Sir Phil The Power Taylor?

[Barrel of Fun]

When did he become a PROFESSIONAl?

Sorry, but I can't take anyone seriously who a) competes in a joke game and b) isn't even a professional in it. I can appreciate the best footballers, cricketers, tennis players, racing drivers etc as they've reached the top of a professional environment. Some joker riding round on a bike? Someone swimming a bit quicker than their fellow second-rate competitors? Do me a favour.

Using that logic, would you say someone like Nelson Piquet Jr should be taken more seriously than Miguel Indurain, Lance Armstrong, Marco Pantani, Jan Ulrich etc?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

So? On that basis you'll be knighting Alex Revell and Andrew Crofts. Surely TALENT should have something to do with it? And sorry, but riding a bike isn't a talent, it's a basic human ability anyone from the age of 2 can do.

You mentioned football originally. I am sure you were able to kick a ball from the age of two. That is a basic human ability. To guide your foot towards the spherical shape and kick it.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Cycling is an endurance sport that requires great dedication and pushing your body to the limits. Hours of training until you sweat blood and tears and then some more.

Darts training continues until you consume too much piss poor lager until you pass out.

Phil Taylor spend 4 hours every day perfecting his hand eye co-ordination. Chris Hoy got a poxy medal for going on a bike ride, it's nothing more than a childrens pass time. Darts is a serious sport and profession.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Yes. Piquet reached the top of a competitive environment full of professionals who were deemed good enough to be paid for their efforts. This improved their training and ability. I know you'll say some of these Olympians get up at 5am and go shotputting or whatever, but they're only doing that because noone gives enough of a shit to allow them to do it full-time.

The Olympics has been around a lot longer than Formula One and motor sport.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Phil Taylor spend 4 hours every day perfecting his hand eye co-ordination. Chris Hoy got a poxy medal for going on a bike ride, it's nothing more than a childrens pass time. Darts is a serious sport and profession.

Darts would be a childs past time if it were not for bloomin' 'elf and safety!

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Cycling is an endurance sport that requires great dedication and pushing your body to the limits. Hours of training until you sweat blood and tears and then some more.

Darts training continues until you consume too much piss poor lager until you pass out.

We disagree then. Becuase I don't think it matters how different the training has to be to get to World Class standards, the fact is all sports are bloody hard to master. And Phil Taylor has, without any question, mastered Darts in a way that noone else has. He is the best player of all time, and if you can be knighted for being the best cyclist in the world, why shouldn't people talk about you being knighted for being the greatest darts player in the world?

All that said, I don't think a darts player should be knighted. But then, I didn't think a cyclist should either.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

You mentioned "endurance". In fact, that's the only positive you've given in defence of cyclists. But I'm struggling to buy into it because (if it weren't 11pm) I could open my front door, walk across the road, go into the gym and find dozens of people with just as much endurance.

Cycling is about pushing your body to the limits and being faster than the next man.

Do you have the same view of rowing?

What about Usain Bolt? Carl Lewis? Haile Gabresellassie? Michael Johnson? Carolina Kluft? Eunice Huthart?

Are they not worthy of some recognition for their feats? Rather than just being written off as amateurs.

I am pretty sure (other than sponsorship) people row across the Atlantic or climb Everest for free. Are they just to be written off as amateurs?

Darts appeals to the 'working class man' and it has grown from there with the help of premier sponsorship and TV companies relying on subscribers.

Popularity means next to nothing.

 

[Colossal Squid]

How on earth can you compare Olympian SUPERSTAR Chris Hoy with a fat, sweaty lager swilling pub game enthusiast?

I'm not criticising Taylor's skill at dart throwing BUT when you're just doing something people do for a laugh when they're out drinking for a living you know you're onto something pretty sweet.

I can ride a bike, I'm sure most people on here can ride a bike BUT the difference is we can't ride a bike FASTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET.

This is the whole point of Olympic sport. It is set up to test and decide upon the greatest athletes the world has ever produced.

The only people who get tested in the "art" of chucking darts are those that spend enough time in a pub playing the game. Cyclists on the other hand exist EVERYWHERE.

It's a bit like champion showjumpers or polo players. All very well being the best at something most people will never try but proving you're faster than EVERYBODY else in the world who has legs deserves credit

 

[Twinkle Toes]

When did he become a PROFESSIONAl?

Sorry, but I can't take anyone seriously who a) competes in a joke game and b) isn't even a professional in it. I can appreciate the best footballers, cricketers, tennis players, racing drivers etc as they've reached the top of a professional environment. Some joker riding round on a bike? Someone swimming a bit quicker than their fellow second-rate competitors? Do me a favour.

No point in attempting to debate any of the know it all drivel you've just written - as you're clearly a terminal COCK of extraordinary magnitude.

 

[Billy the Fish]

How on earth can you compare Olympian SUPERSTAR Chris Hoy with a fat, sweaty lager swilling pub game enthusiast?

I'm not criticising Taylor's skill at dart throwing BUT when you're just doing something people do for a laugh when they're out drinking for a living you know you're onto something pretty sweet.

I can ride a bike, I'm sure most people on here can ride a bike BUT the difference is we can't ride a bike FASTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET.

This is the whole point of Olympic sport. It is set up to test and decide upon the greatest athletes the world has ever produced.

The only people who get tested in the "art" of chucking darts are those that spend enough time in a pub playing the game. Cyclists on the other hand exist EVERYWHERE.

It's a bit like champion showjumpers or polo players. All very well being the best at something most people will never try but proving you're faster than EVERYBODY else in the world who has legs deserves credit

So where does the olympic sport of Archery fit into your theory? It's the closest I can think of, but I'm sure there's other precision sports in the olympics, it isn't just about being physically strong.

At the end of the day out of Hoy and Taylor, one of them is a millionaire and one isn't. I know which one I'd rather be.

 

[Colossal Squid]

So where does the olympic sport of Archery fit into your theory? It's the closest I can think of, but I'm sure there's other precision sports in the olympics, it isn't just about being physically strong.

At the end of the day out of Hoy and Taylor, one of them is a millionaire and one isn't. I know which one I'd rather be.

And how many knighted archers do you know?

If it was a choice between being an internationally recognised knighted olympian with a body that can deal with more punishment than The Incredible Hulk AND being a fat but wealthy darts player there really is no contest.

Chris Hoy can earn more money.

Phil Taylor isn't going to get any fitter

 

[Colossal Squid]

Loads of activities - NOT sports - are about pushing your body to the limit. Using your own example, people climb Everest, people run marathons, people swim. They're just pastimes, hobbies if you like. They're not competitive, they're not serious, and they're not professional. It's a step up from the Brighton Marathon basically, and you wouldn't knight anyone on the back of that.

Presumably the name SIR Edmund Hillary doesn't mean anything to you?

Paula Radcliffe and Alison Streeter are both MBE's too

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Loads of activities - NOT sports - are about pushing your body to the limit. Using your own example, people climb Everest, people run marathons, people swim. They're just pastimes, hobbies if you like. They're not competitive, they're not serious, and they're not professional. It's a step up from the Brighton Marathon basically, and you wouldn't knight anyone on the back of that.

They are professional in some respects. They get grants to ensure that they are able to train and exist. Plus, the top athletes are paid to run or make an appearance.

Not competitive? What do you mean?

Driving quickly is a past time, surely?