-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known
Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough: Bobby George’s Dart Lingo
“Gertie Lee!” “Madhouse!” “Maggie’s Den!” “Father’s Boots!” Whatever the expression, the slang, the lingo, Bobby George and Dr. Patrick Chaplin have it all in this amusing book-length glossary of colorful and useful expressions from the ochre.
Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough: Bobby George’s Dart Lingo is a compendium of the common and the obscure, from the often heard “Bed and breakfast” to the hysterical and historical “Lord Nelson” (a score of 111).
Like the game itself, and the jargon that has grown up around it, this delightful collection deserves admiration and good cheer.
Chris Carey, American Darts Organization Book of Darts
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‘The Bling Boy’ and ‘The Professor’ have really ‘caned’ the ‘lipstick’ with this ‘top of the shop’ darts compendium.
Sid Waddell, Sports Commentator and Television Personality
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When you hear the words “Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough”, you immediately think of Bobby George. Darts has used its own lingo for many years. "Bed and Breakfast"... 26 confirms that. (Who can remember when B&B was only two shillings and sixpence?) Bobby, through this book, showcases a truly individual language, not used in any other sport. It belongs only to darts. It's humorous and a pleasure to read. So when you meet me next, don't be surprised if you cannot understand a word I say; unless of course you have learned Bobby George's Darts Lingo.
John Lowe, Three-times World Professional Darts Champion
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Bobby’s language has always been a bit colourful. Now here’s the proof!
Eric Bristow MBE, Five-times World Professional Darts Champion
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It took me a while but I soon started to pick it up. Bobby George and a host of great characters in darts would come out with quips, phrases, insults and compliments that were all new to me but I listened and learnt and hardly stopped laughing.
The world of darts is wonderfully entertaining and it’s no surprise the sports’ popularity has surged over recent years. It has a language all of its own so this book is a perfect darts dictionary.
And in Bobby George darts has a great ambassador to guide us through the pages. On the oche, on the screen, in the pubs and clubs Bob has been there and seen it all as darts has developed. Between Bob and Patrick they know the history of darts inside out.
In conversation with Bob the odd four-letter word might slip out, and I don’t mean ‘dart’, but I will use another four-letter word, it’s ‘mate’. Bob is a great friend, he says it as he sees it and more often than not the end result is laughter. I can’t wait to go through this dictionary.
Wonder if he puts ‘P’ for ‘pyjamas’ in because on one occasion he appeared on the television in his pyjamas and didn’t realise. And that’s ‘T’ for true.
Ray Stubbs, Broadcaster and Former Footballer
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This is a unique book, in just about every way. And it all works. The front cover features Bobby George, veteran British darts pro decked out like a Christmas tree in shiny red shirt and enough gold chain and diamond rings to fund another trip to Hollywood for William and Kate. He appears to be laughing manically, his face as red as his shirt. Surely several blood vessels did not survive the photo shoot. Behind him is a Bobby George signature dart board. Inside the back cover is another photo of George and his coauthor, Dr. Patrick Chaplin. Dr. Chaplin contemplates the camera with quiet elegance, while Bobby seems to be only somewhat calmed of the fit of mirth on the front cover. If you weren’t familiar with Chaplin’s chosen profession, you might think something like “My god, what has Patrick gotten himself into?”
What Patrick Chaplin, Ph. D of Darts, has gotten himself into is a rollicking, spot on romp through the culture of the sport of darts. Even if Dr. Chaplin were not credited with authorship, it would not be difficult to recognize his imprimatur. For example, alternative phrases or terms are preceded by the words “also collected”. That’s a folklorist and etymologist tag, a tip off I think that the Dr. has worked Bobby George’s Darts Lingo like the veteran, determined scholar that we know him to be. And the proof is there, in the proverbial pudding.
