How good was Keith McCready?

[Pushout]

Johnny Hart, who wrote the long-running B.C. cartoon comic strip, hailed from Binghamton, NY.

In the National Billiards News, there is an article about this tournament, the B.C. Open, and it gave a little history. I don't have time to look it up now, but it refers to the B.C. Open being named after Broome County. It could be the Natinoal Billiards News was wrong. The pool media doesn't always get it right, but this is where I read it first.

Here is the famous B.C. cartoon from Johnny Hart.

I've read this in various places also and as far as I know the pool tournament was never referred to by Gary as the Broome County Open. I knew Gary quite well and was even involved with the tournament one year so I could get free tickets for all the matches. As I said, the golf tournament was but not the pool tournament.
Johnny actually lived in the Nineveh, NY area, which is in Broome County. He only lived a few miles from my mother-in-law.
I keep remembering stuff, players actually made checks out the the Broome Couny Open, Gary didn't care, he cashed 'em anyway

 

[se10player]

First let me say to JAM that I love your posts and your love of this game and its colorful people. I always look forward to read anything you post. Second about Keith he is and will always be one my all time favorites. As so many have mentioned here his top gear was as good as it gets and his banter is second to none. But for me what I love most about Keith is his love of the game and how he treated a little nobody like me when I met him many years ago. I was in awe watching and loved to learn all I could about the game but most great players wouldn't show u anything unless you bet something. I had just watched Keith shoot lights out and make a spin shot down the long rail to get shape. As soon as I had a chance I set it up and practiced it, Keith saw me trying to make it and came over showed me how to make the shot then he went back to playing someone else. That was the only time I met him but I will never forget him taking time to show me. I will always love the man for that alone.

 

[peteypooldude]

From what I've read Keith was at least top 3 in many games and considered the best by many on the BB with the big ball

 

[JAM]

First let me say to JAM that I love your posts and your love of this game and its colorful people. I always look forward to read anything you post. Second about Keith he is and will always be one my all time favorites. As so many have mentioned here his top gear was as good as it gets and his banter is second to none. But for me what I love most about Keith is his love of the game and how he treated a little nobody like me when I met him many years ago. I was in awe watching and loved to learn all I could about the game but most great players wouldn't show u anything unless you bet something. I had just watched Keith shoot lights out and make a spin shot down the long rail to get shape. As soon as I had a chance I set it up and practiced it, Keith saw me trying to make it and came over showed me how to make the shot then he went back to playing someone else. That was the only time I met him but I will never forget him taking time to show me. I will always love the man for that alone.

Thank you for such a great post. I hope Keith reads this today. This truly does describe Keith to a tee.

Keith went through a difficult time during his childhood. He had to learn how to survive at a young age. His emotional maturity is higher than anyone I have ever met in my life. Not only is he a great pool player, but he's also a good man.

 

[Scott Lee]

It is simply undeniable that Keith was the most entertaining pro player to play the game...whatever game...for the better part of the last 4 decades! As has been mentioned, over and over, his skill at the table put him in a class by himself, that probably included only a few others. Putting Keith in the box today would be a huge draw, whenever and wherever it occurred...regardless of the outcome. Even if he never plays again (and I hope he does), Keith McCready will remain a true American pool legend in the hearts of almost everyone who loves pool...American or not! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

 

[ribdoner]

Thank you for such a great post. I hope Keith reads this today. This truly does describe Keith to a tee.

Keith went through a difficult time during his childhood. He had to learn how to survive at a young age. His emotional maturity is higher than anyone I have ever met in my life. Not only is he a great pool player, but he's also a good man.

And your a good women for keeping him with us

 

[rayjay]

So...when's the book out?

 

[Black-Balled]

First let me say to JAM that I love your posts and your love of this game and its colorful people. I always look forward to read anything you post. Second about Keith he is and will always be one my all time favorites. As so many have mentioned here his top gear was as good as it gets and his banter is second to none. But for me what I love most about Keith is his love of the game and how he treated a little nobody like me when I met him many years ago. I was in awe watching and loved to learn all I could about the game but most great players wouldn't show u anything unless you bet something. I had just watched Keith shoot lights out and make a spin shot down the long rail to get shape. As soon as I had a chance I set it up and practiced it, Keith saw me trying to make it and came over showed me how to make the shot then he went back to playing someone else. That was the only time I met him but I will never forget him taking time to show me. I will always love the man for that alone.

I have told the story here before, but had a similar experience with the Man.

I was playing him in a 1p tourney and the game and ball scores had me basically unable to win.

He left me a shot where the balls were all up/ middle table and CB at bottom of table. I saw the shot, kick a ball off his side rail, long banking it to my hole and holding CB to shoot balls directly to my pocket. I could have run 3-5(?), if things went perfectly.

I asked him if I could consult him on the shot, he said yes and agreed with the shot I described.

