Jam
- Thread starter wagnew
- Start date
1pRoscoe said:
Yes, I agree, 1pRoscoe. The thread has turned to an intentional harassment towards me and maybe it is "rediculous."
I am glad that it provided some entertainment to some of the readers of the forum. However, for me, it has been hurtful and difficult to read.
JAM
This thread sucks...
Jam, Jimbo said he was done a page or two ago (I'm not going to go back to find it and quote it)
Why don't we just let it be done already?
Incidentally, I've had my experiences with Keith.. LOL I'll admit when I first came onto this forum and was reading what people were writing about him (being almost an angel) I was kinda blown away that we were talking about the same guy.. LOL I always kept my mouth shut though, becuase I figure all the great pool players have some sort of a checkered past. Pretty tough to come up through this game to be a champion (In the USA) without one.
So it is what it is... You don't like Jimbo, and he doesn't like you. (Although he does like your on the road action reports)
Myself and just about every other viewer on this forum would appreciate it if you kept them up!
DJ
Jam, Jimbo said he was done a page or two ago (I'm not going to go back to find it and quote it)
Why don't we just let it be done already?
Incidentally, I've had my experiences with Keith.. LOL I'll admit when I first came onto this forum and was reading what people were writing about him (being almost an angel) I was kinda blown away that we were talking about the same guy.. LOL I always kept my mouth shut though, becuase I figure all the great pool players have some sort of a checkered past. Pretty tough to come up through this game to be a champion (In the USA) without one.
So it is what it is... You don't like Jimbo, and he doesn't like you. (Although he does like your on the road action reports)
Myself and just about every other viewer on this forum would appreciate it if you kept them up!
DJ
PlynSets said:This thread sucks...Myself and just about every other viewer on this forum would appreciate it if you kept them up!
Gee, thanks for the compliment.
However, when one door shuts, another one will open. There are MANY posters on AzBilliards Discussion Forum who make GREAT contributions on quite a variety of pool-related topics. I hope that they continue because I enjoy reading them too.
JAM
ON ANOTHER NOTE!! DA DUM........
Jam, I wish I had an opportunity to spend a little time with you and Keith at the Venetian, but as you know, I was needed elsewhere. We share an affection for the same cat. Mr. McCready is one of the more unforgettable characters I will ever meet. His talent at Pool is amazing. I have often said the most naturally gifted pool player I ever saw was Keith.
Keith and I have been down a few roads and shared a few jackpots. Even tho he has some of the same attributes as Ronnie, they are much different animals. When Keith is playing you know he is trying to win (enough said). I could loan Keith a couple of hundred and not see him for months or years. And when I bumped into him, he would say "Toupee, our number is $200, right"? And when he made a score, he would whip that cash right out and pay off. Ronnie, on the other hand operates a little differently. If he owes you $200, he feels like you shortchanged him. Don't get me wrong. I love Ronnie for the unique character he is, but I dislike the way he has abused our friendship. And he knows that.
Regarding your mention of the poor publicity the IPT got in the national media. It is the responsibility of the IPT to send out press releases ballyhooing their events, with regular updates from the tournaments going out to all print and electronic media. That is the way things are done in the sports culture today. If you sit back and wait for the media to come to you, it may not happen. KT knows this and chose not to do any real PR. I suspect he did not want the results of his events to be widely known before the telecasts. He could certainly have one of his minions doing this job, but he chose not to.
You should see the efforts that are made at Matchroom events like the WPC to woo the media. They have people working the computers all day long, sending out info to all media outlets. And it works. They have coverage in major newspapers wherever their events are held, and on local TV as well. They know how to work the media. The IPT failed here.
About the rigged racks part of this thread. When Keith was King, they could pour concrete on the racks, and it wouldn't slow him down. The best money players could always overcome all that nonsense. A good player could read a bad rack and figure out how to break it. Sometimes you had to, because you were in a spot where you couldn't complain. Just shut up, keep playing and get the money. And no one knows this better than your man Keithly.
Last thing. I love your columns with Keith. Very, very informative. And well written, thanks to you. It's a good partnership. Keith tells you how he does something and you put the words on the paper to explain it. Keith's great concepts with your articulation. Some of the best instructional stuff I've ever seen in a pool mag. I'm sure your book will be a hit.
Oh and that mention of Corey on here. He is a very creative player, coming up with new ways to play old games. I like that. This is what moves the game forward. There was something else, but I forgot. Oh well, when you get old two things happen. The first is you forget things, and the second is.....is....is....oh the heck with it.
