When Gabriel Clemens was contacted again with a hateful message, Germany’s best darts professional decided to publish it.
The user, who had obviously bet on Clemens, compared the Saarlander with pizza delivery men, bricklayers and nurses who would be fired if they missed their job. With Clemens there are no such consequences if he does not show an appealing performance. The 38-year-old replied that he had “A tip for you !!! Better to save your money than bet … for a pizza for example”.
In Max Hopp’s footsteps
It is a humorous approach to a topic that Clemens is quite troubled by. In November he admonished people who like to address bad news to him with serious words: “Sometimes it would be better to think twice before you write some things or just think about how you would feel if you were threatened or bad things were wished for you and your family.”
As number one in darts Germany, Clemens has moved into the center of attention and is now more often reviled than his predecessor Max Hopp.
Course for the top 20
It is going well in terms of sport. In the year after his spectacular World Cup coup against defending champion Peter Wright, Clemens played in all important tournaments, he is heading for the top 20. However, he often shows his best performances in smaller tournaments. “He’s not a rampage pig. He doesn’t find it super cool when he’s there on stage. He’s a little difficult on stage”said the expert Elmar Paulke.
The World Cup, the biggest tournament of the year, will begin for Clemens on Thursday evening (9 p.m.). The opening game against Lewy Williams (Wales) should only be a compulsory task for the “German Giant”.
Third round duel against Jonny Clayton threatens
Only after the Christmas holidays should it get really serious: Clemens is threatened with a third round duel Jonny Clayton from Wales, who has won the most majors this year. “You can never influence draws anyway. You have to take it as it comes”, commented Clemens laconically as usual.
The industrial mechanic from Saarland sees his role as Germany’s beacon of hope differently than his predecessor Hopp. Clemens doesn’t like loud and researchy announcements; for him, interviews are mostly just the fulfillment of duties. “Basically, I am very satisfied with my development. The path continues, step by step, I have been in the top 32 for a year now and have consolidated my position.”said Clemens. When he talks about the next step, it’s not about big wins or the top ten, but about cementing that status first.
Hate news hits him
Public hatred still hits Clemens hard. “Above all, it goes in the direction that my family and I want cancer or other diseases. Especially when it goes against the family, the fun stops for me”, described Clemens. Apparently there are still many people who long for the breakthrough of German darts players so much that they have to blame individuals personally for it.
“That makes one stunned and sad, especially since it unfortunately occurs in every sport nowadays”, said Clemens. Last year he also got to know the other extreme: after the coup against the Scotsman Wright, he was massively celebrated in the media and on social networks. Even Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) congratulated at the time “a historic victory”.
dpa
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Status: December 21, 2021, 10:44 am