Eric Bristow, aka "The Crafty Cockney
Name & Bio::
Eric Bristow, aka "The Crafty Cockney"
Born: 25 April 1957, London, England
Entrance Music: "Rabbit" by Chas and Dave
Background::
In sport, there are legends. There are legends of different generations. And whilst Phil Taylor - the 16-time World Champion - is undoubtedly the greatest player ever to have thrown a dart in this era or any, none of it would have happened had Eric Bristow been around.
Bristow was the original darts showman, and he is regarded as the man who made the sport big. When darts was booming in the late 1980s and early 1990s in England, it was all down to Bristow. He was brash, arrogant, and a damn good darts player. He helped turn darts into the worldwide sport it has become today. Oh, and he won five World Championships to help his entry into the About.com Darts Hall of Fame.
His nickname of the Crafty Cockney came about because of a visit to the US, incidentally. During a visit to Santa Monica, California, he visited an English themed pub named the Crafty Cockney. He liked it as a name, and adorned it on his infamous red shirt that he wore for his entire career. Simple really!
World Championship Triumphs::
Bristow has five World Championships (all won in a time before darts infamously split into two corporations, although Bristow would head up the newly formed PDC in 1992), and they all came in the 1980s, the time when darts was originally huge.
His first World Championship victory was in the BDO World Championships of 1980.
Bristow defeated fellow Englishman Bobby George, and so beginning a decade of dominance in the world of darts. He retained the title with ease the following year to become a double World Champion, but the next two years would see blots on Bristow's career.
After a shocking first-round exit to relative unknown Steve Brennan in 1982, he would then face another unknown - England's Keith Deller - in the final in 1983. What followed was one of the most unbelievable finals in darts history, with the youngster Deller winning his first and only world title at the expense of the Crafty Cockney. It was seen as a huge shock at the time, and many considered Bristow's time at the top to be over. How wrong they were.
For three more World Championships would follow in three consecutive years; 1984, 85 and 86 saw Bristow destroy the field to cement his place as the finest player around. There was a young man causing a stir in the local leagues though towards the late 1980s, and Bristow certainly didn't ignore him.
Legacy and Impact on Taylor::
Bristow bought a pub in the darting hotbed of Stoke-on-Trent, England just before a young man by the name of Phil Taylor was making his way through the local darting scene in the country. And, staggered by Taylor's talent, Bristow offered to fund the young man to aid him to darting glory. He gave Taylor £10,000 - on the assurance it would be repaid, which it was; very quickly due to Taylor's success - and Bristow would mentor Taylor.
Ironically, the first of Taylor's 16 World Championships came against Bristow in 1990, whilst Bristow was still number one in the world rankings. However, the Crafty Cockney was no match for his apprentice that day, as Taylor romped to a 6 sets to 1 victory to start off his path to glory, and ultimately end Bristow's.
Still widely seen in the game - he works as a TV pundit for British TV on Sky Sports - Bristow was the original showman. Loved by the fans, and loathed by his pros. Why? Because he was so good!
Eric Bristow, aka "The Crafty Cockney"
Born: 25 April 1957, London, England
Entrance Music: "Rabbit" by Chas and Dave
Background::
In sport, there are legends. There are legends of different generations. And whilst Phil Taylor - the 16-time World Champion - is undoubtedly the greatest player ever to have thrown a dart in this era or any, none of it would have happened had Eric Bristow been around.
Bristow was the original darts showman, and he is regarded as the man who made the sport big. When darts was booming in the late 1980s and early 1990s in England, it was all down to Bristow. He was brash, arrogant, and a damn good darts player. He helped turn darts into the worldwide sport it has become today. Oh, and he won five World Championships to help his entry into the About.com Darts Hall of Fame.
His nickname of the Crafty Cockney came about because of a visit to the US, incidentally. During a visit to Santa Monica, California, he visited an English themed pub named the Crafty Cockney. He liked it as a name, and adorned it on his infamous red shirt that he wore for his entire career. Simple really!
World Championship Triumphs::
Bristow has five World Championships (all won in a time before darts infamously split into two corporations, although Bristow would head up the newly formed PDC in 1992), and they all came in the 1980s, the time when darts was originally huge.
His first World Championship victory was in the BDO World Championships of 1980.
Bristow defeated fellow Englishman Bobby George, and so beginning a decade of dominance in the world of darts. He retained the title with ease the following year to become a double World Champion, but the next two years would see blots on Bristow's career.
After a shocking first-round exit to relative unknown Steve Brennan in 1982, he would then face another unknown - England's Keith Deller - in the final in 1983. What followed was one of the most unbelievable finals in darts history, with the youngster Deller winning his first and only world title at the expense of the Crafty Cockney. It was seen as a huge shock at the time, and many considered Bristow's time at the top to be over. How wrong they were.
For three more World Championships would follow in three consecutive years; 1984, 85 and 86 saw Bristow destroy the field to cement his place as the finest player around. There was a young man causing a stir in the local leagues though towards the late 1980s, and Bristow certainly didn't ignore him.
Legacy and Impact on Taylor::
Bristow bought a pub in the darting hotbed of Stoke-on-Trent, England just before a young man by the name of Phil Taylor was making his way through the local darting scene in the country. And, staggered by Taylor's talent, Bristow offered to fund the young man to aid him to darting glory. He gave Taylor £10,000 - on the assurance it would be repaid, which it was; very quickly due to Taylor's success - and Bristow would mentor Taylor.
Ironically, the first of Taylor's 16 World Championships came against Bristow in 1990, whilst Bristow was still number one in the world rankings. However, the Crafty Cockney was no match for his apprentice that day, as Taylor romped to a 6 sets to 1 victory to start off his path to glory, and ultimately end Bristow's.
Still widely seen in the game - he works as a TV pundit for British TV on Sky Sports - Bristow was the original showman. Loved by the fans, and loathed by his pros. Why? Because he was so good!
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