For those of you that knew Jimmie Mac

Gunn_Slinger · Oct 25, 2007

We were saddened to hear that James McAdams (Jimmie Mac) passed away the other day.
I know Jam will have some great stories to share about his life. He was a great local player, played all games good. He will be missed by his pals.

This is from the Washington Post

McAdams, James Walter

MCADAMS JAMES WALTER MCADAMS In loving memory of JAMES WALTER MCADAMS, (58), of Fairfax, VA, on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Beloved husband of Dianna J. McAdams; loving father of Ananda J. and Matthew J. McAdams; son of James M. McAdams (Nilsa Sandin-McAdams) and the late Gladys F. Diaz; brother of John J., Mary Ann, Catherine L., Jaime A., Rebecca M. and the late Charles M. McAdams. Jim was an uncle and great-uncle. Jim was an alcohol addiction counselor for the Fairfax County Government he was also an avid pool player who's friends knew him as "Jimmy Mac". A memorial service will be held at Unity Life Center, 14088-C Sully Field Circle, Chantilly, VA, on Saturday, October 27 at 6 :30 p.m. Memorial donations can be sent to the Whitman Walker Clinic for Aids research, 1407 S St. N.W., Washington, DC 20009 or the American Liver Foundation, Hepatitis Research, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, NY 10038. Online condolences may be sent to: www.moneyandking.com

JDB · Oct 25, 2007

Gunn_Slinger said:
We were saddened to hear that James McAdams (Jimmie Mac) passed away the other day.
I know Jam will have some great stories to share about his life. He was a great local player, played all games good. He will be missed by his pals.

That is very sad, I am sorry to hear that.

I played Jimmy in a few tournaments and he was a class act all the time. I am pretty sure he was also mentioned in Playing off the Rail.

One of my most memorable memories of Jimmy was a tournament that I attended with my best friend.

My best friend was scheduled to play Max Eberle in the first round, but Max was late. People were urging my friend to make Max forfeit because he was late, but he said no. He would play Max even though he was 15 - 30 minutes late. Well, Max killed my friend and sent him to the losers bracket.

Who did he face in the losers bracket; none other than Jimmy Mac, who had faced another top tier player in the winners bracket.

Anyway, the match between Jimmy Mac and my friend lasted about 10 minutes (race to 7). Jimmy ran about 4 racks and made (2) 9's on the break and said outloud..."I wish you would have made Max forfeit, I could have even beat him if I was playing this way." (or something to that effect)

Jimmy was genuinely a great guy and will truly be missed.

His passing is very sad... My condolences goes out to his family; he was a great guy.

unknownpro · Oct 25, 2007

That's a shock. Jimmy Mac was a great guy. I miss him already. My condolences to his family. He was a good friend. Very very sad.

unknownpro

JAM · Oct 26, 2007

Hailing from Virginia, Jimmy Mac was a force to be reckoned with on the tournament trail in the '70s and '80s. He absolutely loved pool, and he was a tough competitor, fighting tooth and nail for the almighty win. In recent times, he was a regular on the Planet Pool 9-Ball Tour.

I have known Jimmy for most of my adult life, and he was intelligent, polite, and very amiable. He is survived by his beloved children that he absolutely adored with his whole being.

Like so many folks from my generation who grew up during the Woodstock era when it was acceptable to alter one's state of conscious at will, Jimmy enjoyed life to the fullest, as did we all. In the '60s and '70s, nobody knew about the deadly transmission of the liver disease, one which often doesn't affect a person until 20 or 30 years later. In fact, today, 9 out of 10 people who have it don't even know they have it.

Jimmy realized as a young man that substance abuse wasn't the way to go, and he went through great efforts to turn his life completely around. Wanting to help others who suffered from this horrible addiction of substance abuse, Jimmy Mac went to school and became a substance abuse counselor. He devoted his life to the cause and has transformed hundreds of young people's lives under his guidance. He is an angel and saved many young souls who were heading in the wrong direction.

Jimmy Mac competed in the 2003 U.S. Open. This was the year of Tropical Storm Isabela when the whole area lost power for a few days. The last day was the semi-finals, and my boyfriend, Keith McCready, somehow managed to make it to the final day. Because of the lack of power, Keith ran out of clean clothes, and I could not wash any at the Holiday Inn because the washing machine stayed in use after the power came back on. Most of the stores were closed, preventing me from buying some.

I was talking to Jimmy about our problem, as I wanted Keith to look his best on the TV table. Jimmy said, "I just put these clothes on. Let me go to my hotel room and let Keith wear them. They're clean." He came back and gave Keith a full outfit, clean slacks and a nice shirt. That's the kind of man Jimmy Mac was. He would literally give you the shirt off his back.

Keith ended up coming in third that year. When we returned home, we went to a local tournament, and there was Jimmy Mac. He congratulated Keith for his fine showing, and then in McCready style, Jimmy asked Keith, "Hey, since you played so well in my pants at the Open, do you think I'm in for a little jelly roll?" He said it in jest, but we all got a good laugh out of it because that is EXACTLY what Keith would have said.

I have many more funny stories about Jimmy, and I hope others who knew him will share on this thread. He will be sorely missed by many of us who knew and loved him. My sincere condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace, Jimmy. Know that your life made a huge difference to the thousands whose lives you touched. God bless you.

JAM

Matt_24 · Oct 26, 2007

I've seen him around the D.C./VA/MD pool scene for years but never had a chance to talk to him. I saw that he played real good. I'm real sorry to hear about this.

Black-Balled · Oct 26, 2007

RIP, Jimmy Mac.

I knew him for about 20yrs, though only saw him a couple times over the last few.

Jimmy was a very good pool player and is recognized as such in McCumber's, Playing off the Rail. He was the first upper level player that showed me what good 9b looked like- it looked easy when he did it.

Certainly missed, and the world is a bit worse after his loss. I am sad and wish the best to his family, Jimmy made many friends in the pool world and he will be missed by us all.

Vicki · Oct 26, 2007

Jimmy was a great friend to me and my family. I am so very sorry for his children. He helped my daughter through a very difficult time in her life. He gave her support that no one else could have offered and his influence will guide her for her entire life.

Vicki Capone

Gunn_Slinger · Oct 27, 2007

Thanks for posting the pic Jam and the great story.

JAM · Oct 27, 2007

Gunn_Slinger said:
Thanks for posting the pic Jam and the great story.

I'm still in shock that Jimmy is gone. Did somebody contact Billy Stephens? I'm sure he would want to know.

The wake is tonight in Chantilly. I won't be able to make it, but I am going to donate in Jimmy Mac's memory to one of the above-referenced links.

God bless Jimmy. He loved pool so much. I will miss seeing him big time.

JAM

alinco · Oct 27, 2007

Sad, sad news. Rest easy Jimmy.

I think about Jimmy Mac just about every tournament. Every time I have a decision to play a tough safety or a tough shot, I can still here Jimmy say "Andy, always give yourself a chance to win the game. I've seen too many players kick balls in on me, I'd rather take my chances while I'm at the table." I think that was back in 2000 or 2001 at the US Open.

I found a few pictures in the Planet Pool archives.

Here's one from Shirlington Champions where Jimmy was mentioned in Playing Off the Rail.

Here's one of my favorites - Jimmy running out on a not-too-happy Shane.

A couple years ago at Great Slates...

Black-Balled · Oct 29, 2007

Here is another of Shane:

For those of you that knew Jimmie Mac

Gunn_Slinger

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