For his part, George is the perfect pairing for Chaplin in this endeavor. Profane – self-censorship an alien concept, it seems. Irreverent, non-stop and rapid fire, his prose wafts the scent of intense competition laced with hi jinks, guffaws, smoke filled pubs and pints of ale, the odd shot of whisky tossed off now and then to stir things up a bit. In short, Bobby George embodies the sport of darts. Bobby is darts, real darts - authentic and authoritative darts. His voice is gritty and good to the last turn of phrase.
Here's a sample George-ism from the book. This is something he tells disgruntled pub shooters: "The doubles are all the same size; they just live in different places".
The book is about what it says it is about, “darts lingo”. And a special language is very important in the development of a sport. Sports are games or exercises that have attached additional requirements having to do with things like language and style and methods of expressing emotion. A sport is created through the development of a culture specific to the contest of skill or strength from which it arises.
This book is, however, no mere glossary of darts phrases and terms, it is an exacting fun filled examination and analysis of the language and culture of darts in the English speaking world. The history of the phrase is often revealed. There is, for example, a terrific discussion of the origin of the terms “hockey” and “oche”, as well as “bull’s-eye”, “middle” and “cork” and many others.
American readers will be pleased with the number of terms shared with the overseas practitioners of the sport there are more than a few. The only shared term I found that was not as I have heard it a few times in the darts venues of America was “Middle for Diddle”. I have heard it here as “Diddle for the Middle”. The book correctly points out that in the USA people “shoot” darts rather than “play” the sport.
The only discussion in the book that I would perhaps take issue with is the one about a “Friendly Match”. The authors say that this means a casual round of darts and that it arises from the way in which brewers initially presented the idea of leagues to pubs and patrons. So there is justification for including the phrase, but I have witnessed a significant number of darts contests and I have yet to gaze upon a truly “friendly match”.
I think this book substantially advances the sport toward a universal language. I doubt that much of the rhyming cockney darts slang that has been around for decades will ever really cross the Pond. But there are enough terms in common to indicate a general melding of global darts lingo. This is an essential progression for any sport.
As noted, though, this is a book about the culture and history of darts as revealed through its language and traditions. Best example: there is included a delightful, Joycean anecdote about Jack Hood, who manufactured dart boards in England during the early and mid-twentieth century. When asked what material he used in the manufacture, he replied that he used the wood of the Elm tree. In darts he explained, “Men play with the same wood as they are buried in.”
Just perfect – buy this book at once!
Dan William Peek, Author of 'To the Point: The Story of Darts in America'
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-- Newspaper and Website Reviews
SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
East Anglian Daily Times
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
East Anglian Daily Times
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Brit (Madeira Newspaper)
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Book review: Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough by Bobby George and Patrick Chaplin
By Pam Norfolk
If someone told you to ‘get the orange box’ or shouted ‘ladies and children halfway,’ would you know what they were talking about?
For most of us, it all sounds like ‘double bull’ but for darts fans, those well-worn phrases are just a few of a vast collection of Bobby dazzlers.
To be more precise, that’s Bobby George, the laughing ‘arrers’ ace who first made his mark on the professional darts scene way back in 1976 when he won the first singles event he entered.
Since those early days, George has bagged a handful of darts championship titles, represented England on 26 occasions, made a surprise comeback in the early 1990s and taken his place as a respected television studio pundit.
But it’s not just his ability as a player that has won him thousands of avid supporters; his flamboyant personality, trademark sequinned shirt and cheeky humour have made him one of the most popular figures in the sport.
And now we can get to know Bobby George and his ‘darts lingo’ even better in this raunchy, fun-filled, hilarious cornucopia of fascinating facts and phrases which sees the master on top form.
From crackers like ‘a game’s not won ‘til it’s lost’ to the more prosaic ‘Marlene. Start the car. We’re leaving’ (usually muttered from the sidelines), this informative and side-splitting reference book provides hours of fun for both the initiated and the uninitiated.
Darts, like cricket, is a game that has a language of its own – most people of a certain age know that ‘bed and breakfast’ means 26 and that the ‘madhouse’ is double one, but here we can learn just why they mean 26 and double one.
Some of the lingo needs no explanation...‘Gawunmyson!’ would clearly be seen as a word of encouragement, although George’s interpretation is more ‘That’s it my lad. Give ‘im a good thumping’.