Jam, I wish I had an opportunity to spend a little time with you and Keith at the Venetian, but as you know, I was needed elsewhere. We share an affection for the same cat. Mr. McCready is one of the more unforgettable characters I will ever meet. His talent at Pool is amazing. I have often said the most naturally gifted pool player I ever saw was Keith.
Keith and I have been down a few roads and shared a few jackpots. Even tho he has some of the same attributes as Ronnie, they are much different animals. When Keith is playing you know he is trying to win (enough said). I could loan Keith a couple of hundred and not see him for months or years. And when I bumped into him, he would say "Toupee, our number is $200, right"? And when he made a score, he would whip that cash right out and pay off. Ronnie, on the other hand operates a little differently. If he owes you $200, he feels like you shortchanged him. Don't get me wrong. I love Ronnie for the unique character he is, but I dislike the way he has abused our friendship. And he knows that.
Regarding your mention of the poor publicity the IPT got in the national media. It is the responsibility of the IPT to send out press releases ballyhooing their events, with regular updates from the tournaments going out to all print and electronic media. That is the way things are done in the sports culture today. If you sit back and wait for the media to come to you, it may not happen. KT knows this and chose not to do any real PR. I suspect he did not want the results of his events to be widely known before the telecasts. He could certainly have one of his minions doing this job, but he chose not to.
You should see the efforts that are made at Matchroom events like the WPC to woo the media. They have people working the computers all day long, sending out info to all media outlets. And it works. They have coverage in major newspapers wherever their events are held, and on local TV as well. They know how to work the media. The IPT failed here.
About the rigged racks part of this thread. When Keith was King, they could pour concrete on the racks, and it wouldn't slow him down. The best money players could always overcome all that nonsense. A good player could read a bad rack and figure out how to break it. Sometimes you had to, because you were in a spot where you couldn't complain. Just shut up, keep playing and get the money. And no one knows this better than your man Keithly.
Last thing. I love your columns with Keith. Very, very informative. And well written, thanks to you. It's a good partnership. Keith tells you how he does something and you put the words on the paper to explain it. Keith's great concepts with your articulation. Some of the best instructional stuff I've ever seen in a pool mag. I'm sure your book will be a hit.
Oh and that mention of Corey on here. He is a very creative player, coming up with new ways to play old games. I like that. This is what moves the game forward. There was something else, but I forgot. Oh well, when you get old two things happen. The first is you forget things, and the second is.....is....is....oh the heck with it.
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JAM, please don't come on here saying you don't insult people. You have and you do. You have insulted me time & time again just because I didnt agree with what Keith (which I find out now, is really you doing the writing) wrote in a magazine. All you had to say about that instance is that no harm was meant & that would have been in the end of it. I started out telling you politely that Keith (you as the writer) were wrong in referencing a story that had no validity to the rest of the article. Instead you went into detective JAM mode, trying to google me on the internet, thinking I am much younger than I am, thinking I don't know people I do or stories I know. Then the name calling began--crackpot, monkey, troll, etc etc. Never once have I called you a name. And when you call someone 'Pal' like you continously do it gives the impression that you seriously want to fight. That is my take but I am sure others feel the same. Oh, and don't think that your previous description from your trip back from Vegas of Missouri, specifically St Louis wasn't a known shot at me. You had your landmarks all screwed up as you lost your train of thought just trying to get a dig at me. No problem. I wasn't part of the founding fathers of St Louis so it wasn't a good shot at me anyways. I am from East New York--you should go there. Looks like Berlin 1948. I am thick skinned. I am sure you will disclaim this, I don't really care.
I wish you and KM the best. I am honest when I say that. I have tried to cool things off with you over the years but you hold a grudge over a mole hill that you turned into a mountain. I hope the IPT gets better management & gets their sh@t together. It is a good concept, just the wrong people behind it. Too bad he missed the US Open, right in his own backyard. But there is always next year.
I wish you and KM the best. I am honest when I say that. I have tried to cool things off with you over the years but you hold a grudge over a mole hill that you turned into a mountain. I hope the IPT gets better management & gets their sh@t together. It is a good concept, just the wrong people behind it. Too bad he missed the US Open, right in his own backyard. But there is always next year.
T
Timberly
Guest
They're Keith's stories... it doesn't matter who writes them. Some people are talented writers and some aren't. I like Keith and I think he's a funny guy but I'm going to venture a guess that he's not a very good writer. He can tell stories but can he write stories?jjinfla said:
There are plenty of people out there, especially the rich and famous who have "auto"biographies out there... most of them didn't write the stories, they told it to someone that is a talented writer. Honestly, why would anyone care who wrote the story, it's still Keith's story...
