Yep. That's right. Keith McCready got paid from Reno, and most likely, Keith is the only 2006 IPT member who did get paid from Reno, at least at the time of this writing. 
First, thanks to all who PM'd and e-mailed me over the past month. I was experiencing some issues at the home- and workfront and made the choice to ban myself from all things pool-related for personal reasons, reasons that I was not comfortable posting about on AzBilliards Discussion Forum. It is not that I don't care about the wonderful friendships I have formed in the past 5 years, but sometimes there are things in life which take a top priority, and when life deals you a curve ball, you either got to swing or stand there and hope you get another shot.
My beloved Keith, God bless his little heart, went to Reno without me, this past IPT event, and anybody who knows Keith, and knows him well, can just imagine what Keith is like in a casino environment.
Keith cut down on expenses by sharing a room with Liljon from Mississippi, a match I thought was made in heaven. However, the two of them ended up fighting -- verbal, of course -- like two male pitbulls from day one. I have spoken to each of them, and I hope to speak to Liljon again sometime in the future, at least to give him an opportunity to make things right. I'm not knocking Liljon, BTW. I think he's a fine nice-looking young man, with a whole lot of sweet Southern charm. He heart is in the right place.
Keith had a lousy showing at the IPT event in Reno. The German fellow -- I can't remember his name -- maybe Oliver -- ran through Keith like Swiss cheese in one of his matches. He actually barbecued him, which must have set the pace for the rest of Keith's matches in Round One, poor fellow. I can only wonder if things would have been different if I were there. It is the first first pool tournament I did not attend with Keith in several years, but as it turned out, I'm glad I stayed home.
When I drove to the IPT event in Vegas several months ago, I was criticized by a few trolls, but to tell you the truth, I had a blast. Without Keith's IPT winnings to date, I could not have afforded to go. However, me owning a full-time business, quite busy this time of year in D.C., I had to make a choice between Keith's career and mine, and guess what, my income is guaranteed to pay the bills.
Allen Hopkins' friend, a chauffeur from the Bellagio, said it best to me at the IPT in Vegas, as we were sitting on the sidelines at the Rio while Keith and Allen were playing back-to-back poker satellites. "Jennie, you gotta protect your business, above all else," he said, and even though Keith did make expenses in Vegas, plus some, I didn't feel right being in Vegas, not being able to cover prospective jobs, lucrative jobs which pay better than pool from time to time. Believe it or not, I think and believe that I am the Efren Reyes in my industry, most likely in my own eyes, but I am pretty damn good.
Oh, I almost forgot the point of my post. So Sunday rolls around at the end of the IPT event in Reno, and Keith knew doggone well that if he did not bring home that IPT check, well, he may as well think about hanging his hat in Reno for a spell, as far as I was concerned. The IPT events are expensive for us. I cannot imagine what a financial drain they are on our brethren overseas.
Before the finals on Sunday, the players were required to be at the tournament room, one hour before post, which, of course, they all complied with, as the vision of a big fat IPT check danced around in their heads, but as we all know today, there were no checks.
Keith has always had an uncanny ability to smell money wherever he goes. If there's prospective action in the joint, he'll find it and make it happen. You can count on it, which is why he is a popular kind of guy in some venues. He's actually kind of funny when he gets to barking, especially if he gets a game, and then there is no other place in the world that Keith would rather be than on that field of green playing for the cash.
So, as the players in Reno were exiting the tournament room with their tail between their legs, Keith zeroed in and locked eyeballs with his good friend Billy Incardone. I don't know how he knew it, but Keith knew Billy was holding pretty good. Thinking about how I was going to react if he came home empty-pocketed, Keith approached Billy with a proposition, offering him 10 percent of what he had coming, a nice fat nickel, if he'd give him the balance, with a caveat that Billy will be stuck if there are no checks are forthcoming.
Fortunate for Keith and not so fortunate for Billy at this juncture, Billy gave Keith 4,500 in cash. Keith immediately went to pay off a few creditors that he acquired during his brief stay in Reno and then brought home the bacon, which actually was a pleasant surprise to me. I believe that Billy will get paid, but he is definitely earning his $500 fee.
I am busy as a bee here in D.C., which is the reason we did not go to the U.S. Open. Even though I love that event, especially in Virginia, one of the prettiest States in the Union, we just thought it better to bow out this year. Man, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving player than John Schimidt, as American as apple pie, winning the title. I wish I could have been there to see it, and what a story it is, John's journey from beginning to end of that U.S. Open. It's the stuff that movies are made out of.
So that's my story and I'm sticking with it. I hope this thread does not attract trolls who disagree with my opinions and/or who generally don't like Keith and myself, but I decided to check in and see what was happening. I will say up front that although I hope with all my being that the IPT moves full speed ahead, I have decided to refrain from comment about the current state of affairs and will, of course, hope for the best. One thing for sure, the priorities in my own personal life have been strengthened.