‘Floating flight’ apparently refers to the practice by some darters of marking their drink by popping a flight (arrow) into their beer, although this can be dangerous as discovered by a player who swallowed the flight during a momentary lapse!
Chief translator for George’s darts lingo has regularly been BBC commentator Ray Stubbs who was famously flummoxed on one occasion when called on to explain the meaning of ‘he’s very military spasmotic and he thinks he’s interlectrical’.
Such tales are typical of George’s entertaining ‘flight of fancy’ into the very grown-up world of darts and for those not fazed by some smut and bad language, Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough is guaranteed to hit bullseye.
(Apex, hardback, £9.99)
Lancashire Evening Post
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Bobby George and Dr. Patrick Chaplin: Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough
To be sure all of us have wondered once in a while what the one or other dart-term or dart phrase really means and were it originated. At times one had been lucky and found in a dart book a supplement where a few terms were explained.
Fortunately for us dart fans Bobby George and Dr. Patrick Chaplin took the view, that the special darts language deserves it to be treated less shabby and now published a whole book that has the focus on it. The result is a kind of dictionary of darts terminology which tries to explain origin and meaning of the phrases. That of course it not always possible, even the scientific investigations by the Doctor of Darts fail sometimes.
The book is in no way boring or arid like dictionaries often are. As to be expected by Bobby George it is written with wit and shows delight in doing so while Patrick Chaplin contributes his background knowledge and sees to that we can enjoy beside Bobby George’s fabulating real “facts”. Many of the phrases are after all only to be understood from the historical or local background should they not, as the book title, originate from Bobby George himself.
The range reaches from really old terms like “Bag O’Nuts” which Patrick Chaplin could trace back till 1910 to modern phrases like the by TV commentators often used “Lipstick” . But the book is not only about darts language, terms like “Exhibition”, “Dartitis” or “Belophilite” are covered as well.
Out of the cooperation between Bobby George and Dr. Patrick Chaplin an entertaining, readable and informative book arose which deals with a till now disregarded aspect of the sport of darts and which ensures a gap in darts literature is now closed.
www.globaldarts.de
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Ipswich 24 Magazine
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Bulls-Eye News Magazine (BEN)
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Maldon Gazette
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Northern Scot
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Bulls-Eye News (BEN)
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Book review By Steve Metalman – Dartsforum.co.uk
Scoring For Show, Doubles For Dough: Bobby George’s Darts Lingo
Bobby George and Dr. Patrick Chaplin
2011 Apex Publishing Limited, Essex
149 Pages Hardback
Price £9.99
Available June 2011
Rating 10/10
This book may be the biggest collection of terms used in darts ever to be published, but it is far, far more than that!
Many darts books have contained some sort of glossary or dictionary, but none have even attempted to reach the heights that this book has achieved comfortably.
Dr Patrick Chaplin’s unique knowledge of darts history and painstaking research skills have combined with Bobby George’s professional experience and inimitable use of the English language, to give a must have book for anyone interested in- Playing Darts, Watching Darts, Humour, Language, Sport or Sports History.
A remarkable achievement.
As Bobby George says in his introduction “…..I have toned some of my lingo down a little in this book, but only enough for it to receive a 15 certificate”.
As well as the main chapter ‘Bobby’s Darts Lingo List’, other short chapters include
‘Cockney Rhyming Slang and Bingo Lingo’, and also some nice anecdotes and ‘George-isms’ from Bobby.
Dr Chaplin provides an interesting chapter about Bobby, and also about how discussion about darts terminology has moved away from books on local language, dialect and custom, and into books on sport and sporting history.
Indeed, it was fascinating to learn that some darts terminology had first been recorded by T.H. White, author of ‘The Sword in the Stone’.
The book includes British regional slang and dialect, as well as words and phrases from the USA, Australia, South Africa, the military, and popular (or once popular) culture, alongside expressions familiar to most dart players and fans.
