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The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I don't care' – James Wade doesn't know who Scottie Scheffler is as he launches into bizarre rant about darts and golf
JAMES WADE appeared to not know who Scottie Scheffler is as he emphatically rejected comparisons between golf and darts. The Oche veteran, 42, was speaking after his 11-7 victory over Wessel Nijman at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. 3 James Wade was asked about comments made by Scottie Scheffler Credit: Sky darts 3 Scottie Scheffler recently won The Open Credit: AFP During the press conference, Wade was asked about comments made by As the question was being delivered, Wade asked "Who?" - before appearing to turn to the moderator. He then had the room in stitches as he quipped: "I've got no idea what's happening in darts, let alone golf." Wade then added: "It sounds really disrespectful, I don't really care what's happening in darts." READ MORE IN SPORT Giving the subject some more thought, Wade continued: "You get golf - they've got this whole new organisation they've moved across to, and I don't even know what's going on, if I'm honest with you. "Why do you play golf at a competitive level? To supply for your family. All I do is I take my hat off to them. "They're all earning a bundle of money. And no one really cares about what people think within reason. "As long as you try your best when you're at that stage, at that pinnacle of the game… you know. Most read in Darts BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "It's non-comparable. Golf players aren't even close to being on the pressure or the pedestal that dart players are put upon." After checking with the moderator about whether Scheffler is world No1, Wade added of the American: "How does he get to a tournament? Is it a private jet? Right. So when I get on an EasyJet flight… you're laughing and joking, but seriously. Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney in heated ruckus on stage at World Matchplay Darts "He doesn't have to get on a happy bus. He doesn't have to do all those things. It's non-comparable, really. I think you should perhaps do what dart players do and see what they have to see, and do what they have to do, you know. "It's quite amazing what dart players achieve when they don't have all that up their bottom, you know. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to get in a private jet. I'd love to be in a backwards entrance in an airport. "But, you know, I'm a dart player. I will do EasyJet. I will do Ryanair. Because I am what I am. 'I MIGHT EVEN WASH HIS CAR' "Would you travel 12 hours to get to a floor tournament? Would you do that three times in a week? No, you wouldn't. "So I think you should probably reflect… and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way." Seeking not to cause any issues with "There's no PDC player that gets any special treatment. I wish I was. I wish I did. "If this guy wants to invite me on his private jet to go to a tournament, I'm your man. I might even wash his car before it." World No8 Wade will be back in action tomorrow in Blackpool, as he takes on No22 Gian van Veen for a place in the last four. 3 Wade has been in action this week in Blackpool Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘I don't care' – James Wade doesn't know who Scottie Scheffler is as he launches into bizarre rant about darts and golf
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAMES WADE appeared to not know who Scottie Scheffler is as he emphatically rejected comparisons between golf and darts. The Oche veteran, 42, was speaking after his 11-7 victory over Wessel Nijman at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 James Wade was asked about comments made by Scottie Scheffler Credit: Sky darts 3 Scottie Scheffler recently won The Open Credit: AFP During the press conference, Wade was asked about comments made by recent Open champion Scheffler regarding handling pressure on the world stage. As the question was being delivered, Wade asked "Who?" - before appearing to turn to the moderator. He then had the room in stitches as he quipped: "I've got no idea what's happening in darts, let alone golf." Wade then added: "It sounds really disrespectful, I don't really care what's happening in darts." READ MORE IN SPORT DOUBLE TROUBLE Darts ace Daryl Gurney 'held back by security' in huge row with Gerwyn Price Giving the subject some more thought, Wade continued: "You get golf - they've got this whole new organisation they've moved across to, and I don't even know what's going on, if I'm honest with you. "Why do you play golf at a competitive level? To supply for your family. All I do is I take my hat off to them. "They're all earning a bundle of money. And no one really cares about what people think within reason. "As long as you try your best when you're at that stage, at that pinnacle of the game… you know. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "It's non-comparable. Golf players aren't even close to being on the pressure or the pedestal that dart players are put upon." After checking with the moderator about whether Scheffler is world No1, Wade added of the American: "How does he get to a tournament? Is it a private jet? Right. So when I get on an EasyJet flight… you're laughing and joking, but seriously. Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney in heated ruckus on stage at World Matchplay Darts "He doesn't have to get on a happy bus. He doesn't have to do all those things. It's non-comparable, really. I think you should perhaps do what dart players do and see what they have to see, and do what they have to do, you know. "It's quite amazing what dart players achieve when they don't have all that up their bottom, you know. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to get in a private jet. I'd love to be in a backwards entrance in an airport. "But, you know, I'm a dart player. I will do EasyJet. I will do Ryanair. Because I am what I am. 'I MIGHT EVEN WASH HIS CAR' "Would you travel 12 hours to get to a floor tournament? Would you do that three times in a week? No, you wouldn't. "So I think you should probably reflect… and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way." Seeking not to cause any issues with Scheffler, Wade went on: "Sorry, I didn't mean that in a rude way. That's just how it really is. "There's no PDC player that gets any special treatment. I wish I was. I wish I did. "If this guy wants to invite me on his private jet to go to a tournament, I'm your man. I might even wash his car before it." World No8 Wade will be back in action tomorrow in Blackpool, as he takes on No22 Gian van Veen for a place in the last four.
