Dedication And Confidence.

The opening night in Dublin of the 2007 SkyBet World Grand Prix on the 8^th of October, 2007 saw the defending Champion Phil Taylor crash out with a 2-0 loss to qualifier Adrian Gray. Phil had won the competition 7 times before, but lost in the opening round to the 26-year-old from Sussex who enjoyed a dream debut. Adrian Gray had some superb darts hitting back-to-back 180s in his winning leg.

Phil has not had much success since losing to Raymond Barneveld at the beginning of the year in a world title match, but was gracious in his defeat in Ireland by saying;

"I thought Adrian played absolutely superbly." Taylor went on to add, "The last leg he did was superb and I'm pleased for him.”

Phil then said of his future, "I've got to go away, recuperate, think about what I'm doing and review my career. I've got to be dedicated or retire and I'm going to be mega dedicated.”
I have to agree with the great man himself and say that I have always said that players should show dedication to the sport and be committed. Speaking for myself, and those who know me will confirm this fact, I have been committed several times over the years, but I am getting better now with the medication!

Seriously though, when I am expressing doubt in my abilities on a match night because I feel a little bit under the weather perhaps, my captain will sometimes try and build me up a little and say, “You can play, have more confidence.”

To which I usually reply, “I am confident. Confident that I am going to lose!”

After about 30 years playing with the same players, albeit in different pubs, they know me by now and know that it is just my way of being modest and psyching myself up for the game. After all I can’t be that bad, because I have only lost one game in the singles for the Greyhound this season. On the other hand perhaps I ought to learn to keep my mouth shut a bit more, because the other team that I play for on a Monday have not even played me in the singles yet this season!