What's your best Keith McCready story?

[frankwhite]

Turning Stone event for the JOSS tour a few years ago we won 12 dimes in 20 minutes throwing dice. We started with a hundo a peice, how strong is that.........

"THE DYNAMIC DICE DUO" we were being called..............

 

[Danny Kuykendal]

Danny, I hope you don't take anything personally that is said on this forum. I know you personally, and believe you to be a helluva guy. Remember, you have your name out here and almost everyone else is posting some alias, so they can say whatever they want and get by with it, not having to own up to anything.

Danny K

 

[Terry Ardeno]

I saw Keith playing Swanee at the Sports Arena in Anahiem Hills, CA. It was a tournament and Swanee had Keith 6-1 in a race to 7. The tables were tight pocket Rebco tables and Swanee broke and came up dry. Keith jump up out of his chair a said "that just cost you the set" in front of 100 people. He then ran 6 and out. He had that kind of confidence and talent. Unbelievable player, one of the best ever.

That is awesome! Never heard that one.

My "favorite" Keither story is one that I read 24 years ago in the Dec 1984 issue of Billiards Digest. Gist of the story was that Keith, already a stone cold gambler, had been on quite a run. He had managed to win "about $3,000.00" and, since he had someplace to go, he handed the money to somebody he trusted to hold it for him. "A couple of days later", Keith had another fat roll, this time $5,000.00. He again went to his trusted person and again asked them to hold onto the cash (now about $8,000.00 in 2-3 days) until what Keith had to do was done. That got him in trouble. You see, the person Keith asked to watch his money was a teacher at Loara H.S., the place that Keith had to go to between pool matches! The "trouble" Keith got in to was over the fact that this happened when Keith was in the 10th grade!!! "They suspended me for a day and told me to go home."......

How does a 15-16 year old kid have cajones THAT big?

Keith McCready really is an American original!

 

[JAM]

That is awesome! Never heard that one.

My "favorite" Keither story is one that I read 24 years ago in the Dec 1984 issue of Billiards Digest. Gist of the story was that Keith, already a stone cold gambler, had been on quite a run. He had managed to win "about $3,000.00" and, since he had someplace to go, he handed the money to somebody he trusted to hold it for him. "A couple of days later", Keith had another fat roll, this time $5,000.00. He again went to his trusted person and again asked them to hold onto the cash (now about $8,000.00 in 2-3 days) until what Keith had to do was done. That got him in trouble. You see, the person Keith asked to watch his money was a teacher at Loara H.S., the place that Keith had to go to between pool matches! The "trouble" Keith got in to was over the fact that this happened when Keith was in the 10th grade!!! "They suspended me for a day and told me to go home."......

How does a 15-16 year old kid have cajones THAT big?

Keith McCready really is an American original!

I think his age and money amount may be slightly different, but I can't say for sure. I will have to ask. My memory banks ain't quite what they used to be. :embarrassed2:

This single event, though, changed his life forever. That, I do know. He was removed from his family home and put into foster care after the authorities investigated that event. The school contacted the State child welfare protection people, and they soon made Keith a ward of the State. Fortunately for Keith, though, the owners of Bob Billiards, where he used to hang out, really did care for Keith a lot. They petitioned to court to adopt Keith, so that he could live with them instead of in a foster care environment.

The reason why Keith took the money to school with him was because, he said, his older brothers would sometimes help themselves to his bank roll when he wasn't looking. So he had to keep his winnings on his person at all times. He didn't want to leave it at home.

There's a cute story about young Keith playing in this golf ring game with some seasoned pros in a California pool room. He busted the game two nights in a row, winning five figures. Ka-ching. :wink:

He was so tired from staying up all night, standing on his feet, battling it out on a field of green. He soon fell asleep on a bench in the pool room with all his winnings in his pockets, feeling pretty comfy and rich. :grin-square:

Two locals snuck up on Keith while he was sleeping and cut his pockets out of his pants, stealing all his money. :frown:

He did get his money back, but that's the topic of another story!

