The FA Cup, Phil The Power Taylor, my new axe and the loss of my ginger handlebars

By Luke Wilkins on Jan 7, 09 02:00 PM

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First up - Happy New Year!!!!! I had a pretty crazy Christmas, working over the whole period at Kerrang, but I am pleased to say that Santa Claus somehow managed to find me and delivered me a whole world of pants and socks (I think I am the only person that actually wants socks for Xmas, having never actually bought any myself!) and I had the very traditional Xmas dinner of Steak and left over Chinese takeaway, which was actually rather yummy!

The incredible amount of sport over the festive season was another present that I lapped up, rather enjoying the Villa vs. Arsenal game on Boxing Day, but it is now, that we are fully into 2009 that things are really happening.

I had the pleasure of reporting on the FA Cup third round on Offside Saturday afternoon, and it must be said, you can understand why it is regarded as the best cup competition in football. I love the fact that you get non league plumbers, traffic wardens, and postmen turning out against the Premiership elite, although I don't know how they resist the temptation to kick their overpaid opposition half way to the moon and back (I know I would), and of course it provides the kind of underdog story that all sport fans dream about.

From the first game when Hartlepool knocked out Stoke, to the incredible finish at Stamford Bridge where Southend earned a replay against a Chelsea side who will not relish the return match in Essex, it was an incredible day!

I even had my Mystic Meg hat on and predicted that Nottingham Forrest would beat Man City at Eastlands (if you would like me to pick your lottery numbers, form an orderly queue outside Kerrang Towers!) simply due to the fact they had their new manager Billy Davies in the stands, and I, for some reason, just thought that the superstars in light blue would not relish this kind of scrappy battle in the freezing cold.

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I love it when big teams are knocked out, because it just goes to show what you can achieve if you play with the right attitude and determination, even if there is a gulf in skill between the two sides.

If that wasn't enough, I, as always, got completely caught up in the PDC darts World Championship, with this year's tournament dominated by the top two players to ever pick up arrows, Raymond Van Barneveld and Phil "The Power" Taylor. I always used to get a lot of stick of my mates for loving darts, because it's not exactly the most physical of darts, but once I managed to get them to actually sit down and watch it, without fail they all became fans.

Sure, the guys at the Oche are not exactly going to run a marathon (unless there was a pint and a pie at the end of the course!), but with the new breed of young fit and healthy players coming through the ranks, I think people need to get out of the old stereotype that darts is for beer swilling blokes who simply spent too much time in the pub, as the game has moved on from those early televised days, and I truly believe we should not only consider it a true sport, but that it should be included in the 2012 Olympics (Hell, if nothing else it should ensure we get a few medals, and without sitting down too!).

Take Phil the Power Taylor for example, here is a man that has dominated the sports for almost two decades, winning 14 World Titles along the way, and every other tournament under the sun. This man is a true pantheon among sporting greats, because who else has ever dominated any sport for as long, and by such a margin as he has?

When it came to the final, a repeat of the epic 2006 match where Barney vanquished Phil 7-6 in sets after a deciding leg, it was a bit of a damp squib, not because neither performed, but simply because The Power was just too good, beating the world number 2 7-1 in sets, with a world record average of 109.75. To put that in perspective, to win the tournament back in Eric Bristow's day, you would have needed a 3 dart average of about 80!!!! Barney averaged well over 100, but on the day, he just could not live with the man that has revolutionised the game.

What is even more remarkable is that with everything Taylor has achieved, you have to wonder how he keeps himself motivated, (although it's pretty obvious he hates losing and I don't think he comes across as a great guy) and earlier in the year, after having lost a few times in the Premier League of darts, everyone was writing him off, but a new set of arrows later, and a reinvigorated Power has simply blown everyone away ever since.

Barney said after the final "I guess practicing everyday for 10 hours (not bad when you think most sportsmen train a couple of hours a day max) is simply not enough, it was like playing a computer he was so good!". So hats off to Taylor, and I for one would love to see him get a gold medal in 2012, as he deserves much more recognition than he gets.

Oh and just when you thought the darts were over, there is the BDO championship on telly right now for the next week or so, although to be fair, and no disrespect intended to the players in this tournament, it is kind of like comparing the Scottish Premier League to the English one, it's still good to watch, but just not the same standard!

Right then, after my Nottingham Forrest Cupset moment of genius, Jonny Greatrex has decided that our next video blog should be all about predictions for 2009, and it will be up by the end of the week, so don't forget to check back to see what it's all about and you will also get to see me for the first time without my moustache, which I said an emotional farewell too on Monday, I just felt that a ginger handlebar tash was so last year....although now I don't recognise myself in the mirror, and my upper lip is rather cold!

This week at Kerrang see's Travis coming in to do a gig on Wednesday, which should be ace, and also my return to my regular slots of 3-5am Mon to Friday, where it's all about new music with some classics thrown in, and of course Offside on Saturday 1-5pm, and Sunday Breakfast from 6-10am.

I also decided, after falling in love with the new Eagles of Death Metal album Heart On, to purchase a guitar, so I could be as cool as Jesse Hughes, so far I have mastered 3 chords.........and that's about it, but I am sure that by next week's blog I will be the next Jimi Hendrix.................honest.