obviously Keith was a phenomenal money player but Shane is a world champion and now has a US open title under his belt
Keith never did either
Keith never did either
1970s-1980s Keith McCready vs SVB
- Thread starter Somehustler
- Start date
cornfed said:
Cornfed, I'm not sure how Keith could have overlooked this! More than likely, Charlie the Ape was the one who quit.
Well, here it is the morning after another glorious U.S. Open championship, and I can't express into words how elated I am to see a young American prodigy proclaim his legacy. In a field of 233 players, Shane Van Boening remained undefeated and provided pool fans around the world like me a renewed sense of enthusiasm. In fact, I'm sure this is only the beginning of the South Dakota Kid era, and the best is yet to come. 
Pool is today moving to new horizons, thankfully. I believe The Action Report, as one prime example, effected a change in the pool world by bringing us podcast interviews and live coverage of action. Other pool entities soon followed suit. Isn't it fabulous that we can enjoy the latest happenings with just a mere click of the mouse? That's a good thing because you sure can't get it on American TV. Pool today is changing its course.
I think the pool world is big enough to celebrate all of the great players, past and present, but to compare a player of Keith's ilk to today's players is difficult to do. The evolution of the 9-ball game to today's ball-in-hand format, instituted by Mackey, et al. (according to Keith), changed pool forever when they took away the two-shot/push-out rules. The equipment today is also quite different, but thankfully, it has improved for the better because of pool industry movers and shakers like Diamond tables, Predator shafts, and the 860 Simonis cloth. Organizations and tours also have come and gone, some of which damaged professional pool in the United States. Today's tournament soldiers can avail themselves to competitive opportunities on a global scale, opportunities which were not available or didn't even exist several decades ago. If you look at the player roster of the U.S. Open in the '70s and '80s, you will not see very many international players' names listed, like they are today.
Keith McCready will never be heralded as a tournament champion, but I don't believe that winning multiple events necessarily is the only criteria to being a great pool player. Keith's legacy, with all its worts and bumps, is what it is, but I can tell you one thing for sure, at any event he steps foot in today, his table will be crowded. Whatever his legacy will be in the minds of the next generation, let it be known that he's an old-school player who enjoys games of stake, but most importantly, he loves to connect with the audience and railbirds. It is the fuel which ignites his engine. The more connected, the better Keith plays. Quite simply, Keith is an entertainer at heart.
There are many great pool players in the world, past and present. I personally do not like these "Who's the best" threads, but some seem to enjoy the public discourse. To compare players of different eras, though, isn't possible. It is disturbing to me sometimes to see the accolades of great players expressed at the expense of demeaning another great player. In fact, it's a shame that we cannot celebrate them all and appreciate them for whatever their legacies are.
I've seen Keith defeat Ronnie Alcano 9 to zero, and I have also seen Keith beat Shane Van Boening at the U.S. Open on the TV table. Does that mean he is the better player? Of course not. That's about as ignorant a comment as some I have read on this thread. In the scheme of things, Keith McCready is a great pool player.
Please don't bash me or my opinion. I have expressed it from my heart. I respect the opinions on this thread, good and bad. I just don't enjoy and sometimes do not understand these "Who's the Best?" threads when the comparisons of great players are truly like apples and oranges.
Congratulations to Shane Van Boening. May he continue his winning ways at the upcoming WPC and make us all proud!
JAM
Pool is today moving to new horizons, thankfully. I believe The Action Report, as one prime example, effected a change in the pool world by bringing us podcast interviews and live coverage of action. Other pool entities soon followed suit. Isn't it fabulous that we can enjoy the latest happenings with just a mere click of the mouse? That's a good thing because you sure can't get it on American TV. Pool today is changing its course.
I think the pool world is big enough to celebrate all of the great players, past and present, but to compare a player of Keith's ilk to today's players is difficult to do. The evolution of the 9-ball game to today's ball-in-hand format, instituted by Mackey, et al. (according to Keith), changed pool forever when they took away the two-shot/push-out rules. The equipment today is also quite different, but thankfully, it has improved for the better because of pool industry movers and shakers like Diamond tables, Predator shafts, and the 860 Simonis cloth. Organizations and tours also have come and gone, some of which damaged professional pool in the United States. Today's tournament soldiers can avail themselves to competitive opportunities on a global scale, opportunities which were not available or didn't even exist several decades ago. If you look at the player roster of the U.S. Open in the '70s and '80s, you will not see very many international players' names listed, like they are today.
Keith McCready will never be heralded as a tournament champion, but I don't believe that winning multiple events necessarily is the only criteria to being a great pool player. Keith's legacy, with all its worts and bumps, is what it is, but I can tell you one thing for sure, at any event he steps foot in today, his table will be crowded. Whatever his legacy will be in the minds of the next generation, let it be known that he's an old-school player who enjoys games of stake, but most importantly, he loves to connect with the audience and railbirds. It is the fuel which ignites his engine. The more connected, the better Keith plays. Quite simply, Keith is an entertainer at heart.
There are many great pool players in the world, past and present. I personally do not like these "Who's the best" threads, but some seem to enjoy the public discourse. To compare players of different eras, though, isn't possible. It is disturbing to me sometimes to see the accolades of great players expressed at the expense of demeaning another great player. In fact, it's a shame that we cannot celebrate them all and appreciate them for whatever their legacies are.
I've seen Keith defeat Ronnie Alcano 9 to zero, and I have also seen Keith beat Shane Van Boening at the U.S. Open on the TV table. Does that mean he is the better player? Of course not. That's about as ignorant a comment as some I have read on this thread. In the scheme of things, Keith McCready is a great pool player.
Please don't bash me or my opinion. I have expressed it from my heart. I respect the opinions on this thread, good and bad. I just don't enjoy and sometimes do not understand these "Who's the Best?" threads when the comparisons of great players are truly like apples and oranges.
Congratulations to Shane Van Boening. May he continue his winning ways at the upcoming WPC and make us all proud!
JAM
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Here's a picture of two great American pool players.
The player on the left, 24 years old, is beginning his pool journey in life.
The gentleman on the right, 50 years old, still has a little fire left in his jug.
I look forward to witnessing the Shane Van Boening legacy in all its glory! As an American, he makes me proud.
JAM
The player on the left, 24 years old, is beginning his pool journey in life.
The gentleman on the right, 50 years old, still has a little fire left in his jug.
I look forward to witnessing the Shane Van Boening legacy in all its glory! As an American, he makes me proud.
JAM
Attachments
JAM said:Here's a picture of two great American pool players.
The player on the left, 24 years old, is beginning his pool journey in life.
The gentleman on the right, 50 years old, still has a little fire left in his jug.
I look forward to witnessing the Shane Van Boening legacy in all its glory! As an American, he makes me proud.
JAM
there is a action match begging to go off, Keith needs to play a month and get all fired up, it would be fun to watch, especially with a mic on keith.
JAM said:Well, here it is the morning after another glorious U.S. Open championship, and I can't express into words how elated I am to see a young American prodigy proclaim his legacy. In a field of 233 players, Shane Van Boening remained undefeated and provided pool fans around the world like me a renewed sense of enthusiasm. In fact, I'm sure this is only the beginning of the South Dakota Kid era, and the best is yet to come.
Pool is today moving to new horizons, thankfully. I believe The Action Report, as one prime example, effected a change in the pool world by bringing us podcast interviews and live coverage of action. Other pool entities soon followed suit. Isn't it fabulous that we can enjoy the latest happenings with just a mere click of the mouse? That's a good thing because you sure can't get it on American TV. Pool today is changing its course.
I think the pool world is big enough to celebrate all of the great players, past and present, but to compare a player of Keith's ilk to today's players is difficult to do. The evolution of the 9-ball game to today's ball-in-hand format, instituted by Mackey, et al. (according to Keith), changed pool forever when they took away the two-shot/push-out rules. The equipment today is also quite different, but thankfully, it has improved for the better because of pool industry movers and shakers like Diamond tables, Predator shafts, and the 860 Simonis cloth. Organizations and tours also have come and gone, some of which damaged professional pool in the United States. Today's tournament soldiers can avail themselves to competitive opportunities on a global scale, opportunities which were not available or didn't even exist several decades ago. If you look at the player roster of the U.S. Open in the '70s and '80s, you will not see very many international players' names listed, like they are today.