The Guardian
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Winning, losing, I wasn't fussed' – Adrian Lewis on quitting darts and hopes for a comeback
'The thing with darts,' explains Adrian Lewis, 'is you have to be in a happy place. It was for me, anyway. When you're up, everything's free, everything's flowing. You don't feel like you've got a burden on yourself.' And when Lewis was free, when the darts flowed from his hand like water, when the 180s piled up around his ears, the man they called 'Jackpot' could make this unfathomably difficult sport look like the simplest thing in the world. 'Don't think, just throw,' was his mantra. 'Just get up there, get into a rhythm, bash-bash-bash.' Those two back-to-back world championships in 2011 and 2012, aged just 25 and 26, remain the jewel in the crown. The first of those against Gary Anderson featured Lewis hitting the first nine-dart finish in a world final. His Grand Slam semi-final against his mentor Phil Taylor, in which Lewis averaged 111 and lost, is still one of the greatest matches ever played. His golden era probably only lasted for a few years – from around 2010-2014 – but hot streaks have rarely run hotter. Last week the world champion Luke Littler was asked to name the four faces he would put on a Mount Rushmore of darts. He chose Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Lewis: a player whose body of work barely registers against the other three, perhaps the only member of that quartet who could walk down the street unrecognised. But if you know, you know. So what became of a player often described – until the arrival of Littler – as the most naturally gifted darting practitioner ever seen? It happened slowly at first, and then all at once. At the start of 2016, when he reached his last world final, Lewis was still one of the biggest names in the sport. By 2021 he was out of the world's top 32, forced back on to the treadmill of qualification tournaments and small floor events. Eventually, around the start of 2023, he stopped turning up altogether. Nobody really knew why. He was 38, still relatively young in darting terms. He still had a two-year Professional Darts Corporation tour card. He was still adored by crowds. But the fire had gone, the flow had gone and at some point, clearly, so had the hunger. The purpose of this interview is to find out what happened. And why – fingers crossed – this most endearing of characters might just be on his way back. 'I remember once in the early days,' he says now. 'I was in the players' room with Phil, looking round, and Phil says: 'You know, some of the people in here are the mentally strongest people you'll ever meet in your life.' And I thought, you what? I thought he was joking. But as time goes by I started to realise he was right. Any little doubt that creeps into your mind, and that dart will not go where you want it to go. It hardens you.' We're sitting in a corner booth at Oche, the upmarket London darts bar. It's a promotional event for Pluto TV and the Modus Super Series, a rolling weekly invitational tournament featuring rising stars, golden oldies and some of the best female players in the sport. The mood is convivial, bordering surreal. Taylor is working the room with his trademark grin. The former world finalist Simon Whitlock has just skimmed past carrying an espresso martini. This is the glamorous part of the gig. The warm handshakes, the flowing drinks, the slaps on the back. Lewis has just announced that he will make his return to competitive darts in May at the Super Series. It's being billed as the great comeback. But it's not yet, not really. Not until Lewis definitely decides whether he really, truly wants to put himself through all that again. Because, of course, there are two sides to this darting life. 'It's like a rollercoaster,' Lewis says. 'Because you're going through that many emotions when you're on the stage. You come off, and obviously you're not physically tired, but mentally it takes a lot out of you. You're on such a high, and then when you come back home, you go low. 'You're constantly picking yourself up. And you haven't really got time to enjoy anything. Like, when I won the world championships, I didn't have time to enjoy them because I was getting ready straight away for the Premier League. You know you're going to be away five or six days a week, sometimes even more. You miss your kids. You miss birthdays.' Then in 2015, came a piece of news that would change everything. His wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with MSK, an incurable kidney disease. 'It's basically spongy kidney,' Lewis explains. 'So even if she has operations, the stones start coming back. Lots of appointments to see how they're progressing. Sometimes she'll be in hospital for two weeks at a time. They reckon by the time she's 40, she'll be on dialysis. We just crack on with it. That's all we can do.' In addition, one of Lewis's daughters has an autism-related disability requiring constant care. And so as the years passed, the prospect of grinding away on the tour for diminishing returns began to appeal less and less. 'I was leaving the house, not enjoying it,' he says. 'Even when I was winning I wasn't enjoying it. I was basically just going through the motions. Like a ghost. Winning, losing, I wasn't fussed.' Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion When did he first seriously consider stepping away? 'It had been building, probably, for 18 months. I'm sitting there at the Pro Tours thinking I don't want to be there. Before I've even thrown my first dart. Something's got to change here.' Perhaps what made this all doubly sad was that in his heyday Lewis was one of those characters who radiated the very opposite qualities: joy, exuberance, energy, snarl, the pure buzz of competitive darts. He could bring a crowd to the brink of rapture and bring opponents to the brink of fury. But the truth is – even though it was a truth probably only visible in hindsight – there was a kind of emptiness there all along, even when things were going well. 