Matlock is tired of all of the lies..

The reason David's pissed about a lot rumors of people beating him there's talk of putting a bar table player in the hall of fame.

And he just does'nt want any false rumors floating around about Siegal beating him or Parica.
 
I've been a player/railtard (off and on) since the early 60's.

Per the cognoscente MATLOCK was (and still may be) DA MAN.
 
Pinocchio said:
I saw Keith beat him for cash at the Maverick bar in Richmond Ky At one of the Clyde Childress tourneys. I don't know what a lot of money is but Matlock hit the rack after one set.
Pinocchio
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I just asked David about that he said they were both drunk and high,and played a 5 ahead for a thousand and people were bumping in to them and table rolled off pretty bad.They were really just messing around.
 
About a year ago, I was in a room playing the owner late one night on a bar table. After the owner quit, I asked a guy standing there watching if he wanted to play some. (He looked familiar, but I didnt place him.)

Heres the conversation that followed:


ME: "Do you wanna play some?"
HIM: "Well, I dont know how you play."
ME: "Im just a B player"
HIM: "Well that wouldnt be fair,
Im the best bar table player in the world!

MHOUSE, who posts here was with me. He says" Oh, you didnt know that was Dave Matlock!!


I would have got tortured! LOL :o
 
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BVal said:
There is no problem with a guy setting the record straight but this is not the guy! It is some other guy. Also, I am not that good at pool so can I have the 6-out?

Thanks,

BVal
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Brady, I don't really think you want the 6-out from Matlock.
 
poolstar31 said:
About a year ago, I was in a room playing the owner late one night on a bar table. After the owner quit, I asked a guy standing there watching if he wanted to play some. (He looked familiar, but I didnt place him.)

Heres the conversation that followed:


ME: "Do you wanna play some?"
HIM: "Well, I dont know how you play."
ME: "Im just a B player"
HIM: "Well that wouldnt be fair,
Im the best bar table player in the world!

MHOUSE, who posts here was with me. He says" Oh, you didnt know that was Dave Matlock!!


I would have got tortured! LOL :o
Click to expand...

That's a funny story and that's just like him.One time in Amarillo Texas Black Sam from Dallas was here and he said he would play anybody that we could find.So we took dead aim at him and called Matlock when he saw who it was his head jurked straight back,and said no way.Matlock said thats ok you got the six.He ended up busting every black guy in town.
 
roosterman said:
That's a funny story and that's just like him.One time in Amarillo Texas Black Sam from Dallas was here and he said he would play anybody that we could find.So we took dead aim at him and called Matlock when he saw who it was his head jurked straight back,and said no way.Matlock said thats ok you got the six.He ended up busting every black guy in town.
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He busted every black guy?
 
I am not saying that this guy beat Matlock but, I would like to know what Dave thinks of his game.

Please ask Dave about Erman Bullards bar box game.

Also, would like to hear what Keith thinks of the same man.

Erman is a close friend and has alot of respect for both Dave and Kieths' games.
 
roosterman said:
Recently, I talked to David Matlock and i asked him about some of the big money games he had in the past. The only time he was beat on the bar table was back in 1979 by Larry Hubbard. Later, David had a rematch with Larry and beat him the next time they played. To all of the non believers of David Matlock, this comes from the man himself; he is tired of people saying that so and so beat him. He takes alot of pride in his bar table play. He worked really hard to be the best ever on the bar table.He would like to be known as the best of bar table play and he wanted to set the record straight. Once again, only Larry Hubbard beat him for big cash, however, David soon beat him and Larry never wanted to play again. He virtually killed the big cue ball play and still is a force to be reckoned with.
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I do understand how difficult it is to read false tales.

I have highlighted the posts below that Keith has written on this forum about Dave Matlock.

2003 Question by Instroke: Keith, everyone hears about David Matlock being the best big ball bartable player. Did you two ever lock horns and if so who came out on top?

Response by McCready: We played a couple of times, and it went back and forth, but David never got to play me at my best. And when David was in his prime, he was definitely a bar table specialist...Hope David is doing well.

2003 Question by ajrack: Did you ever get a chance to play Dave Matlock on a bar box?

Response by McCready: We played a couple times. I beat him, he beat me. Dave is a very good bar table player, one of the better ones that I ran across. We played 10-ahead both sets. He won one, and I won one.

