LAS VEGAS–Actually, I kinda like the name “Dartiste” — but that’s not really relevant right now. What is relevant is that darts is a great game, and while I don’t see it ever growing into “the next poker,” I do see it growing into something culturally special.

In fact, can’t believe I missed it, but just a few days ago at the Mandalay Bay was the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic. PartyPoker … darts … Las Vegas … very interesting.

All the right elements (and mechanisms) seem to be in place — the websites, the TV coverage, the anybody-can-play factor … could a new steel-tip scoring system be the darts equivalent of a hole-card cam?