JAM
First, thanks to all who PM'd and e-mailed me over the past month. I was experiencing some issues at the home- and workfront and made the choice to ban myself from all things pool-related for personal reasons, reasons that I was not comfortable posting about on AzBilliards Discussion Forum. It is not that I don't care about the wonderful friendships I have formed in the past 5 years, but sometimes there are things in life which take a top priority, and when life deals you a curve ball, you either got to swing or stand there and hope you get another shot.
My beloved Keith, God bless his little heart, went to Reno without me, this past IPT event, and anybody who knows Keith, and knows him well, can just imagine what Keith is like in a casino environment.
Keith cut down on expenses by sharing a room with Liljon from Mississippi, a match I thought was made in heaven. However, the two of them ended up fighting -- verbal, of course -- like two male pitbulls from day one. I have spoken to each of them, and I hope to speak to Liljon again sometime in the future, at least to give him an opportunity to make things right. I'm not knocking Liljon, BTW. I think he's a fine nice-looking young man, with a whole lot of sweet Southern charm. He heart is in the right place.
Keith had a lousy showing at the IPT event in Reno. The German fellow -- I can't remember his name -- maybe Oliver -- ran through Keith like Swiss cheese in one of his matches. He actually barbecued him, which must have set the pace for the rest of Keith's matches in Round One, poor fellow. I can only wonder if things would have been different if I were there. It is the first first pool tournament I did not attend with Keith in several years, but as it turned out, I'm glad I stayed home.
When I drove to the IPT event in Vegas several months ago, I was criticized by a few trolls, but to tell you the truth, I had a blast. Without Keith's IPT winnings to date, I could not have afforded to go. However, me owning a full-time business, quite busy this time of year in D.C., I had to make a choice between Keith's career and mine, and guess what, my income is guaranteed to pay the bills.
Allen Hopkins' friend, a chauffeur from the Bellagio, said it best to me at the IPT in Vegas, as we were sitting on the sidelines at the Rio while Keith and Allen were playing back-to-back poker satellites. "Jennie, you gotta protect your business, above all else," he said, and even though Keith did make expenses in Vegas, plus some, I didn't feel right being in Vegas, not being able to cover prospective jobs, lucrative jobs which pay better than pool from time to time. Believe it or not, I think and believe that I am the Efren Reyes in my industry, most likely in my own eyes, but I am pretty damn good.
Oh, I almost forgot the point of my post. So Sunday rolls around at the end of the IPT event in Reno, and Keith knew doggone well that if he did not bring home that IPT check, well, he may as well think about hanging his hat in Reno for a spell, as far as I was concerned. The IPT events are expensive for us. I cannot imagine what a financial drain they are on our brethren overseas.
Before the finals on Sunday, the players were required to be at the tournament room, one hour before post, which, of course, they all complied with, as the vision of a big fat IPT check danced around in their heads, but as we all know today, there were no checks.
Keith has always had an uncanny ability to smell money wherever he goes. If there's prospective action in the joint, he'll find it and make it happen. You can count on it, which is why he is a popular kind of guy in some venues. He's actually kind of funny when he gets to barking, especially if he gets a game, and then there is no other place in the world that Keith would rather be than on that field of green playing for the cash.
So, as the players in Reno were exiting the tournament room with their tail between their legs, Keith zeroed in and locked eyeballs with his good friend Billy Incardone. I don't know how he knew it, but Keith knew Billy was holding pretty good. Thinking about how I was going to react if he came home empty-pocketed, Keith approached Billy with a proposition, offering him 10 percent of what he had coming, a nice fat nickel, if he'd give him the balance, with a caveat that Billy will be stuck if there are no checks are forthcoming.
Fortunate for Keith and not so fortunate for Billy at this juncture, Billy gave Keith 4,500 in cash. Keith immediately went to pay off a few creditors that he acquired during his brief stay in Reno and then brought home the bacon, which actually was a pleasant surprise to me. I believe that Billy will get paid, but he is definitely earning his $500 fee.
I am busy as a bee here in D.C., which is the reason we did not go to the U.S. Open. Even though I love that event, especially in Virginia, one of the prettiest States in the Union, we just thought it better to bow out this year. Man, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving player than John Schimidt, as American as apple pie, winning the title. I wish I could have been there to see it, and what a story it is, John's journey from beginning to end of that U.S. Open. It's the stuff that movies are made out of.
So that's my story and I'm sticking with it. I hope this thread does not attract trolls who disagree with my opinions and/or who generally don't like Keith and myself, but I decided to check in and see what was happening. I will say up front that although I hope with all my being that the IPT moves full speed ahead, I have decided to refrain from comment about the current state of affairs and will, of course, hope for the best. One thing for sure, the priorities in my own personal life have been strengthened.
JAM