For those with a greater interest in the subject, a Further Reading section is provided.
There are many laugh out loud moments, and I found myself chuckling throughout
at Bobby’s characteristic banter.
If the intention was to ‘educate, entertain and inform’, then the authors have succeeded admirably.
This book is most unique – a humorous reference book that can be read again and again.
The only question I have is, ‘Where do I keep it?’
Should it go with the dictionaries and encyclopaedias, or should it go with humour.
Wherever you decide to keep it, it’s not a book to be lent out, as you’ll not get it back!!
Dr Chaplin has researched the origin and etymology of the words and phrases included in this book but in some cases even he has been unable to pin down their provenance.
For the vast majority though he has traced back many common phrases in great depth.
For example, a lot of darts players are familiar with a score of 26 being referred to as ‘Bed and Breakfast’ because 2 and 6 (two shillings and sixpence or in modern money 13p) was the common price for bed and breakfast in guest houses.
Dr Chaplin has traced this price back to the ‘Cyclists’ Touring Club British Handbooks and Guide’ for 1913 and 1914.
Amongst the stories contained in here is the tale of the inclusion of the word Dartitis into the Oxford English Dictionary, as a ‘State of nervousness which prevents a player from releasing a dart at the right moment when throwing’.
The Queen’s English Society had helpfully pointed out to Dr Chaplin that the literal meaning of Dartitis is ‘Inflammation of the dart’ and the proper term should be Belapolitalia, meaning ‘dart releasing difficulty’.
This book is the definitive collection of Darts Lingo.
It is well written and researched and is a really good read. It can be read as a book, or dipped in and out of like an encyclopaedia, and will be an asset to any book shelf or library for years to come.
www.dartsforum.co.uk
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Largan Mail
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Darts! Monthly Magazine
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Daily Star Sunday (Take 5 Magazine)
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Darts World
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SCORING FROM SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Sunday Post
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SCORING FROM SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Weekly News
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Maldon and Burnham Standard
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
www.darts501.com
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Darts World
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Northern Echo
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
The Four Shires Magazine
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Tenby Observer
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Sport Magazine
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Preview and Live Magazine
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BOOK REVIEW:
Written by the King of Bling, Bobby George and Dr Darts, Patrick Chaplin. Foreword by Ray Stubbs.
2011 Apex Publishing Limited, Essex | 149 Pages Hardback | RRP £9.99 | Available 25th June 2011
Darts has come a long way. From the early 1900s when brass was chucked at the old Fives board on a ‘hockey’ in East End boozers darts progressed from casual pastime to a worldwide phenomenon before graduating to the professional sport we have today, throwing from an ‘oche’.
It is an inexpensive game that anybody can play and as such has always attracted the working class, spawning a sub-culture with its own language. It is this darting lexicon that ‘Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough’ explores, providing the first dedicated darts glossary.
Watch televised darts these days and you will hear the commentator talking about “peppering the lipstick” and being “in the madhouse”, wind back 100 years and the call of “cat’s on the counter” will have gone up following a winning dart. If these expressions mean nothing to you look no further.
And who better to present this ‘dartictionary’ than a Cockney legend with the gift of the gab and a bona fide professor of the game? Bobby George is fully qualified to be the author of SfSDfD given his unique place at the sharp end of professional darts for over 35 years.
In that period Patrick Chaplin has dedicated his life to studying the sport and is arguably the foremost authority on darts. This academic approach to darts is something that Bobby, a builder by trade, finds rather peculiar, and doesn’t he let “The Professor” know it..!
Cue what turns out to be a comic double act with straight man Patrick providing the necessary bedrock of information and giving plenty ammunition for the wise-cracking Bobby to wax lyrical on his opinions of the origin and etymology of the words and phrases included in SfSDfD. Be warned, the language is often infused with innuendo and gets a bit industrial at times; and it has been toned down apparently!
