BullShooter Magazine November 2018 Number 11 Volume 35 | Page 16

There is no truer statement in the world of sports than, there is no
“I” in team. In dart competition, whether it is Men’s Doubles, Women’s
Doubles, Mixed Doubles, or Team events, that is definitely true. For that
reason we decided to interview a World Champion Women’s Doubles
team this month.
Let’s talk with Geri Stein and Marlene Gannon. Geri lives in
Midlothian, Illinois along with her husband Tom, daughter Kirstia (21),
and sons Michael (16) and Thomas (10). She is employed by the Double
Play Saloon in Blue Island. Marlene is single and lives in Oak Lawn,
Illinois. She is employed by Great Lakes Fire Protection. Let’s learn how
their partnership went from the local bars to the Bull Pen at the World
Championships.
Geri Stein & Marlene Gannon
Pacer: I’ve always thought that
relationships between partners
and teammates is one of the most
special things about the game of
darts. You two ladies are certainly
prime examples of that. What are
your thoughts on that?
Geri: We met about seven years
ago playing steel tip. We teamed
up in leagues and tournaments
and really have been throwing
together since we met.
Pacer: After watching you com-
pete last year in Chicago, it was
pretty evident how comfortable
you are playing with each other.
Geri: When I’m playing with
Marlene, I can just play my game
and not worry if I mess up a little.
I know she will back me up. It
makes it easier to handle tough
matches because you know you are
partners before and after, win or
lose.
Marlene: I think shooting with
Geri is wonderful. She is not only
a dominate player she couldn’t be a
better partner. We push each other
and we truly do feel like we’re
competing as a team and don’t
worry about each other at all. We
are both comfortable that we will
do the best we can and help each
other do our best.
Geri: I’m totally comfortable
playing with Marlene and I’m sure
she feels the same way. We’re just
good friends on and off the board.
Marlene: Absolutely, good friends.
Pacer: What was it like compet-
ing in the Bull Pen at the World
Championships?
Geri: Well, for one thing, the big
screen TV’s can be a little intimi-
dating. I had to make an effort to
keep my attention on the board and
not on the big screen. But really it
was a great experience, and I’m
sure Marlene feels the same way.
Marlene: There is some added
pressure going into the Bull Pen
with all the spectators and the
big TV’s but you, just have to try
and handle it. I mean here you are
in this big moment and you want
to play well and you want to win.
After all not everybody gets to be
in a situation like being in the
Bull Pen, and it really is very, very
exciting!
Pacer: I have never talked to a
darter who didn’t think the Bull
Pen was a really unique experi-
ence. But you two handled it in
historic fashion. You went into
both the Women’s A Doubles and
the Women’s A Cricket Doubles
finals in the winner’s bracket and
won the first match in both events.
That was an amazing perfor-
mance.
Marlene: That was just so excit-
ing. We just kind of hung together
and pulled out a couple of wins, it
really was exciting.
Geri: You have a lot of waiting
time when you are in the winner’s
bracket and you just have to kind
of hang out and stay loose and don’t
let yourself get consumed by the
moment. I mean you are going into
a Championship match and you
want to play well and you would
love to win, but you just have to
keep your feet on the ground and
try not to let the pressure build up
on you.
Marlene: I have to say playing
with Geri helps me do that. Both
of our championship matches came
down to a third game tie-breaker
and it was our day, we pulled them
out.