Today, my good mate Wayne Mardle joins me who has been doing punditry for Sky in recent years and wasn't a bad player in his playing days either!
1. Thanks for joining me Wayne, First of all, what made you give up on your playing career? I'm sure it was a very tough decision?
I take it you didn't watch the World Championship final. Haha. Watching that makes me realise even more I made the right decision.
Joking aside. I used to believe, that one day I could be world champ, when I stopped believing I packed it in. After talent, you need belief, that gives you the confidence to achieve. I lost that belief.
2. You like to do exhibitions a lot, what makes you so determined to entertain your fans at an exhibition?
I'm not determined to entertain. I happen to enjoy them, and I think the audiences that come to see me can see that, in turn they enjoy the show. I can still play to a high level, and to joke around whilst doing so is a cracking way to earn a living.
3. When you were on the circuit, how important was it to have your family members at the venue cheering you on?
My wife was / is my PA / Driver, so she was nearly always there. I couldn't have achieved what I did without her there.
Most other players will tell you that Donna and I relied on each other. It's still that way. Having a close family is everything to me. Everything else is secondary.
4. Do you think Michael van Gerwen is better than Phil when Phil dominated the sport for awhile?
I do.
Phil will always be the most successful, but I've never seen a better player than Michael.
He keeps breaking performance records set by Phil, that says something.
5. Have you ever considered coming back to darts one day? You were a brilliant player on your day?
Er.....NO. ( the pause was just for effect ) haha.
6. Final question, you have the pleasure of doing punditry/commentary for sky, how grateful are you for working alongside the likes of John Part, Rod Harrington etc?
Grateful, lucky, fortunate. They have to feel that way working with me, don't they?
I believe you get out what you put in. I was always forward in self promotion and never once shied away from the camera. I understood that the sport of darts needed promotion by the high profile players and still does.
Over ten years ago, a lot of the promotion was left to Phil Taylor and I, I thought we did ok considering we were darts players not speakers.
Too many players don't see the value in speaking up.
I've never had any media training, I find it mind boggling the players of today haven't either. I assume they think they don't need it.
I was asking for it personally back in 2005.
Thanks for your questions.
Have a good 2017.
Thanks for joining me Wayne!
By Carter Guiney
1. Thanks for joining me Wayne, First of all, what made you give up on your playing career? I'm sure it was a very tough decision?
I take it you didn't watch the World Championship final. Haha. Watching that makes me realise even more I made the right decision.
Joking aside. I used to believe, that one day I could be world champ, when I stopped believing I packed it in. After talent, you need belief, that gives you the confidence to achieve. I lost that belief.
2. You like to do exhibitions a lot, what makes you so determined to entertain your fans at an exhibition?
I'm not determined to entertain. I happen to enjoy them, and I think the audiences that come to see me can see that, in turn they enjoy the show. I can still play to a high level, and to joke around whilst doing so is a cracking way to earn a living.
3. When you were on the circuit, how important was it to have your family members at the venue cheering you on?
My wife was / is my PA / Driver, so she was nearly always there. I couldn't have achieved what I did without her there.
Most other players will tell you that Donna and I relied on each other. It's still that way. Having a close family is everything to me. Everything else is secondary.
4. Do you think Michael van Gerwen is better than Phil when Phil dominated the sport for awhile?
I do.
Phil will always be the most successful, but I've never seen a better player than Michael.
He keeps breaking performance records set by Phil, that says something.
5. Have you ever considered coming back to darts one day? You were a brilliant player on your day?
Er.....NO. ( the pause was just for effect ) haha.
6. Final question, you have the pleasure of doing punditry/commentary for sky, how grateful are you for working alongside the likes of John Part, Rod Harrington etc?
Grateful, lucky, fortunate. They have to feel that way working with me, don't they?
I believe you get out what you put in. I was always forward in self promotion and never once shied away from the camera. I understood that the sport of darts needed promotion by the high profile players and still does.
Over ten years ago, a lot of the promotion was left to Phil Taylor and I, I thought we did ok considering we were darts players not speakers.
Too many players don't see the value in speaking up.
I've never had any media training, I find it mind boggling the players of today haven't either. I assume they think they don't need it.
I was asking for it personally back in 2005.
Thanks for your questions.
Have a good 2017.
Thanks for joining me Wayne!
By Carter Guiney