Much darting idiom is based around Cockney rhyming slang which is covered in detail by a well qualified Bobby. And if you’ve ever wondered what a ‘log end’ or ‘goon box’ is, it’s all here. The puzzling affliction of ‘Dartitis’ is covered, there’s a great little section on exhibitions (good to see Bobby’s right hand man, Little Richard Ashdown getting some column inches), and Welsh left-hander, Mark Webster, might be interested to learn that his nickname of ‘Webby’ means illegally toeing over the oche line.
I played a friend the other day and when I lost the first leg I asked “mugs away?” and he stared blankly at me. Happily the phrase is included here and I can now prove I didn’t invent it on the spot.
There are some tenuous and rather dubious terms included, and there are some that still remain unexplained (even after painstaking research) but are included nonetheless. An addendum at the back includes a number of terms that arrived too late for initial inclusion, and there is an invite for readers to send in any that have been missed for inclusion in future revisions. I did think of a few and have elaborated below on those that I will be forwarding to Messrs George & Chaplin.
If you’re wondering where SfSDfD would sit on your bookshelf (is it sport? is it comedy? is it reference?), might I suggest it is something to leave next to the lav to delve into when you’re having a ‘Dinky Doo’. It’s the perfect toilet book and I mean that in a good way.
The scope of the compendium is impressive and the information attached to each term is substantial, although one or two could do with better explanation (‘shanghai’ and ‘bogey number’ for example). The phrases are sensibly listed in alphabetical order so you can easily navigate your way around.
All in all I’d say this is a good read for darts fans but probably not for people new to, or ignorant of, the game. If you don’t know Bobby I can imagine you might not get, nor appreciate, much of the banter. But it is obvious the tome is aimed fairly and squarely at those people for whom a ‘beanz feast’ is something they not only understand but would be very proud of achieving.
www.dartsmad.com
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THE KING OF BLING IS STILL A BOBBY DAZZLER
ASK any darts fan to sum up Bobby George in one word and the most likely answer you will receive is that of “legend”.
As the founder of the famous walk on, and the undisputed king of bling, 65-year-old George has grown to become one of the best-loved players to ever have graced the oche — in a career spanning more than 30 years.
Although one of the greatest players never to have lifted the coveted BDO World Championship crown, the Essex-based star has a number of titles to his name, including the 1978 North American Open, the 1979 News of the World Championship, along with 26 England caps.
But aside from becoming a fans’ favourite, George has also developed another well-known item during that time, his own unique darts language.
And now, for the first time, the two time BDO World Championship finalist has penned his well-used catchphrases, with the help of dart historian Dr Patrick Chaplin.
Scoring For Show Doubles For Dough is packed full of ‘Georgisms’, mixed with short tales from his time on the oche, and is a must for any serious darts fan.
“I got a call from Patrick asking if I would be interested in putting down all my lingo as he had seen me on television trying to show it to Ray Stubbs on the BBC,” said George.
“That all came about after Ray was ordering drinks at the bar at the Lakeside about three years ago and I said ‘I’ll have a pig’s ear’, which is a beer, and Ray had no idea what it was. So I sat down and we did a bit for the TV with Ray trying to learn my lingo and that’s how Patrick founded the idea of the book.
“Everyone uses my lingo, so it made sense to put it down on paper. Patrick has come along and done a lot of research while I have added the humour to it.
“At first I thought it was going to be a bit plastic and boring, but I have really enjoyed doing it and hopefully people will find it a good read.”
Over the last decade, darts’ popularity has rocketed thanks to the likes of George, and the roles of the BBC and Sky in promoting the game.
No longer is the game full of the stereotypical images of men with large beer bellies throwing darts in smoke filled arenas, but one of glitzy walk-ons, glamour girls and players that are as recognised as Premier League footballers.
“We are now back at the time when darts was massively popular in the late 70s and early 80s,” added George.
“Everyone has their heroes. I was one of the first who came out with walk on and some said you are bringing the game down, but look where it is now. If you did not have all that you would lose the entertainment. You could say that I was the one who brought the glamour into darts and the looks too!
“All games peak and fall but darts is getting bigger and bigger and now it is reaching around 70 countries, although I would struggle to name 15 of them!”
