Hankey Panky
Ted’s Antics: Good or Bad
by Mike Glover
After a spell away from our TV screens, due in part to suffering
a minor stroke during last years Grand Slam of Darts and in
part due to a lack of form as he struggled to come to terms
with diabetes, Ted Hankey returned at this years Grand Slam,
and he was back with a vengeance and up to some of his old
tricks.
The double World Champion slowed down repeatedly in matches with
Michael Smith and Simon Whitlock, and was even more vigorous in his
celebrations than even a Michael van Gerwen in full flow. Not only this
but these celebrations were aimed much more ‘at his opponent’ than
those of any other player, as Wayne Mardle said on commentary,
“None of Hankey’s emotion is wasted.”
Of course this achieved the desired effect for Hankey, who
defeated Michael Smith in a crucial third group game, before
coming back from 6-1 down to end the challenge of Whitlock.
The problem is that it clearly riled some, including Phil
Taylor who said, “Ted doesn’t need to do all of that, he is a
much better player than that.”
Hankey has no doubt divided opinion this week, but love him
or hate him the question remains is there a place in darts for
his on the oche antics?
I saw one social media user during the Grand Slam comment
that Hankey’s antics were undermining the efforts of those that
are looking to have darts recognised as a sport in it’s own right, and
while I agree that these kind of antics are more akin to those of a
WWE wrestler than a professional sportsman I can’t help but like
Ted Hankey and what he has done for the sport.
There can be no doubt that crowds are louder,
audiences more enthralled and fans more
engaged when Hankey is on the oche
than just about any other player
outside the obvious Taylor, Lewis,
van Gerwen and the like. Hankey
provides a talking point, and if
darts is to continue its move into
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