BullShooter Magazine March 2020 Number 3 Volume 37 | Page 14

This month we visit Latona, KY. Located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. This darter is employed by DHL, a cargo company at the Cincinnati airport. He lives with his wife, Andrea and his 13 year old daughter, Nadia. Let’s talk to George Daniels, a darter who has had success and is going to do his best to achieve even more. He told me, “I want to be a part of the game as long as I can be competitive.” George Daniels Pacer: George, like many dart- ers, you are juggling being a competitive darter along with working and being a family man. Just how do you find the time for it all? George: I’ll tell you the fact that Andrea plays and travels with me make things a whole lot easier. Pacer: You’ve got your number one fan right there at every tournament! George: Yes, I really do. The fact that she plays and has been around enables her to be there for me, win or lose. She knows the highs and lows you face in this game and it’s really great to have her there. Also the fact that she works for Delta Airlines and we can fly free to tournaments doesn’t hurt either. After defeating DJ Sayre and Patrick McGinnis, George and Cary Thaxton took home first place in Pro/AM Cricket at the BullShooter 35 Ohio Regional. 14 BULLSHOOTER Pacer: I’ll just say amen to that. Stacey Pace works for Southwest Airlines, so my son Dan and her have taken advan- tage of free flights for years. George: I know them both. In fact, last year, at the Blueberry Hill tournament, Stacey and I won the Women’s and Men’s Most Valuable Player awards, so from now on our picture will be on the wall there. Pacer: That is really quite a tradition they have at that tournament and something like that is an honor that you will savor for as long as you live. George: When something like that happens, it makes all of the hours of hard work and all of the traveling you have put into the game, worth it. I thought it was a real honor and I remember Stacey was crying when they took her picture. Pacer: Now you are a part of that tournaments history, but just how did you get around the game? What started this history lesson? George: A good friend of mine, Danny Moses, had a board at his house and when we were teenag- ers we put a lot of time in pound- ing that board. We really didn’t know anything about competitive darts, we were just having fun. We threw a lot of darts. Pacer: How long was it before you became aware of leagues and tournaments, that aspect of the game? George: In 2003, I started get- ting involved competitively. I remember it was a little intimidat- ing to see all the boards and good players, but I remember telling myself, “If I’m good enough to do this, I’m going to do what it takes to do it right.” In the Pro Men’s Doubles 501 event, George and Brandon Smith took home the championship at the BullShooter 34 Indiana Regional in January. Pacer: I like to say you’ve got to pay your dues. Every suc- cessful darter has one way or another, paid them. George: It really does take a lot of time, dedication, money and willpower to be successful in this game. It also doesn’t hurt to have a wife who loves the game and works for Delta Airlines (both laughing). Pacer: Do you still participate locally? George: Most of our leagues are between seasons right now. The only active league I’m in is a Thursday night soft-tipped.