C.J. Wiley VS Keith McCready - What's The Line?

I've watched both play in their prime on video. Would be a very close match I think. Now, I would give the edge to CJ. Keith was a feel player with a self taught stroke. From a conventional point of view, I think CJ's fundamentals are more sound. With that said, I think it would take Keith longer to get back in stroke. Throw in the fact that CJ has been playing some competitive pool and it appears that Keith hasn't, if they played in the next month, I'd have to favor CJ.

With that said, I really enjoyed watching Keith play. He was flamboyant, charismatic and fun to watch. Never met him but he seems like a really good guy. The sport does need more players like him, wish he would/could come back.

I agree. The magic of this matchup would be all the woofing and rail action. Throw all the usual suspects (Scooter, Deathball, Dippy Dave, et al) in there and you would have a real show.
 
JAM, your gut instincts and personal preferences are right in this case

It's okay, JAM, your gut instincts and personal preferences are right in this case. Actually you are more correct than you may even realize.

Before we started our project a couple of years ago we paid to have a "Internet Think Tank" process 8 questions about pool. Basically 98% of them agreed with you and would ONLY watch gamblers and "hustlers" tell their stories (only 2% said they would watch pool on TV, no matter how much the prize or what type of format)

There were answers from the "Think Tank" that I would never have guessed, and from further investigation they prove true.

The fact of the matter is, people love the characters that gamble and hustler......they could care less about the Mosconi Cup or any tournament players at this time....this could change, however, they must be "drawn in" with the gamblers and "action men".


Just state the facts then, Lou. Posting that he has been in retirement for "close to 15 years" is an untruth and doesn't reflect reality.

I personally don't give a damn what you or anybody else thinks anymore. With that said, I won't stand down to people taking potshots at Keith. Opinions are one thing, but one must consider the source, especially when dealing with anonymous members and multiple-identitied banned members posting. I know this is not you, Lou. You're a real person, and we've met, albeit very briefly. Keith and I both had the flu that week at the Derby.

I have my thoughts about the Mosconi Cup. I agree that it is exciting and showcases pool in a unique setting, which could be very entertaining. That's about the only thing entertaining in the pool world today, Lou, and if you want to talk about underdogs, well, that's Team USA, and I believe with the present course it is taking, they will continue to be for sometime. And that's my opinion. I'll still watch it, though. I like the Mosconi Cup. :)
 
Sadly, the funding reveals how much interest pool can generate, even with us pool aficionados on this forum.

Money talks and B.S. walks, as they say.

JAM - i just don't see why, as a pool fan, I should want to pony up to help this venture of the reality series. It just makes me have my serious doubts about the project as a whole. And with recent pool history (IPT, Bonus Ball, US Open and other short funded tournies), I can see this ending with Keith stuck in the middle of Oklahoma posting on here for help in getting a bus ticket or airfare home cause this project wasn't organized with enough funding.

Let's say I wanted to open up the Mecca to end all Meccas of pool rooms and have Chris Bartram involved. He is a player everyone respects and brings interest to the sport. I'm even going to have a motel in the back of a dozen rooms where road players can play free of charge if they are playing minimum $500 sets. Can I start a thread and a fund to raise $140,000 to help build my project? Or should I be expected, as a businessman, to create it myself?

The reality series should create what they want and if it is good enough, sell it to me either by turning it into a web series I have to pay for (Netflix possibly) or I'll pay for it as I do in other TV I watch by having commmercials pushed to me in between.
 
JAM - i just don't see why, as a pool fan, I should want to pony up to help this venture of the reality series. It just makes me have my serious doubts about the project as a whole. And with recent pool history (IPT, Bonus Ball, US Open and other short funded tournies), I can see this ending with Keith stuck in the middle of Oklahoma posting on here for help in getting a bus ticket or airfare home cause this project wasn't organized with enough funding.

