Phil Taylor has earned the jaded opprobrium of the darts public once again over the weekend, as he ended his victory over Derry's Daryl Gurney by dismissing his opponent, saying that he wanted to teach him a lesson having been outraged by an act of great insolence on Gurney's apart. What was this transgression? Gurney poured himself a glass of water. As Taylor told Sky:
Vintage Taylor wanted to teach him a lesson. Of course I did, he's a youngster. You know what he did wrong? He poured a glass of water and left me out. I thought, 'you cheeky young so-and-so.
Respect. It's called respect. Without me, there would be no PDC. So have some respect. Come on.
Taylor went on to claim that he had exchanged messages with Conor McGregor ahead of the match, which led to a deeply awkward conversation which ended with Taylor mumbling "Who's Daryl Gurney?".
Taylor was not for turning in a later interview with Dutch TV, which in spite of an exceptionally generous and agreeable interviewer, led Taylor to walking out of the interview.
The worst thing he did was to go on stage, pour a glass of water and leave me out. I thought, 'you disrespectful little shit'. That's my exact thought. I'll get you, I'll get you for that.
Taylor later said that he was "giving him a little bit back for what he did to Simon Whitlock in the World Grand Prix in Dublin, during which Gurney feigned a shoulder to Whitlock amid a generally aggressive performance.
The medicine tastes nice. Let him have a taste of his own medicine. Is he the future of darts? No, I don't think so. I beat Daryl Gurney. Let him go home and cry, I don't give a shite to be honest.
Taylor praised Gurney as a player, but claimed that his attitude was wrong, saying that were he to be Gurney's manager, the Derryman would win all there is to win. When the interviewer then said that he doubts Gurney would want Taylor as a manager, Taylor rejoined "I think he'd give his right arm for me to be his manager", and walked off for no reason whatsoever.
Watch it below.
