1970s-1980s Keith McCready vs SVB

My story about Keith... I grew up near Bob's Billiards and had a job across the street from the place bending tacos, Tito's Tacos for those who are in the know. It was about this time I was drawn into the game. I got word that the US Open Champion swings his stick there. I know now this was not true, since he has not won a US Open and this was about 1986 and he had far outgrown Bob's.

Fast forward to 1995 ish (brain fade), by now I take my game to the next level. I frequent Hardtimes to watch the plethora of talent. It was the first time I've seen the urban legend in action. Despite the many incredible match ups, I was always drawn to McCready's matches. Seemed effortless for him to run out, plain and simple. And that stroke.....

Another thing about Keith, and I hope he is reading this, around these parts of the OC (the real OC I might add), he is a LEGEND! A bonifide legend.... How else can a rumor like the one above start?

Mark~ my real name for Danny K purposes :D , even though I rarely play anymore, I like to play at Danny K's. Anyone wanna matchup? ;)
 
ghost ball said:
Mark~ my real name for Danny K purposes :D , even though I rarely play anymore, I like to play at Danny K's. Anyone wanna matchup? ;)
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The pockets are too big. :D
 
The only time I saw Keith play was in Vegas in the late 80s. He matched up with a 19 year old kid on the bar table playing 8 ball. The kid absolutely drilled him. Keith had a different gear alright...he put it in high gear and got the hell out of there. As far as Keith and Shane playing....don't make me laugh. I watched Shane play for hours two weeks ago on the bar table and I saw him run several racks of 8 ball and 10 ball shooting with one hand. The players today are much better than the players of 20 years ago. The younger generation is better in all sports. Look around and tell me that isn't the case.
 
Keith, you did give my pops the 7. But before that, you gave him the 6 and drilled him... in his words. :)

He still considers matches with "el diablo" as some of his most memorable action. Hope your doing well Keith. Oscar D.
 
skeeterpro said:
The only time I saw Keith play was in Vegas in the late 80s. He matched up with a 19 year old kid on the bar table playing 8 ball. The kid absolutely drilled him. Keith had a different gear alright...he put it in high gear and got the hell out of there. As far as Keith and Shane playing....don't make me laugh. I watched Shane play for hours two weeks ago on the bar table and I saw him run several racks of 8 ball and 10 ball shooting with one hand. The players today are much better than the players of 20 years ago. The younger generation is better in all sports. Look around and tell me that isn't the case.
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Well i think the equipment is better and in all the sports its different then it was way back when.
 
Let's see - from about 17 on all we ever hear about Keith is that he was beating on champions giving up weight.

Shane has been running around the country for a few years now but I don't recall that he has given any champions any weight only taken weight.

I would say that Shane has managed his development as a player pretty well, matches up well and is currently playing 9 and 10 ball about as well as it can be played.

Keith apparently didn't go that route - he just started busting champion after champion giving up the nuts.

Shane might end up being the world's best player. He might end up as dominant as Archer was. He might do a lot of things to live up to the potential he has already shown. But one thing he will never do is be able to say that he gave up weight to world beaters before he could vote.

And barbecued them.
 
John Barton said:
Let's see - from about 17 on all we ever hear about Keith is that he was beating on champions giving up weight.

Shane has been running around the country for a few years now but I don't recall that he has given any champions any weight only taken weight.

I would say that Shane has managed his development as a player pretty well, matches up well and is currently playing 9 and 10 ball about as well as it can be played.

Keith apparently didn't go that route - he just started busting champion after champion giving up the nuts.

Shane might end up being the world's best player. He might end up as dominant as Archer was. He might do a lot of things to live up to the potential he has already shown. But one thing he will never do is be able to say that he gave up weight to world beaters before he could vote.

