Should Phil Taylor be knighted?

[Skater]

Even though he was convicted on minor assault many years ago, should Phil "The Power" Taylor be knighted for his services to sport?

Maybe he is in the wrong sport. If he was a tennis player, and had won Wimbledon 14 times, as a Briton he would have been made a saint let alone a sir. Instead, he plays darts - which no one could master like he has. He has been the WORLD CHAMPION 14 TIMES. And he's English. Come on, give him something at least!

 

[King Pietersen]

Taylor still claims to be innocent regarding the incident. The only witnesses were the 2 women that he's supposed to have assaulted, so it's his word against there's, he was always going to get convicted.

He is more than deserving of being knighted. If Chris Hoy can get a knighthood then there's every reason for Phil Taylor to be. He's a 14 time world champion. If anyone deserves a knighthood it's him.

 

[Skater]

Taylor still claims to be innocent regarding the incident. The only witnesses were the 2 women that he's supposed to have assaulted, so it's his word against there's, he was always going to get convicted.

He is more than deserving of being knighted. If Chris Hoy can get a knighthood then there's every reason for Phil Taylor to be. He's a 14 time world champion. If anyone deserves a knighthood it's him.

What's the betting the women milked the incident for as much as they could?

 

[King Pietersen]

Probably quite likely. Taylor was always going to be found guilty, it was the 2 girls words against his. He always used to give people lifts back from exhibitions and still claims that nothing happened. It'll always be on his record and always held against him though unfortunately. He's definitely achieved enough to warrant a Knighthood.

 

[barmyarmy]

The point about being English is that almost everyone in darts is English. You've got some good Dutch players like Barney and Klaasen, the odd strange one pops up like John Part but almost everyone else is English. Not fair to compare it to sports like tennis or cycling.
I did love the interview with Ted Hankey though where he revealed that he's recently discovered he doesn't need to be drunk to play and he'll happily go to the oche after only 5 or 6 beers. Now that kind of honesty deserves a knighthood if you ask me.

 

[Leicester Fox]

No. Not in a million years. A darts world championship is like the yanks calling the NFL champions, world champions. Just a few Dutch blokes thrown in too.

There are loads of people who deserve it more than he does, and that includes Chris Hoy. If Bobby Moore couldn't get a knighthood then Phil Taylor shouldn't even be mentioned. Look at Harry Gregg, but no, lets give it to the fat bloke who throws arrows. I appreciate the whole honours thing is screwed up and it's more to do with the impact your success has than what you have done but even so the answer is no. He's good at darts but I really couldn't care less.

 

[Skater]

No. Not in a million years. A darts world championship is like the yanks calling the NFL champions, world champions. Just a few Dutch blokes thrown in too.

There are loads of people who deserve it more than he does, and that includes Chris Hoy. If Bobby Moore couldn't get a knighthood then Phil Taylor shouldn't even be mentioned. Look at Harry Gregg, but no, lets give it to the fat bloke who throws arrows. I appreciate the whole honours thing is screwed up and it's more to do with the impact your success has than what you have done but even so the answer is no. He's good at darts but I really couldn't care less.

Isn't your view slightly obscured, though? Darts is an extremely, extremely difficult sport to master. Many struggle to get 3 20's, let alone have an average of 111. This man has mastered a game of mental toughness, it is no mean feat.

There were more countries taking part in this year's Championship than ever before. We had loads of Dutchmen (Klaasen, van der Voort, Barney, Michael van Gerwen, etc.), Americans (man who knocked out Canadian Part was a Texan). There were plenty more I can't remember. It is not FULL of Englishmen any more. Is it really the point, though? He is a 14 time world champion!!

 

[manee]

You couldn't care less, but does that really matter when compared to the wider population?

 

[Leicester Fox]

I'm sure it's hard but I'm also sure that if it had the same popularity as football and everyone was playing it then there would be someone better.

Leicester Fox added 0 Minutes and 50 Seconds later...

You couldn't care less, but does that really matter when compared to the wider population?

The wider population really couldn't care either though, if you asked people who Phil Taylor was most wouldn't be able to tell you.

 

[Skater]

I'm sure it's hard but I'm also sure that if it had the same popularity as football and everyone was playing it then there would be someone better.

Leicester Fox added 0 Minutes and 50 Seconds later...


The wider population really couldn't care either though, if you asked people who Phil Taylor was most wouldn't be able to tell you.

I'm sure they would. It's like Andrew Flintoff. Most couldn't tell you what he looked like, but they know he's a cricketer. Same with Taylor.

Darts is the fastest growing spectator sport in the country, too.

 

[Leicester Fox]

Well we will have to agree to disagree there Lee, I don't know what sort of beer drinking darts players you associate with but I know that only 2 of my mates might know who Phil Taylor is and I doubt there is a female I know below 40 who could tell me.

There is a reason darts is growing as a spectator sport, because it's a great night out where you get smashed, or maybe I'm wrong, but I'm yet to see the exciting action packed appeal of darts.

Flintoff, now there is a man who deserves a knighthood!

 

[Skater]

Well we will have to agree to disagree there Lee, I don't know what sort of beer drinking darts players you associate with but I know that only 2 of my mates might know who Phil Taylor is and I doubt there is a female I know below 40 who could tell me.

There is a reason darts is growing as a spectator sport, because it's a great night out where you get smashed, or maybe I'm wrong, but I'm yet to see the exciting action packed appeal of darts.

Flintoff, now there is a man who deserves a knighthood!

That, and the fact it is an everyman's sport, no one in it thinks they are better than the fans. Everyone understands darts, and it is great entertainment.

Taylor-Barneveld 2007, Barneveld-Baxter 2008. Two fantastic matches that had me on the edge of my seat.

 

[King Pietersen]

1.1 Million People tuned into the Darts at it's peak. Taylor has helped raise the sport from the times of the BDO where it was just a pub game, the guys would have pints of beer on the stage with them. Since Sky first showed the PDC World Championship, the viewing figures have risen by 800'000 people. That's a phenomenal rise in popularity. Every single televised event sells out, every night. The players have to work incredibly hard to get to the level that they're at, with Phil Taylor practising 8 hours a day, every day. He's more than worthy of a Knighthood for my money.

 

[Leicester Fox]

I would say darts rise in popularity is more down to sky than Phil taylor to be honest. Even so I don't see how he is more worthy of a knighthood than loads of other sportsmen. Phil Taylor is competing with maybe 100,000 people worldwide, Freddy is competing with about 100 million.

and on the whole sex thing, you can't just say he was probably innocent, pretty disrespectful to the girls who got abused really.

 

[Highlander999]

I'm with Joe on this. I had never heard of him till this thread. Then again I find darts about as interesting as watching paint dry.