McCready, Matlock or Joe Kiley?

hemicudas

hemicudas

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
These kind of threads can be very interesting as long as they are kept civil and respectful. Let's try to keep this one that way.

Circa: 1980. 7ft. bar table with a white bowling ball for a cue ball, who do you like to take the down the cash, Keith McCready, Dave Matlock or Joe "Boston Joey" Kiley?

I'm sure many of you have never heard of Boston Joey but recently my good friend, Bill Stack and I were discussing this scenario with just Keith and David as possible winners, when Stack suggested that with the right mixture in him, alcohol and preluden, Boston Joey, just might snap them both off.

I would be interested to know if Keith or David ever matched up with Joe Kiley "Boston Joey?"

Being respectful of both David and Keith's bar table game, who do you like?
 
I'd have to take Keith over the other two, based on his legend status here in Southern Cal.

You probably could throw Joe Salazar in with that mix, as well. I believe Keith beat him playing even though.
 
Given day? Hung over? Mixture? Bet? Been Playing? Coming off a win? Sleep? Breakfast?

I don't know. Pick one. Flip it.
 
hemicudas said:
These kind of threads can be very interesting as long as they are kept civil and respectful. Let's try to keep this one that way.

Circa: 1980. 7ft. bar table with a white bowling ball for a cue ball, who do you like to take the down the cash, Keith McCready, Dave Matlock or Joe "Boston Joey" Kiley?

I'm sure many of you have never heard of Boston Joey but recently my good friend, Bill Stack and I were discussing this scenario with just Keith and David as possible winners, when Stack suggested that with the right mixture in him, alcohol and preluden, Boston Joey, just might snap them both off.

I would be interested to know if Keith or David ever matched up with Joe Kiley "Boston Joey?"

Being respectful of both David and Keith's bar table game, who do you like?
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That's about the time when Keith was playing like he was from another planet, I would have to go with him, especially with the big rock.

Lunchmoney
 
Hard to choose one from that field but i think i would have to go with Matlock! That guy could do awesome things on a little table with a big rock back then!:D
 
Played them

hemicudas said:
These kind of threads can be very interesting as long as they are kept civil and respectful. Let's try to keep this one that way.

Circa: 1980. 7ft. bar table with a white bowling ball for a cue ball, who do you like to take the down the cash, Keith McCready, Dave Matlock or Joe "Boston Joey" Kiley?

I'm sure many of you have never heard of Boston Joey but recently my good friend, Bill Stack and I were discussing this scenario with just Keith and David as possible winners, when Stack suggested that with the right mixture in him, alcohol and preluden, Boston Joey, just might snap them both off.

I would be interested to know if Keith or David ever matched up with Joe Kiley "Boston Joey?"

Being respectful of both David and Keith's bar table game, who do you like?
Click to expand...

Hemicuda,

I have to say I like your posts because you have a lot of knowledge about the players and the action. Why don't some of the players that come on here and post every now and then, give their opionions. Especially those who probably played those guys. Incardone? Ernesto? who else posts on here that may have played them in 1980. I have spoke to Ernesto a few times about playing Keith on the bar box, and you should here what he had to say about it. Lets here some players tell there stories and thoughts
 
joey kiley grew up in chelsea,ma.i saw him play his first money gams.ring game 5 players.we played .50 on the 5and 9.he went broke.withen 1 year he was the best in our city and all the surrounding citys.got to where he played anyone in our city 15 no count.went to ny and lived for 6 months in the st.james hotel and he was just 17.he and butch brennen.came back and hung around boston.i left,went to tx.heard he went to the midwest,found a bar table and came back 10yrs later.i know because his mom and my mom were in the same prayer group.thats right we got prayed for a lot.after 10yers he just showed up.i don/t know what happened after that.jimmie reid,who is from mass.told me that joey was the best big ball bar table player he ever saw.joey told me when he found the bar table he just stopped missing.what a blast from the past.thanks for starting this. joey huber aka dago.
 
