Most pool players with God-given talent acquire a passion for the game at a very young age, oftentimes before they are even tall enough to reach the table.
There is an energetic and aggressive player from Califronia who has a distinctive side-arm stroke he developed as a toddler and, despite his unusual form, is well known for strong shot-making offense skills. His name is Keith.
Well, move over Keith, there's a new Keith in town:
There are videos of the young Tiger Woods, barely more than a toddler, wielding a toy club and hitting golf balls as if he were already on the practice tee at The Masters.
Keith O'Dell Jr., not even 2 until April 14, makes a similar impression as he strides around his toy pool table, sizing up his next shot. "Nice shot, Keithy," he says, lauding his own effort in the third person in the manner of many professional athletes...
...Keithy has already gone international. The CNN story was picked up around the world. He will be featured in the May issue of "Pool & Billiard Magazine," he can be seen in action on PoolPlayers.com (the site of the American Poolplayers Association) and he will perform an exhibition at the APA's national championships later this month in Las Vegas.
"I love the game and I want to make sure he loves the game," his father said, emphasizing that they will take the spotlight away if Keithy is no longer having fun.
He was in fine form this past week. After demonstrating a bit of shyness as strangers suddenly visit and begin staring at him, Keithy settles down, bends over his miniature cue and quickly sinks four balls.
He didn’t choke on Rachael Ray, either. He sank his first two balls, making the live audience forget they were not supposed to distract him by clapping and cheering.
Predictably, after Keithy sank several more, "everybody went nuts," his father said. The audience was also shown a video of Keithy at his home table.
Not only is Keithy precocious at a game he has played for only four months, but the game may make him a mathematician. He recognizes the numbers on the balls and is not bashful about calling them as he shoots. Lately, his father said, he is picking up other pool lingo.
And who knows what the future holds for young Keith’s 4-month-old brother, David, who now owns the child seat in the living room, right in front of Keithy’s pool table.
Source: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/apr/10/0410_poolprodigy/ [Retrieved 10 April 2009]
There is an energetic and aggressive player from Califronia who has a distinctive side-arm stroke he developed as a toddler and, despite his unusual form, is well known for strong shot-making offense skills. His name is Keith.
Well, move over Keith, there's a new Keith in town:
There are videos of the young Tiger Woods, barely more than a toddler, wielding a toy club and hitting golf balls as if he were already on the practice tee at The Masters.
Keith O'Dell Jr., not even 2 until April 14, makes a similar impression as he strides around his toy pool table, sizing up his next shot. "Nice shot, Keithy," he says, lauding his own effort in the third person in the manner of many professional athletes...
...Keithy has already gone international. The CNN story was picked up around the world. He will be featured in the May issue of "Pool & Billiard Magazine," he can be seen in action on PoolPlayers.com (the site of the American Poolplayers Association) and he will perform an exhibition at the APA's national championships later this month in Las Vegas.
"I love the game and I want to make sure he loves the game," his father said, emphasizing that they will take the spotlight away if Keithy is no longer having fun.
He was in fine form this past week. After demonstrating a bit of shyness as strangers suddenly visit and begin staring at him, Keithy settles down, bends over his miniature cue and quickly sinks four balls.
He didn’t choke on Rachael Ray, either. He sank his first two balls, making the live audience forget they were not supposed to distract him by clapping and cheering.
Predictably, after Keithy sank several more, "everybody went nuts," his father said. The audience was also shown a video of Keithy at his home table.
Not only is Keithy precocious at a game he has played for only four months, but the game may make him a mathematician. He recognizes the numbers on the balls and is not bashful about calling them as he shoots. Lately, his father said, he is picking up other pool lingo.
And who knows what the future holds for young Keith’s 4-month-old brother, David, who now owns the child seat in the living room, right in front of Keithy’s pool table.
Source: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/apr/10/0410_poolprodigy/ [Retrieved 10 April 2009]
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