2004 Question by Hemicudas: Keith just got a new cue and is at this moment out practicing with it for the US Open. He said he would post here as soon as he got back.

Response by McCready: Bill, I gotta tell ya', when I read the title of this thread, I had to pinch myself to make sure I was still alive. [ha-ha]

I've got a lot of fond memories from my days in Baton Rouge. I was running around the pool room like a chicken with my head cut off and had to settle for Mike Sigel. It could have been a little softer, but he was the only customer at that time.

I played pretty good on him that day in Baton Rouge, but not as good as I was when I was playing in California. He only got to see my A game once, and that was in California. Him and Larry Hubbert were on the road, and I ended up giving Mike Sigel the last two on a bar table and Larry Hubbert the 8. I beat 'em like sand going through an hourglass. It didn't take long.

Then, after that, Larry Hubbert went to Oklahoma City, won the pool tournament, and busted Dave Matlock playing even. As you all know, Mike Sigel back then was very hard to beat, especially in pool tournaments. I always figured I'd have to high-roll him to where he would dog it because, if you let him shake loose and get loose, you were a dead duck....

2004 Question by Cutshot: Kieth.. If you did play at Cue & Cushion were those older guys there around the one pocket table? Just wondering, they tried to get me to play one pocket but, since I have never played the game I declined. They were probebly planning on whupping me!

Response by McCready: Cut Shot, I've played in a few Cue and Cushions. Which Cue and Cushion is it? Refresh my memory. I've been over there with Dave Matlock, and we were playing across the border in Cohakia.

2008 Question by wincardona: Jay I commend you for your loyalty sticking with west coast players,particularly Keith and Ronnie,but remember one thing as was mentioned in the picture The Cincinnati Kid "as long as Sigels around their second best.

Reponse by McCready: Hello, Billy again! I had to respond to your post.

Mike was a great 4 1/2 by 9 player. Back then, I believe in my heart if I could have broken the balls like Earl and Bustamante, Mike Sigel could have got the 8 and 9, but seeing as so I didn't have a good break, the game was close. It was close with even a bad break.

When you play people racing to 11 and go oh for 9 on the break and the score is 10-10 or 10-9, what's that tell you? That happened to me all the time.

But now if we go to the bar tables, 3 1/2 by 7, 4 by 8 especially, where I could break the balls, Sigel had no chance to beat me. It wouldn't have even been a contest. He tried it once, after he ducked me for years, with Larry Hubbart where I gave Mike Sigel the last 2. We were playing 7 ahead sets for 3 grand a set, I believe. I think Mike had 5 games at one time. The 2 sets were over within 2 hours. Mike hit the deck. Then Larry Hubbart got up there. I gave Larry the 8 and 9, a session for 6 dimes, and that session took about an hour, maybe hour and a half. This happened at Nutty Neros.

Then Larry Hubbart proceeded to go to Oklahoma City or Punkett City and played even with David Matlock on a bar table and happened to beat David. So where would that put me? Does everybody remember that?

Louie Roberts was a great player, and I loved Louie, but I had to give Louie the call 8 every time we played. As far as shotmaking, pound for pound, Louie had to be one of the best shotmakers of all times, and I believe Louie was a better shotmaker than Sigel. Sigel knew more pool, but he couldn't come with that shot for that money like Louie.

And to be perfectly honest, Billy, when Sigel, Louie, and I were playing, I'd take me over both of them coming with that shot for that big dough, any time, any day. I just thought I would put my 2 cents in, being that my name was brought up.

As far as knowledge of playing pool, Mike Sigel wins that one, but as far as the shot-making and gambling and being able to make that shot for the big dough, I'm not going to take a back seat to Sigel being the Cinncinati Kid second best. Sorry. In fact, I believe Louie and I were both better than Mike Sigel in that department.

Each time Keith and I have run into Dave on the tournament trail, the two of them laugh it up and enjoy each other's company. I have never witnessed any animosity between the two of them whatsoever. If anything, they seem like very good friends!

Picture of Keith and Dave taken at the 2004 U.S. Open.