magix said:
joey kiley grew up in chelsea,ma.i saw him play his first money gams.ring game 5 players.we played .50 on the 5and 9.he went broke.withen 1 year he was the best in our city and all the surrounding citys.got to where he played anyone in our city 15 no count.went to ny and lived for 6 months in the st.james hotel and he was just 17.he and butch brennen.came back and hung around boston.i left,went to tx.heard he went to the midwest,found a bar table and came back 10yrs later.i know because his mom and my mom were in the same prayer group.thats right we got prayed for a lot.after 10yers he just showed up.i don/t know what happened after that.jimmie reid,who is from mass.told me that joey was the best big ball bar table player he ever saw.joey told me when he found the bar table he just stopped missing.what a blast from the past.thanks for starting this. joey huber aka dago.
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Appreciate the bio on Joey, magix. In the late 70s, Joey was living in Mobile and knocking all of them in the creek. Until Keith showed up. I was there when Keith showed up but had to leave the next day so to this day I don't know if Keith and Joey ever played. How bout it, Ether, you and Joey ever match up?
 
Bill, I always told people when Matlocks name came up in a conversation, He's the best bar table player in the world. I don't know how many times thru the 80's and 90's, I said that. When someone mentioned him playing any of the top Pro Players on a bar table, I'd say, "I'll take Matlock against any of them".
But Big cue ball, 1980, it's just so close, I'd almost flip a coin on any given day. I'll take Keith, simply because I saw him gamble for the chesse, but never saw Dave play back then. Just knew about Dave's ability thru some top notch players talking. I still remember that feeling getting to watch him play the first time, and the first time I got to hit balls with Keith while warming up up at the Continental Hotel in Lexington Ky.
Wow, How much dough would it be woth to have video of Dave and Keith playing a race to 200 over a 5 day period, from back then. Title it, "Everything you ever wanted to know about running out on a bar table, and more".
The only video I would ever pay $200 for.
 
hemicudas said:
Appreciate the bio on Joey, magix. In the late 70s, Joey was living in Mobile and knocking all of them in the creek. Until Keith showed up. I was there when Keith showed up but had to leave the next day so to this day I don't know if Keith and Joey ever played. How bout it, Ether, you and Joey ever match up?
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i left in 68.went back and saw him for a few days in the early 70's? mid 70's.every thing was starting to get to him but he was still a monster.
 
hemicudas said:
Appreciate the bio on Joey, magix. In the late 70s, Joey was living in Mobile and knocking all of them in the creek. Until Keith showed up. I was there when Keith showed up but had to leave the next day so to this day I don't know if Keith and Joey ever played. How bout it, Ether, you and Joey ever match up?
Click to expand...

Bill, it's funny you mention that name Boston Joey. Boston Joey was a great bar table player. I hadn't thought about him in a long while. Him and I played a few times, a couple times in Alabama, Dothan I think, and we played in the Carolinas too.

We played with the big cueball. I was giving Joey the 8 and 9. That was my standard weight in the late '70s to give up. I had that reputation, so they knew they could ask for it and get it. And they did.

Joey would never miss. I was playing some of the best pool of my life at that time we played in Alabama, and Joey hit me with two sixes and a seven, and I still broke him. As far as I'm concerned, he was one of the toughest bar table players that I ever played.

We did had something in common, me and Joey. We both liked to drink and used to get that mixture right. We must have had it right then because when we did play, neither of missed a ball for hours and hours. He might have missed one ball in two hours. I think I was about 19 or 20 then when we played, and Joey was older than me.

That's how tough the competition was in the '70s on the bar table. If you didn't run sixes, sevens, and eights, you weren't going to get the money. In my day, there was only a few real good big cueball bar table players. Joey was one of them. You had Joe Salazar too. Jerry Brock was another one, and Denny Searcy was good himself. But they all got spotted by me. That was when I had the teeshirt saying the world had the 8 in the late '70s, and that was an era when I could play and back it up.

