..from winter to spring in just 48 hours! It was as if St. Louis had never heard of snow.
If it were possible to pick a favorite day at an ADA Championship, this time I would have to say Sunday. The ADA is also the only national darts club to stage the finals from Championship events on the final day. Smart as not only does it allow members to select what events to witness but also allows the media the opportunity to film & interview the Champions. This is where I met Jim Szepanski, from Jimski Productions. Jim filmed & produced a DVD from the ADA 2007 Nationals. I purchased one (only 25 bucks) and had a chance to chat with Jim. He told me that his future plans included working with the ADA to film the finals at the remaining Regional Championships in addition to the ADA National Championship.
Jim and I were soon distracted by the great darts thrown by Virginia member Shane Meeks who tossed two back-to-back ton-eighties in the 501 Open event to achieve an 11 dart game. He went on to defeat Chicago area Craig Erdey, the current ADA National Singles Champ.
Once the finals concluded I strolled across the street through Kiener Plaza to Hooters for some wings and to watch the Super Bowl with a buddy of mine from St. Louis. It was no surprise to see Chicago and Virginia members striking up conversations with patrons and the Hooters girls. We all agreed the ADA 2008 Midwest Regional was certainly one of the most fun darts Championships we had all experienced.
Why was this Regional more festive than others? After a couple of adult beverages our theory was that there had been some sort of cosmic alignment brought about when Mardi Gras crossed Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl pushed against Fat Tuesday creating the spate of weird weather.
A stretch? Perhaps, however it made sense at the time. Matters not as we now look forward to the Mid Atlantic Region Championship April 17-20 in Newport News, Virginia.
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