Bellies and Bullseyes: The Outrageous True Story of Darts
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Review
'[Sid's] knowledge is legendary... If you're a fan of darts, this is one of the year's must-reads' --The Sun
Book Description
The hilarious and exhilarating true story of darts by the sport's true legend
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a casual darts fan I bought this out of curiosity rather than dedication to the cause but I am so glad I did. Waddell briefly tells us about himself and as soon as that is over it's onto the story of Darts from the seventies to where it finds itself today. From the stories of the 1970's TV show the Indoor League to the ultra professionalism of the modern day players this is an engaging read. Sid doesn't go into too much detail so the average fan would get bored but he highlights the main events in every chapter. From Jocky Wilson, through to the split between the BDO and PDC and Phil Taylor this is a well written, great account of darting history.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fascinating insight from Sid into the history of darts as a television sport. He tells of some great memories from the early years of Indoor League and of how some of the games great characters burst onto the scene such as Alan Evans, Leighton Rees and Eric Bristow.
His tales of some classic wind ups whenever Evans and Bristow played each other are quite hilarious at times. He goes into great detail about the careers of the games legends - Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor - and gives the reader useful information from their early days into what made them become household names.
Sid also reflects on the bitterness that evolved in the dispute between the BDO and the PDC that threatened to destroy the sport completely. This is where, I feel, that the author somewhat lets himself down. He is too ready to belittle everything that the BDO now do and cannot accept, it seems, that the BDO World Championship is still going strong. He ranted and raved when Phil Taylor became the first player to achieve a 9-darter on live television only to be told the following day by a Dutch TV producer that Shaun Greatbatch had actually achieved the feat shortly before. Sid's response was that it was only some BDO bloke hitting a 9-darter in a tatty tuppeny ha'penny do in a village hall. Hate to tell you Sid but a 9-darter is a great feat no matter who achieves it or where, whether it's done by a Taylor, a Greatbatch or a Barney it still counts the same.
Had he been a little more self restrained as to the thoughts he has about the BDO and the players who now play within their ranks then this book would have been given a 5 in my view however because he plays too much on this aspect of the sport he does somewhat let the reader down as when he has gone into great detail about the games legends it has made for fascinating reading.
His tales of some classic wind ups whenever Evans and Bristow played each other are quite hilarious at times. He goes into great detail about the careers of the games legends - Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor - and gives the reader useful information from their early days into what made them become household names.
Sid also reflects on the bitterness that evolved in the dispute between the BDO and the PDC that threatened to destroy the sport completely. This is where, I feel, that the author somewhat lets himself down. He is too ready to belittle everything that the BDO now do and cannot accept, it seems, that the BDO World Championship is still going strong. He ranted and raved when Phil Taylor became the first player to achieve a 9-darter on live television only to be told the following day by a Dutch TV producer that Shaun Greatbatch had actually achieved the feat shortly before. Sid's response was that it was only some BDO bloke hitting a 9-darter in a tatty tuppeny ha'penny do in a village hall. Hate to tell you Sid but a 9-darter is a great feat no matter who achieves it or where, whether it's done by a Taylor, a Greatbatch or a Barney it still counts the same.
Had he been a little more self restrained as to the thoughts he has about the BDO and the players who now play within their ranks then this book would have been given a 5 in my view however because he plays too much on this aspect of the sport he does somewhat let the reader down as when he has gone into great detail about the games legends it has made for fascinating reading.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed darts coverage in the late seventies and eighties, when the "sport" was full of characters and the atmosphere was so well conveyed on the TV. The book promises an insight into these early days of excess, and it does deliver to some extent, telling the sad tale of Jocky Wilson with poignancy. Where the book fails for me is that it's much more an autobiography of Sid Waddell than the story of darts. Sid gets a little too caught up in the myth of his own brilliance, peppering the book with quotes from newpapers, especially broadsheets, which praise his unique style. The book's other failing for me is its focus on the later PDC years. Admittedly I don't have Sky, so haven't followed this coverage and am only aware of a few of its characters. Sid is keen to score a few points and praises both Sky and the PDC at the expense of the BBC and the BDO. That's predictable, bearing in mind his current employer, but the story he tells of these more recent years does seem to be bereft of characters and tales after darts cleaned up its act. So, an interesting read, but I'd only recomend it to fans of Sid Waddell's commentary style as opposed to the sport of darts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE H*LL TO MAKE OF SID!
Sid Waddell is a walking contradiction. Cambridge educated, he is immensely intelligent and very clever - yet, he can mangle metaphors for the pure pleasure of any listener without... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. McCarraher
Sid Waddell: The Autobiography
There is a book by the widely derided Tim Lovejoy, called "Lovejoy on Football", that is infamous for being generally regarded as the worst 'football' book ever written. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by A. Collinge
excellent
what a book! if you like darts this is a must:) sid waddell is a ledgend. quick postage also and very secure, book not damaged whatsoever. well done amazon
Published on 24 Dec 2007 by Mrs. Lynda Reynolds
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