I can promise you that that will *never* happen as long as Keith and I are together. What's wrong with you?! :mad:

watchez said:
Let's say I wanted to open up the Mecca to end all Meccas of pool rooms and have Chris Bartram involved. He is a player everyone respects and brings interest to the sport. I'm even going to have a motel in the back of a dozen rooms where road players can play free of charge if they are playing minimum $500 sets. Can I start a thread and a fund to raise $140,000 to help build my project? Or should I be expected, as a businessman, to create it myself?

That's up to you how you want to handle your own venture.

Over $100,000 has already been invested in the American Road Player before it was announced on AzBilliards. If this project does not raise the additional $40,000 in the campaign that they proposed, the people who have contributed to date will be refunded their monies, and the American Road Play will go away, which I'm sure will make everybody feel good and fuzzy inside, so they can continue to rant and rave about how bad these entrepreneurs are who want to try to make something happen positive for pool.

watchez said:
The reality series should create what they want and if it is good enough, sell it to me either by turning it into a web series I have to pay for (Netflix possibly) or I'll pay for it as I do in other TV I watch by having commmercials pushed to me in between.

This isn't NFL, golf, or tennis, Watchez. We're talking about pool, which is a very fractured industry in the United States.

It is understandable to be skeptical and compare it to Kevin Trueau's IPT, Bonus Ball, or any of the other pool entities that have come and gone, but the difference is this one is just trying to take baby steps to see how far they can go. This is not a tour or a tournament roping in players and promising them the moon. This is a reality series for the Internet.

Don't worry your little head, though. If the interest is not there, then guess what, Watchez? You win. They'll go away, and you can live happily ever after and start bashing the next guy who comes up with a new and innovative idea.
 
It's okay, JAM, your gut instincts and personal preferences are right in this case. Actually you are more correct than you may even realize.

Before we started our project a couple of years ago we paid to have a "Internet Think Tank" process 8 questions about pool. Basically 98% of them agreed with you and would ONLY watch gamblers and "hustlers" tell their stories (only 2% said they would watch pool on TV, no matter how much the prize or what type of format)

There were answers from the "Think Tank" that I would never have guessed, and from further investigation they prove true.

The fact of the matter is, people love the characters that gamble and hustler......they could care less about the Mosconi Cup or any tournament players at this time....this could change, however, they must be "drawn in" with the gamblers and "action men".

Well, I guess it doesn't matter much what I think. The American pool culture is cruel to its own. There is no respect for pool players, and though people claim they like the action and gather around when it happens, these are some of the same people who come on this forum and rip and tear these action players apart. Results pickers, all of them.

While tournament soldiers were trying to get their mug on TV cameras at pool tournaments, Keith was playing before, during, anf after the tournaments, making money. Not too many people can say they played 9-ball for $25,000 a game. In fact, I'd imagine most people on this forum would shake, rattle, and roll if they were playing for a double sawbuck per game. FWIW, there aren't very many people who post on this forum who really know Keith's game. Jay Helfert might because Keith used to live with him, and they traveled together, with Jay staking him. Others are results pickers, all of them.

The knockers and nits are just too much.

Keep on keeping on, C.J., with your quest to rise to the top. I hope you get there. Me, I'm going to put my energy into another endeavor that is more rewarding.
 
It's okay, JAM, your gut instincts and personal preferences are right in this case. Actually you are more correct than you may even realize.

Before we started our project a couple of years ago we paid to have a "Internet Think Tank" process 8 questions about pool. Basically 98% of them agreed with you and would ONLY watch gamblers and "hustlers" tell their stories (only 2% said they would watch pool on TV, no matter how much the prize or what type of format)

There were answers from the "Think Tank" that I would never have guessed, and from further investigation they prove true.

The fact of the matter is, people love the characters that gamble and hustler......they could care less about the Mosconi Cup or any tournament players at this time....this could change, however, they must be "drawn in" with the gamblers and "action men".


oh, thank God you ran it past an "Internet Think Tank" lol.

Lou Figueroa
phew
 

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I can promise you that that will *never* happen as long as Keith and I are together. What's wrong with you?! :mad:



That's up to you how you want to handle your own venture.

