McCready, Matlock or Joe Kiley?

[magix]

while i'm remembering.never saw joey play on a bar box.they just wern't around where we played.i never saw one till 67 when i went to tx.joey was the first player i saw who matched up one on one in 9 ball.all that was played for us was ring pool.couple stories.first time i saw him match up 1-1 was against nicky from port a ricky.9 ball 20 a game in chelsea.nicky was lucky he got out alive.joey robbed him even,with the 8,with the 7 and with the 6 and last two.and i swear nicky could play.he just never got much of a chance.we knew joey was good we just didn't know how good.when we knew joey had turned the corner was in a ring game in nats in revere,ma.joey gets in,6 players,dollar, dollar,double on the run.he has 60.00.before he shoots hes broke.plays an air rack.first shot-cb on the short rail on the center dia.5 ball just left,maybe an in.,from the spot.only pocket avail.right foot corner pocket.jacked up.backed cut the 5 ran out 280.00 later he missed.might have been the best i'v ever knew.you know how that goes.

 

[DoubleA]

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.

Yeah I know Dave, and I agree with you. Small table 9 ball was not Jr.'s best game, but hardly anyone wanted to play him 8 ball. He also played one-handed up in the air better than anyone I ever saw. He and Ronnie Allen traveled some together.

 

[streak]

In '76 or '77 I was with Joey ( picked him up in Toledo ) and we ran into Keith in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We were short on money, and I knew who Keith was, but we played a set for 500.00 ( a race ). Joey won the first and then ( even though I vehemently disagreed ) Joey let Keith switch tables. Keith won the second setpretty easily. But there was no weight involved. Since we only had about a barrel anda half, I pulled Joey up. A few days after that, I dropped him off in Mobile, and I think he stayed there for quite a while, maybe a year or two.
Also, Weldon is a good friend, and I remember him telling me that he was running with Keith for a while, and that they scuffled up bankrolls several times and fired at Matlock...and lost, and lost, and lost!!! I can't think of any reason that he'd make up a story about booking losers. He did say that prior to that, he firmly believed that nobody could play with Keith on a bar table.
That's my two cents worth.....

 

[DoubleA]

In '76 or '77 I was with Joey ( picked him up in Toledo ) and we ran into Keith in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We were short on money, and I knew who Keith was, but we played a set for 500.00 ( a race ). Joey won the first and then ( even though I vehemently disagreed ) Joey let Keith switch tables. Keith won the second setpretty easily. But there was no weight involved. Since we only had about a barrel anda half, I pulled Joey up. A few days after that, I dropped him off in Mobile, and I think he stayed there for quite a while, maybe a year or two.
Also, Weldon is a good friend, and I remember him telling me that he was running with Keith for a while, and that they scuffled up bankrolls several times and fired at Matlock...and lost, and lost, and lost!!! I can't think of any reason that he'd make up a story about booking losers. He did say that prior to that, he firmly believed that nobody could play with Keith on a bar table.
That's my two cents worth.....

Weldon is a good friend of mine also, I see him often. I also know Keith fairly well. Your'e right, Jr would remember any big losers because he didn't book very many.k:

 

[ribdoner]

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.

Last I heard wasn't doing to well:frown:

 

[jay helfert]

No real reason for me to post on here, because this has all been hashed out on another thread. Just some info, Rocket Man was Rich Slupik, who was frequently a member of John Abruzzo's killer bar table teams. They seemed to always win the BCA tourney for years and years. "Nick" was Nick Vlahos, an excellent player from the Northeast. He has since passed away.

All three of the players mentioned are Legends in the pool world. Matlock was long considered the king of the bar tables. Keith was the scariest money player alive, and Boston Joey was an East Coast legend. Joey was better at staying undercover and robbing players all up and down the East Coast. The only guy who I ever heard of beating him when he was on the road was Toby Sweet. Joey just snuck up on the wrong guy one time. This was on a big table, by the way.

On the small boxes, I like Keith and David. On a big table, I'd probably still take Keith if the bet is big enough. For $20 a game, or small sets (under $500), Joey might have made Keith work overtime. That one could have gone either way. Joey was a great player, but Keith in full gallop just intimidated people. He ran out so effortlessly, regardless of how tough the balls were laying. He made it look TOO easy!

With guys this speed, the 8 Ball meant almost zero! Especially on a bar table. It might come into play once every 50 games or so.

I don't want to comment on Joey presently. I'd rather not start an unsubstantiated rumor.

 

[roosterman]

No real reason for me to post on here, because this has all been hashed out on another thread. Just some info, Rocket Man was Rich Slupik, who was frequently a member of John Abruzzo's killer bar table teams. They seemed to always win the BCA tourney for years and years. "Nick" was Nick Vlahos, an excellent player from the Northeast. He has since passed away.

All three of the players mentioned are Legends in the pool world. Matlock was long considered the king of the bar tables. Keith was the scariest money player alive, and Boston Joey was an East Coast legend. Joey was better at staying undercover and robbing players all up and down the East Coast. The only guy who I ever heard of beating him when he was on the road was Toby Sweet. Joey just snuck up on the wrong guy one time. This was on a big table, by the way.

On the small boxes, I like Keith and David. On a big table, I'd probably still take Keith if the bet is big enough. For $20 a game, or small sets (under $500), Joey might have made Keith work overtime. That one could have gone either way. Joey was a great player, but Keith in full gallop just intimidated people. He ran out so effortlessly, regardless of how tough the balls were laying. He made it look TOO easy!

