Thursday, July 27, 2006 5:50 PM

Name: John Dieckmann

Age : 46

Marital status: Married

City : Bloomingdale, NJ

Occupation: Product Manager

Tell us about the beginning of your interest in darts. Starting throwing with some friends at the Front Porch in Hawthorne on a Friday night and got hooked.  Went to a couple of LOD’s at Sips in Passaic and restarted up the dart team at the Porch after they had been out of the Bergen County league for a number of years.

In which league(s) do you play? A.B.C.D. and the Passaic – Morris Dart League

Which other family members play?  My wife.  As a matter of fact, I met my wife during a Thursday league night when her bar came into the Porch. Started up a conversation and accepted her challenge for the singles cricket  match in the last set.  Gave her the start and she almost whipped me by piling on the 17′s.  Afterward, I told her that I would be working the dart concessions for Tom Quinn at the NY/NJ tournament that Saturday.  Finished our conversation over dinner after the tournament that Saturday and married her two years later.  Even had our wedding reception in the same room as the tournament.  Had an ice sculpture made referencing our meeting over days and included it as an attachment here.

How far from home do you play?          17+ miles for the ABCD and 6 miles for PMDL.

How many days per week do you engage in darts?        4-5 counting friendly competitions at the local pub.

What kind of darts do you use: weight! Brand? 25g Hammerhead GT’s

What is the most annoying antic you see from other dart players?  Temper.  Too many people take this game too seriously and forget the fun that they are supposed to be having.  I learned early on after almost breaking my hand on a chair after a match that the difference between winning and losing in darts sometimes is the width of a wire and noone I know is good enough to make that kind of adjustment.

Tell us about conflicts darts created in home or work life?  I schedule my work travel to avoid missing league night and stay at hotels that I know have a bar with a dart board nearby. Also have annoyed my wife sometimes by staying out longer than I should because I am having fun throwing on a particular night.

What goals in darts do you have?  To be the most consistent player I can be and to become a very severe challenge to some of the best shooters in the area.

What has been your best moment in darts?  Meeting my wife.  After that, beating Dave Marienthal on a league night and on rare occassions at the Stumble Inn when both Dave and myself are playing well.  Also scaring the heck out of Tom Waterman in a single cricket match at NY/NJ.  Lost two out of three but had him sweating in the rubber match.

What’s your advice to a newbie dart player?  Watch other people’s styles and strategies and select or adapt one that will help you get consistent. Remember that three fat numbers is better than the occassional triple.

What would make your league better and more fun?  Better sportsmanship.  Try to be an ambassador for the sport not a negative.  People like Dave Marienthal, Paul Lim and Bill Davis are GREAT examples.

What does the sport need to help it grow and improve its image?  Education.  When this game is played properly, it is a beautiful thing to see.  People will realize that it is more than just a pub and/or basement game.

How far would you travel to see national championship playoffs?  My wife and I have gone to the WSOD in Uncasville but would consider matches within driving distance up and down the east coast.

Which game would interest you most in a national championship: ( )301, (X)501, (X)Cricket

Should a national championship be best of ( )3, ( )5, ( ) 7, (X) 11