Timberly said:
True that, Timberly, but generally if somebody is ghost writing it is stated as such. I've no doubt they're Keith's stories, but every story gets changed when retold by another at least a little bit. The reader should be aware that the possibility of poetic license being taken exists. Most ghost writers want to claim credit and make sure they're listed. In this case Jen wants Keith gets the credit, but the readers should be still aware beyond the issue of who is getting credit for composition. IMO.
I Didn't Write This...... Did I ?
At this point, I must come clean. While it's true that most all of my posts come from my own brain, it's my damned right hand that types nealy all my posts. I have absolutely no control over what I call "my troubled hand." This hand seems to have a mind of it's own. It has pushed poker chips into the pot against my better judgement, costing me dearly. It has taken thousands of ill advised shots on the pooltable for over 40 years, depleting my cash flow. It has gotten me into lots of trouble online, because it simply won't shut up. And, it continues to shovel all the wrong foods into my mouth against my will. It has picked up items that don't belong to me and forced me to drink massive quantities of liquor against my will. It has abused my body repeatedly. I feel better about divulging the truth, but I'm not certain what steps to take now. They say, "if thy right eye offends thee, pluck it out", thus my eye patch, but what fate awaits my evil right hand........
Doug
( mostly written by ME )
catscradle said:
At this point, I must come clean. While it's true that most all of my posts come from my own brain, it's my damned right hand that types nealy all my posts. I have absolutely no control over what I call "my troubled hand." This hand seems to have a mind of it's own. It has pushed poker chips into the pot against my better judgement, costing me dearly. It has taken thousands of ill advised shots on the pooltable for over 40 years, depleting my cash flow. It has gotten me into lots of trouble online, because it simply won't shut up. And, it continues to shovel all the wrong foods into my mouth against my will. It has picked up items that don't belong to me and forced me to drink massive quantities of liquor against my will. It has abused my body repeatedly. I feel better about divulging the truth, but I'm not certain what steps to take now. They say, "if thy right eye offends thee, pluck it out", thus my eye patch, but what fate awaits my evil right hand........
Doug
( mostly written by ME )
For the record:
I want everyone involved in this to understand that I am very disappointed in the childishness displayed here.
Jen has made her mind up and it doesn't sound like she'll be back.
For the people who wanted that, congratulations.
As a reward, I will be paying more attention to people who like to stir controversy and they will be given due attention.
Yes, I'm pissed now.
I want everyone involved in this to understand that I am very disappointed in the childishness displayed here.
Jen has made her mind up and it doesn't sound like she'll be back.
For the people who wanted that, congratulations.
As a reward, I will be paying more attention to people who like to stir controversy and they will be given due attention.
Yes, I'm pissed now.
JAM said:Thank you for the kind words, Wayne. I do appreciate them.
When I began my pool journey, after taking about a 20-year hiatus from pool, it was about 5 years ago that I came onto the scene, full of enthusiasm and joy. I've always been kind of a pool junkie, even though I took a self-imposed retreat. Right next to my desk at work, I had a gigantic poster of "The Color of Money" down on the Hill, and my D.C. license plates used to say "Rack'em." All my work friends associated me with pool and thought I was good. If they only knew how my level of play paled in comparison to the great ones.
I recently saw a photograph taken by Diana Hoppe at the U.S. Open of me, Keith, Grady Mathews and his girlfriend, along with AzBilliards House Pro Mike Howerton. I looked so happy in that picture, and I was. Going to the U.S. Open was a real thrill for me. It was, in fact, my very first U.S. Open, and I had a blast. Meeting Jimmy Reid, Earl Strickland, Buddy Hall and his lovely wife, Nick Varner, Johnny Archer, I was awestruck, to say the least.
Fast forward 5 years later, I am not quite as enthusiastic about pool as I was when I first met the colorful Keith McCready, and there are reasons for my dismay, some of which I can't post about on a public forum like AzBilliards, but I am constantly reminded of a telephone conversation I had with Ronnie Allen because it hits home.
Ronnie, to me, was a pool icon, a one-pocket legend, and an American champion. Though I had never met him before, when I was younger, Ronnie's name was mentioned quite frequently from the road players when they would return home. Ronnie this and Ronnie that, they used to love to relay the tales of Ronnie Allen.
