How good was Keith McCready?

[Island Drive]

I don't think Keith was in town at that time. He may have been back East somewhere. They might have ducked him anyway. If you played Keith even, no one else would play you. And the word would get around everywhere.

I don't think Earl at this time in his early career could tangle with him, think Earl broke even with little al and others. It was Earl, Monroe and one other guy traveling with em, this is before Earl mastered the follow shot, he drew/killed every shot, I had never seen someone with such a powerful straight swing as his, even Sigel.

 

[mnorwood]

I heard someone say that in his prime Keith was on the moon and the world was shy.

 

[JoeyA]

I heard someone say that in his prime Keith was on the moon and the world was shy.

And this someone, a pipe person perhaps?

 

[patmoran]

I started going to HardTimes in Bellflower in '93 on Sundays to sit in the bleachers and watch the tournament and all the great action, the year of the LA Open where Mark Tadd was the talk of the tournament. Keith was the most naturally talented player and the most fun to watch. He wasn't much of a tournament player then often two and out
against B players. Most of the regulars I asked would say Morro was the best at HT in the mid-90s and from what I have read on AZ it seems Mark Tadd got the best of Keith in their matchups. I think you have to distinguish between talent and accomplishment. Keith might be the most talented player but his accomplishments after the "Filippino Invasion" mid-80s are few other than runnerup in the US Open in 2003. But there's still time. Keith, forget the past, start playing again, many want to watch you. How about a TAR match with bartram?

 

[JAM]

I started going to HardTimes in Bellflower in '93 on Sundays to sit in the bleachers and watch the tournament and all the great action, the year of the LA Open where Mark Tadd was the talk of the tournament. Keith was the most naturally talented player and the most fun to watch. He wasn't much of a tournament player then often two and out
against B players. Most of the regulars I asked would say Morro was the best at HT in the mid-90s and from what I have read on AZ it seems Mark Tadd got the best of Keith in their matchups. I think you have to distinguish between talent and accomplishment. Keith might be the most talented player but his accomplishments after the "Filippino Invasion" mid-80s are few other than runnerup in the US Open in 2003. But there's still time. Keith, forget the past, start playing again, many want to watch you. How about a TAR match with bartram?

--->Mark Tadd<---

 

[tom mcgonagle]

From what I've seen. He was good enough to not only give Tom Cruise nightmares, he could also give the best players, in the world, NIGHTMARES.

 

[JoeyA]

Keith McCready is/was one of the most exciting/eccentric players I have ever seen.

Dozens of years ago, he came to Baton Rouge, LA to play one and all. I watched as he slayed all of the locals, playing barefooted, running around the table firing balls in like they were all supposed to fall. When he would stretch for a shot, the bottoms of his feet contrasted with his very light colored skin. Being from California, I expected at least a small amount of tan. Afterall, this was the heyday of the BeachBoys and here I was watching a California boy who's skin color was even lighter than mine.

The reason he is the most exciting player I have ever seen is because he had a total package capable of beating any player with any spot. It really wasn't just his skill at the table. I was mesmerized with his soliloquy, his banter with opponents and the spectators as well. He knew how and when to change the game and instinctually knew how to appeal to a person's ego and greed. And like many of the older politicians, he knew how to work the entire room. He did all of this at super computer speed and when it was all over, his opponent and the rail all had that WTF look written across their face. Fear? I don't think he knew what fear was, at least not on the pool table and not in the pool hall. In the pool room, he was the most ferocious warrior I have ever seen.

Decades later, I watched as he he managed to eke out a win over one of our local Champions, flying the cue ball three, four and five rails on a big pocket Black Max Gold Crown table; seldom ever coming close to a scratch in a large, waiting sink hole. Even then it was easy to see that Keith was able to hit a gear from time to time.

I don't know if we will ever see that type of player again and that saddens me a great deal. The world has move on and the conditions may never be such that it will ever give rise to one like him again.

