Las Vegas never sleeps...and I cannot sleep!
LAS Vegas... the city that never sleeps! Well they got that bit right, the trouble is, now that I'm back home it's me that can't sleep. As I write this, it is 2.30am!
There were four days of darts in Vegas, starting with a World Cricket Championship. Cricket is a strategy game, and one that I've never played competitively, but it is one that the Americans love and they are good at it too. I would explain the rules, but there isn't enough room on the page here even if I have got all night.
I drew Aaron Monk in a prelim in the Cricket, he is son of Colin Monk, a PDC player who has been around for a long time. Aaron has been playing on the PDC tour for a quite a while despite his age, and shows a lot of promise.
With neither of us really knowing what we are doing, we battle out a five-game epic which delighted our marker – Vincent Van Der Voort.
Aaron won the match 3-2, with the difference between us being one bullseye. As it was really a warm-up for the Players Championships ahead, we headed down to the pool to chill out in the sunshine. Note to self... chill is not a word I'll choose again when describing Vegas, at 110 degrees, chilling was not an option, frying is more appropriate.
That night we headed off to the Hard Rock Hotel and watched American rockers, Puddle of Mudd, who played an outdoor gig at the swimming pool complex.
Next morning we head to the Tropicana Hotel again for the first Players Championship. During practice time, a lot of the players are noticing that something is not quite right. The problem is something that I'd put down to an ear and balance problem that I get after flying sometimes, but it would appear that this was only part of the problem.
The hall in which we were playing was on the second floor, and in Las Vegas the buildings are built to withstand earthquakes. This means that the floors are designed to move, in effect, they bounce. The feeling that we were getting with everyone walking to and from their boards was akin to playing on a ship in rough seas – it was a horrible feeling, and it gave you a seasick feeling.
I drew world No 16 Paul Nicholson in the first round, and, despite wallowing around, I played well. Paul won the match 6-2, but I was quite pleased with the way I'd played.
Monday was a different kettle of fish (still on the nautical topics you'll see), I drew top American Gary Mawson. I was not feeling too good due to my balance, and the floor, and just couldn't get my game going.
I lost the match and went back to the room to lie down. I even opted to stay in that night whilst everyone else went out to sample the nightlife... great, all that way and I'm watching TV in the room!
Tuesday was the last day of the darts, and I drew a German guy who lives in California, called Dieter Schultz. I was still not 100 per cent, but played much better, but then so did he. I lost the game 6-3, but all those watching said that if I'd been feeling OK I'd have probably beaten him. Oh well, no prize money, but at least I can enjoy the holiday now.
On a funny note, we went and saw David Copperfield – the world renowned illusionist – whilst there. Somehow my wife Kristina managed to get picked from the audience to take part in an illusion on stage, and she and around 12 other people were made to disappear from the stage.
It was very impressive, but I must admit that as it was his last trick I did feel a bit stupid sat there with an empty seat next to me, and the only thing left of her was her handbag that I was holding. I wandered out into the foyer of the MGM Grand to wait for her to re-appear, and found myself holding the handbag amongst the 10,000 or so crowd, that had been watching Ultimate Fight Club cage fighting in the arena next door.
Thankfully she did get back from wherever she went, and we had a superb holiday.
Once back home my darts form seems to have reappeared also. I won my super league match with a great average, and our team won in a nail biting final leg decider.
There is a saying that "What goes in Vegas stays in Vegas." Well I'm hoping that my run of bad luck has been left behind.
It is 3am now, and I'm still wide awake, now what shall I do?
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