In addition to changes made regarding the image of the game, a number of alterations have come in over time to the playing side, as George explains.
“Since I started out the treble beds have got much bigger with the change of boards,” said George.
“It is now a lot easier to hit the 180s, but that is what the spectators want to see.
“Throwing distance has changed as well. Back then we were throwing that bit further, which makes a difference. It does make comparing statistics hard though, with such changes.”
With the darts being split into two codes in the early 1990s, many feel that the breakaway PDC, which features the likes of 14-time world champion Phil Taylor, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld, is much the stronger competition, but for George that is not the case.
“It is all rubbish that there is a gap between the BDO and PDC,” he added. “All the PDC lads at some point have played in the BDO and you have to look at those that have jumped over recently. Look at Gary Anderson, he has just gone and taken the Premier League title.
“I’ll give Barry Hearn his due. He has pushed the game forward but the BDO continues to produce the players before they go to the PDC. Another example is Scott Waites in the Grand Slam of Darts, he gets beaten by Phil Taylor in 2009 then comes back and wins it next year which is great for the BDO.”
Although now fully focused on a punditary role for the BBC’s dart coverage, something he has done for more than 10 years, George still pulls the darts out from time to time to roll back his glory days against some of his old rivals.
He said: “I still play a lot of exhibition darts and enjoy that but I do miss playing the game on the big stage. I could have gone back if I wanted to but it is a big sacrifice. It would mean I would have been travelling all over the place again, playing in the county matches and after 37 years of doing it I just want to enjoy myself now.
“I enjoy doing the TV work and Ray Stubbs has helped me a lot. There is no acting involved its all live. Colin Murray has been good to work with and he is well into his darts, although there are times when I haven’t a clue what he is saying!”
Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough, is available is available from Apex Publishing Ltd and Amazon.co.uk as well as stocked at most leading bookstores, priced at £9.99.
Bury Free Press
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
www.ud.net/dartoidsworld
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Essex County Standard
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Daily Star Sunday
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Essex County Standard
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Great Barr Observer
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THE KING OF BLING IS STILL A REAL BOBBY DAZZLER
ASK any darts fan to sum up Bobby George in one word and the most likely answer you will receive is that of “legend”, writes Graham Clark.
As the founder of the famous walk on, and the undisputed king of bling, 65-year-old George has grown to become one of the best-loved players to ever have graced the oche — in a career spanning more than 30 years.
Although one of the greatest players never to have lifted the coveted BDO World Championship crown, the Essex-based star has a number of titles to his name, including the 1978 North American Open, the 1979 News of the World Championship, along with 26 England caps.
But aside from becoming a fans’ favourite, George has also developed another well-known item during that time, his own unique darts language.
And now, for the first time, the two time BDO World Championship finalist has penned his well-used catchphrases, with the help of dart historian Dr Patrick Chaplin.
Scoring For Show Doubles For Dough is packed full of ‘Georgisms’, mixed with short tales from his time on the oche, and is a must for any serious darts fan.
“I got a call from Patrick asking if I would be interested in putting down all my lingo as he had seen me on television trying to show it to Ray Stubbs on the BBC,” said George.
“That all came about after Ray was ordering drinks at the bar at the Lakeside about three years ago and I said ‘I’ll have a pig’s ear’, which is a beer, and Ray had no idea what it was. So I sat down and we did a bit for the TV with Ray trying to learn my lingo and that’s how Patrick founded the idea of the book.
“Everyone uses my lingo, so it made sense to put it down on paper. Patrick has come along and done a lot of research while I have added the humour to it.
“At first I thought it was going to be a bit plastic and boring, but I have really enjoyed doing it and hopefully people will find it a good read.”
Over the last decade, darts’ popularity has rocketed thanks to the likes of George, and the roles of the BBC and Sky in promoting the game.
No longer is the game full of the stereotypical images of men with large beer bellies throwing darts in smoke filled arenas, but one of glitzy walk-ons, glamour girls and players that are as recognised as Premier League footballers.
