Another good one is McCready V. McCreesh...same year, I do believe.
I don't think JAM liked that round, being a road partner with the both of them around that time
IIRC
:wink:
That "McCreesh vs. McCready" -- love that tag line -- was the very first round of the entire U.S. Open that year, and they put it on TV table to boot.
Keith was like a cat with a long tail in a room full of rocking chairs. We had just gotten back a few weeks earlier from the Carolinas Open where Buddy Hall lectured Keith about his behavior when playing pool and enjoying fine spirits.
Our agreement thereafter was that I'd go to the U.S. Open, sacrifice 8 days of my job with no income, spend $2,500 for tournament expenses, as long as Keith promised to do one thing, and that was play au naturel. And I don't mean naked either. :wink:
Ryan came out of the gate like a rocket. Keith struggled as he was sipping his clear bottle of H20. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jimmy Reid slip Keith a small drink, what looked to me like a Coca-Cola. Keith immediately started to play a little looser, seeming more comfortable, but it was too late. Ryan won the match, knocking Keith to the B side of the chart.
It was a bittersweet feeling for me because I was happy for Ryan, but just wish the two of them didn't draw each other for the first round. Back home, the two of them were constant companions, playing many a partner game of one-pocket over at USA Billiards in Laurel against Seth, Jerry Slivka, Bobby Hawk, Freddie Boggs, and a whole slew of local action players.
What happened to that Seth? He was good action, always willing to bet it high.
Oh, yeah, I later found out that the reason Keith's game picked up a little against Ryan that TV table round was because dear Jimmy Reid, Keith's buddy, slipped him a Coke and rum. He'd have been better just giving him a beer because Keith doesn't usually drink liquor. But I guess in these circumstances, with Keith not playing his speed against Ryan, liquor is quicker. :grin-square:
