Published: October 26, 2009 12:26 am      

DARTS: Falls’ Graton a local mainstay

Stand Jim Graton in front of an electronic dartboard and hand him a soft-tip dart, and a look of disappointment will likely spread across his face.

It’s not that the Falls native won’t find any enjoyment in the activity, it’s just that it won’t be challenging enough for him.

Graton, 49, has been shooting darts since 1988. While the soft-tip game provides a bigger target — with a larger bull’s-eye and surrounding numbers — it’s Graton’s competitive nature that draws him to the difficulties of steel-tip darts.

“It’s harder to shoot steel-tip than it is to shoot soft-tip — and I like that,” he said.

This came prior to his performance Oct. 2-4 at the New York State BullShooter Regional at the Days Inn at the Falls. Despite it not being his preferred steel-tip tourney, he still managed to garner a fifth-place finish in the pro doubles portion of the event. Teaming with Ed Rebstock of Philadelphia, the duo placed ahead of 59 other teams.

“Jim’s got a lot more experience and he’s a lot more calm than some of these new guys around. He’s got a really good ability to concentrate and to focus,” Mike Platt, Graton’s friend of more than a decade and fellow darter from Lockport, said.

“Once he gets going, he’s hot. You’ll hear from across the room, ‘Jim’s on fire!’ People talk all the time about how he just tears the competition up.”

And he’s been doing so not only locally, but on the national dart scene as well.

Graton has taken his talents to Chicago, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and elsewhere in his 20-plus years of shooting. He also fared well at a tournament in June in Los Angeles, fresh off a win in the pro singles bracket of April’s New York State Championships in Waterloo. Throw in regular wins at the Newfane Manor, including a recent steel-tip doubles championship in August alongside Youngstown’s Rod Harden, and Graton’s skill — and passion — for the game becomes undeniable.

“I just enjoy it. I like going to tournaments and meeting people,” he said. “I love the game.”

Accordingly, Graton’s peers love his humble approach to the sport.

“The nice thing about Jim is that he knows he’s good, but he doesn’t flaunt it,” Platt said. “He’s levelheaded, and he lets his darts do the talking for him.”

Graton indicates that darts aren’t nearly as popular in the Falls and its surrounding areas as it is north of the border and in New York’s neighboring states. Still, he’s found a home in leagues in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Canada, shooting one night a week in each. His “home bar” for shooting is Dome Stadium in Tonawanda.

“I like shooting locally, but I’ve been looking to travel more,” he said. “Right now I’m looking for sponsors, and I wouldn’t mind going to England if I could qualify for tournaments over there.”

On the horizon for Graton is a series of local events, as well as the Buckeye Open Nov. 20-21 in Columbus, Ohio.