Originally Posted by Partizan
I much prefer the BBC darts to its Sky variant. BSkyB initiated the split in 1994 over money and promptly bought out the best darts players with the promise of bigger wads of cash. Since then I have viewed the Sky competition as being artificial and devoid of any real atmosphere and excitement. Phil Taylor's dominace of the Sky competition has all but killed it and all the old pros that originally came from the BBC are now retired.
The Lakeside cannot be beaten no matter what you say. Ok, the standard is probably higher on Sky but I think that because the BDO is part time, makes it more appealing and holds to its urban English working class roots. The sight of the different characters in the crowd, the panto, tacky xmas decorations, the beer swilling, tatoo clad chain smoking lads and ladettes, beer belly athletes, warts and all give it the cutting edge. This is where its at, not the hyped up, money ridden, commercialised Sky crap.
Ted Hanky, Andy Fordham, Martin Adams, Colin Monk and Barney, gods amongst men.
Its looking like a Hanky-Barneveld final........BRING IT ON.
In short, the Lakeside encapsulates everything that is the humble pub game of DARTS.