Vincent van der Voort, a veteran of the darts scene, is stirring the pot by expressing his strong aversion to the longstanding tradition of nicknames within the sport. With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, van der Voort stands apart from many of his colleagues who embrace these monikers with open arms.
Speaking on the popular podcast 'Darts Draait Door', he firmly stated, "There has never been a shirt of mine with a nickname on it. And there never will be. Go check it out, you won't find it, I'm far too down-to-earth forthat." This perspective is particularly notable, especially since the vibrant culture of darts often sees players adorned with colorful names reflective of their persona and playing style. Van der Voort, who will lose his PDC Tour Card after the current World Darts Championship, has had some nicknames flung his way during his career, such as 'Fast Vinny' and 'The Dutch Destroyer.' Yet, these names never sat well with him.
He elaborated, recalling childhood experiences, saying, "When you used to play war outside, you had a nickname. When you grow up at some point, you stop doingthat. That kind of thing is not for me." This comment carries notable weight as it defines not just his feelings on nicknames but elucidates his belief about maturity and the need for frivolity as one progresses through life.
Adding to his candid reflections, van der Voort did not shy away from critiquing particularly infamous nicknames. "Grease Lightning. I thoughtthat was the worst. Come on man. Because I never did anything with it, they just kept looking for other names until they thought I would like it," he lamented, underlining the absurdity he feels surrounds the process of nicknaming.
Transitioning to the newer generation, he gave his thoughts on rising star Kevin Doets, who made headlines for his performance against Michael Smith, both during the championship and for having the nickname 'Hawkeye.' Van der Voort expressed skepticism about the logic behind the names, exclaiming, "Because he is so focused. And all the other darters aren't? They're not? Well, then he apparently deservesthat nickname." His reaction reflects both admiration for his younger counterpart and disbelief at the attributes tied to such names.
On the lighter side of the podcast, van der Voort and host Damian Vlottes shared hearty laughs over the fact famed Dutch talent Wessel Nijman is still awaiting his nickname. Van der Voort humorously suggested, "Then we pick one and then we just start calling himthat," leaving listeners amused by the prospect of imposing nicknames, even on those who have yet to earn one.
Despite the contesting viewpoints on nicknames, van der Voort's candidness reveals much about his approach to darts and life. For him, the sport is about the game itself rather than the personas shaped by catchy titles. While many may deem it tradition to rally around intriguing names, van der Voort remains resolute: authenticity and simplicity first. This unique take not only sheds light on his personality but also contributes to the ever-evolving dialogue surrounding modern darts culture.