The "sport" of darts has always been popular in Britain, partly because, historically, it's something that Brits have been able to win at. It's never been a "cool" sport though, and newly-crowned (British) world champion Luke Littler is the epitome of uncool.
He may look about 30 but, at 17 years old, Littler is not even old enough to drink in a pub. While littler [sic] than some past champions, he is still a big guy with that pallid, unhealthy, overweight look that darts champions have always rocked. And he is painfully awkward in interviews.
When I think back to the great (British) darts champions from when I was growing up in England - men like Erik Bristow ("The Craft Cockney"), John Lowe, John Wilson ("Jockey"), Leighton Rees, Phil Taylor ("The Power") - they were larger-than-life characters, oozing not exactly charm but rather a kind of sleazy, world-weary notoriety. (They were all Brits back then; it was only in the 1990s that the Dutch, Australians and Canadians began to compete at the top levels.)
Littler, though, just comes across as the guy next door, a totally unremarkable Mr. Average, so uncool he's cool again. His nickname "Luke the Nuke" seems more like sarcasm than a reflection of his personality. But he sure throws a mean darts game. And, at 17, he has decades ahead in which to establish himself as the GOAT.
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