With guys this speed, the 8 Ball meant almost zero! Especially on a bar table. It might come into play once every 50 games or so.

I don't want to comment on Joey presently. I'd rather not start an unsubstantiated rumor.

How would you rate Ronnie Allen with these guys on a bar table.I watched him play one time,and I've never seen anybody play any better.Would he just dog it for big money,or maybe something like that?

 

[jay helfert]

How would you rate Ronnie Allen with these guys on a bar table.I watched him play one time,and I've never seen anybody play any better.Would he just dog it for big money,or maybe something like that?

At Eight Ball, Ronnie was as good as anyone. He was a smart and very clever player. If you didn't run out on your first turn, you were done! At 9-Ball, all the above three players would be favorites over Ronnie. He might be the 7 Ball under any of them. Playing one handed it was another story entirely. He could beat anyone on any table. The only exceptions may have been Weldon on a bar table and Little Sergio playing 9-Ball on a big table. That's about it.

Ronnie DID NOT dog it for big money! In fact, just the opposite was true. He made you dog it! Ronnie wasn't afraid to play high, the higher the better. He played his absolute best for big money. NO ONE wanted any part of Ronnie for years playing big money One Hole. Just like Keith gave the world the 8 Ball, Ronnie was giving the world 10-8! And winning!

 

[satman]

Weldon

Weldon is a good friend of mine also, I see him often. I also know Keith fairly well. Your'e right, Jr would remember any big losers because he didn't book very many.k:

Weldon used to live in Ft. Wayne, In. and was running a bit with a friend of mine. I got to play him in tournaments a few times, and watched him gamble a couple of times, playing $500 or $1000 sets. Tried to get my buddy to take me on the road with them.
Saw him play a fairly good player for $20 a game a game once. Weldon shooting one-handed and the other guy 2 handed. He could play some one handed pool.
Someone was just asking me last month what happened to him. Is he still running a pool room?

 

[Hal2]

Boston Joey

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.

Just curious, Bill, but is Boston Joey still around?

Keith, Yes, Joey did like to drink (vodka martini's) as I am told by a friend of mine. Dave Newman was his road guy. Joey lived in Finlay, Ohio for a long time with Dave. Joey is now in Chicago and does not play much pool, however he does play the horses.

I can find out a contact number, if you would like?
Regards,
Hal

 

[Hal2]

Welden Rogers

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 .

Welden was a Great one-handed player and was a friend of Boston Joey.

Regards,
Hal

 

[Ktown D]

Weldon used to live in Ft. Wayne, In. and was running a bit with a friend of mine. I got to play him in tournaments a few times, and watched him gamble a couple of times, playing $500 or $1000 sets. Tried to get my buddy to take me on the road with them.
Saw him play a fairly good player for $20 a game a game once. Weldon shooting one-handed and the other guy 2 handed. He could play some one handed pool.
Someone was just asking me last month what happened to him. Is he still running a pool room?

Weldon is living in Knoxville and isn't into pool much at all anymore. He plays cards and likes to fish but seldom comes to the poolroom. Last I knew his health wasn't 100% but I haven't seen him in a few months.

I like Weldon and used to enjoy watching him play. He was very methodical and could park the cueball on a dime. I was on the receiving end of one of those one handed lessons one time. I couldn't fathom that he could beat me playing like that but he could.......and he did.

 

[magix]

Keith, Yes, Joey did like to drink (vodka martini's) as I am told by a friend of mine. Dave Newman was his road guy. Joey lived in Finlay, Ohio for a long time with Dave. Joey is now in Chicago and does not play much pool, however he does play the horses.

I can find out a contact number, if you would like?
Regards,
Hal

hey hal-could you pm me his # thanks george

 

[Jerry OC]

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.

Damn, how many players coulde fade that action?

 

[bondsman]

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 .

Lots of times I see him refered to as Weldon Rogers. When I lived in Pheonix, Weldon was partner in a poolhall in Tucson. There were two guys, one named Roger Weldon and the other named Weldon Rogers. One was a very good Black player who lived in LA and the other was the guy in Tucson. Living in Arizona back then I always thought the Weldon you are talking about was Roger Weldon. Am I wrong? I am old sometimes my memory fail me. Keith would know because he also knew the plaer from LA.

 

[jay helfert]

Lots of times I see him refered to as Weldon Rogers. When I lived in Pheonix, Weldon was partner in a poolhall in Tucson. There were two guys, one named Roger Weldon and the other named Weldon Rogers. One was a very good Black player who lived in LA and the other was the guy in Tucson. Living in Arizona back then I always thought the Weldon you are talking about was Roger Weldon. Am I wrong? I am old sometimes my memory fail me. Keith would know because he also knew the plaer from LA.

I know Roger and he is a good One Pocket player. Meanwhile Weldon Rogers, or Junior as he was often called, was a world class player on bar tables and playing one handed. Two VERY different guys!

 

[hemicudas]

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?

Freddie, just told me that Joey was living in N. IL presently, Keith. Just curious, was Ronnie still with you when you and Joey played in AL? Thanks.

 

[rackem]

Freddie, just told me that Joey was living in N. IL presently, Keith. Just curious, was Ronnie still with you when you and Joey played in AL? Thanks.

I am wondering about the one handed match-up between Joey and Ronnie myself.:groucho:

 

[magix]

just thought i'd bump this up to show my respect for a friend.

 

[Perk]

I remember reading this thread. There needs to be more of these and less of other types. Some cool reading material in this one. Thanks for bumping.