09-01-2007, 03:38 PM
Dat was om op te warmen ! Daarna dronk hij er nog eens 38 !
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hier was hij nog vol goede moed.....
Celebrity Fit Club Ruined My Life Says Andy Fordham
Andy Fordham
by Mike Walters
6 January 2007
ANDY 'The Viking' Fordham begins his world darts title charge unseeded, unfancied and blaming his oche horror show on reality TV.
Since his triumph in the 2004 BDO championship at the Lakeside Country club in Frimley Green, Fordham has slumped so far down the world rankings that he is now more of an under-puppy than an underdog.
With refreshing candour, the 44-year-old publican admits he lost his competitive instincts somewhere amid the comfort zone of touchy-feely TV shows like Celebrity Fit Club.
Memorably, Fordham was admonished by his weight-watching gurus two years ago for falling off the wagon during his prime-time detox.
But his darts suffered more than his self-esteem or his waistline, and Fordham confessed: "Looking back, I was silly to go on those TV shows because it did long-term damage to my career.
"My name was put forward to appear on everything from Fit Club to a Question of Sport, and the attention was flattering at the time, but darts took a back seat to it all, which was a mistake.
"To be a darts world champion you need a competitive instinct, but it's hard to keep that winning edge when you are spending more time in TV studios than practising your trade.
"It's all gone a bit wayward, and to say I've had a lean year on the dartboard is an understatement. I don't need any extra motivation to get my game going again, but it's not always that simple."
Last year Fordham was dumped out in the first round at the Lakeside by Simon Whitlock, the Aussie with a ZZ Top beard and a ponytail so long he could abseil down a skyscraper.
And after the ignominy of a 5-0 Ashes drubbing, Fordham begins the task of retrieving English sporting pride against Australia in a rematch with Whitlock in the first round on Monday.
It could be a thankless task. Fordham said: "It's no secret I've been struggling lately, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I've won this championship before and now I want to climb Everest again.
"I've been practising for hours at a time by myself, it's getting there and - touch wood - it might all come together this week, but I know I'm going to need a bit of luck.
"If I can get past the first round and feel the confidence returning, anything is possible. I remember saying that I would be happy to win the title once, but once is never enough.
"The truth is I would love to do it again, and I know there are people out there who will be supporting me. Since I won at Lakeside I've spent a lot of time trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, for my own benefit and for my family's piece of mind.
"Yet when I look back at how big I was when I won it, it makes me realise that weight is not the only issue. Right now I just want to get on with it, hope it all comes together for me and not put too much pressure on myself."
The BDO version of the world title has a lot to live up to after the climax to the rival PDC tournament at the Circus Tavern on New Year's Day, when Raymond van Barneveld pipped Phil 'The Power' Taylor 7-6 in an epic final.
Lakeside is more prim and proper than the carpet sticking to your feet in a Purfleet nightclub, but the BDO has no shortage of larger-than-life characters, and none is larger than Fordham, who will be cheered on by his wife Jenny.
She says of her life as a darts widow: "I'm proud of Andy, but I find darts quite boring. If I was married to a painter and decorator I would still get the housekeeping money but I wouldn't have to watch the paint dry."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hier was hij nog vol goede moed.....
Celebrity Fit Club Ruined My Life Says Andy Fordham
Andy Fordham
by Mike Walters
6 January 2007
ANDY 'The Viking' Fordham begins his world darts title charge unseeded, unfancied and blaming his oche horror show on reality TV.
Since his triumph in the 2004 BDO championship at the Lakeside Country club in Frimley Green, Fordham has slumped so far down the world rankings that he is now more of an under-puppy than an underdog.
With refreshing candour, the 44-year-old publican admits he lost his competitive instincts somewhere amid the comfort zone of touchy-feely TV shows like Celebrity Fit Club.
Memorably, Fordham was admonished by his weight-watching gurus two years ago for falling off the wagon during his prime-time detox.
But his darts suffered more than his self-esteem or his waistline, and Fordham confessed: "Looking back, I was silly to go on those TV shows because it did long-term damage to my career.
"My name was put forward to appear on everything from Fit Club to a Question of Sport, and the attention was flattering at the time, but darts took a back seat to it all, which was a mistake.
"To be a darts world champion you need a competitive instinct, but it's hard to keep that winning edge when you are spending more time in TV studios than practising your trade.
"It's all gone a bit wayward, and to say I've had a lean year on the dartboard is an understatement. I don't need any extra motivation to get my game going again, but it's not always that simple."
Last year Fordham was dumped out in the first round at the Lakeside by Simon Whitlock, the Aussie with a ZZ Top beard and a ponytail so long he could abseil down a skyscraper.
And after the ignominy of a 5-0 Ashes drubbing, Fordham begins the task of retrieving English sporting pride against Australia in a rematch with Whitlock in the first round on Monday.
It could be a thankless task. Fordham said: "It's no secret I've been struggling lately, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I've won this championship before and now I want to climb Everest again.
"I've been practising for hours at a time by myself, it's getting there and - touch wood - it might all come together this week, but I know I'm going to need a bit of luck.
"If I can get past the first round and feel the confidence returning, anything is possible. I remember saying that I would be happy to win the title once, but once is never enough.
"The truth is I would love to do it again, and I know there are people out there who will be supporting me. Since I won at Lakeside I've spent a lot of time trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, for my own benefit and for my family's piece of mind.
"Yet when I look back at how big I was when I won it, it makes me realise that weight is not the only issue. Right now I just want to get on with it, hope it all comes together for me and not put too much pressure on myself."
The BDO version of the world title has a lot to live up to after the climax to the rival PDC tournament at the Circus Tavern on New Year's Day, when Raymond van Barneveld pipped Phil 'The Power' Taylor 7-6 in an epic final.
Lakeside is more prim and proper than the carpet sticking to your feet in a Purfleet nightclub, but the BDO has no shortage of larger-than-life characters, and none is larger than Fordham, who will be cheered on by his wife Jenny.
She says of her life as a darts widow: "I'm proud of Andy, but I find darts quite boring. If I was married to a painter and decorator I would still get the housekeeping money but I wouldn't have to watch the paint dry."