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Eric Bristow
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Eric Bristow MBE ("The Crafty Cockney") (born 25 April 1957 in Hackney, London) is a British darts player, whose skill at the game in the 1980s helped turn it into a worldwide spectator sport.
tow won his first world championship in 1980, defeating fellow Londoner Bobby George, and so began a decade's worth of domination, in which he would retain his title in 1981 and win it again in 1984, 1985 and 1986.
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Encyclopedia
Eric Bristow MBE ("The Crafty Cockney") (born 25 April 1957 in Hackney, London) is a British darts player, whose skill at the game in the 1980s helped turn it into a worldwide spectator sport.
Early career
Bristow won his first world championship in 1980, defeating fellow Londoner Bobby George, and so began a decade's worth of domination, in which he would retain his title in 1981 and win it again in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Like his snooker contemporary Steve Davis, however, he had to cope also with a shock defeat during this period, when young unknown Keith Deller beat him in the 1983 final, not to mention Steve Brennan in the previous year's 1st Round. He finished as runner-up on four other occasions up to 1991.
The nickname of the Crafty Cockney was given to Bristow when he visited an English pub of that name in 1976 during a visit to Santa Monica, California. It became a nomenclature which stuck throughout his career. Bristow wore a shirt (which he received from the same pub) depicting a uniformed British policeman, a Union Flag and the title Crafty Cockney whenever he took part in a tournament.
Technique
The way players hold a dart when playing the game has no rules nor recommended technique - players grasp a dart simply in the manner with which they feel comfortable. Bristow became known more than other players, however, for his style, which involved the extension of his little finger in a similar manner to the drinking of tea, often but falsely attributed to the English upper class - "me perked up right pinkie" he called it. Yet when he pulled the dart back from aiming position, he circled it with all of his fingers, therefore leading to speculation that the routine with the little finger was worthless to his throw. When asked about it, Bristow admitted the style was "just for show".
Achievements
Bristow emerged as the most successful and consistent darts player of the 1980s, reigning as number one in the world rankings from 1980 until 1987. He was fortunate to have been around at the right time as television began showing increased interest in the sport in the late 1970s, with the first world championship occurring in 1978. This, allied to the fact that a governing body had been formed in January 1973 and that Bristow had not only supreme talent for one so young but an imposing personality and uncontained belief, enabled him to make a very successful living. Cocky and arrogant, he invariably wound opponents up before and during matches with his gamesmanship. Crowds would boo Bristow when he was on stage, no less so than in Scotland, an atmosphere in which he revelled. During the 1982 Arrows Chemicals British International Championship match in Scotland, Bristow was subject to what Darts World Magazine called "the most sustained barrage of jeering witnessed at a Darts match" - he played to the crowd during his game with Harry Patterson - following a Treble 20, he turned to the crowd (more booing..) next dart, Treble 20, he turned to the crowd (even more booing, shouting..) third dart was single 20 but he smiled and the crowd applauded - Bristow at his incomparable best.
As well as his world championship exploits, Bristow also lifted the prestigious Winmau World Masters crown no fewer than five times (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1984). He was a winner of the World Cup Singles on four occasions (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989) and won the News of the World Darts Championship in 1983 and 1984 together with countless other major tournaments including the British Open and Swedish Open three times each and the North American Open on four occasions.
Dartitis and mentoring
During the Swedish Open in the summer of 1987, he found himself unable to let go of his darts properly - a psychological condition known as dartitis, a bit like the yips in golf. It seems, looking back at footage of his career, that it was gradually building up - the fluent throwing action had slowed in the previous year and he certainly struggled in April 1987 in the Nations Cup where he was particularly ragged for England. He was never the same player again but did, incredibly, regain the number one ranking briefly in 1990.
Bristow had come across a raw darts talent in Stoke-on-Trent in the late 1980s and offered him £10,000 to fund his development in the game, on the understanding that the cash would be repaid. The player was Phil Taylor who would go on to usurp his mentor as the greatest darts player ever, with Bristow often on the receiving end of his brilliance.
Bristow's form deteriorated alarmingly in the early 1990s and he was dropped from the Merseyside team (his third county) where he played with his international team mate Kevin Kenny and then the national side. The split within darts (another governing body was formed) coincided with, effectively, the end of his career. At the World Matchplay event in Blackpool, Bristow made six appearances and never managed to win a single match. His swansong came in a classic semi-final at the 1997 PDC World Championship which he lost, ironically, to his protégé Taylor. Bristow's last appearance came at the World Championships in 2000 - ending his 23 years run of playing in the event and he ceased playing the sport professionally. He now works mainly as a pundit and occasional commentator for Sky Sports during PDC tournaments, whilst continuing to travel and play on the "exhibitions" circuit. Eric still plays a lot of competitive and exhibition darts, and he and John Lowe are currently doing exhibitions throughout the country with the Legends Tour. Eric returned to the darting TV screens in 2008 on Setanta Sports to compete in the League of Legends tournament, beating Bobby George in the opening match 7-5. Unfortunately, Eric, no longer the great darts player he was, failed to maintain his form, and he never won another match in the tournament, failing to qualify for the semi-finals, and finishing bottom of the League of Legends table.
The success of the League of Legends on Setanta was immediate, Eric, John Lowe and Bobby George have joined with comedian Duncan "Chase me" Norvelle, who will host and present a 2009 Theatre tour of the UK and Ireland.
Darting controversy
Bristow can always be relied upon for quotes and sometimes controversy. Following his win over John Lowe in the 1982 Unipart British Professional, he told Tony Gubba, a seasoned TV presenter that "...No-one in the world can beat me, Kid...you ask'em all.." He was still 25. His reaction to a defeat by Steve Brennan in the 1986 MFI World Matchplay tournament was "...I keep losing to wallies." Never short of a word before or after a match, he was pure box-office with plenty of histrionics during games.
Following an invitation by Raymond van Barneveld to witness the 2006 BDO darts final, Bristow caused heated controversy by labelling the British Darts Organisation (rival to the PDC) as 'amateur darts' following Jelle Klaasen's 7-5 triumph. One of Eric's comments was that "If (Jelle Klaasen) were to face the real world champion (Phil Taylor), Phil would absolutely destroy him".
Personal life
Bristow was awarded the MBE for his services to darts in 1989.
In 1979 Bristow was the subject of an intimate film portrait directed by Scottish filmmaker John Samson. Entitled Arrows, the 30 minute film was released as a theatrical trailer to the classic British gangster film The Long Good Friday.
Bristow was accused of assaulting his wife, Jane (born 1962) in 2005. They had been married since around 1989. North Staffordshire magistrates ordered him to stay away from the family home in Milltown Way, Leek, Staffordshire and he was remanded on conditional bail. Bristow was alleged to have punched her in the face during a drunken row in their bedroom on 29 April 2005. He was eventually cleared of the charges. After the case was concluded Bristow said that his wife had just got a new boyfriend and wanted a divorce and he was now living with his children at his mother's house in Leek. Bristow was also involved in a public disturbance in Gateshead, which was by chance recorded by police reality show Street Crime UK, and then broadcast as part of an episode of the show.
World Championship Final Results
Winner (5)
Runner-up (5)
External links
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