'I was missing something,' he says. 'My ability had never been in question. But my mindset, that was my big bugbear. I found it hard to get myself up for games, even if was against Michael or Phil.' Why does he think that was? 'I dunno. It's weird. You just go into your shell. You don't feel like your normal self. I can be more of a glass-half-empty guy, a bit frustrated at times. And then sometimes you go out there and you're trying too hard. It's weird.' And so, through 2023 and into 2024, Lewis retreated from the glare of the spotlight, into the more ordinary but more rewarding world of family and home, trips to school and trips to the hospital. Money wasn't a problem; the good times had been more than good to him. Everywhere he went people would ask him whether he had retired, and his answer would be the same: it was just a break, and he'd be back when his mind was right. Does he watch much darts these days? 'Not really. Maybe Gary, Whitey [Ian White], Michael Smith, the lads I'd sit at the table with every week. But I never watched darts anyway. I prefer football.' Of course he has noted the rise of Littler, a rise that in its speed and splendour has drawn parallels to his own. 'Yeah, for a young lad he's got a great head on his shoulders,' he says. 'I just hope the media can give him a bit of a break. But I honestly think Luke Humphries, the real No 1, is a great flag bearer for the sport. Just the way he comes across and conducts himself.' It is the standard – and commitment – at the very top end of the sport these days that still gives Lewis a certain pause as he decides whether to return full-time. The Modus Super Series will mark his first appearance on TV in more than two years. If that goes well, then he will consider going to Q-School next January to try to win back his PDC tour card. He will have to start at the very bottom. But from the occasional exhibitions he does when family circumstances allow, he knows the game is still there. 'There's no good me just going straight back into it and then after six months thinking, 'nah, that's me done', and retiring,' he says. 'I want to do it properly. I want to enjoy the winning feeling again.' There is one final question to put to Lewis. We've talked a lot about the sacrifices and strains of professional darts. But what about the buzz and the rush, the noise of the crowd, the sensation of perfection? Did he ever find his mythical happy place. Lewis considers the question. Thinks hard. Thinks a little more. 'My happy place is at home!' he eventually says, with that hearty, infectious laugh. 'But yeah. In patches, I think. Yeah.'
What's On
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
5 Galentine's deals in Dubai for you and your besties
Whether you're single, in a relationship or heartbroken, these Galentine's deals in Dubai are sure to get you celebrating your friendships. If you're looking for romantic Valentine's Day options or for something different to do for Valentine's Day, we have lots of options for those too. ATTIKO ATTIKO Dubai invites ladies to mark the celebration Galentine's Day with its special edition ladies night called Heartbreakers at its vibrant Shooting Star Ladies Night on Tuesday 11th February, from 8pm to 11pm. For just Dhs150 per person, the evening promises a fun-filled celebration with stunning views of the Dubai skyline. There's a live DJ and a violinist to set the mood too. The evening kicks off with the signature 'Kiss Lip' cocktail, but then you'll get complimentary house wines and cocktails. Attiko, W Dubai Mina Seyahi, February 12, 8pm to 11pm, Dhs150, @attikodubai FIVE LUXE Start your day with a luxe poolside pedicure at ReFIVE Spa, because flawless toes with a view are a must. Then, take home a ReFIVE Beauty Goodie Bag packed with treats to keep the pampering going. Finally, soak up the sun and the high-energy vibes at The Playa Pacha Pool and Beach Club —the ultimate spot for Insta-worthy moments and unforgettable memories. FIVE LUXE, February 1 to 28, from 10am, Dhs199, @fiveluxejbr TerraMar TerraMar have lots of different Galentine's offerings throughout the month of February. Try the specially curated 4-course menu from Feb 10 to 16. The menu is Dhs420 for two, and is the perfect way to toast to friendship. There's also a 2-for-1 for ladies on the Galentine's brunch on Feb 16 so grab your girls and get brunching. TerraMar, Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, Dhs250, @terramardubai Oche For a fun activity for This Valentine's season, ditch the typical dinner date and celebrate love, friendship, and good times at Oche Dubai! Here's what's on offer for you and your crew: Dhs95 for two hours of darts, plus a delicious choice of pizza, tacos, or burgers to keep you fueled. Dhs 199, grab pizza, nibbles, and three drinks per person, alongside 2 hours of thrilling darts. The Dhs 1500 package is the ultimate celebration for a group of 6-8, complete with one bottle of liquor, 2 hours of darts, and an assortment of pizza, sliders, and nibbles for the entire group. Oche, Dubai Mall, Feb 14 and 15, from Dhs95 @ochedubai SOBE Head to the Palm for a galentine's treat with your girls, or your guy friends. Ladies, enjoy unlimited bevvies and Latin-inspired dishes from 8pm to midnight for AED 120, accompanied by breathtaking views of the Palm. Gents, indulge in unlimited beverages for three hours for Dhs250, with 50 per cent off the food menu. Sobe, W Dubai – The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, February 13, from8pm, Dhs120, @sobedubai > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