 

[JAM]

A pool media mongul asked Keith if he could provide them a picture of him in a Conquering Caesar pose. Keith and I were both enjoying the pool world to its fullest at this time, very enthusiastic about everything pool related.

So I thought maybe we should go all out. We went to a costume store and purchased a Caesar outfit for the day. :thumbup:

It was about 110 degrees that summer, and I mean it was hot, hot, hot. We went down to the park near our home and took a bunch of shots. You should have seen the people staring at Keith in this outfit in the park.

The Mormon Temple, built by Marriotts, is nearby our home, and they have a gorgeous garden setting. We drove over there, with Keith wearing this garb, and took some more pictures. After about 30 pictures, with Keith sweating bullets in the D.C. humidity, he put his foot down and said no more. :angry:

As it turned out, the pool media mongul did not mean for Keith to dress up like Caesar, and so they never used these pictures. LOL!

I have always enjoyed these Conquering Caesar pictures of Keith, and so I am inserting it in this thread for prosperity's sake. :grin-square:

 

[Ken_4fun]

Good thing

A pool media mongul asked Keith if he could provide them a picture of him in a Conquering Caesar pose. Keith and I were both enjoying the pool world to its fullest at this time, very enthusiastic about everything pool related.

So I thought maybe we should go all out. We went to a costume store and purchased a Caesar outfit for the day. :thumbup:

It was about 110 degrees that summer, and I mean it was hot, hot, hot. We went down to the park near our home and took a bunch of shots. You should have seen the people staring at Keith in this outfit in the park.

The Mormon Temple, built by Marriotts, is nearby our home, and they have a gorgeous garden setting. We drove over there, with Keith wearing this garb, and took some more pictures. After about 30 pictures, with Keith sweating bullets in the D.C. humidity, he put his foot down and said no more. :angry:

As it turned out, the pool media mongul did not mean for Keith to dress up like Caesar, and so they never used these pictures. LOL!

I have always enjoyed these Conquering Caesar pictures of Keith, and so I am inserting it in this thread for prosperity's sake. :grin-square:

JAM you are lucky to be alive. I would have killed you.

Ken

 

[APA7]

I have always enjoyed these Conquering Caesar pictures of Keith, and so I am inserting it in this thread for prosperity's sake. :grin-square:

4 posterity too, right :wink:

Brian

 

[JAM]

4 posterity too, right :wink:

Brian

:shocked2: :shocked2:
:clapping: :clapping:
:speechless: :speechless:
:rotflmao1: :rotflmao1:

Good catch.

I've been doing too much work in recent times that is laced with financial terms. Word's like "prosperity" seem to roll right off my 150-WPM fingers.

 

[satman]

Thanks Jam

:shocked2: :shocked2:
:clapping: :clapping:
:speechless: :speechless:
:rotflmao1: :rotflmao1:

Good catch.

I've been doing too much work in recent times that is laced with financial terms. Word's like "prosperity" seem to roll right off my 150-WPM fingers.

I have a couple of stories, passed on from friends who hung out with Keith a little while he was around Indiana, but I won't post them here. They are kinda funny. But not appropriate for this place.

The stories being told on here, are what makes him a legendary figure in this world. Most people would look at all the money won and lost over a lifetime, and go crazy thinking about it. Guys like Keith, Grady, Buddy, Billy, Cornbread Red and all the other truly great legends, deserve all the recognition they can get.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

I think his age and money amount may be slightly different, but I can't say for sure. I will have to ask. My memory banks ain't quite what they used to be. :embarrassed2:

This single event, though, changed his life forever. That, I do know. He was removed from his family home and put into foster care after the authorities investigated that event. The school contacted the State child welfare protection people, and they soon made Keith a ward of the State. Fortunately for Keith, though, the owners of Bob Billiards, where he used to hang out, really did care for Keith a lot. They petitioned to court to adopt Keith, so that he could live with them instead of in a foster care environment.