And barbecued them.
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Yeeee Haaaaaa! Mr. Barton. Yee Haa!
 
skeeterpro said:
The only time I saw Keith play was in Vegas in the late 80s. He matched up with a 19 year old kid on the bar table playing 8 ball. The kid absolutely drilled him. Keith had a different gear alright...he put it in high gear and got the hell out of there. As far as Keith and Shane playing....don't make me laugh. I watched Shane play for hours two weeks ago on the bar table and I saw him run several racks of 8 ball and 10 ball shooting with one hand. The players today are much better than the players of 20 years ago. The younger generation is better in all sports. Look around and tell me that isn't the case.
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No disrespect to you, but how old are you? Son, put the pipe down. There's still time. You don't need that stuff. Several? I've seen Keith put an 8, then miss, then follow it up with a seven. If you didn't see him in "his" prime, you don't even need to chime in. The question was about Shane of now, and Keith at his best. Shane might, and I say might reach what Keith did, but the guy was beating champions giving them the seven at 18 years old!

As far as the younger people being better in all sports.....with technology, diet, chemicals, food, living conditions, equipment, yeah.... maybe so. You take some of the champions of ANY sport and transport them into time and let them grow up in today's environment, and sit back and watch. Could be interesting.
 
Fast Lenny said:
I heard Keith ran 21 racks or something ridiculous.:eek:
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I heard the same story. From reliable sources, no less. I understand it was a matchup with a road player consisting of 3 races to 7. This apparantly happened on the barbox at the old Hard Times in Costa Mesa. The road player won the first break, made nothing, and then sat down to watch Keith run out. Amazing if true but after watching Keith for many years, I think it's entirely possible.
 
I started watching pool pros in the early nineties and find it hard to believe anyone had a higher gear than Earl when he was going good and breaking well. He was just crushing people in Reno on those big pockets.

Did Earl not gamble all that much or was he better at tournements? It just seems weird no one mentions a guy with 9 or 10 world championships and US Opens.
 
8ballEinstein said:
I heard the same story. From reliable sources, no less. I understand it was a matchup with a road player consisting of 3 races to 7. This apparantly happened on the barbox at the old Hard Times in Costa Mesa. The road player won the first break, made nothing, and then sat down to watch Keith run out. Amazing if true but after watching Keith for many years, I think it's entirely possible.
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Totally possible.

I remember reading an interview with Ernesto where he talks of him and King Kong playing barbox 8 ball. Ernesto ran 6 racks in row, came up dry on the break and King Kong proceeded to run 18 racks in row.

Man, these guys are good. Seems Televised matches doesn't do their game justice.
 
Not said well!

Fatboy said:
I believe that if anyone is capable of being a Keith(without habits) its SVB, but SVB needs another 2 years of seasioning to comperable to Keith.

JAM-when I say habits its not a knock just what I observed and no disrespect meant, Keith is a true ledgend and a wonderful assett to pool then and hopefully in the near future.

Shane will be the huge $$$ player like Keith but he still needs a bit of time, he will never have the personality of keith, who does? But Shane is a class act and has my admiraton and respect, same for keith. hows that?
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Fatboy you are normally one of the most interesting posters and certainly not one that shoots out mean comments but the extra insert in your first sentence wasn't necesseay. A bit demeaning and not your typical style, sorry to see you go down that road. This was a great and positive thread about one of the greatest ever, why spoil it?

As far as Keith and Shane go, time will tell. Shane is todays great American player. But Keith had moments on a pool table, when in that special gear, that may never be duplicated. Let's give credit where due as you normally due.
 
bud green said:
I started watching pool pros in the early nineties and find it hard to believe anyone had a higher gear than Earl when he was going good and breaking well. He was just crushing people in Reno on those big pockets.

Did Earl not gamble all that much or was he better at tournements? It just seems weird no one mentions a guy with 9 or 10 world championships and US Opens.
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Earl, imo, was the greatest tournment 9baller ever, period, his record speaks for itself. Keith, however was not the greatest tournment player. But Keith was at one time purely the most feared player on the planet. When he hit his high gear in 9ball he simply was the most prolific runner of pool balls that ever lived.
 
John Barton said:
Let's see - from about 17 on all we ever hear about Keith is that he was beating on champions giving up weight.

Shane has been running around the country for a few years now but I don't recall that he has given any champions any weight only taken weight.

I would say that Shane has managed his development as a player pretty well, matches up well and is currently playing 9 and 10 ball about as well as it can be played.

Keith apparently didn't go that route - he just started busting champion after champion giving up the nuts.