Matlock hadn't quite entered my pool world in the late '70s, but let's not take nothing away from David. He was pitbull on that bar box. I wasn't aware of David Matlock until the '80s.

Just curious, Bill, but is Boston Joey still around?
 
Keith McCready said:
Bill, it's funny you mention that name Boston Joey. Boston Joey was a great bar table player. I hadn't thought about him in a long while. Him and I played a few times, a couple times in Alabama, Dothan I think, and we played in the Carolinas too.

We played with the big cueball. I was giving Joey the 8 and 9. That was my standard weight in the late '70s to give up. I had that reputation, so they knew they could ask for it and get it. And they did.

Joey would never miss. I was playing some of the best pool of my life at that time we played in Alabama, and Joey hit me with two sixes and a seven, and I still broke him. As far as I'm concerned, he was one of the toughest bar table players that I ever played.

We did had something in common, me and Joey. We both liked to drink and used to get that mixture right. We must have had it right then because when we did play, neither of missed a ball for hours and hours. He might have missed one ball in two hours. I think I was about 19 or 20 then when we played, and Joey was older than me.

That's how tough the competition was in the '70s on the bar table. If you didn't run sixes, sevens, and eights, you weren't going to get the money. In my day, there was only a few real good big cueball bar table players. Joey was one of them. You had Joe Salazar too. Jerry Brock was another one, and Denny Searcy was good himself. But they all got spotted by me. That was when I had the teeshirt saying the world had the 8 in the late '70s, and that was an era when I could play and back it up.

Matlock hadn't quite entered my pool world in the late '70s, but let's not take nothing away from David. He was pitbull on that bar box. I wasn't aware of David Matlock until the '80s.

Just curious, Bill, but is Boston Joey still around?
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I actually don't know, Keith. I have a call into Bill Stack and a couple others that might know. If anybody here knows if Joey is still with us please pipe up and let us know.

The last time I saw Joey was in the King And I, in Cicero, IL in the early 80s. He had slipped into town and was an unknown at this all night bar. The local shortstop resident was a guy they called Rocket Man. They called him that for obvious reasons. If anyone had a through ticket it was Rocket. Rocket was like you, in that he would spot anyone who asked for weight. His problem was he played probably the 5 under you.

Joey comes in and imediately recognizes Bill Stack and myself. Joey knew we would'nt knock his action. Rocket asked Joey to play and Joey did exactly what he was suppose to do,,,,,,,,,he asked for the 7 ball. Rocket gives it to him with the condition that he, Rocket, gets the first break. They crank it off for $20 and 5 games later Joey is $100 stuck. Joey takes the heat and tells Rocket to just bet the $100 Rocket Man, would just as soon bet it all on one game so he agrees. Rocket Man, never played better in his life. He busted Joey. Gets him for $12 or $1,300.

Joey comes back the next night and someone had knocked Joey. Rocket tells Joey he has found out who he is and can't give him the 7 ball any more. No one in pool history was hotter than Joey was. He shamed Rocket into playing more even. Yea, Joey gets all the money back but his anonimity in Chicago was history.
 
quote from Dan T.

hemicudas said:
These kind of threads can be very interesting as long as they are kept civil and respectful. Let's try to keep this one that way.

Circa: 1980. 7ft. bar table with a white bowling ball for a cue ball, who do you like to take the down the cash, Keith McCready, Dave Matlock or Joe "Boston Joey" Kiley?

I'm sure many of you have never heard of Boston Joey but recently my good friend, Bill Stack and I were discussing this scenario with just Keith and David as possible winners, when Stack suggested that with the right mixture in him, alcohol and preluden, Boston Joey, just might snap them both off.

I would be interested to know if Keith or David ever matched up with Joe Kiley "Boston Joey?"

Being respectful of both David and Keith's bar table game, who do you like?
Click to expand...

I recently had this conversation with Dan T. in Olathe Ks who has been staking Dave for many many years. No body has ever consistantly beat Dave on the bar table. He told me in that era your are talking about, NOBODY could beat him on the bar table with the big ball!
 
