Ted Clark, darts

Ted Clark has thrown plenty of darts in his life, and he hopes to throw many more.

Clark, 47, has taken steps toward making sure that happens. Nearly two years ago he bought Stooges in Jackson and moved his 10-year-old dart league from the town's bowling lanes to his own nightspot.

The handicapped league, which plays every Tuesday and Wednesday night, is built around four men's teams and has about 40 people involved.

"I would say that overall the dart leagues are growing in popularity around this area," Clark says.

Clark got his competitive edge playing tennis in high school. He grew up in Union, Mo., and moved to Cape to attend Southeast Missouri State University on a tennis scholarship.

Bad knees keep Clark off the courts, but darts have been enough competition to keep him satisfied now.

Clark has competed since 1989 and is happy to see more people gaining interest.

His first national tournament in Memphis, Tenn., was "miserable," as Clark describes it.

His ability got better and his best finish came in 1998 when he and doubles partner, Chuck Hoffman, finished second in a tournament in Chicago.

Competition isn't the only thing that Clark plays for.

"Competition is what keeps me in the sport," Clark says. "But I like just throwing with friends, too."

Clark has an electronic dart board hooked up to his television at his home in Jackson, and he uses that when he gets free time. That time seems limited since he also works full time at Procter & Gamble in addition to owning Stooges.

He also throws with a few friends at their homes when the chance comes along.

Although the sport is gaining popularity around the area, traveling is a must for serious dart players.

"I've been to Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham, St. Louis and Chicago to play," Clark says.

Occasionally, the trips will be paid for through qualifying tournaments held at Stooges.

In February, there will be a qualifying tournament for the Bullshooters tournament in St. Louis. Clark says Stooges, along with River City Coin, hope to send three throwers to the tournament.

"It is a frustrating sport, tough to master. You could throw one perfect game and then the next game could be very rough," Clark says. "So for now, I just take it day by day."-- David Unterreiner