Name:   JOHN NEWSOME               

Age:   39

Marital Staus:   MARRIED

City / State in which you reside:   CLAYMONT,  DELAWARE

OCCUPATION:          USPS route delivery

How, when, and where did your interest in darts begin?    I WAS WORKING FOR A VENDING COMPANY WHICH SUPPLIED ELECTRONIC DARTBOARDS TO VARIOUS PUBS THROUGHOUT DELAWARE.  THEY STARTED A LEAGUE CALLED THE UNIVERSAL AMUSEMENT DART LEAGUE SOMETIME AROUND ’91 OR ’92.  THERE WAS A BAR THAT NEEDED TO FILL ONE MORE ROSTER SPOT, AND WHO DO YOU THINK GOT STUCK FILLING IT?  I WAS PRETTY MUCH FORCED IN TO FILLING THE SPOT BY MY BOSS, WHO WAS RUNNING THE LEAGUE.  TO THIS DAY I’M STILL MAD AT MITCH HENDERSON (THE BOSS) FOR MAKING ME DO SOMETHING I DIDN’T WANT TO DO, BECAUSE NOW I AM A “DART ADDICT”

In which league(s) do you play?   I PLAY NDA (NATIONAL DARTERS ASSOCIATION) SOFT TIP OUT OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.   THE OEDL (OLD ENGLISH DART LEAGUE) IN PHILADELPHIA.  AND THE ADVANCED SINGLES LEAGUE WHICH IS RUN BY THE QUAKER CITY DART LEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA.  BOTH THE OEDL AND QUAKER CITY ARE STEEL TIP LEAGUES.

How far from home do you play?  Miles / Minutes:  MY HOME SOFT TIP MATCHES ARE 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE.  WHEN I TRAVEL TO PHILLY, IT’S USUALLY 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.

How many days per week do you engage in darts?   2 – 3 DAYS A WEEK.

What kind of darts do you use: weight / brand?   FOR SOFT TIP I USE AN 18 GRAM VOKS CONVERSION DART.  FOR STEEL I MAINLY USE A 27 GRAM PAUL LIM DART.  BUT I’VE BEEN KNOWN TO CHANGE UP MY DARTS A TIME OR 2 OR 3….  BUT I STAY WITH A HEAVIER DART.

What other activity/sport do you participate in or watch?   FAMILY….CAN THAT BE CONSIDERED A SPORT / ACTIVITY.  I DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE.  IT’S WORK, FAMILY, DARTS.

What is the most annoying antic you see from other dart players?   I PLAY WITH A GUY IN MY SOFT TIP LEAGUE IN DELAWARE WHO LIKES TO DRINK AND GET LOUD.  WHEN HE HITS SOMETHING BIG, HE CLAPS HIS HANDS LOUDLY, SCREAMS AND POINTS AT THE BOARD, SOMETIMES DOING A LITTLE DANCE BEFORE HE PULLS HIS DARTS.  BASICALLY HE’S LETTING EVERYONE IN THE BAR KNOW HE JUST DID SOMETHING THAT….WELL…ANY GOOD DART SHOOTER HAS DONE MANY TIMES OVER WITHOUT SCREAMING AND DANCING TO THE BOARD. 

Is league night too long, too short, just right?   STEEL TIP IN PHILLY…WAY TOO LONG.  SOME NIGHTS END AFTER 1 AM.  SOFT TIP IS PERFECT.  IN BY 7PM AND OUT BY 9:30PM.

On which team(s) do you play?   FOR SOFT TIP, MY TEAMS NAME IS O.U.A.C.O.W.A (OPEN UP A CAN OF WHOOP ASS)  MY STEEL TIP TEAM IS THE DARK HORSE TAVERN.

Do you switch teams often?  Why / Why not?   NO…NOT REALLY.   HOWEVER, THE NDA SOFT TIP LEAGUE CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP TEAMS TOGETHER BECAUSE IT’S A HANDICAPPED LEAGUE WITH AN OPENING ROSTER RULE.  YOUR COMBINED HANDICAPS CANNOT EXCEED THE LIMIT SET BY THE LEAGUE OPERATOR.

Which other family members play?    NONE.  MY WIFE PLAYED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS….THEN WE HAD KIDS AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT.

What conflicts are there with home or work life?    WITH WORK, THE ONLY CONFLICT I HAVE IS GETTING TIME OFF TO GO TO TOURNAMENTS.  AT HOME THOUGH IS A DIFFERENT STORY.  I COULD WRITE A BEST SELLING BOOK ABOUT SOME OF MY “HOME” BATTLES.  BUT I’LL KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE.  MY WIFE “HATES” DARTS.

What keeps you playing darts?    THE COMPETITION.  I HATE LOSING!!!  I MAY SMILE AFTER A LOSS…BUT DEEP DOWN I’M PISSED!

What goals in darts do you have?    I HAVE A FEW.  TO ONE DAY REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NDA TEAM DART TOURNAMENT IN LAS VEGAS…TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS MR. PHILADELPHIA….AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TO WIN AN EVENT AT THE RAE CHESNEY SHOOT.

What has been your best moment in darts?    I HAVE TWO.  WINNING THE ADA (AMERICAN DARTERS ASSOCIATION) MEN’S SINGLES DELAWARE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 95′, AND BEATING RAY CARVER AND DARREN YOUNG IN MEN’S DOUBLES CRICKET AT THE RAE CHESNEY TOURNAMENT WITH THE MUCH NEEDED HELP OF MY PARTNER AND FRIEND, MR. GEORGE SILBERZAHN.

Advice to a newbie dart player?    PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  AND LEARN YOUR OUT SHOTS IN 01′.