CJ & Mcready

[Island Drive]

Was wondering.... in their youth did these two ever match up?
Often back in the day, when two players both played at their speed they had enough respect, they often chose to become friends instead.
I don't know who I'd pick, probably depended on the moment.... what do you think?

 

[JAM]

Interesting you mention CJ and Keith. I was communicating with Cathy Jo Sawyer who shared this news clipping with me. Check out the paragraph about Keith and CJ. I'll transcribe here: The main event drew 103 players from all over and included movie star Keith "The Earthquake" McCready of Los Angeles, former World Series of Tavern Pool winner C.J. Wiley, bar table legend Weldon Rogers aka Jr. Weldon, one-handed phenom Little Sergio Vargas, Texan Bob Vanover, and former Huebler Cup champions Dick Lane and Bill Meacham.

I just asked Keith if he's ever matched up with CJ, and here is his reply, also transcribed by me: We always had mutual respect for one another. We played in tournaments a couple times. As far as gambling goes, one time we played for $10 a game, 10-ball on a real tight 5-by-10 in his poolroom in Dallas. CJ spotted me the 9-ball playing 10-ball. CJ was running out, as usual. He had me 8 games loser, and it looked like he was going to beat me out of a hundred, but he finally made a couple mistakes. We got even and we quit. I wasn't in the greatest shape back then, and CJ was playing good at that time. CJ has always been a champion, hard to beat.

 

[Island Drive]

Thx Jen I kinda figured they both had their hands full.
Nice seeing my name again.
Winning the 4th Heubler cup in Palm Springs, my toughest opponent was Archer.... Cole Dixon was even better on the box then.
Did Kieth ever play Cole?

 

[JAM]

Thx Jen I kinda figured they both had their hands full.
Nice seeing my name again.
Winning the 4th Heubler cup in Palm Springs, my toughest opponent was Archer.... Cole Dixon was even better on the box then.
Did Kieth ever play Cole?

They were really good friends. Cole was like Keith's mentor, so they didn't engage with each other too much in action. Keith used to look up to him and follow him around as a teenager. He said all the ladies liked Cole with his blond surfer look and rope for a belt. Keith said he was happy to get the girls who Cole didn't choose to hang out with him. But Keith believes they were really only hanging out with him so they could get closer to Cole. But that's the world according to Keith.

 

[maha]

most of the very top players played so close in speed that who was on or had the best drugs that day won and who was also getting the most good rolls.

the best money players are the ones that chose wisely who and when to play, and kept their winnings. the suckers no matter how good they were found a way to get broke. ego is a bad thing in gambling.

but very few really made enough overall to cover their life expenses so most were doomed to stay broke.

here are a few that won and kept it most times some also had outside income

beenie, bucktooth, weldon rogers, bill stroud, uj pucket, hubert cokes, fusco, norm hitchcock, joey speath, country.

 

[HawaiianEye]

most of the very top players played so close in speed that who was on or had the best drugs that day won and who was also getting the most good rolls.

the best money players are the ones that chose wisely who and when to play, and kept their winnings. the suckers no matter how good they were found a way to get broke. ego is a bad thing in gambling.

but very few really made enough overall to cover their life expenses so most were doomed to stay broke.

here are a few that won and kept it most times some also had outside income

beenie, bucktooth, weldon rogers, bill stroud, uj pucket, hubert cokes, fusco, norm hitchcock, joey speath, country.

CJ

 

[Railbird-2026]

Was wondering.... in their youth did these two ever match up?
Often back in the day, when two players both played at their speed they had enough respect, they often chose to become friends instead.
I don't know who I'd pick, probably depended on the moment.... what do you think?

I was in CJ Billiard Palace in Dallas and Keith McCready came in. CJ and Keith Matched up. Something like 10 ahead in 9 Ball. I was thinking this is going to be a long great match. CJ beat him in 30 minutes. No rematch.

 

[j2pac]

They were really good friends. Cole was like Keith's mentor, so they didn't engage with each other too much in action. Keith used to look up to him and follow him around as a teenager. He said all the ladies liked Cole with his blond surfer look and rope for a belt. Keith said he was happy to get the girls who Cole didn't choose to hang out with him. But Keith believes they were really only hanging out with him so they could get closer to Cole. But that's the world according to Keith.

No doubt they shared a mutual respect. I would have enjoyed watching either one of them. The two of them together? Priceless.

 

[maha]

both were certainly exciting to watch. compare to filler and gorst.