I was doing some backing up on some old archives from my newsreader from years ago and ran across this from JAM, posted in RSB. Originally, Jose Paricia was going to be doing the questions, but he couldn't make it, so Keith took over.
I tried to bold the question and italicize the answers... This took a while, but hope it comes out allright. Keep in mind, the questions were posted for Jose, but Keith is answering them as if they were for him.
Thought some of you might enjoy some candid answers from Keith.
Original post:
Newsgroups: rec.sport.billiard
Date: 04 Sep 2004 11:36:27 GMT
Just had an idea and wanted to see if it would fly.
I'm picking up Jose Parica tonight at BWI Airport in Baltimore, and we're all
heading for the Open on Sunday morning in Virginia.
If the plane comes in on time and Jose shows up (LOL), I thought it may be fun
to have an Ask Jose Parica Anything Hour -- well, not anything. Try to be
nice.
I heard he is going to Dubai toward the end of September, and he just got back
from Manila. As most of you know, Jose came in second last year at the Open.
He plays well on those tables at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
BCn will be there, and I'm sure Jose will be playing in one of those TV
matches. That particular table is difficult to play on (IMO). The heat from
the numerous overhanging lights is awful. Some of you have been there and must
remember the bright lights.
If you think this would be interesting, post a question or a comment for Jose,
and I'll transcribe his answers on this thread when I get back. His plane is
due in at 9:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, of course.
Jose has never had a voice on the Internet before. It may be fun for him.
Let me know what you think...
JAM
Keith answering questions:
>Of all the top players you have faced which one do you fear the most?
Actually, I try not to think about what they can do. It's my job to take it
away from them, and that's the way you get up and beat these guys.
The guy that runs the most racks is the one who usually gets the money. Those
guys are always hard to beat.
Years ago, Buddy Hall and Earl Strickland were the tough ones to face.
Bustamante, Reyes, quite a few of the other Filippinos, Rodney Morris, Alex
Papulyan, those are the ones you need to get by first.
>Was there ever a time that you thought about giving up and quitting pool?
I've always loved the game, but it's got its ups and downs, just like anything
else in life. Some people play like it's the end of the world, but I guess the
older they get, they will realize there's a little something more than just
running a ball.
>If you were to order a custom cue what specs would you insist upon?
Gee, Willee, I'm starting to like the cue already. I got the right shaft on
there now, and I think I'm going to have it on automatic pilot for the Open!
Keith McCready
>How can we get more young people interested in the game?>
That's a hard one. I guess if more younger folks were introduced to it at a
younger age, it might help.
It seems like all the kids that I see growing up now, they love to gamble and
appreciate the competitiveness of the game.
>If you are trying to teach someone the fundamentals, what are the most
>important things?>
The grips and the follow-throughs, the inside lefts, the outside rights, the
inside kills, and the outside whip stroke, and let's not forget the draw stroke
as well.
>What is the best book on pool that you have read?
I liked Playing Off the Rail. I liked The Green Felt Jungle as well. If
you've never read it, it's a good book.
>What is the best video on pool that you have seen?
>
I never watch them. I watch the girls more than I watch the men.
I like watching the Karen Corr and Allison Fisher matches on TV, and then it's
good to see a couple of the other girls get in there as well because it seems
like it is always Allison Fisher and Karen Corr.
Keith McCready
>Does Jose prefer 'new' chalk or well worn chalk and how often does he
>tap, scuff or pick his tip ?
I like worn chalk, half moon, worn down a little bit, nickeled up.
I'm kind of funny about my tips. I replace them often. I like to have a
nickel tip, and once I get it just right, then I have to hit the balls
accordingly to where I don't wear it down because, once I get it right, I want
to keep it. But I have a tendency to hit balls hard, and that forces my tip to
go down.
>Why does he put his Pai Gow winnings in the slots?
I don't mess with the slots, but I do play Pai Gow, craps, and a little bit of
cards once in a while, and naturally, the horse track.
>Is he going to Grady's tournament in Gulfport, Miss. in December ?