The reason why Keith took the money to school with him was because, he said, his older brothers would sometimes help themselves to his bank roll when he wasn't looking. So he had to keep his winnings on his person at all times. He didn't want to leave it at home.

There's a cute story about young Keith playing in this golf ring game with some seasoned pros in a California pool room. He busted the game two nights in a row, winning five figures. Ka-ching. :wink:

He was so tired from staying up all night, standing on his feet, battling it out on a field of green. He soon fell asleep on a bench in the pool room with all his winnings in his pockets, feeling pretty comfy and rich. :grin-square:

Two locals snuck up on Keith while he was sleeping and cut his pockets out of his pants, stealing all his money. :frown:

He did get his money back, but that's the topic of another story!

JAM,
I got the amounts of money and his age (10th grade) right from page 30 of that issue. I remembered the story but wanted to re-check what was said before I posted.

I never knew that that caused him so much heartache and resulted in being taken from his home. That's just too depressing to even think about. I hope I didn't dredge up bad memories for you guys. I'll feel sick if I did.

Thankfully, Keith has made quite a life for himself. He's probably remembered and talked about and has more fans than anybody else in his class!

Thanks for helping look out for Keith and for sharing such intimate details with all of us. You both have many who care about you a lot!

 

[somms69]

Thanks for helping look out for Keith and for sharing such intimate details with all of us. You both have many who care about you a lot!

What he said.

Todd<suspects JAMs roommate would $h!t if he had walked up behind this post>

 

[ragbug74]

That is awesome! Never heard that one.

My "favorite" Keither story is one that I read 24 years ago in the Dec 1984 issue of Billiards Digest. Gist of the story was that Keith, already a stone cold gambler, had been on quite a run. He had managed to win "about $3,000.00" and, since he had someplace to go, he handed the money to somebody he trusted to hold it for him. "A couple of days later", Keith had another fat roll, this time $5,000.00. He again went to his trusted person and again asked them to hold onto the cash (now about $8,000.00 in 2-3 days) until what Keith had to do was done. That got him in trouble. You see, the person Keith asked to watch his money was a teacher at Loara H.S., the place that Keith had to go to between pool matches! The "trouble" Keith got in to was over the fact that this happened when Keith was in the 10th grade!!! "They suspended me for a day and told me to go home."......

How does a 15-16 year old kid have cajones THAT big?

Keith McCready really is an American original!

I believe Keith told this story on the DannyD interview DVD when he and Danny had poor Ralph Souquet pinned between them telling gambling stories. I'll have to go back and review the DVD, but I think that was where I remember hearing it "right from the horses mouth."

 

[JAM]

JAM,
I got the amounts of money and his age (10th grade) right from page 30 of that issue. I remembered the story but wanted to re-check what was said before I posted.

I never knew that that caused him so much heartache and resulted in being taken from his home. That's just too depressing to even think about. I hope I didn't dredge up bad memories for you guys. I'll feel sick if I did.

Thankfully, Keith has made quite a life for himself. He's probably remembered and talked about and has more fans than anybody else in his class!

Thanks for helping look out for Keith and for sharing such intimate details with all of us. You both have many who care about you a lot!

Oh, my goodness, Terry, I was not upset one iota about the mention of that story. It has been published a few times, aside from the pool mags, and in a recording with Danny DiLiberto too, I think.

Thanks for your very kind words!

 

[jackson]

Oh, my goodness, Terry, I was not upset one iota about the mention of that story. It has been published a few times, aside from the pool mags, and in a recording with Danny DiLiberto too, I think.

Thanks for your very kind words!

Hey Jam - know you're busy and since I can't PM you thought I'd try and get you here - need some help over on NPR to continue our poem - see you there - Jackson:wave2: :wave2:

 

[The King]

Wow all these stories not sure how I had never heard of Kieth until joining AZ... I was always infatuated with Nick Varner as my pool teacher grew up in Owensborro and knew Nick and his dad. And Nick was the perfect gentleman when my teacher took me to meet him in Vegas ... But these stories of Kieth are awesome what a figure he must of cut in his prime ... Many of them are all to familiar to many pool players on a smaller scale but some of them are stuff legends are made of ... Thanks to all of you for sharing ... To bad Kieth is no longer playing ...