It was fun to watch him, like all of the great players of today and while it is sweet to dream that we are only in the eye of Hurricane. I think like many great champions of yesteryear, we may have already seen his best and trying to whip up a frenzy to see the Phoenix rise from the ashes once again, we should instead all be happy that we were revered a chance to see this talent, if even for only one time.

JoeyA

 

[cuesmith]

Lets just say, "Keith played Jam-Up!" (pun intended)

 

[Grilled Cheese]

Keith was and still is awesome. One thing (of many) that I learned from watching his play is that it don't matter what a person's stroke looks like. When I was a beginner I judged opponents by how their stroke looked. If it was textbook or not. This was wrong and I learned that quickly and the hard way.

Keith has that side arm thing going with kind of almost a poke stroke. It just looks awful. No offense Keith. However, that is all meaningless because the bottom line is that it WORKS. The balls go in, the shape is world class, and he can get any action on the rock he wants. Keith was a world class player. A titan of the game.


Keith is funny and entertaining to watch. Keith also had no fear. It's just something special to watch a player who has the balls to play anyone for just about anything.

In my opinion, I always favor the players that were great gamblers over say tournament-only players. The guys that would match up for hours, even days, for big money and battle it out against anyone. These are the players with stones. With endurance. They are the real fighters because they battle in an arena where you have to break your opponent in many ways. Not just some race on a tournament bracket that can go either way.

That is why I admire SVB. This kid has shown he'll play anybody, even at their own game. He don't care. He just does it. He loves the action. Players like that are special. There are only a couple of great ones each generation at most.


How can you not love players like this?

 

[jay helfert]

I started going to HardTimes in Bellflower in '93 on Sundays to sit in the bleachers and watch the tournament and all the great action, the year of the LA Open where Mark Tadd was the talk of the tournament. Keith was the most naturally talented player and the most fun to watch. He wasn't much of a tournament player then often two and out
against B players. Most of the regulars I asked would say Morro was the best at HT in the mid-90s and from what I have read on AZ it seems Mark Tadd got the best of Keith in their matchups. I think you have to distinguish between talent and accomplishment. Keith might be the most talented player but his accomplishments after the "Filippino Invasion" mid-80s are few other than runnerup in the US Open in 2003. But there's still time. Keith, forget the past, start playing again, many want to watch you. How about a TAR match with bartram?

Face it Pat, you came late to the party!

 

[Ken_4fun]

Keith and Bartrum on TAR?

Interesting.....


Ken

 

[Lock N Load]

I became aware of him from the Color of Money ("It just keeps gettin' worse and worse doesn't?" or "The impossible dream!' haha). So I decided to search for any of his matches on Youtube. The only matches I found were a match against Earl from '88 and match with Buddy Hall from '03. In the '03 match he was clearly past his prime but against Earl he looked very strong and he's probably the most entertaining player I've seen play with his sidearm stroke, upright stance, and fast and loose pace. But he's never mentioned on here. Would love to see more of his matches posted. Was he just not that good or what?

Man,
I know you wish you had Google Keith's name. You would have found tons of goodies on how good Keith played pool. Including 2003 when he beat Buddy Hall. Not many people can say they beat Buddy Hall. This about Keith though! Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[rjb1168]

I can say with 100-percent assuredness that I was
At the action pit one year, though, Keith did hold the action table for 27 consecutive games. In fact, I believe he did this two or three times, subject to check on the amounts. All three were 20-somethings. I don't mean to say that he ran racks 27 times, but that he won 27 games in a row.

We came home with five figures that year. :grin-square:

I remember it well, Keith was shooting great. Maybe SBE 2013 will draw Keith in for some action. I would like to see that again.

 

[Lock N Load]

I remember it well, Keith was shooting great. Maybe SBE 2013 will draw Keith in for some action. I would like to see that again.

Good post.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[AtLarge]

I remember it well, Keith was shooting great. Maybe SBE 2013 will draw Keith in for some action. I would like to see that again.

Yes, it would be nice to see him play again. But if JAM continues to feel the way she did in a recent post (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=3597825&postcount=27), she may lobby against that happening. Perhaps a different day will bring a different feeling.

