COLE DICKSON and KEITH McCREADY

Ken_4fun

Ken_4fun

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Maybe some of you California birds can fill me in, when these guys were up and coming did anyone take them under their wings or did they just have to learn it all on their own.

I read in the "olden" days that nobody showed anybody nothing. But it seems hard to believe that these guys (youngsters) didnt have help to get so good so fast.

From the things I heard these guys never seemed to be against each other but worked together. I sure hope that is true.

Seems like today, everybody is against everybody.

Any help Jay?

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
Maybe some of you California birds can fill me in, when these guys were up and coming did anyone take them under their wings or did they just have to learn it all on their own.

I read in the "olden" days that nobody showed anybody nothing. But it seems hard to believe that these guys (youngsters) didnt have help to get so good so fast.

From the things I heard these guys never seemed to be against each other but worked together. I sure hope that is true.

Seems like today, everybody is against everybody.

Any help Jay?

Ken
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Good question! I don't remember Keith ever giving credit to a mentor as he was learning the game. I could be wrong but I think he was mostly self-taught. Realize, both he and Cole were surrounded by real good players at a very young age.
 
Cole was surrounded by the great players at Cochrans and the Palace in SF, at very young age. Then he headed on the road, about 16, and his game went even higher. He ran with Mike Zimmerman for some time. He, or his other half, should be able to fill in the blanks.
 
Cole did have the benefit of growing up around great players like Denny Searcy, Jack Cooney, Grady and several others. Cochran's and The Palace were two of the big action rooms on the West Coast at the time.

Keith was growing up during the heyday of the original Billiard Palace (Butch's place) in Bellflower. Ronnie, Richie and many other great champions frequented this place. Keith was probably mentored more by Ronnie than anyone else. More by example and observation than direct teaching.

I will say this, Keith and Cole were freaks when it came to pool. Both became top quality players at very early ages, more because of their own ability than anything else. Both were standout players by age 16 and world beaters at 18. Their development curve was not unlike great Eastern players like Jimmy Rempe, Allen Hopkins and Steve Mizerak, who were already champions as teenagers.

If there was any difference, it was the games they learned at this early age. Keith and Cole got schooled in 9-Ball and One Pocket. Back East they were learning Straight Pool first.
 
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jay helfert said:
Cole did have the benefit of growing up around great players like Denny Searcy, Jack Cooney, Grady and several others. Cochran's and The Palace were two of the big action rooms on the West Coast at the time.

Keith was growing up during the heyday of the original Billiard Palace (Butch's place) in Bellflower. Ronnie, Richie and many other great champions frequented this place. Keith was probably mentored more by Ronnie than anyone else. More by example and observation than direct teaching.

I will say this, Keith and Cole were freaks when it came to pool. Both became top quality players at very early ages, more because of their own ability than anything else. Both were standout players by age 16 and world beaters at 18. Their development curve was not so unlike great Eastern players like Jimmy Rempe, Allen Hopkins and Steve Mizerak, who were already champions as teenagers.

If there was any difference, it was the games they learned at this early age. Keith and Cole got schooled in 9-Ball and One Pocket. Back East they were learning Straight Pool first.
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I got to know Cole at McQs and the Studebaker Club (now closed) in Spokane WA many years back and sweated many of his matches. I watched him win many tournaments. I remember one in particular where Nicky Benish was the guest pro and the winner of the tourney got to play her a race to seven for extra cheese. Cole won the tourney and kept Nicky in her seat the entire time -- can you say 7-pack.

Cole is mentioned in the book One Pocket as once (70s?) being "the most feared road 9-ball player in the world". Some interesting tidbits in there about some of his "happenings" that are quite humorous/interesting.

I got to know Cole "fairly well" and can say that he too, like Jay mentioned concerning Keith, learned "more by example and observation than direct teaching."

When Cole moved to Montana it was a sad day for pool in Spokane -- he is missed and still admired and thought of as Spokane's own, even though he really wasn't. Just two or three days ago I overheard someone say, "I remember when Cole was playing XXX and .................." He'll never be forgotten around these parts I guarantee!

We miss you Cole -- thanks for the rail $$ buddy. :)
 
jay helfert said:
Cole did have the benefit of growing up around great players like Denny Searcy, Jack Cooney, Grady and several others. Cochran's and The Palace were two of the big action rooms on the West Coast at the time.

Keith was growing up during the heyday of the original Billiard Palace (Butch's place) in Bellflower. Ronnie, Richie and many other great champions frequented this place. Keith was probably mentored more by Ronnie than anyone else. More by example and observation than direct teaching.

I will say this, Keith and Cole were freaks when it came to pool. Both became top quality players at very early ages, more because of their own ability than anything else. Both were standout players by age 16 and world beaters at 18. Their development curve was not unlike great Eastern players like Jimmy Rempe, Allen Hopkins and Steve Mizerak, who were already champions as teenagers.

If there was any difference, it was the games they learned at this early age. Keith and Cole got schooled in 9-Ball and One Pocket. Back East they were learning Straight Pool first.
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Jay and everyone that seen them -

It seems that Cole and Keith were always fierce competitors but never negative towards each other. Am I right? How did they play against each other?

I think Danny Harriman and John Schmidt are the best (and closely matched) straight pool in the US, I wish they would work TOGETHER...another missed opportunity IMO.:rolleyes:

Ken
 
Mike Zimmerman

It is true that he and Cole spent much time together when they were younger....

Mike was up here in the Seattle area for a great while and now is in Oregon.

In the forum here he is known as Centered50/50 or something like that...however, he is rarely on line here anymore and only has posted a few times...

Linda Carter is his significant other and she could really help alot with things..I think she is Wonder Woman possibly...???

Hope this helps...

Mr. J.
 
Ken_4fun said:
Jay and everyone that seen them -

It seems that Cole and Keith were always fierce competitors but never negative towards each other. Am I right? How did they play against each other?

Ken
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Somewhere on AZ it was either Keith or someone like Jam (?) mentioned 4 players Keith found the hardest to play for money, and Cole was one of them.
 
I was given this story from Jim Pousch and it’s not about Keith or Cole. It’s about Shannon “Doughboy” Daulton. I’ll relay this story the way it was told to me, I don’t know if it’s all true but certain parts are definitely true. Anyway here goes…

The setting is Shooters in Olathe, KS. At this time Shannon is about 19 years old and still earning his stripes. He was referred to as The Doughboy in these times. His opponent was ranked #6 in the world at the time and was named Jimmy Wetch. In fact Jimmy was coming off of several big wins and was considered a huge favorite in the game that would ensue. The stakes were put up by rivaling Asians with a lot of money. How much money you ask, $40k each. The rules of the match were simple, yet would prove to be tough to fade. 12 ahead, even 9-Ball for all the money and you can’t leave until you win.

From the beginning to the end of the match supposedly Shannon never slow rolled a single shot on the tight gold crown they were playing on. I was told he floated around the table rifling ball after ball in and running rack after rack. However he was up against a guy at the time who had no holes in his game at all. It was nothing for Wetch to fade a 4 pack and get the coin back in his favor. Wetch played perfect and Shannon played perfect for many hours…about 60 hours to be exact! No one left the table to do anything other than go to the bathroom. They ate at the table and drank at the table…no one could leave. Anyway shortly after the 72 hour mark passed by Shannon “Doughboy” Daulton won the money. They went to sleep. The Asians returned to the pool hall where there Samoan body guards had been standing for three days and decide to do it again for the same stakes.

Next set started and Shannon comes in off his long rest and starts rifling balls in again. Wetch unhappy the kid is impossible to beat quits the set even after a few hours. Word spread of Shannon’s accurate and hard shooting. Someone says it’s like he shoots with a cannon….supposedly this is the match where The Doughboy died and The Cannon was born.

So I don’t know if it’s all true but I believe this is the match Shannon got the nickname Cannon. If anyone knows better than me please correct me, I am just relaying a story I was told that I think would be legendary if true.
 
I've known both since they were kids. The first time I met Cole he came into a poolroom in San Leandro Ca. and made a game with me playing nine ball with shootout rules. He was about 16 year old and I remember people telling me that he was real good. I did win but I was highly impressed with his skills and brazenness. We played again a few time later when he got older and more seasoned. He became one of the most feared played both in nine ball and in one pocket.

