You just gave away the best part of the match, seeing Keith in a cumberbund!
Only thing that would be more shocking would be if he was drinking wine instead of a beer during a match.
He wasn't drinking anything in that match while in the pit.
You just gave away the best part of the match, seeing Keith in a cumberbund!
Only thing that would be more shocking would be if he was drinking wine instead of a beer during a match.
I saw Keith and his road player buddy come into a pool room in Phoenix in 1991. Periodically the Earthquake would run into the bathroom to get his "fix." It's a shame how many drugs this guy took. In my opinion, he wasted his opportunities. He could have done a lot more for the GAME.
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All from memory:I'm always in a learning mode when it comes to pool jargon. I had to do a Google search to learn the difference between a semifinal and a quarterfinal.
The last YouTube video I uploaded was Keith v. Efren in a quarterfinal, and this match, Keith v. Earl, is a semifinal.
A semifinal match is one of two matches, the winner of which will go to the finals; and a quarterfinal is four matches, two of which will go to the semifinals.
As well, Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the reference dictionary of my choice, says "semifinal" and "quarterfinal" are one word, not two words and not hyphenated.
In doing research for this tournament, I believe I may have had the date wrong on the Keith v. Efren match, which I posted up previously. According to Earl's Wiki page, he won the 1988 PBA Brunswick World Open, which I think that is what this is. So I changed the date on YouTube for that video.
In this semifinals match, I noticed they were using what I think is the blue-dot cueball. I remember when Keith and I first met, he claimed he liked the blue-dot cueball better than the red-dot cueball. Of course, in 2003, then they came out with the polka-dotted cueball. Keith was the first one to shoot with it in a formal competition when he and Buddy Hall were put on the TV table at the 2003 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship. :grin-square:
Steve Mizerak and Barry Tompkins again are commentating in this match. Steve continues to wonder why the players are breaking from the side from time to time, instead of dead center, and shares a little breaking strategy.
In this match, Earl talks to himself, and Keith talks to the crowd. :winknudge:
The winner of this match plays Buddy Hall or Mike Sigel in the finals. :wink:
I don't know how long it will take YouTube to make it public, but here's the link ---> Keith v. Earl.
That Clyde Childress Memorial tournament that Keith defeated Earl was on St. Patrick's Day. The year before, Earl won it.
Here is a picture of the year before from Porter and Haines ---> PICTURE
I think that photo was from the Clyde Childress Memorial tournament that Earl won, the previous year.
Bill Porter mentioned to me that because of Keith's antics and behavior, he and Haines did not take many photos of Keith McCready.
I may be a good PR person and apologist for Keith, but I am well aware that he was the Stu Ungar of the pool world in his earlier life. There was a love-hate relationship that some had with Keith. The pool purists despised him; the action enthusiasts loved him. Because of this friction, his presence usually generated a lot of "attention," for lack of a better word.
Bill Porter made a memorial YouTube about Clyde Childress, who was his friend. For those who haven't seen it, it's very nice ---> In Memory of Clyde Childress
There is a cute article about the Clyde Childress tournament with Keith v. Earl in the finals in the December 2005 InsidePOOL issue on page 14 ----> Mind Games
Wow, JAM. What a wonderful post and a simple explanation of a complex matter.Keith and I both grew up in an era when it was an "accepted societal norm" by a majority of the baby-boomers to alter one's state of mind at will. With some, it led to substance abuse; and with others, life's responsibilities made it impossible for them to continue down that path. Sadly, a few folks ended up dead or in prison.
FWIW, Keith wasn't the only one engaged in this lifestyle, Some of today's BCA Hall of Famers not only had to depend on substancs to play pool, but some of them, believe it or not, still do so today. You would be surprised, I guess.
It is like alcoholism. You have your social drinkers and your maintenance drinkers. Some alcoholics go to work, take care of their families, and get by, even though they cannot function without alcohol beginning their day. Most substance abuse today stems from prescription pills.
Regardless of what path any of us take, it's not for me to judge another unless I walked in his shoes. It's easy to judge a person from afar, but we are all members of God's human family, capable of mistakes in life. Keith was dealt some curve-balls as a child, and the only way he knew how to get by cam from his peers in the pool room. Those were his mentors; pool was his life. He had quite an untraditional upbringing.
If you were to ask Keith today if he had any regrets, you might be surprised at his reply. One thing I know for sure, while he was looking at heights beyond our gaze in the world of pool, he had a spirit that could soar with a freedom unconquerable. And nobody can ever take that away from him. :smile:
Wow, JAM. What a wonderful post and a simple explanation of a complex matter.
The boogeyman should apologize for his opinionated judgement, IMO. Who is he to say what may or may not have been?
I know the Magical Mystery Tour wouldn't have happened without LSD, and imagine the impact it had on the World...we really have no concept of the lives and pocketbooks it shined upon.
JAM, this was an awesome video. Reminded me of seeing Keith at US Open in 92. It was after hrs in IHOP, I think. Anyway, I see him at the counter. He's eating breakfast w/eggs. He was the same as he is on the table. Very theatrical, even while eating. He seems to always look like he is in a movie. Greater than life!
These videos also show Keith's comfort w/risk shots. Risk puts a "tourney player" at a disadvantage. But in gambling, it strikes fear in the opponent. Nothing is scarier than a rack burner playing loose and unafraid to take risk.
Respect, Courage, and Commitment! now Free
JAM, this was an awesome video. Reminded me of seeing Keith at US Open in 92. It was after hrs in IHOP, I think. Anyway, I see him at the counter. He's eating breakfast w/eggs. He was the same as he is on the table. Very theatrical, even while eating. He seems to always look like he is in a movie. Greater than life!
These videos also show Keith's comfort w/risk shots. Risk puts a "tourney player" at a disadvantage. But in gambling, it strikes fear in the opponent. Nothing is scarier than a rack burner playing loose and unafraid to take risk.
Respect, Courage, and Commitment! now Free
That's a hell of a thanks, are we to assume you never done anything wrong .
I doubt that... You just don't have some a$$hole pointing your mistakes out