When I shot it, I hit it so bad that he had to restrain himself from grabbing the ball to replace it give me a 2nd try (or maybe shoot it for me).

That was a glimpse into the respect he has for the game, IMO. He wanted to see the shot executed properly, irrespective of the position it would have left him in.

That is a pretty cool dude and the pool room is worse off without him.

 

[Neil]

Just to give you an idea of the shotmaking accuracy Keith had- At the 2004 Glass City Open, they had a Valley bar box set up in the lobby and had challenge matches on it for a T-shirt if you beat the pro. Well, I had played Keith a couple hours before in the trny, and then we saw him at the challenge table.

I gave my 10 year old daughter $5 and told her to try him some. Keith breaks them, makes sure he doesn't make anything, and leaves her a good shot on the one. She makes it, and then is totally lost on what to do. She misses, and Keither gets up to shoot. He runs them out in seconds, leaves himself the 9 about a diamond and half from the end rail and a diamond and a half from the side rail with about a half ball cut on it.

She is looking a little dismayed at this point. Keith slams the 9 ball, catching the points of the pocket, having it bounce back and forth about ten times, and it stops right on the lip of the pocket! He gets up and smiles at me. She makes the 9 and is ecstatic. Keith then signs the T-shirt "I beat your dad, but I couldn't beat you!".

Try that shot sometime, and see if you can rattle the pocket like that on purpose on a Valley table and NOT drop the ball! I still find it hard to believe that he could do that on demand! Bounce out, or drop, yeah, but keep it right in between the jaws??

Keith- she still has that T-shirt and about once a year rubs it in my face.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

They didn't call him the Earth Quake for nothing.

Keith's break was so powerful, that when playing on either the West or East Coasts, they had to ask him to tone it down a bit as his breaks were linked to several small Tsunamis felt around the globe.

It has been speculated that this is why Keith hasn't played pool for some time. Its somewhat of a mystery but some say that he gets paid from unknown sources not to
unleash his break anywhere in the USA.

Because of the San Andreas Fault, Keith isn't allowed to step foot inside San Francisco's city limits.

 

[justadub]

Just to give you an idea of the shotmaking accuracy Keith had- At the 2004 Glass City Open, they had a Valley bar box set up in the lobby and had challenge matches on it for a T-shirt if you beat the pro. Well, I had played Keith a couple hours before in the trny, and then we saw him at the challenge table.

I gave my 10 year old daughter $5 and told her to try him some. Keith breaks them, makes sure he doesn't make anything, and leaves her a good shot on the one. She makes it, and then is totally lost on what to do. She misses, and Keither gets up to shoot. He runs them out in seconds, leaves himself the 9 about a diamond and half from the end rail and a diamond and a half from the side rail with about a half ball cut on it.

She is looking a little dismayed at this point. Keith slams the 9 ball, catching the points of the pocket, having it bounce back and forth about ten times, and it stops right on the lip of the pocket! He gets up and smiles at me. She makes the 9 and is ecstatic. Keith then signs the T-shirt "I beat your dad, but I couldn't beat you!".

Try that shot sometime, and see if you can rattle the pocket like that on purpose on a Valley table and NOT drop the ball! I still find it hard to believe that he could do that on demand! Bounce out, or drop, yeah, but keep it right in between the jaws??

Keith- she still has that T-shirt and about once a year rubs it in my face.

That. Is. Awesome. :thumbup:

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

I thought it was too.

Many years ago, I played one of the Ashton Twins. Same last name as mine and she knew it. I thought, or maybe hoped that she would have a bit of mercy on me. Not that common a name so there isn't a ton of us running around pool halls.

Nope. She let me run a few and then finished me off.

 

[GaryB]

That is a great story Neil. Totally unpredictable Keith.

I watched "Victorville" John Schmidt learning 1 Hole from Jack Cooney every afternoon for months and dropping a ton of money while doing so. One day John came in and he and Jack were laughing. John had
told Jack that he had played Keith over the weekend for a couple of grand and Keith had broken every rule of 1 Hole that John had learned from Jack. "He fired from everywhere!"

Nobody was as fun to watch as Keith. If he caught a gear you sat---and you listened and listened and listened.

Several years ago at Hard Times, if you mentioned Keith's name your ear would stay bent for a week people had so many stories about him.

Jam, give Keith a recorder and let him talk and reminisce.

I sure miss his antics--an his game.

 

[gunzby]

Just to give you an idea of the shotmaking accuracy Keith had- At the 2004 Glass City Open, they had a Valley bar box set up in the lobby and had challenge matches on it for a T-shirt if you beat the pro. Well, I had played Keith a couple hours before in the trny, and then we saw him at the challenge table.

I gave my 10 year old daughter $5 and told her to try him some. Keith breaks them, makes sure he doesn't make anything, and leaves her a good shot on the one. She makes it, and then is totally lost on what to do. She misses, and Keither gets up to shoot. He runs them out in seconds, leaves himself the 9 about a diamond and half from the end rail and a diamond and a half from the side rail with about a half ball cut on it.