JAM
 

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David, Keith and Buddy were the three best I ever saw on the small boxes. And they had different style games. Buddy would play his methodical perfect position pool for hours and hours. Keith would make one spectacular run out after another. And both these guys just didn't miss any ball they could see.

David meanwhile, just seemed to own the table. He made the balls conform to him and his style. He simply over powered the table, he was so in control. It's hard to explain unless you saw it. David's game just didn't look like anyone else's. He had more command of the table and balls then anyone I ever saw.

I just had to add this. Then Earl came along and made the big tables look like bar boxes. He was playing bar table pool on 9' tables. Running out looked like a joke when Earl was in his prime.
 
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jay helfert said:
David, Keith and Buddy were the three best I ever saw on the small boxes. And they had different style games. Buddy would play his methodical perfect position pool for hours and hours. Keith would make one spectacular run out after another. And both these guys just didn't miss any ball they could see.

David meanwhile, just seemed to own the table. He made the balls conform to him and his style. He simply over powered the table, he was so in control. It's hard to explain unless you saw it. David's game just didn't look like anyone else's. He had more command of the table and balls then anyone I ever saw.
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Would you agree, Jay, that each one of those three players you mentioned -- Buddy Hall, Keith McCready, and David Matlock -- did not "peak," for lack of a better word, at the same time?

In other words, when Buddy Hall was on top of his game, Keith's game was still developing. When Keith was on top of his game, David Matlock's game was still on the rise. When David Matlock's game was the absolute best, it was past the prime of Keith McCready and Buddy Halls' games collectively.

Sometimes I believe that some people have strong opinions about a player's caliber because that is the only player they may have seen up front and close, maybe due to geographic location of where they live. Age plays an important part in this too. Somebody 25 years old today would have NO IDEA how good a one-pocket player Ronnie Allen was in his prime.

I never saw Buddy Hall's game when he was in his prime. But threads like this to me are like saying Shane Van Boening can beat Buddy Hall. Well, of course, he can today in the year 2008. I wonder how Shane would have fared in the '70s against Buddy Hall. That is the point I am trying to bring out.

In sum, all three of those players you mentioned are great players. However, IMHO, they each peaked at a different time.

JAM
 
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roosterman said:
I just asked David about that he said they were both drunk and high,and played a 5 ahead for a thousand and people were bumping in to them and table rolled off pretty bad.They were really just messing around.
Click to expand...

I wish that you would have David Matlock post on this forum of this match. I have heard about this match several times from Keith McCready, but rather than me write about it, I am going to have Keith post later today on this match-up between him and David Matlock.

What you and I say is only third-hand information. It would be GREAT to hear it from the horse's mouth. Sign David up to this forum. I am 100-percent positive that his participation here would be well received and an asset to this place. He may enjoy replying to some of the members here. Everybody thinks highly of him. :smile:

BTW, I just heard that David was recently married to his sweetheart. Please give them my best wishes. When I saw David playing in the recent Olathe event, he sure did look like married life was treating him well! :wink:

jbullerjr said:
Please ask Dave about Erman Bullards bar box game.

Also, would like to hear what Keith thinks of the same man.

Erman is a close friend and has alot of respect for both Dave and Kieths' games.
Click to expand...

For sure, I'll get Keith to reply to your question after he rises and shines about Erman Bullard. I only met him a few times, but I know for a fact that Keith and he are good friends. :grin:

JAM
 
JAM said:
Would you agree, Jay, that each one of those three players you mentioned -- Buddy Hall, Keith McCready, and David Matlock -- did not "peak," for lack of a better word, at the same time?

In other words, when Buddy Hall was on top of his game, Keith's game was still developing. When Keith was on top of his game, David Matlock's game was still on the rise. When David Matlock's game was the absolute best, it was past the prime of Keith McCready and Buddy Halls' games collectively.

Sometimes I believe that some people have strong opinions about a player's caliber because that is the only player they may have seen up front and close, maybe due to geographic location of where they live. Age plays an important part in this too. Somebody 25 years old today would have NO IDEA how good a one-pocket player Ronnie Allen was in his prime.

I never saw Buddy Hall's game when he was in his prime. But threads like this to me are like saying Shane Van Boening can beat Buddy Hall. Well, of course, he can today in the year 2008. I wonder how Shane would have fared in the '70s against Buddy Hall. That is the point I am trying to bring out.

