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The 2021 PDC World Darts Championship just produced one of the great entrances in the history of sport
“Hells Bells,” “Crazy Train,” and “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” Ray Lewis’ dance, LeBron’s chalk, and Metallica shredding the National Anthem. The history of sport is littered with iconic preludes and masterful stagesetting, but none—and we mean NONE—can compare to the anticipatory pageantry week in, week out in the wide world of darts. We scratched the surface of this iceberg earlier this year, when we brought you William O’Connor walking out to “Zombie” by The Cranberries while the entire arena crooned along. It’s goosebump-inducing stuff if you haven’t seen it . . .
Frankly, we’re not sure anything can ever top that, but the good chaps across the pond gave it the ol’ university try on Tuesday, rolling out a doozy of a red carpet for Steve Beaton’s record 30th-consecutive World Championship appearance. Sound way the hell up.
With the Bee Gees pumping through the PA and some hilariously dystopian cheerleading assaulting your eyeballs, Steve, who looks just like your uncle of the same name, deadpans it hard, barely batting an eye while PDC MC John McDonald bellows like he’s about to call Rocky vs. Drago II. It’s about as electric has hooking your nipples up to a car battery, and that’s a compliment, even if it doesn’t sound like it.
If you want more where this came from, you’re in luck. The 2021 World Darts Championship runs December 15th through January 3rd. Just don’t go looking for Steve. Despite that incredible intro, he crashed out in straight sets in his first match on Tuesday. Thanks for the memories, bud.