 

[CharlesUFarley]

JAM....I grew up in Orange County, Ca. and have been playing pool for almost 20 years...I started at Bob's billiards getting tips from a few guys such as Bill Igle...(not sure if I spelled the name right)...

I've always heard stories about Keith...I've played him in a couple of local tournaments at Hard Times and once at Danny K's..He's a legend.

I've heard a lot of great and funny stories about his adventures...then there are some stories that aren't so funny....those are the ones that lead me to believe that you might have saved Keith's life...

I just wanted to say that if that hunch is correct...thank you.

 

[JAM]

JAM....I grew up in Orange County, Ca. and have been playing pool for almost 20 years...I started at Bob's billiards getting tips from a few guys such as Bill Igle...(not sure if I spelled the name right)...

I've always heard stories about Keith...I've played him in a couple of local tournaments at Hard Times and once at Danny K's..He's a legend.

I've heard a lot of great and funny stories about his adventures...then there are some stories that aren't so funny....those are the ones that lead me to believe that you might have saved Keith's life...

I just wanted to say that if that hunch is correct...thank you.

I wasn't totally green about pool when I met Keith, but I sure have experienced some great times with him on the tournament trail. He is most definitely not a tournament soldier, but in our life together, that is all that pool has to offer. Action is not as plentiful as it used to be in Keith's heyday, though if there's action in the house, Keith will sniff it out and make it happen.

Keith is probably the most emotionally mature man I have ever met. He is a very gentle soul, and to know him -- to really, really know him -- is to love him, and I do!

 

[Roy Steffensen]

When will the book be available?

 

[JAM]

When will the book be available?

When I can muster up some enthusiasm to write. It's been a long time! :frown:

Thanks for asking! :smile:

 

[Dan Harriman]

I am sure Keith does not remember the story as I told it, the fact remains he was giving me counsel about why I should not have come on this forum and ratted out Brady Behrman about how he owed me $ for a tournament. He said that would never get me paid and was very vocal that day at the Glass City Open. I did not bring the issue up, he was the one that started giving me advice about how I should conduct my business. He said he could get me paid if I really wanted the $, I asked him to play and he said he would take a ball playing bank pool. I normally get along with Keith real well Jam but that day he wanted to give me advice on something he new nothing about. He said I had too much pride cause I wanted to get paid from Brady, and could not just let it go.

I do tell it how it is and even though I like Keith and think he is wonderful for the game, he was out of line that day talking loud in the restaurant of the Clarion and it was a little embarassing to me. I was a little hot at the way he acted towards me so I asked him to play and he did want a ball playing banks. I think he probably needed a ball that day as he seemed a little under the weather, I do believe that Keith and I would have matched up if I would have been playing in the seventies, it would have been kinda fun even if I would have lost. I apolagize Jam if I came off sounding like I was the greatest thing since 7 up (I don't think I am) Keith just had me fired up that day and I have not talked to him since that incident. I had just lost to Johnny Archer watching him prep the table before our match in the finals and soft break me to death, Keith came over and brought up bad memories about Brady Behrman and he may not have known it but I went $3,100 in the hole on Brady's event. Brady had lied on this forum saying that he had paid me part of what was owed and Keith was telling me to forget about it and not to cry about it on the forums. What still amzes me is they made me out to be the bad guy even though I was very patient with Brady for two yrs. Any how that is all water under the bridge, I have some accu stats of Keith and he will always be one of my most favorite players to watch. Again I apolagize I guess I was just a little hot about our last conversation (Keith and I) I have much respect for Keith and I realize he is much more popular than myself - which I can live with.

I would have played him 14.1 back in the seventies no spot allowed.