In sum, all three of those players you mentioned are great players. However, IMHO, they each peaked at a different time.

JAM
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They all played great pool at the same time, but just like today, on some days a player is "right" and on some days he isn't. Buddy is by far the most consistent of the three. He has played top speed pool on all size tables for decades now. And yes, his game has slipped over the last few years. It amazes me that he can still play as well as he does.

Keith had periods in his life where he was simply unbeatable. Everyone (with Buddy being the lone exception) was ducking him. Only Matlock would get on a small box with him. Keith would have to search far and wide for an even game. Only if he found a Denny Searcy, Jimmy Reid, Wade Crane, Louie Roberts or Mike Carella could he get played. But even during those peak years, Keith would have his "off" days. Keith also amazed me frequently. He would stay away from the poolroom for weeks at a time and hang around the race tracks. No one to play was the obvious reason. Then some hustler would come in from out of town and start robbing everyone. They would go and get Keith and bring him to the poolroom. He would hit a few balls and get up there and massacre that poor guy. Once he found his stroke, it was all over. :wink:

David also had some "low" periods in his life where his pool game suffered. He lost his desire to play and consequently he became beatable, particularly in tournaments. Even during those difficult times that David went through, he still was winning his share of bar table tourneys against top flight competition. I strongly suspect if he had been more motivated, his record in bar box tourneys would look more like Buddy's.

There are many factors to consider when determining who the best player may be on a given day. His frame of mind is primary, even before considering the game to be played, the location, and the equipment they are playing on. Has he gotten proper rest, is he hung over from the night before, is he prepared to play right now. State of mind is everything in a game like pool, with all its psychological undertones. This is especially so when top players are involved. That is just as true today as it was 10, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.
 
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I saw David play for the first time back in the early 90's at a McDermott Tour stop at Galaxy Billiards in San Antonio.

All I heard before the tournament was that David was considered the best bar box player in the world at the time.

His first round match was against Barry Strickland from Houston. Barry won the flip and put a 6 pack together with David never getting to the table.

Barry broke dry in the seventh game and that was it. David won 9-6! Barry did get to the table 3 more times during the match only to be kicking at the ball each time.

I saw David play two more times over the next few years. Turned me into a believer!

The guy has the heart of a lion.

Stones
 
JAM said:
I wish that you would have David Matlock post on this forum of this match. I have heard about this match several times from Keith McCready, but rather than me write about it, I am going to have Keith post later today on this match-up between him and David Matlock.

What you and I say is only third-hand information. It would be GREAT to hear it from the horse's mouth. Sign David up to this forum. I am 100-percent positive that his participation here would be well received and an asset to this place. He may enjoy replying to some of the members here. Everybody thinks highly of him. :smile:

BTW, I just heard that David was recently married to his sweetheart. Please give them my best wishes. When I saw David playing in the recent Olathe event, he sure did look like married life was treating him well! :wink:



For sure, I'll get Keith to reply to your question after he rises and shines about Erman Bullard. I only met him a few times, but I know for a fact that Keith and he are good friends. :grin:

JAM
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Very good post. And I agree it's not that easy to compare different age groups in any sport. Johnnyt
 
JAM said:
I wish that you would have David Matlock post on this forum of this match. I have heard about this match several times from Keith McCready, but rather than me write about it, I am going to have Keith post later today on this match-up between him and David Matlock.

What you and I say is only third-hand information. It would be GREAT to hear it from the horse's mouth. Sign David up to this forum. I am 100-percent positive that his participation here would be well received and an asset to this place. He may enjoy replying to some of the members here. Everybody thinks highly of him. :smile:

BTW, I just heard that David was recently married to his sweetheart. Please give them my best wishes. When I saw David playing in the recent Olathe event, he sure did look like married life was treating him well! :wink:



For sure, I'll get Keith to reply to your question after he rises and shines about Erman Bullard. I only met him a few times, but I know for a fact that Keith and he are good friends. :grin:

JAM
Click to expand...