She is looking a little dismayed at this point. Keith slams the 9 ball, catching the points of the pocket, having it bounce back and forth about ten times, and it stops right on the lip of the pocket! He gets up and smiles at me. She makes the 9 and is ecstatic. Keith then signs the T-shirt "I beat your dad, but I couldn't beat you!".

Try that shot sometime, and see if you can rattle the pocket like that on purpose on a Valley table and NOT drop the ball! I still find it hard to believe that he could do that on demand! Bounce out, or drop, yeah, but keep it right in between the jaws??

Keith- she still has that T-shirt and about once a year rubs it in my face.

This is quite possibly the best story I've heard about pool and without a doubt the best way to promote pool.

 

[Black-Balled]

They didn't call him the Earth Quake for nothing.

Keith's break was so powerful, that when playing on either the West or East Coasts, they had to ask him to tone it down a bit as his breaks were linked to several small Tsunamis felt around the globe.

It has been speculated that this is why Keith hasn't played pool for some time. Its somewhat of a mystery but some say that he gets paid from unknown sources not to
unleash his break anywhere in the USA.

Because of the San Andreas Fault, Keith isn't allowed to step foot inside San Francisco's city limits.

Well, I can confirm the once existent 'McCready's Designated Breaker', but it waren't for the reason you describe!

 

[Travis3c]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5H5trpjKXw

93 LA OPEN

McCready vs Sigel

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Well, I can confirm the once existent 'McCready's Designated Breaker', but it waren't for the reason you describe!

OK, tell me your story or are you sayin that my Interwebz sources aren't correct.

 

[smokey]

hey Neil...

the Perfect Story...
can't be topped

i always thought he was the greatest, but now i think he is greater than before

thanks for sharing

all the best,
smokey

Just to give you an idea of the shotmaking accuracy Keith had- At the 2004 Glass City Open, they had a Valley bar box set up in the lobby and had challenge matches on it for a T-shirt if you beat the pro. Well, I had played Keith a couple hours before in the trny, and then we saw him at the challenge table.

I gave my 10 year old daughter $5 and told her to try him some. Keith breaks them, makes sure he doesn't make anything, and leaves her a good shot on the one. She makes it, and then is totally lost on what to do. She misses, and Keither gets up to shoot. He runs them out in seconds, leaves himself the 9 about a diamond and half from the end rail and a diamond and a half from the side rail with about a half ball cut on it.

She is looking a little dismayed at this point. Keith slams the 9 ball, catching the points of the pocket, having it bounce back and forth about ten times, and it stops right on the lip of the pocket! He gets up and smiles at me. She makes the 9 and is ecstatic. Keith then signs the T-shirt "I beat your dad, but I couldn't beat you!".

Try that shot sometime, and see if you can rattle the pocket like that on purpose on a Valley table and NOT drop the ball! I still find it hard to believe that he could do that on demand! Bounce out, or drop, yeah, but keep it right in between the jaws??

Keith- she still has that T-shirt and about once a year rubs it in my face.

 

[Toncam]

Just to give you an idea of the shotmaking accuracy Keith had- At the 2004 Glass City Open, they had a Valley bar box set up in the lobby and had challenge matches on it for a T-shirt if you beat the pro. Well, I had played Keith a couple hours before in the trny, and then we saw him at the challenge table.

I gave my 10 year old daughter $5 and told her to try him some. Keith breaks them, makes sure he doesn't make anything, and leaves her a good shot on the one. She makes it, and then is totally lost on what to do. She misses, and Keither gets up to shoot. He runs them out in seconds, leaves himself the 9 about a diamond and half from the end rail and a diamond and a half from the side rail with about a half ball cut on it.

She is looking a little dismayed at this point. Keith slams the 9 ball, catching the points of the pocket, having it bounce back and forth about ten times, and it stops right on the lip of the pocket! He gets up and smiles at me. She makes the 9 and is ecstatic. Keith then signs the T-shirt "I beat your dad, but I couldn't beat you!".

Try that shot sometime, and see if you can rattle the pocket like that on purpose on a Valley table and NOT drop the ball! I still find it hard to believe that he could do that on demand! Bounce out, or drop, yeah, but keep it right in between the jaws??

Keith- she still has that T-shirt and about once a year rubs it in my face.

What more can you say about a guy like that ? Class and heart, all in the same package.
Im glad i got to see him in action in 93, its something that has stayed with me.

 

[clint3612]

David Matlock would have been sent home broke if he played Keith in the '70s -- big ball, little ball, big table, little table, ANY GAME. Your hero, David Matlock, couldn't, wouldn't, and never would have had a chance to have beat Keith with the 6 and out in the '70s. It's so funny he never traveled to California to play Keith some. David knew better, and so did his backers. You can take that to the bank.

I'm curious. Could you ask Keith what year he played David in Dallas??