The first time I saw Keith he was also very young maybe 15 years old. I had just finished beating a guy called Waterdog and thats when I saw this young kid being held back by his friends and they were telling him that he wasn't ready for me yet. That's one of the things that makes a champion, the idea that you can beat anyone. There was no doubt that both of these guys were headed for something special. I will say that Keith did have an extra gear or two above Cole. I remember many payball games that Keith frequently broke up even at a very young age. He got so scary to play with that he was given the name "El Diablo" meaning the devil.

Anytime either of these two were in action or in tournament play that's where the crowd went watch. Ahh, to be born with the skills and the attitude, we should all be so lucky.
 
the frenchman was hungry

I remember frenchie telling me tha when he was gambling with cole dickson and LOSING he got so mad he BIT cole's NOSE.true story.:D
 
dabarbr said:
I've known both since they were kids. The first time I met Cole he came into a poolroom in San Leandro Ca. and made a game with me playing nine ball with shootout rules. He was about 16 year old and I remember people telling me that he was real good. I did win but I was highly impressed with his skills and brazenness. We played again a few time later when he got older and more seasoned. He became one of the most feared played both in nine ball and in one pocket.

The first time I saw Keith he was also very young maybe 15 years old. I had just finished beating a guy called Waterdog and thats when I saw this young kid being held back by his friends and they were telling him that he wasn't ready for me yet. That's one of the things that makes a champion, the idea that you can beat anyone. There was no doubt that both of these guys were headed for something special. I will say that Keith did have an extra gear or two above Cole. I remember many payball games that Keith frequently broke up even at a very young age. He got so scary to play with that he was given the name "El Diablo" meaning the devil.

Anytime either of these two were in action or in tournament play that's where the crowd went watch. Ahh, to be born with the skills and the attitude, we should all be so lucky.
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Id love to hear more....
 
Jay...Keith was already a world beater at 17. I played him in '75 (he was 17, and I was 'older and wiser'...LOL...at 21), at the World 9ball tourney in Burlington IA, that was run by Cardone. EVERYBODY was there, including Ritchie & Ronnie, and every hustler in the country (Buddy was tall and SKINNY, and called by the name "Rags"...he wasn't even The Rifleman yet!). I don't know if Keith lost out early in the tournament (which was in the 'convention center' on the river) on purpose or not, but he was holding court on the green room tables at the hotel, and KILLING every player who stepped up (this included all the top guys). These were all 9' tables too! I got very lucky, with a huge spot, and beat Keith for almost two dimes in a few minutes, before he quit. He had a bankroll that would choke an elephant, so he didn't miss it (I think I might have been the only person to beat him).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

jay helfert said:
Both were standout players by age 16 and world beaters at 18. Their development curve was not unlike great Eastern players like Jimmy Rempe, Allen Hopkins and Steve Mizerak, who were already champions as teenagers.
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I was there

Scott Lee said:
Jay...Keith was already a world beater at 17. I played him in '75 (he was 17, and I was 'older and wiser'...LOL...at 21), at the World 9ball tourney in Burlington IA, that was run by Cardone. EVERYBODY was there, including Ritchie & Ronnie, and every hustler in the country (Buddy was tall and SKINNY, and called by the name "Rags"...he wasn't even The Rifleman yet!). I don't know if Keith lost out early in the tournament (which was in the 'convention center' on the river) on purpose or not, but he was holding court on the green room tables at the hotel, and KILLING every player who stepped up (this included all the top guys). These were all 9' tables too! I got very lucky, with a huge spot, and beat Keith for almost two dimes in a few minutes, before he quit. He had a bankroll that would choke an elephant, so he didn't miss it (I think I might have been the only person to beat him).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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You are right, Scott. I was there too, along with every other top player in the country. You forgot to mention that the tables were off brand with impossible pockets and deep wells. The toughest tables I have ever played on. Cole and Keith were the only guys whistling balls down the rail. If you touched a thread going down the rail the ball would bubble out.
Beard
 
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