Over $100,000 has already been invested in the American Road Player before it was announced on AzBilliards. If this project does not raise the additional $40,000 in the campaign that they proposed, the people who have contributed to date will be refunded their monies, and the American Road Play will go away, which I'm sure will make everybody feel good and fuzzy inside, so they can continue to rant and rave about how bad these entrepreneurs are who want to try to make something happen positive for pool.



This isn't NFL, golf, or tennis, Watchez. We're talking about pool, which is a very fractured industry in the United States.

It is understandable to be skeptical and compare it to Kevin Trueau's IPT, Bonus Ball, or any of the other pool entities that have come and gone, but the difference is this one is just trying to take baby steps to see how far they can go. This is not a tour or a tournament roping in players and promising them the moon. This is a reality series for the Internet.

Don't worry your little head, though. If the interest is not there, then guess what, Watchez? You win. They'll go away, and you can live happily ever after and start bashing the next guy who comes up with a new and innovative idea.

Who said anything about winning? You are putting words in my mouth my friend.

I would love for a project like this to succeed. Just won't be on my original dime or anyone that asks my opinion if they should give.

I'd like to see a rocket ship go back to the moon as well. Not going to donate to that either. But if they come up with funding to put an astronaut on PPV tooling around the dark side of the moon, I'll probably pay to watch it.
 
Who said anything about winning? You are putting words in my mouth my friend.

I would love for a project like this to succeed. Just won't be on my original dime or anyone that asks my opinion if they should give.

I'd like to see a rocket ship go back to the moon as well. Not going to donate to that either. But if they come up with funding to put an astronaut on PPV tooling around the dark side of the moon, I'll probably pay to watch it.

It ain't no way, no how. I made it on my own. I made my own style. I don't think that I should stay. You know I gotta go. You moving too fast, don't want to take it slow. Got the club going up on a Tuesday.
 
TX vs CA

Here's my perspective of a Costa Mesa and Dallas Shootout. At the peak of their game, no player stepped into a shot better than Keith....other than Buddy Hall. And the only difference I saw between Buddys Game and Keith, is less going on with Buddys swing mechanics and Buddys arm speed is also slower, doing the same shots.

Oh yeah, Superman is Also from Metropolis IL, home of the Rifleman :D

All comes down ta who's hittin' em and lifestyle. Usually the one woofin' should give up location to make the match happen.
 
"Confessionsofapoolhustler"

Listen, to all you players that do not know Keith I'm here to tell you he is one of a kind. He struck fear in all of those champions hearts when he got to the table. He is in the top two of the most intertaining players of all times. I have played in a few ring games with him in california and it was a blast watching his style. Keith had NO Fear and played everybody any where. He made impossible shots look easy ! I've seen him play quite a bit and believe me he puts on a show :). Keith is the nuts !
 
"Confessionsofapoolhustler"

Oh I forgot to mention that CJ was also a beast for the big money also, we played once on a bar table after about a hour a guy pulled a pistol on us and we hightailed it outta there lol !
 
... How long has he been retired from pool? ...

As well as I can determine, Keith has been pretty much retired since the IPT collapsed in Sept. 2006 -- so about 8 years.

Keith was quite active, especially in regional open events, for about 5 years before that. According to the AzB results archive, he won 9 events in those years and had many other high finishes. His 3rd-place finish in the US Open 9-Ball was in 2003.

Keith will be 58 in a few months (if the AzB database is correct). That's an age where physical issues often begin, or continue, to take their toll. Reyes and Parica are not as good as they once were. But it is certainly still possible to play top-level pool at Keith's age and older. JAM seems kind of eager to see how Keith will do without some of the habits of his earlier years. Wouldn't it be neat if that could translate into even better pool than he was playing 10 years ago. Perhaps this reality-show gig will induce some seismic activity that we haven't seen in quite a while and that will persist well beyond that gig.
 
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Your book brings back so many memories of the way it was, especially........

I remember that, Bobby, it's brutal when the "sweaters" are packin. ;)

We had our share of facing pistols on the road didn't we? Your book brings back so many memories of the way it was, especially the ones about the "bootheel" of southern Missouri. When I was around there they were still talking about "Lonnie," and what happened in that gruesome tragedy.