Shane might end up being the world's best player. He might end up as dominant as Archer was. He might do a lot of things to live up to the potential he has already shown. But one thing he will never do is be able to say that he gave up weight to world beaters before he could vote.

And barbecued them.
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Tap tap and some green for you. If they didn't see it, it's hard for them to understand. You had to be there I guess.
 
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skeeterpro said:
The younger generation is better in all sports. Look around and tell me that isn't the case.
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OK, I've looked around and I am telling you that you are wrong. But only about pool. True, sports that require speed, strength and jumping ability ie Baseball, Football, Basketball, Track & Field. The younger generation is far above players from the past. All you have to do is look at the records today vs yesterday and that is the only conclusion possible.

However,,,,,,,,,,pool has none of the physical requirements of the above sports. Heart, gamble and consistency are the requirements to offer the world the 7 ball. Keith, had all that and then some.

I like SVB and pull for him when he is down. I hope he turns into the top player on earth but when Keith was in stroke players like HOF member, Mike Sigel and Larry Hubbart wouldn't play without the 7 or 8 ball. Keith was more fun to watch than any of them too.
 
hemicudas said:
...when Keith was in stroke players like HOF member, Mike Sigel and Larry Hubbart wouldn't play without the 7 or 8 ball. Keith was more fun to watch than any of them too.
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YeEEEOWCH!:eek:
 
skeeterpro said:
The only time I saw Keith play was in Vegas in the late 80s. He matched up with a 19 year old kid on the bar table playing 8 ball. The kid absolutely drilled him. Keith had a different gear alright...he put it in high gear and got the hell out of there. As far as Keith and Shane playing....don't make me laugh. I watched Shane play for hours two weeks ago on the bar table and I saw him run several racks of 8 ball and 10 ball shooting with one hand. The players today are much better than the players of 20 years ago. The younger generation is better in all sports. Look around and tell me that isn't the case.
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I saw keith then too in Vegas and your right he wasnt playing good, but that was long after his best game, Keith was having personal troubles then and you didnt see the REAL Keith, trust me 98% of the stories about him beating the world are true but so is the dark times you saw, i saw them too and i'm glad those times are behind him, he has turned things around for himself and has a great woman in his life too.
 
i've only seen clips of keith play, and the matches i've seen (full ones) are recent where he's not obviosly at his peak. but i can see that he's one of those rare breeds of players who are just natural talents. the way he spins the ball effortlessly (somebody mentioned inside english, something i noticed too he does really well), the way he plays with that sidearm stroke - i'd have to dislocate my shoulder to do that!

and knowing his personality i can certainly believe he had the mental game and the heart to be the player many people have described. truly a rare breed of player - i need to get some videos of keith at his best, i hope there are some available.
 
ginsu said:
Fatboy you are normally one of the most interesting posters and certainly not one that shoots out mean comments but the extra insert in your first sentence wasn't necesseay. A bit demeaning and not your typical style, sorry to see you go down that road. This was a great and positive thread about one of the greatest ever, why spoil it?

As far as Keith and Shane go, time will tell. Shane is todays great American player. But Keith had moments on a pool table, when in that special gear, that may never be duplicated. Let's give credit where due as you normally due.
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I didnt mean any disrespect to Keith, I have spoke to him many times in the pool rooms, and tournments years ago and we got along well everytime we spoke, he dosent know me I'm sure of that. I made alot on the rail betting on his matches, I said the comment about "Habits" with some hesitation, but I did make that post after hesitating and thinking about for a while. I did say it because it widely known but I didnt mean it in a bad way. I wouldnt ever knock Keith he is one of the best personalitys pool has ever had period, perhaps the best. I didnt mean to offend anyone, JAM, Keith and his fans-including me. Nobody is perfect, Keith is one of a kind and I wish him the best in the future and thank him for the past.

regards

fatboy,

and I do appologise if I upset or hurt anyone, i didnt want to make this a negative thread either, your correct i usually say positive things 99% of the time, and in a warped way it is positive about keith-he is amazing despite anything.

thank you for catching this, i appericate your comment to my post and will think twice next time, respect.
 
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