Well in the 15th century life was tough if you wanted to be a painter. There was no unemployment benefit or even a job seekers allowance. If you wanted to become a painter you had to find a patron or a commission. In those days very few people could read or write, so when the church wanted to 'spread the news' they couldn't just hand out flyers, and books were incredibly expensive to produce. But paintings were ideal. You could get frescos, alter pieces and canvas paintings all knocked up that would bring bible stories to life and capture the imagination of the general public. So many patrons were in fact bishops or clergy of some description, and most commissions were for churches (or perhaps the odd noble / royalty portrait). At any rate, it was extremely competitive to to become an accepted artist in those days. Far more so than now. I don't think many patrons would have been happy with a pile of bricks, a whole cow in a glass container of formaldehyde, or a large canvass simply painted red.

So you can argue that even artists are highly competitive. Although I would have to admit, just like calling Phil Taylor a sportsman, it's stretching it a bit.

I think you will find he did, at the top of wooden scaffold that he had erected for the job.

I've known a few girls around Warrington who have spent many hours of physical exertion lying on their back; doesn't mean I'll be nominating them for next year's Sports Personality of the Year.

Why would he paint on his back, when the ceiling is curved?

You've been watching too many Charlton Heston films.

Colin Montgomerie, who was one of the worlds best golfers for many years, once described himself as 'an athlete'. Whatever your thoughts on Phil Taylor, he has never made a remark as ridiculous as that.

You have returned from your Autumn hibernation in a distinctly mischievous mood.

Using cardboard boxes lest over from Xmas I have constructed a segment of the Sistine chapel in my attic, and I can assure you it is relatively simple to paint it whilst lying down owing to the very gentle radius of curvature.

Quote ="Winslade's Offload"You have returned from your Autumn hibernation in a distinctly mischievous mood. Using cardboard boxes lest over from Xmas I have constructed a segment of the Sistine chapel in my attic, and I can assure you it is relatively simple to paint it whilst lying down owing to the very gentle radius of curvature.'" I'd rather talk about anything, but darts.................Google to the rescue. arthistory.about.com/od/famous_p ... eiling.htm

Quote ="Winslade's Offload"You have returned from your Autumn hibernation in a distinctly mischievous mood. Using cardboard boxes lest over from Xmas I have constructed a segment of the Sistine chapel in my attic, and I can assure you it is relatively simple to paint it whilst lying down owing to the very gentle radius of curvature.'" I'd rather talk about anything, but darts.................Google to the rescue. arthistory.about.com/od/famous_p ... eiling.htm

He had a good go last week when talking about darts as an Olympic sport. Mind you, it was Clive Woodward who started it! Seb Coe would turn in his grave (once he's dead).

Quote ="Builth Wells Wire"I'd rather talk about anything, but darts.................Google to the rescue. arthistory.about.com/od/famous_p ... eiling.htm'" Well, I will have to eat humble pie. It looks as though you are absolutely correct. That's another myth gone. I am going off to sulk now.

Quote ="Builth Wells Wire"I'd rather talk about anything, but darts.................Google to the rescue. arthistory.about.com/od/famous_p ... eiling.htm'" Well, I will have to eat humble pie. It looks as though you are absolutely correct. That's another myth gone. I am going off to sulk now.

I don't see the massive distinction between darts and archery...

The bow used by archers is quite distinct from the (strong)bow that darts drink instead of lucozade.

I don't wish to lower the tone, but it's shaft length.

Throw 12 bore shooting into the mix-Didn't we get a gold in the Olympics for shooting-In fact wasnt he on superstars!!

Yes, and up against real athletes he made a bit of a t!t of himself....

Disagree that he made a t!t of himself, good on the guy for having a go I say. Yes he played the fool a bit when it was obvious he wasn't going to beat Mo Farrah in a running race but isn't that what it's all about?

Yes, good on him for giving it a shot, but it did highlight the ridiculousness of certain activities being classed as sports, and those taking part in them seeing themselves as sportsmen or athletes.

It rather highlights how daft it is for Phil Taylor, and other Darts players, to class themselves, similarly, as sportsmen, seeing as they are a similar activity, but without the pricey equipment.

Lucky no British weightlifter won an Olympic medal, then, otherwise they would doubtless have been made to look idiotic running the 100m on Superstars. Which is obviously what their skillset is all about.

Amusing that how being competitive on a resurrected 80s TV programme appears to be the definition of 'true sportsperson' on here...

Wasn't aware that excelling in one sport AND being mediocre at others was the criteria for being a sportsperson



Athleticism and sporting prowess are not the same thing.

Fully agree, but I think the main problem in the whole debate is that there has to be a line drawn somewhere in what actually qualifies as a sport.....At the moment, the line is extremely vague.

As I said in an earlier post, I don't honestly see why Darts' fans see it has being so important that it is recognised as a sport (and similarly non-Darts fans pushing the opposite view).... Personally, I just think its a skill that is more suited to be classed as a game, than an actual sport, pretty similar to golf.

You've obviously not watched many Phil Taylor interviews. He comes out with ridiculous remarks practically after every match.