Interview with Jason "Razor" Gressman..."If you don't have fun throwing...then you shouldn't be throwing!"

Greater Omaha Leagues: When did you start playing darts and who/what got you into the sport?

Jason Gressman: "I threw my first dart in 1995 after going to a bar that sponsored us for a slow-pitch softball league. My roommate bought a dart board for our house the following week. I threw my first league in 1996 after I stumbled across my first LOD tournament and drew a good partner. We won that tournament, and he asked me to start throwing league with him."

Greater Omaha Leagues: How did you get the nickname "Razor"?

Jason Gressman: Ugh....I wish I had some cool reason to give for it. I kinda want to make something up so it seems cooler than it actually is. A friend of mine that I met in Des Moines right after I started playing darts, Kurt Walker, invited me to his father's bar to practice darts. A bunch of people showed up and we started playing money games. We also drank...a lot. He got a little intoxicated and tried to get my attention by shortening my last name to Gresser, but everyone heard Razor, and it just stuck.

Greater Omaha Leagues: What keeps you involved in the dart leagues after so many years?

Jason Gressman: "I enjoy the competition, the friendships, meeting new people, and getting people to sign up for their first league. I have gone to many LODs and drawn people that either just started playing or have never played. We have managed to make into the money on several of those occassions, and at that point, I know that there is a new dart player in the world!"

Greater Omaha Leagues: What is the most fun team that you’ve been on?

Jason Gressman: "Wow. Every team that I have been on has been fun. I threw with Larry Runge for a very long time, and we always had a blast. I loved throwing with 'The Husbands' team. I am currently throwing with Ron Taylor, and we always have a good time. If you don't have fun throwing, you shouldn't BE throwing."

Greater Omaha Leagues: What is your best dart-related memory?

Jason Gressman: "Winning my first World Championship with my wife, and then winning my second one less than 12 hours later with my friends."

Greater Omaha Leagues: What are your biggest achievements thus far in your dart career?

Jason Gressman: "See reply to previous question."

Greater Omaha Leagues: Who do you feel is a much better player than their average indicates?

Jason Gressman: "Until this session, I would have said me. I also think that Rock is a better player than his average indicates. His average is what it is, but he tends to hit big rounds at the best possible time."

Greater Omaha Leagues: Who would you consider to be the best player you’ve ever played with or against? Explain.

Jason Gressman: "Ummmm....so many to mention here. Best I have played against would probably be Manny Jimenez. When I throw over a 6 average in Cricket and am not even in the game, that is impressive. Locally, Ken Rayfield and Anthony Croker are the 2 that i would throw with any time because they hit clutch darts on top of having high averages. Not much shakes those guys."

Greater Omaha Leagues: If you could change anything about the local dart leagues, what would it be?

Jason Gressman: "The way equalizers are handled. I don't agree with giving marks and points to people. That does not make them better players. Give them extra darts at the beginning of the games. That way they are given an advantage, but they still have to hit what they throw at. That will help make them better than just being given marks/points."

Greater Omaha Leagues: Would you recommend our leagues to players? Why or why not?

Jason Gressman: "I constantly recommend Greater Omaha to dart players. I think that I have managed to bring more than a handful over from NTS. G.O. takes care of their players, as well as opening tournaments up to other players that are not a part of their league. Their payouts are better, and the people that run the leagues seem to listen to the players, even if they don't agree with them."

Greater Omaha Leagues: Who would you like to see us feature in a future interview?

Jason Gressman: "I think that Larry Runge would be a good person to interview."

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