Very good post. And I agree it's not that easy to compare different age groups in any sport. Johnnyt
 
jay helfert said:
They all played great pool at the same time, but just like today, on some days a player is "right" and on some days he isn't. Buddy is by far the most consistent of the three. He has played top speed pool on all size tables for decades now. And yes, his game has slipped over the last few years. It amazes me that he can still play as well as he does.

Keith had periods in his life where he was simply unbeatable. Everyone (with Buddy being the lone exception) was ducking him. Only Matlock would get on a small box with him. Keith would have to search far and wide for an even game. Only if he found a Denny Searcy, Jimmy Reid, Wade Crane, Louie Roberts or Mike Carella could he get played. But even during those peak years, Keith would have his "off" days. Keith also amazed me frequently. He would stay away from the poolroom for weeks at a time and hang around the race tracks. No one to play was the obvious reason. Then some hustler would come in from out of town and start robbing everyone. They would go and get Keith and bring him to the poolroom. He would hit a few balls and get up there and massacre that poor guy. Once he found his stroke, it was all over. :wink:

David also had some "low" periods in his life where his pool game suffered. He lost his desire to play and consequently he became beatable, particularly in tournaments. Even during those difficult times that David went through, he still was winning his share of bar table tourneys against top flight competition. I strongly suspect if he had been more motivated, his record in bar box tourneys would look more like Buddy's.

There are many factors to consider when determining who the best player may be on a given day. His frame of mind is primary, even before considering the game to be played, the location, and the equipment they are playing on. Has he gotten proper rest, is he hung over from the night before, is he prepared to play right now. State of mind is everything in a game like pool, with all its psychological undertones. This is especially so when top players are involved. That is just as true today as it was 10, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.
Click to expand...

Great post Jay. I've always said when two players are at the top of their game and all else is even the one whith the best mental make-up that day will win. Of course a few good rolls can't hurt either. Johnnyt
 
jay helfert said:
They all played great pool at the same time, but just like today, on some days a player is "right" and on some days he isn't. Buddy is by far the most consistent of the three. He has played top speed pool on all size tables for decades now....There are many factors to consider when determining who the best player may be on a given day. His frame of mind is primary, even before considering the game to be played, the location, and the equipment they are playing on. Has he gotten proper rest, is he hung over from the night before, is he prepared to play right now. State of mind is everything in a game like pool, with all its psychological undertones. This is especially so when top players are involved. That is just as true today as it was 10, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.
Click to expand...

Very well-written post, Jay, as usual! :)

I am also amazed at how well Buddy plays. I was sweating a TAR match this weekend between Buddy and Gabe Owen. Buddy was in the lead for the majority of the match, and then a miss or two came, which Gabe capitalized on to win the set. His stroke is one of the prettiest I've ever seen. He seems to just glide on the table.

I never saw any of these players when they were in their peak, but I have seem Keith have sparks of greatness from time to time.

You are right about motivation being key for these players. David Matlock played EXTREMELY well at the IPT event in Vegas. He told me that he practiced for it, and he did pocket a cool $30,000, as I recall. He flew in his girlfriend (now wife) to Vegas the last couple days of the event. I think he felt it in his bones that he was playing very well and had a shot at winning that million. And nothing would have pleased me more than to see David Matlock win that million in Vegas. WOW!

Keith told me that Dave and Peggy have known each other for many, many years. When Dave came to the Open a few years ago, he was on the cell phone with her constantly between matches. In the end, love endures all. When you're sick, broke and/or having hard times, you find out how many true friends you really have. If you are fortunate enough to have a family who loves and cares for you, then you are indeed a rich person.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen some people, to include Keith, follow the man with the money in the casinos and in the pool rooms, much like the Pied Piper. Of course, in order for there to be "action," you gotta have money. However, if that same man didn't have any money, these same followers wouldn't have much to do with him. Personally, I hate it and think it's fake admiration. I have met some people with money who I don't think too highly of. Just because they have money doesn't make them a great person.

Pool is cool and all that, but meeting somebody who you can share your heart with and be happy is primary in my book. And if you're happy, you're going to be playing good pool!

Look at how well Ralf Souquet has been hitting 'em recently, right after he got married. :grin:

Oh, the power of a good woman! Picture of Dave and his lovely lady taken at the IPT in Vegas.

JAM
 

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