Keith McCready will never be heralded as a tournament champion, but I don't believe that winning multiple events necessarily is the only criteria to being a great pool player. Keith's legacy, with all its worts and bumps, is what it is, but I can tell you one thing for sure, at any event he steps foot in today, his table will be crowded. Whatever his legacy will be in the minds of the next generation, let it be known that he's an old-school player who enjoys games of stake, but most importantly, he loves to connect with the audience and railbirds. It is the fuel which ignites his engine. The more connected, the better Keith plays. Quite simply, Keith is an entertainer at heart.
There are many great pool players in the world, past and present. I personally do not like these "Who's the best" threads, but some seem to enjoy the public discourse. To compare players of different eras, though, isn't possible. It is disturbing to me sometimes to see the accolades of great players expressed at the expense of demeaning another great player. In fact, it's a shame that we cannot celebrate them all and appreciate them for whatever their legacies are.
I've seen Keith defeat Ronnie Alcano 9 to zero, and I have also seen Keith beat Shane Van Boening at the U.S. Open on the TV table. Does that mean he is the better player? Of course not. That's about as ignorant a comment as some I have read on this thread. In the scheme of things, Keith McCready is a great pool player.
Please don't bash me or my opinion. I have expressed it from my heart. I respect the opinions on this thread, good and bad. I just don't enjoy and sometimes do not understand these "Who's the Best?" threads when the comparisons of great players are truly like apples and oranges.
Congratulations to Shane Van Boening. May he continue his winning ways at the upcoming WPC and make us all proud!
JAM
you type like Keith plays, do they have action matches for typing?, my $$$ is on you.
CaptiveBred said:
yeah i will. my back is so bad i cant play more than 2 hours on a good day, i did get to play 4 days this week, i took a tough game and we split the sets, we bet more on the second so i lost a little but I stepped up to a better player and played good all things considered, it was a good match, when i get my health back before tooth is too old
there will be a game, we almost played a few years ago. this has been going on waaaay before AZ. I hate to make excuses but its a fact, i spent 5 months in Germany for operations and have the scares to prove it, 
if he will play me Monopoly now by the rule book we have a game,
I'm a honest stand-up guy i wouldnt trick anyone here into this if it wasnt gonna happen, just like Jay and my bank game its all true he is up 6-2 with a couple close games in there. Jay is softer than tooth(now i'm in trouble)
Somehustler
Registered
From an earlier post someone said that Buddy beat Keith when he was 16 and Hawaiian Brain was staking him... my father is good friends with Hawaiian Brian and found out that the action actually happened in Oklahoma City, OK. Keith was 18 at the time and was getting the call 7 and got beat by Buddy. Buddy then proceeded to give Brian the 8 and lost around four thousand.
Somehustler said:
Thanks for the great Keithism!
I'm good friends with Keith McCready --
-- and he remembers that he was 16 years of age when this match occurred between himself and Buddy Hall, with Keith getting the wild 7 "after the break."You are correct in that it was Keith's first road trip, and he was with Hawaiian Brian who staked him in the action. Brian got the call 8, and if it went in on the break, it was a win for Brian, unlike the above-referenced match-up between Buddy and Keith.
It always amazes me the different games these players could come up with.
The name of the Oklahoma City pool room was True Loves!
To elaborate a little further on this tale, Keith wanted to gamble, after he got beat by Buddy, with some guy named Mike Aikens (sp). Brian didn't like that game of Keith's and would not stake him.
Even at the tender age of 16, Keith knew how to make action happen. He learned from the best. Most children, who have a loving family when growing up, are fortunate to have families that support them in their chosen endeavors.
Keith's family as a young boy consisted of pool champions, hustlers, and road agents. After his mother passed away when he was a very young boy, Keith ended up living in the pool room, literally.
So Keith used this acquired skill of creating action and surveyed True Loves. He managed to find himself a stakehorse and proceeded to beat Mike Aikens out of $12,000, spotting him the 8 on a bar table.
JAM
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This is a thread I really enjoy!!!
There is only one Keith McCready! Without doubt my favourite pool-entertainer!
I would LOVE to see a 9-ball match between Keith and Earl, race to 100, with mic on both of them!!!
There is only one Keith McCready! Without doubt my favourite pool-entertainer!
I would LOVE to see a 9-ball match between Keith and Earl, race to 100, with mic on both of them!!!
Roy Steffensen said:
That would be pretty much the nuts
(Jake raises his hands to the sky)God, if you're listening, let it be
anybody else dissapointed to see Kieth go back into lurk mode? He teased all us internet nerds with a couple quick stories
That man should write a book about his gambling career. I would buy it the day it came out...
He teased all us internet nerds with a couple quick stories That man should write a book about his gambling career. I would buy it the day it came out...
JAM said:
I've had my differences with Jam in the past and may still disagree with her in the future, but this is the best paragraph I've ever read from her. Keith is/was a stone cold gambler along with the likes of Fats, Cole Dixon, and Don Willis. While none of them may snap off a tourney they will definitely come home with the cash.
Something to Consider
I know i am new at posting but I believe this is important to understand in the current discusson, when comparion Shane and Keith a clear distinction has to be made IMO, and right or wrong this makes a hell of a bit of difference, great players who have habits will most likely dominate players who have no habits, look at all levels of sports, that is why there truly cannot be a real comparison, that is why so many pro sports players are called to the carpet, it gives an edge beyond what most understand unless they "truly understand".
I believe Keith was and is still great, and I believe that Shane is and will get even better, they are completely from different molds.
Greater stamina, sight inhanced, (wont explain this, those of you who are in the know should understand) and fearlessness comes hand in hand with habits, plus being a great player and great natural ability = a monster of a player.
Shane being clean as far as I have ever heard could not compete with that, and I believe that Keith most likely would have his hands full against Shane if the habits were taking out of the equation.
Like I said this maybe a touchy subject for some but if there is going to be a comparison this has got to be considered in order to be honest and fair in evaluating these players.
In no way am I judging any one by saying "habits" just facts well known and in the past as far as I know, only trying to make a comparison of two players a little more honest.
When ever someone acheives greatness there are always those who will try and belittle and take them down a notch in their believing and confidence, its the way of man, dominance is the name of the game greatness and wanting to stay at the top and keep the glory, unfortunatly time moves on and glory fades and a new one has to be crowned....
I know i am new at posting but I believe this is important to understand in the current discusson, when comparion Shane and Keith a clear distinction has to be made IMO, and right or wrong this makes a hell of a bit of difference, great players who have habits will most likely dominate players who have no habits, look at all levels of sports, that is why there truly cannot be a real comparison, that is why so many pro sports players are called to the carpet, it gives an edge beyond what most understand unless they "truly understand".
I believe Keith was and is still great, and I believe that Shane is and will get even better, they are completely from different molds.
Greater stamina, sight inhanced, (wont explain this, those of you who are in the know should understand) and fearlessness comes hand in hand with habits, plus being a great player and great natural ability = a monster of a player.
Shane being clean as far as I have ever heard could not compete with that, and I believe that Keith most likely would have his hands full against Shane if the habits were taking out of the equation.
Like I said this maybe a touchy subject for some but if there is going to be a comparison this has got to be considered in order to be honest and fair in evaluating these players.
In no way am I judging any one by saying "habits" just facts well known and in the past as far as I know, only trying to make a comparison of two players a little more honest.
When ever someone acheives greatness there are always those who will try and belittle and take them down a notch in their believing and confidence, its the way of man, dominance is the name of the game greatness and wanting to stay at the top and keep the glory, unfortunatly time moves on and glory fades and a new one has to be crowned....
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No offense but........this may be the silliest one post that I have read here in a long time.pletho said:
I see Shane or anyone else who can focus and play on the natch as having a huge advantage over someone of like ability. No ups and downs due to chemistry is a huge benefit. If you had some of the first hand experiences that I have had with top notch players who had to get their mix right just to be able to play you would realize the invalidity in your statement. Granted, the players who depend on dope to play their game may hit a gear but they also may jar themselves and for my money I will take the straight guy.
Oscar, i saw you and your dad all week at the Open. I was jealous at the relationship you guys have, thats great. I never saw you play but i saw your Dad play and he is still an AWESOME player. By the way, i was the guy in the security line at the Norfolk airport Sunday morning.MexPoolPlyr said: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.