Keith McCready said:
Bill, it's funny you mention that name Boston Joey. Boston Joey was a great bar table player. I hadn't thought about him in a long while. Him and I played a few times, a couple times in Alabama, Dothan I think, and we played in the Carolinas too.

We played with the big cueball. I was giving Joey the 8 and 9. That was my standard weight in the late '70s to give up. I had that reputation, so they knew they could ask for it and get it. And they did.

Joey would never miss. I was playing some of the best pool of my life at that time we played in Alabama, and Joey hit me with two sixes and a seven, and I still broke him. As far as I'm concerned, he was one of the toughest bar table players that I ever played.

We did had something in common, me and Joey. We both liked to drink and used to get that mixture right. We must have had it right then because when we did play, neither of missed a ball for hours and hours. He might have missed one ball in two hours. I think I was about 19 or 20 then when we played, and Joey was older than me.

That's how tough the competition was in the '70s on the bar table. If you didn't run sixes, sevens, and eights, you weren't going to get the money. In my day, there was only a few real good big cueball bar table players. Joey was one of them. You had Joe Salazar too. Jerry Brock was another one, and Denny Searcy was good himself. But they all got spotted by me. That was when I had the teeshirt saying the world had the 8 in the late '70s, and that was an era when I could play and back it up.

Matlock hadn't quite entered my pool world in the late '70s, but let's not take nothing away from David. He was pitbull on that bar box. I wasn't aware of David Matlock until the '80s.

Just curious, Bill, but is Boston Joey still around?
Click to expand...

Don't know if you remember the high rollin stake horse, Bill Lee, from the coast or not, Keith, but I was just told he has stayed in touch with Joey and would know his status. Problem is Bill Lee moved to TX, I believe and I don't have his phone # or even exactly where he is.
 
hemicudas said:
These kind of threads can be very interesting as long as they are kept civil and respectful. Let's try to keep this one that way.

Circa: 1980. 7ft. bar table with a white bowling ball for a cue ball, who do you like to take the down the cash, Keith McCready, Dave Matlock or Joe "Boston Joey" Kiley?

I'm sure many of you have never heard of Boston Joey but recently my good friend, Bill Stack and I were discussing this scenario with just Keith and David as possible winners, when Stack suggested that with the right mixture in him, alcohol and preluden, Boston Joey, just might snap them both off.

I would be interested to know if Keith or David ever matched up with Joe Kiley "Boston Joey?"

Being respectful of both David and Keith's bar table game, who do you like?
Click to expand...
I like them all, all are top class bar table players. Now for my personal pick well it has to be Keith. Me being from calif. as keith once was he is like a homie to some of us. He is considered one of the best to come out of calif by many. Another reason i love keith is i have seen him shoot live a few times when he was giving the world the 8, just amazing. I havent had the pleasure of seeing the other gentlemen shoot, but Kieth will alwatys be my pick over most...Keith "future all of famer"
 
Keith and David have different styles,Keith was more of front runner if he ever got you down he could really free wheel on you.David is more of a grinder he can keep constant pressure on you,and eventually break you down.

So my pick is Matlock which I think is an easy choice.
 
patrickcues said:
I recently had this conversation with Dan T. in Olathe Ks who has been staking Dave for many many years. No body has ever consistantly beat Dave on the bar table. He told me in that era your are talking about, NOBODY could beat him on the bar table with the big ball!
Click to expand...
Big cue ball--7 ft. table--1980's, ask Keith and David about about Weldon Rogers(Jr.). I know they both know him very well.:grin: Maybe as good as anyone ever at 8 ball, and he could play all games .
 
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DoubleA said:
Big cue ball--7 ft. table--1980's, ask Keith and David about about Weldon Rogers(Jr.). I know they both know him very well.:grin: Maybe as good as anyone ever at 8 ball, and he could play all games .
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Your right he played at that level,matter of fact him and David played a 10 ahead set in Longdale OK.and Weldon won the first set,David came back and won the next two sets.That goes to show you the heart that Matlock has.
 
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