I won't be able to make it, but I wish him well.
Keith McCready
>- How does he imagine living off of pool as he gets older?
It's a tough racket, but I try to stay in action wherever I go, whether it's
big or small.
>When and how did he feel he made the leap from average/good to great and expecting to win every match he plays?
When I started spotting everybody, when the game should have been about even, I
knew then I was going to be a good player.
When it comes time to take something from somebody, a good player will take it
from another good player. That's just the way it is.
>What would he tell an up-and-coming player wanting to be like him?
I wouldn't want to wish that upon my worst enemy. Where I've been, I don't think there's a lot of people that have been, good and bad.
>- Does he have any pre-match rituals?
I just try to get a good feel on a couple of shots. Sometimes it takes longer
than others, but if I can get it early, I might be dangerous. The whole deal
is the feel.
>How does he feel about not being inducted into the Hall of Fame yet when
>- in lack of a better word, a derivative Filipino - Reyes is in already.
I'm sure Jose will eventually be in the Hall of Fame, but the way these
politics go nowadays, he'll probably be dead and gone by the time that happens.
Keith McCready
>My question is why does he (and just about every other Phillipino player)
>put the cue tip on the cloth and off to the side of the cue ball during warm
>up strokes, and then hit the cue ball in a completely different spot?
I have no idea why they do that. Maybe it's a type of feel that they acquired
when they were younger. They all seem to have that same technique.
Keith McCready
>Of all the cues you've owned and used over the years, which were the best,
>and why?
My Balabushka was my best cue. It was the hit on it. It was so pure.
Wherever you hit the cue-ball, it would do exactly what you asked it to.
>How did the Schuler you were using last year rank with the others?
I'm not familiar with the Schuler cues.
Keith McCready
>How many hours per day did you practice before you were able to turn pro?>
I used to practice hours and hours and hours and worked with all my englishes.
A lot of people don't know how many hours I really did play when I was younger,
but it was a lot.
>At what age did you start playing regularly?
>
Eleven or 12.
Keith McCready
>what kind of tip do you use?
I am using a medium Moori now. It seems like to me, those are the best tips.
Keith McCready
I tried to bold the question and italicize the answers... This took a while, but hope it comes out allright. Keep in mind, the questions were posted for Jose, but Keith is answering them as if they were for him.
Thought some of you might enjoy some candid answers from Keith.
Original post:
Newsgroups: rec.sport.billiard
Date: 04 Sep 2004 11:36:27 GMT
Just had an idea and wanted to see if it would fly.
I'm picking up Jose Parica tonight at BWI Airport in Baltimore, and we're all
heading for the Open on Sunday morning in Virginia.
If the plane comes in on time and Jose shows up (LOL), I thought it may be fun
to have an Ask Jose Parica Anything Hour -- well, not anything. Try to be
nice.
I heard he is going to Dubai toward the end of September, and he just got back
from Manila. As most of you know, Jose came in second last year at the Open.
He plays well on those tables at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
BCn will be there, and I'm sure Jose will be playing in one of those TV
matches. That particular table is difficult to play on (IMO). The heat from
the numerous overhanging lights is awful. Some of you have been there and must
remember the bright lights.
If you think this would be interesting, post a question or a comment for Jose,
and I'll transcribe his answers on this thread when I get back. His plane is
due in at 9:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, of course.
Jose has never had a voice on the Internet before. It may be fun for him.
Let me know what you think...
JAM
Keith answering questions:
>Of all the top players you have faced which one do you fear the most?
Actually, I try not to think about what they can do. It's my job to take it
away from them, and that's the way you get up and beat these guys.
The guy that runs the most racks is the one who usually gets the money. Those
guys are always hard to beat.
Years ago, Buddy Hall and Earl Strickland were the tough ones to face.
Bustamante, Reyes, quite a few of the other Filippinos, Rodney Morris, Alex
Papulyan, those are the ones you need to get by first.
>Was there ever a time that you thought about giving up and quitting pool?