I wonder what every happened to Danny Cook and "Gordy"? Talk about some "characters". You probably remember playing at the "Bloody Bucket"....not sure if that was in your book, but I was around a lot of the stakes horses, hustlers and action men you mentioned.

Play Well, Bud, ttys


Oh I forgot to mention that CJ was also a beast for the big money also, we played once on a bar table after about a hour a guy pulled a pistol on us and we hightailed it outta there lol !
 
I never met Larry Hubbart.

I have met Mike Siegal.

After meeting him, I became the biggest fan of anyone that was playing against Mike Siegal. ;)

Ken

Around 1990 I played Mike in a 9 ball tournament at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento. I drew Mike in the first round and he beat me. I won several matches on the losers side and met him again near rhe end of the tournament.
I beat him this time and turned around to shake his hand and he was gone.

Frank The Barber told me he was out the door before the nine rolled down.
 
I remember that, Bobby, it's brutal when the "sweaters" are packin. ;)

We had our share of facing pistols on the road didn't we? Your book brings back so many memories of the way it was, especially the ones about the "bootheel" of southern Missouri. When I was around there they were still talking about "Lonnie," and what happened in that gruesome tragedy.

I wonder what every happened to Danny Cook and "Gordy"? Talk about some "characters". You probably remember playing at the "Bloody Bucket"....not sure if that was in your book, but I was around a lot of the stakes horses, hustlers and action men you mentioned.

Play Well, Bud, ttys

CJ, me being originally from the bootheel of Missouri I would appreciate it if you would elaborate on your experiences there.
 
It was like when an immovable force is hit by an unstoppable object

I grew up in awe of players like Keith, Buddy, Sigel, Hopkins, Mizerak, Strickland, Hubbart, West, Martin, and even Eddie Taylor was an inspiration to me. I gravitated towards the gamblers, the tournament players didn't impress me nearly as much. When the time came for me to play in pro tournaments I was apprehensive, I knew it was "due or die".....fortunately it worked out although I didn't play much 2000-2011.

Omaha John told me many stories about Keith and how dominant he was (from age 17) in California....."JR" also ran the road with Keith and I, Keith will probably agree that he was one of the all time great action men.

Keith and I did play one time in Dallas at my pool room. I won't tell what happened, I'll just say that Keith and I played perfectly, no missed balls, and no position errors....It was like when an immovable force is hit by an unstoppable object. ;)

I am and always will be a "LA KEITH" fan, he has the complete package, the looks, the charisma and the game to back it up......someone must step up to help re-establish the game for it's greatness, I can see Keith as being a part of that....one way or another.

'The Game is Our Teacher'




Has Keith ever play cj in a money game?
 
Your book brings back so many memories of the way it was, especially the ones about the "bootheel" of southern Missouri.

I grew up and learned to play pool in the "Bootheel of SEMO". I've seen the guns come out quite often down in these parts. I've had a gun pulled on me over a pool game and I had a backer who has pulled his in order to keep people off of me. They don't call the places around there "Cut and Shoot Joints" for no reason at all.

Like I have said in a couple of posts on here before, it wasn't too difficult to go around some of these joints and "win" money, but it might be a bit harder to "get out the door with it".

Aloha.
 
We played all over that southern Mo. area, even down into Arkansas

I started traveling around that area when I was 17 and ran into a lot of "underworld" characters that Bobby Cotton mentioned in his book. His stories about that area are great, mine were from the eyes of a 17 year old, so different in content. ;)

The story I mentioned was about "Lonnie" - Sikeston Jimmy was around that area and also another "Jimmy" from Popular Bluff. Danny Cook was from Hayti Mo. I believe. My roots are in Green City and Kirksville Mo. Columbia was also a place that drew a lot of action from many parts of Missouri to the Columbia Billiard Center on 9th St.

We played all over that southern Mo. area, even down into Arkansas at the "Kit Kat Lounge" in Truman and of course the "Bloody Bucket" was always a pleasure to visit.




CJ, me being originally from the bootheel of Missouri I would appreciate it if you would elaborate on your experiences there.
 
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