“We are now back at the time when darts was massively popular in the late 70s and early 80s,” added George.
“Everyone has their heroes. I was one of the first who came out with walk on and some said you are bringing the game down, but look where it is now. If you did not have all that you would lose the entertainment. You could say that I was the one who brought the glamour into darts and the looks too!
“All games peak and fall but darts is getting bigger and bigger and now it is reaching around 70 countries, although I would struggle to name 15 of them!”
In addition to changes made regarding the image of the game, a number of alterations have come in over time to the playing side, as George explains.
“Since I started out the treble beds have got much bigger with the change of boards,” said George.
“It is now a lot easier to hit the 180s, but that is what the spectators want to see.
“Throwing distance has changed as well. Back then we were throwing that bit further, which makes a difference. It does make comparing statistics hard though, with such changes.”
With the darts being split into two codes in the early 1990s, many feel that the breakaway PDC, which features the likes of 14-time world champion Phil Taylor, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld, is much the stronger competition, but for George that is not the case.
“It is all rubbish that there is a gap between the BDO and PDC,” he added. “All the PDC lads at some point have played in the BDO and you have to look at those that have jumped over recently. Look at Gary Anderson, he has just gone and taken the Premier League title.
“I’ll give Barry Hearn his due. He has pushed the game forward but the BDO continues to produce the players before they go to the PDC. Another example is Scott Waites in the Grand Slam of Darts, he gets beaten by Phil Taylor in 2009 then comes back and wins it next year which is great for the BDO.”
Although now fully focused on a punditary role for the BBC’s dart coverage, something he has done for more than 10 years, George still pulls the darts out from time to time to roll back his glory days against some of his old rivals.
He said: “I still play a lot of exhibition darts and enjoy that but I do miss playing the game on the big stage. I could have gone back if I wanted to but it is a big sacrifice. It would mean I would have been travelling all over the place again, playing in the county matches and after 37 years of doing it I just want to enjoy myself now.
“I enjoy doing the TV work and Ray Stubbs has helped me a lot. There is no acting involved its all live. Colin Murray has been good to work with and he is well into his darts, although there are times when I haven’t a clue what he is saying!”
Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough, is available to buy at most leading bookstores priced at £9.99 and George will be signing copies on Wednesday, July 13, at Waterstones, Buttermarket, Bury St Edmunds (11am).
Newmarket Journal
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DARTS LEGEND GETS IT WRITE
DARTS legend Bobby George will be signing copies of his new book at a Waterstone’s store.
Mr George, who lives in Ardleigh, has penned a book about darts lingo called Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough.
The signing in Colchester will be on July 9 between 12 noon and 2pm.
Clacton Gazette
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Maldon Standard
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Aspects: The Alumni Magazine
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Dr Darts' Newsletter
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Dr Darts' Newsletter
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
British Society of Sports History Members' Bulletin
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SCORING FOR SHOW, DOUBLES FOR DOUGH
Daily Star Sunday
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-- Radio and TV
26 May 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live 909 MW. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'. Bobby was interviewed on 'The Freddie Flintoff World Of Sport Show'.
BBC Radio 5 Live 909 MW
3 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on BBC Radio Essex 103.5 & 95.3 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
BBC Radio Essex 103.5 & 95.3 FM
13 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Wythenshawe 97.2 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Wythenshawe 97.2 FM
13 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Leith 98.8 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Leith 98.8 FM
15 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Express 93.7 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Express 93.7 FM
17 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Rock Radio 96.3 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Rock Radio 96.3 FM
20 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Wolverhampton City Radio 101.8 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Wolverhampton City Radio 101.8 FM
22 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on Swindon 101.5 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
Swindon 101.5 FM
27 June 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on BBC Radio Northampton 104.2 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
BBC Radio Northampton 104.2 FM
7 July 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle 95.4 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
BBC Radio Newcastle 95.4 FM
26 July 2011 - Bobby George was interviewed on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM. Bobby answered questions about his book 'Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough'.
BBC Radio London 94.9 FM