I've always loved the game, but it's got its ups and downs, just like anything
else in life. Some people play like it's the end of the world, but I guess the
older they get, they will realize there's a little something more than just
running a ball.
>If you were to order a custom cue what specs would you insist upon?
Gee, Willee, I'm starting to like the cue already. I got the right shaft on
there now, and I think I'm going to have it on automatic pilot for the Open!
Keith McCready
>How can we get more young people interested in the game?>
That's a hard one. I guess if more younger folks were introduced to it at a
younger age, it might help.
It seems like all the kids that I see growing up now, they love to gamble and
appreciate the competitiveness of the game.
>If you are trying to teach someone the fundamentals, what are the most
>important things?>
The grips and the follow-throughs, the inside lefts, the outside rights, the
inside kills, and the outside whip stroke, and let's not forget the draw stroke
as well.
>What is the best book on pool that you have read?
I liked Playing Off the Rail. I liked The Green Felt Jungle as well. If
you've never read it, it's a good book.
>What is the best video on pool that you have seen?
>
I never watch them. I watch the girls more than I watch the men.
I like watching the Karen Corr and Allison Fisher matches on TV, and then it's
good to see a couple of the other girls get in there as well because it seems
like it is always Allison Fisher and Karen Corr.
Keith McCready
>Does Jose prefer 'new' chalk or well worn chalk and how often does he
>tap, scuff or pick his tip ?
I like worn chalk, half moon, worn down a little bit, nickeled up.
I'm kind of funny about my tips. I replace them often. I like to have a
nickel tip, and once I get it just right, then I have to hit the balls
accordingly to where I don't wear it down because, once I get it right, I want
to keep it. But I have a tendency to hit balls hard, and that forces my tip to
go down.
>Why does he put his Pai Gow winnings in the slots?
I don't mess with the slots, but I do play Pai Gow, craps, and a little bit of
cards once in a while, and naturally, the horse track.
>Is he going to Grady's tournament in Gulfport, Miss. in December ?
I won't be able to make it, but I wish him well.
Keith McCready
>- How does he imagine living off of pool as he gets older?
It's a tough racket, but I try to stay in action wherever I go, whether it's
big or small.
>When and how did he feel he made the leap from average/good to great and expecting to win every match he plays?
When I started spotting everybody, when the game should have been about even, I
knew then I was going to be a good player.
When it comes time to take something from somebody, a good player will take it
from another good player. That's just the way it is.
>What would he tell an up-and-coming player wanting to be like him?
I wouldn't want to wish that upon my worst enemy. Where I've been, I don't think there's a lot of people that have been, good and bad.
>- Does he have any pre-match rituals?
I just try to get a good feel on a couple of shots. Sometimes it takes longer
than others, but if I can get it early, I might be dangerous. The whole deal
is the feel.
>How does he feel about not being inducted into the Hall of Fame yet when
>- in lack of a better word, a derivative Filipino - Reyes is in already.
I'm sure Jose will eventually be in the Hall of Fame, but the way these
politics go nowadays, he'll probably be dead and gone by the time that happens.
Keith McCready
>My question is why does he (and just about every other Phillipino player)
>put the cue tip on the cloth and off to the side of the cue ball during warm
>up strokes, and then hit the cue ball in a completely different spot?
I have no idea why they do that. Maybe it's a type of feel that they acquired
when they were younger. They all seem to have that same technique.
Keith McCready
>Of all the cues you've owned and used over the years, which were the best,
>and why?
My Balabushka was my best cue. It was the hit on it. It was so pure.
Wherever you hit the cue-ball, it would do exactly what you asked it to.
>How did the Schuler you were using last year rank with the others?
I'm not familiar with the Schuler cues.
Keith McCready
>How many hours per day did you practice before you were able to turn pro?>
I used to practice hours and hours and hours and worked with all my englishes.
A lot of people don't know how many hours I really did play when I was younger,
but it was a lot.
>At what age did you start playing regularly?
>
Eleven or 12.
Keith McCready
>what kind of tip do you use?
I am using a medium Moori now. It seems like to me, those are the best tips.
Keith McCready