Jeff Kennedy?!

[diller47]

Excuses

He is from Canada, from what I heard on the rail, and won a championship or two in his region. He is a very strong player.

When Keith pulled him on the winners' side, I had no idea what to expect, not ever having heard of Jeff Kennedy in my travels. Keith did make a few mistakes during the match. He was struggling with his cue tip and could not execute a few shots because his newly installed tip had mushroomed. It was a tight match, and Jeff ended up the victor, knocking Keith to the losers' brackets.

Jeff was very focused and was seasoned. Though I had not heard of him, he was comfortable in the pit and played his game, and he did have a great tournament this week. I'll sure know who he is if and when there is a next time I see him on the tournament trail. That's for sure.

JAM

I saw the match between jeff and keith was well played by both .keith was just outplayed that day....lets not make excuses and try to belittle jeff for putting on a great show. i never once saw keith look at his tip as though he was having a problem. And btw....there was a professional tip restorer/refinisher up in the corner if the tip was that much of a problem,lol.the match was 5-5 i believe and jeff made a monster combo 2-9 to win the game and keith never recovered.<<well done jeff >>

 

[Michael Webb]

I saw the match between jeff and keith was well played by both .keith was just outplayed that day....lets not make excuses and try to belittle jeff for putting on a great show. i never once saw keith look at his tip as though he was having a problem. And btw....there was a professional tip restorer/refinisher up in the corner if the tip was that much of a problem,lol.the match was 5-5 i believe and jeff made a monster combo 2-9 to win the game and keith never recovered.<<well done jeff >>

I was working with Keith on a new tip but it had nothing to do with the match, Jeff is a great competitor and doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. I have watched both players for a couple of years and I respect them both enough to say, I could never pick the winner. They play the way it should be played. A pleasure to watch them both.

 

[JAM]

I saw the match between jeff and keith was well played by both .keith was just outplayed that day....lets not make excuses and try to belittle jeff for putting on a great show. i never once saw keith look at his tip as though he was having a problem. And btw....there was a professional tip restorer/refinisher up in the corner if the tip was that much of a problem,lol.the match was 5-5 i believe and jeff made a monster combo 2-9 to win the game and keith never recovered.<<well done jeff >>

The intention of my post was NOT to take anything away from Jeff's victory over Keith or "belittle Jeff," Diller47. As a matter of fact, I stated Jeff did play GREAT. He went on to beat quite a few players during this event, too.

FWIW, I most definitely did eye-witness Keith struggling with his tip(s) throughout the whole Joss Tour Season Finale at the Turning Stone, to include his match with Jeff Kennedy.

I wish he would have replaced his tip on his cue stick BEFORE we went to Verona, NY. However, he didn't.

Michael Webb was the ONLY cue repairman on site, and he had quite a few players at his booth getting work done. There were several instances when a new tip was placed on Keith's cue, the tip mushroomed or a piece of it chipped off, and then Keith requested Mike to put another tip on, a different tip from another tip manufacturer.

When Keith realized his newly applied tip wasn't working for him, he took it back on over to Michael Webb, but since Michael Webb was very much in demand at this event, he had a waiting list which included many players and spectators. I don't think I saw Michael Webb taking too many breaks either. He was busy every minute of the day, it looked like to me. The players know he's the expert and trust his opinions and guidance.

There were some occasions when Keith's cue stick was one of MANY cue sticks in Michael Webb's repair booth. Keith had THREE different tips put on his stick during the event -- a hard Moori, a SUMO, and a Triangle or Tiger (can't remember) -- and if I had to count the number of times Keith actually did look at his stick in disgust because of a mushroomed newly applied tip, it would be multiple times, not only during Jeff's match, but others as well.

I must say this post is not to say that Michael Webb applied the tip wrongly. He provided cue repair and maintenance to quite a few players, and he did his best to accommodate everyone's needs in a timely manner. Keith and I both appreciate him being on hand at this event, and whenever Michael Webb is on the tournament trail, all of the players know they are going to benefit from his expertise and skills set. He's one of the good guys, and the players know it.

FWIW, Michael Webb was gracious enough to apply two additional tips at no cost after the first HARD Moori mushroomed. I think that sometimes all tips are not created equal in the manufacturing process by the tip manufacturer, even though they are supposed to be.

I do try to give credit where credit is due. Jeff played a GREAT match. Keith did not. Jeff won and played great during the whole Joss Tour Season Finale at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, and ultimately, that's what counts.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Another Jeff Kennedy picture taken by Diana Hoppe, PoolPics by Hoppe.

JAM

 

[JAM]

And another shot of Jeff Kennedy in action at the Joss Season Finale, photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe!

JAM

 

[Sundance Kid]

My P.R. REPRESENATIVE

Hi Jam,
Although we've never met, besides just passing through the hall way. I'll be sure to stop and introduce myself at the U.S. Open. If you keep putting pictures of me on this site, how are we gonna get any action at the open . Just teasing, I am more of a tournament player, just ask Keith. I am not sure if he'll remember, because we were both ripped out of our minds, but we played a set for a $1000.00 in Vegas 2 years ago at about 4am, I lead the entire set until 9-9, and lost 11-9. It was on a bar box table in behind the splash bar at the Riv., stupid things I do when intoxicated! Oh well back on the wagon for me. Thanks again for the P.R., and no offense was taken by your analysis of your man's match with me. Take care and I'll see ya in a couple of weeks.