 

[elvicash]

Keith could always draw his rock. He used inside english better than any living human. He got kicked out of school at thirteen for having too much money he had busted the $40 payball game playing with people who are well known themselves. He got the cash and played top speed pool. I saw him play few times in the 80s he was always in action and i think every time i saw him he was giving weight. One pocket, banks 9 ball he played all games great i think he was much more feared as a gambler though he played great in tourneys. Keith was an overall stone cold killer. I wish he was still active the pool world is not as colorful good luck to keith whatever hes doing these days

 

[ShootingArts]

bar table player

Keith could always draw his rock. He used inside english better than any living human. He got kicked out of school at thirteen for having too much money he had busted the $40 payball game playing with people who are well known themselves. He got the cash and played top speed pool. I saw him play few times in the 80s he was always in action and i think every time i saw him he was giving weight. One pocket, banks 9 ball he played all games great i think he was much more feared as a gambler though he played great in tourneys. Keith was an overall stone cold killer. I wish he was still active the pool world is not as colorful good luck to keith whatever hes doing these days

Keith was/is a great bar table player. When you could draw the mud ball off of a ball that weighed seemingly half what it did you could draw a regular cue ball like a god!

Hu

 

[Nostroke]

Keith was/is a great bar table player. When you could draw the mud ball off of a ball that weighed seemingly half what it did you could draw a regular cue ball like a god!

Hu

other than the bar table-My guess is around Gabe's speed and gambling prowess and that is very strong.

 

[toolted]

When I watched Keith play at Hard Times Costa Mesa in 1976 or so, he was beating everyone at every game. Bar box, 9 ball, short rack snooker and even starting to get good at one pocket. The thing was that at that time he played with a scary intensity and precision and he shot quickly and with immense self confidence, selecting outrageous shots that no one else would attempt, and for big money. Of course he had his entourage and backers which made it even more intimidating for those trying to match up with him. When I saw vids of him playing later he had a very relaxed style and holding the cue at the very end. In Costa Mesa he held the cue way up almost past the grip winding and with that wild intensity that I guess he outgrew later.

At his best, Little Keith played like God Himself, utterly perfect. I have never seen anyone else get to the level of Keith in the late 70's. The closest you will see to his mastery of the cue is to watch videos of Ronnie O'sullivan. Both are right brain geniuses whose talent can never be equaled by practice alone. Mozart in music, Clark or Senna driving an F1 car, Jordan in the last minute of the NBA finals, Tiger a few years ago. Genius easier admired than explained. Keith was in this rare class.

 

[JAM]

When I watched Keith play at Hard Times Costa Mesa in 1976 or so, he was beating everyone at every game. Bar box, 9 ball, short rack snooker and even starting to get good at one pocket. The thing was that at that time he played with a scary intensity and precision and he shot quickly and with immense self confidence, selecting outrageous shots that no one else would attempt, and for big money. Of course he had his entourage and backers which made it even more intimidating for those trying to match up with him. When I saw vids of him playing later he had a very relaxed style and holding the cue at the very end. In Costa Mesa he held the cue way up almost past the grip winding and with that wild intensity that I guess he outgrew later.

At his best, Little Keith played like God Himself, utterly perfect. I have never seen anyone else get to the level of Keith in the late 70's. The closest you will see to his mastery of the cue is to watch videos of Ronnie O'sullivan. Both are right brain geniuses whose talent can never be equaled by practice alone. Mozart in music, Clark or Senna driving an F1 car, Jordan in the last minute of the NBA finals, Tiger a few years ago. Genius easier admired than explained. Keith was in this rare class.

You have just made my day. I can't wait for Keith to wake up and read your post.

He's been moping around the house lately while the U.S. Open is in progress. Friends are calling him from New Orleans in action for 10 dimes, and he sits here benched, like a caged animal. Needles to say, he hasn't been in a good mood lately. Your post will surely lift his spirits.

And, Keith, when you do read this, I promise we're going to hit the DCC, Turning Stone, or SBE in 2014. A thoroughbred needs to get out of the barn and run, and you will run, but with me sitting on the rail to ensure you run in pure fields.