So, when I actually got the opportunity to speak to Ronnie for the first time, I asked him, "Ronnie, why don't you have any enthusiasm for pool anymore?," hoping he'd share with me a little bit of insight, and coming from a player of Ronnie's caliber, I was all ears. He said, "Jennie, when you have been beaten up by the sport, the way I have, you lose all enthusiasm." Though I was surprised and disappointed to hear these words, today I understand his feelings.
It saddens me to read the ugly comments from posters about players like Ronnie Allen. Yes, Ronnie is no angel, and I'm aware of that, but when he used to enter the pool room, the crowds would draw near just to hear him talk. They hung onto his every word and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Dance, monkey, dance, they would think, hoping to get some free live entertainment. Ronnie was on top of his game then and could provide a little fun for those in attendance. Everybody loved to hear him talk, with his gift of gab.
Some of the players of today who continue to bang their chests how great they are were truly no angels themselves on the pool circuit of years ago. One unnamed top pro used to take advantage of other players on the golf course, and today he continues to take advantage of rigging racks, whining, and hoping to get in his opponent's head right at the commencement of a match, hoping to steal that almighty win. Yet, he is heralded as a great one. Phooey. I've caught his act on more than one occasion. Rigging racks is like playing poker with a marked deck of cards, IMHO, and whenever there is a winner rack-your-own tournament, this player will excel because he cheats.
And then there are those players who condemn others who use drugs. Let me be the first to tell you that there are MANY top pros today who use substances before they enter any venue, whether it be marijuana, pills and/or alcohol. Some of them are older players who can't play without it, and then there are some young'ns of today who sadly cannot get out of bed without pills. Pills are the drug of choice today with some players. In fact, pills are actually a problem which plagues this Nation today with those who desire to alter their state of mind at will.
Without the Ronnie Allens of the world, pool would not be quiet as bright for me personally. I come from a pool world where there were no tournament soldiers, only the action players. While Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, and Jim Rempe were making the headlines, I was content watching a couple of roadsters like Buffalo Frank shooting every shot with the rack against the likes of Rockville Danny Wolford or Geese, giving it their all for a dime a pop. Efren Reyes even traveled to the old Bill and Billie's in Glen Burnie, MD years ago, looking for action and put on a show for all those in attendance. Those days are gone, but the players, those who devoted their life to this game, some of them are still around.
Pool culture's toughest critics come from within, and there isn't anything for me to look forward to anymore on the tournament trail. Yes, I can travel hundreds of miles to an event, hoping to come in third place to break even, or I can attend a tournament where there is favoritism by the organizers which makes me sick to my stomach.
Pool today is a rich man's high, but, unfortunately, it does not pay the bills, no matter how good you play, with the exception of the Efren Reyeses of the world, of course. For the aspiring pro, today I'd say, "Momma, don't let your babies grow up to be pool players."
I seemed to be much happier and more positive about pool when I was banging balls as a social shooter or as a league player, but today, like Ronnie Allen, I've been beaten up myself and have decided to just sit back and watch what happens next. Thankfully, I haven't quit my day job. I may snap out of my blue funk about pool, but it doesn't look very likely at the time of this writing.
JAM
With all due respect, JAM......How can you say that you feel so strongly for something that has had an obvious impact on your life and be so quick to just give up on it? If it were easy to resolve, it wouldnt be worth fighting for. This goes for anything in life.
Southpaw
I Don't Like It. Nossir, I Don't Like It One Little Bit
Did I miss something ? Did JAM make a farewell speech or something ?
I hope that she's not leaving AZB for good. Pretty soon, all we'll have left are Canadians and Brits...... AAaaaaaarrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh !
Doug
Mr. Wilson said:
Did I miss something ? Did JAM make a farewell speech or something ?
I hope that she's not leaving AZB for good. Pretty soon, all we'll have left are Canadians and Brits...... AAaaaaaarrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh !
Doug
T
Timberly
Guest
Usually the writer wants the credit but sometimes they do not... some like to remain anonymous. Taking into consideration the nature of the column, it could actually get confusing for some if it were to read something like "Keith's corner, written by Jennie". The fact that Jennie wrote it is such a minute part of the story that if she isn't worried about her name being on the byline, then no one else should really.catscradle said:
Honestly, when I read a magazine... any magazine.... I never look to see who wrote the article. I think people should enjoy the stories and not worry about who actually wrote it. Knowing who wrote it doesn't give me enjoyment and entertainment... it's the content of the story. Besides, if Keith were to write it all on his own and submit it, the magazine would have to heavily edit it, or run the risk of a good story getting lost because Keith can't write a story as well as he can tell a story. Better to have the person next to Keith doing the editing than it is someone in an office 100's of miles away trying to guess what he said.