Luke 'the Nuke' Littler - 16yo darts prodigy

[littlebabyjesus]

I just realised, paper rounds aren't actually a thing any more, are they?

 

[Silas Loom]

I just realised, paper rounds aren't actually a thing any more, are they?

Gone the way of milk rounds and match girls.

 

[rubbershoes]

Will he be back at school this week?

Education up to is 18 compulsory now I think.

I'm hoping he'll have to see a careers advisor

 

[ouirdeaux]

i favour employment decisions that are made by a workers socialist government (with a sprinkling of anarcho sydicalists thrown in for good measure)

How do they do this? Do some inspectors come round and say to Luke, when he starts enthusiastically chucking darts in his nappies, 'OK, kid, you're going to be a surgeon? Never mind thinking you want to do this for a living or faint at the sight of blood -- that's your role in life, get used to it'?

Or are there no professional darts players in your world? In which case, how does his talent get discovered? Either way, it's all very bleak.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Will he be back at school this week?

Education up to is 18 compulsory now I think.

I'm hoping he'll have to see a careers advisor

There are exceptions. I'm guessing this is an exception.

 

[skyscraper101]

It's all good fun of course but I also worry when someone so young achieves sudden massive success and becomes an overnight household name. Look how much Raducanu fell down the rankings after going from a nobody to grand slam winner. The weight of expectation can be overwhelming for someone so young.

 

[redcogs]

How do they do this? Do some inspectors come round and say to Luke, when he starts enthusiastically chucking darts in his nappies, 'OK, kid, you're going to be a surgeon? Never mind thinking you want to do this for a living or faint at the sight of blood -- that's your role in life, get used to it'?

Or are there no professional darts players in your world? In which case, how does his talent get discovered? Either way, it's all very bleak.

Who suggested changing the world would be an easy task which did not present a few pitfalls? a nappy wearing dart thrower ? Way too young to be making any decision about his/her future employment status. That aside however, one has to imagine schools staffed by teachers imbued with socialist/anarchist ideology (within a society committed to production for need). Such a system cwould readily spot people suitable for becoming brain surgeons as opposed to mere entertainers. Innit.

 

[Petcha]

He seems to be a lot mentally stronger than Raducanu. Nothing seems to fluster him - and it's a pretty manic sport he's chosen there. Screaming pissed up fans, lightshows, the works and he just calmly slots the points away against people who are (allegedly) twice his age. Love it.

 

[Elpenor]

Reminds me a bit of Wolfie from the Inbetweeners work experience episode

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's all good fun of course but I also worry when someone so young achieves sudden massive success and becomes an overnight household name. Look how much Raducanu fell down the rankings after going from a nobody to grand slam winner. The weight of expectation can be overwhelming for someone so young.

Some cope, some don't. Rafa Nadal was not much older when he shot to stardom (and also looked way older). He's done ok.

 

[redcogs]

Thread deteriorating into discussion of middle class tennis players forgetting the working class dart throwing genius.. Urban losing its way following festivities?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Thread deteriorating into discussion of middle class tennis players forgetting the working class dart throwing genius.. Urban losing its way following festivities?

They have something in common, though. Like most kids who rise quickly in sports, Littler has supportive parents who have dedicated a lot of time and energy to developing his talents, driving him around to tournaments, etc. They also took him to the pub from age 8. Perhaps not so typical of tennis parents.

Darts star Luke Littler's mega-money pay day, superfan sister and 'real age'

 

[Flavour]

i love him, he's great. all this bollocks about his age is envy

 

[redcogs]

They have something in common, though. Like most kids who rise quickly in sports, Littler has supportive parents who have dedicated a lot of time and energy to developing his talents, driving him around to tournaments, etc. They also took him to the pub from age 8. Perhaps not so typical of tennis parents.

Darts star Luke Littler's mega-money pay day, superfan sister and 'real age'

Plenty middleclass parents abandon their kids when they are as young as 7-8 year old - into the arms of their private education system. i'd sooner take my kids to the pub and then home again afterwards. Abandoning them always seemed cruel to me. Littlers mum and dad were exceptional parents by comparison to the poshies sending Rufus or Jocasta to the boarding school tennis club

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Plenty middleclass parents abandon their kids when they are as young as 7-8 year old - into the arms of their private education system. i'd sooner take my kids to the pub and then home again afterwards. Abandoning them always seemed cruel to me. Littlers mum and dad were exceptional parents by comparison to the poshies sending Rufus or Jocasta to the boarding school tennis club

That's not true of most tennis stars. Most tennis stars have supportive parents who drive them to tournaments, etc. Emma Raducanu, since her name has come up, is no exception to that. Not a private school kid, btw.

Anyway, back to the darts...

 

[redcogs]

Gone the way of milk rounds and match girls.

Dont forget the chimney sweeps

 

[Silas Loom]

Dont forget the chimney sweeps

Not a career to which Littler looks terribly well suited if the darts gods desert him.

 

[two sheds]

Dont forget the chimney sweeps

Pah I still got a milkman who does his milk rounds and a chimney sweep who does his sweep rounds.

 

[two sheds]

Not a career to which Littler looks terribly well suited if the darts gods desert him.

They don't go up the chimneys any more you know.

 

[redcogs]

 

[Numbers]

i love him, he's great. all this bollocks about his age is envy

This, absolutely fearless and an incredible darts player.

Be great for him to win this at such a young age and hopefully he has some great people around him and we get to enjoy his talent for a long time.

It’ll be tough for anyone to achieve what ‘The Power’ achieved in terms of titles but if anyone can do it this young man can.

Big up The Nuke.

 

[two sheds]

agreed but i think the bollocks about his age is rather

 

[Petcha]

I quite like the way he taps his head as if to say 'what were you thinking young man'. Or is he saying 'im smarter than you'. Either way, love it.

 

[Numbers]

agreed but i think the bollocks about his age is rather

Only have admiration for him with the whole age thing personally.

 

[two sheds]

totally

 

[Sasaferrato]

There are exceptions. I'm guessing this is an exception.

The darts equivalent of snooker. The last snooker tournament I watched, the number of very promising youngsters was astonishing.

He's on the semi-cusp of winning half a million quid, school is the last thing he needs.

I am not being facetious or nasty here, he does need to see a dietician.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Only have admiration for him with the whole age thing personally.

Fuck yes. To go on that stage in front of all those people at 16 is quite a feat in itself.

 

[redcogs]

They don't go up the chimneys any more you know.

 

[Crispy]

Have you ever met a 16yo who looks like this?

I went to a school with a heavy Rugby focus and yes, I used to know about a dozen 16yos who looked like that

 

[Sasaferrato]

I went to a school with a heavy Rugby focus and yes, I used to know about a dozen 16yos who looked like that

If I was behind the bar, I would serve him without a second thought.