"Luke Humphries and Martin Lukeman are two promising young throwers making their way on the Professional Darts Corporation's second-tier tour, dreaming of the big time. But there's one problem. Humphries has styled himself Cool Hand, based on the 1967 Paul Newman film that to date he has still never watched. Lukeman, meanwhile, has decided to call himself Cool Man: less catchy, doesn't really scan, but still just about works."
"By contrast, Humphries and his nickname have proven a perfect fit for each other: a stage identity and a sporting identity that have fused together so perfectly that they may as well be one and the same. He's unflappable, unerring, keeps his calm under pressure, keeps plugging away on that 60-bed. It was fate, he later remembered of the Lukeman game."
A September 2017 Challenge Tour quarter-final in Wigan between Luke Humphries and Martin Lukeman became decisive when the winner earned a chosen nickname. Humphries adopted 'Cool Hand' while Lukeman had chosen 'Cool Man'; Humphries won and kept the moniker. Lukeman later became known as 'Smash' but displayed inconsistency and struggled in high-pressure moments. Humphries combined calm temperament with a matching stage identity, reinforcing composure and performance under pressure. Nicknames serve as stage identities that can shape perceived coolness, public image and competitive edge. New players registering with the Professional Darts Players' Association must enter a nickname before their first tournament.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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