Why isn't there a bar table hall of fame
- Thread starter Rusty C
- Start date
No way in hell. I"ll just leave it at that.
You come on this forum every year or so with the same claim. We get it. You like Matlock better than Keith on a bar box.. Well, not everyone agrees with you, Pal. Get over it and leave me alone.
Furthermore, just to add a little truth to the thread, Keith barbecued Larry Hubbart when he was on the road with Mike Sigel, spotting him a ball or two out in California -- ROBBED, to use your word, Larry Hubbart on the bar table.
Larry Hubbart and Mike Sigel had enough of California and Keith, so they left town and went to play Dave Matlock in the Midwest. Larry Hubbart played him even and, to use your word again, ROBBED Dave Matlock.
Now, let's look at this. Keith robs Larry Hubbart with a spot. Larry Hubbart the next week plays Dave Matlock even and defeats Dave Matlock.
As has been explained ad nauseum on this forum many times before, every player has a streak, some longer than others. When Keith was in his prime, he could spot Dave Matlock. The two players peaked at different times. I'm pretty sure that Shane Van Boening could defeat, say, Buddy Hall or Mike Sigel or Nick Varner or Jim Rempe topday, but look at the difference of when each player peaked. Shane might not have liked their action when they were in their prime.
What's sickening is that you keep bringing this up on AzBilliards Discussion Forum, your high praises of how Dave Matlock is so much better than Keith McCready. Meanwhile, the two player are good buddies and have total respect for each other's game. Neither one would say they could have, would have, or should have robbed the other.
Quit your gangsta lingo. It's sickening to read.
JAM -
How old was Keith when this happened?
Tracy Joe said Keith was practically unbeatable at such a young age it was unbelievable.
I think part of Keith killing these guys that they were just stunned at his age. That, combined where Keith would run out the entire set (according to Joe).
Ken
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I talked to Buddy and asked him some about his gambling. He told me he made more in Oklahoma than he did in Louisana. I was really surprised because I had heard tons of stories of him in Shrieveport. He busted Louie and Keith multiple times each there. I assumed that this was only on 9-foot tables.
Where and when did he do his bar box stuff?
Ken
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"Billy Johnson" was virtually unbeatable on the bar table
I traveled quite a bit with Weldon Rogers (who was better than many on the list) and he told me about Wade Crane "Billy Johnson" playing Buddy Hall in Dallas on the bar table at Rusty's Billiards.
Buddy played perfectly, Wade said he was in awe of his stroke and pattern play. Buddy put on an excibition and beat Wade the set for about 5 thousand. Buddy, after taking the set started to unscrew his cue....."FLIP THE COIN!!!" came a voice from the other side of the room...it was BILLY JOHNSON (aka Wade Crane)....Buddy jerked his head around in surprise.....walked back to the table and flipped the coin.
Billy RAN 15 RACKS IN A ROW!!! ..... 'His Game was the Teacher' .... "Billy Johnson" was virtually unbeatable on the bar table, and I have several other stories about that fact!
I traveled quite a bit with Weldon Rogers (who was better than many on the list) and he told me about Wade Crane "Billy Johnson" playing Buddy Hall in Dallas on the bar table at Rusty's Billiards.
Buddy played perfectly, Wade said he was in awe of his stroke and pattern play. Buddy put on an excibition and beat Wade the set for about 5 thousand. Buddy, after taking the set started to unscrew his cue....."FLIP THE COIN!!!" came a voice from the other side of the room...it was BILLY JOHNSON (aka Wade Crane)....Buddy jerked his head around in surprise.....walked back to the table and flipped the coin.
Billy RAN 15 RACKS IN A ROW!!! ..... 'His Game was the Teacher' .... "Billy Johnson" was virtually unbeatable on the bar table, and I have several other stories about that fact!
JAM - I am not trying to upset you or Keith and I understand Keith and David are friends. And they both are/were great players, if not the greatest players on the bar box. I did however, ask David about this very subject one time. David is a very quiet person and you don't hear him talk about things too often. And I am in no way speaking for him. If you ever talk to David about his gambling sessions, he has a great memory for the scores of matches, shots he made, amount that was wagered, etc. etc. David told me that when he played Larry H. and lost, he doesn't remember one thing about that night. He was obviously jarred by someone, thus the reason he lost. I believe he played Larry a short while later and it was no contest.
I have said this before - David has been in Olathe for who knows how long - (the early 90's?) and not one time has anyone ever walked in the door and said I want to play David Matlock some, rack them up. Believe me, there would have been no hesitation, they would have gotten played.
There have been many great bar table players over the years. Personally I put Keith, Buddy, Billy Johnson and David Matlock on the top of my list. That said, with the big ball, Weldon and Bakersfield Bobby were just as good as anyone. There were maybe fifty more guys around the country who could play even with all these guys and have a chance to win on a given day.
One guy came up from Mexico in the 70's and early 80's (Cannela) and beat everyone! He became a heroin addict and never regained his form. The best players had different styles. Matlock simply overpowered the table, making the balls do his bidding. Keith finessed everything and made every shot look like a hanger. Buddy NEVER got an inch out of line and Billy ran racks until you got tired watching. Jimmy Reid had that kind of firepower too. I was in with him when he played a very good player ten ahead for a dime (he spotted him the eight). Jimmy got behind and was stuck five or six games for an hour or more. Then he caught his gear and when he was down one game the other guy never shot again. Jimmy hit him with an eleven for the cheese!
One guy came up from Mexico in the 70's and early 80's (Cannela) and beat everyone! He became a heroin addict and never regained his form. The best players had different styles. Matlock simply overpowered the table, making the balls do his bidding. Keith finessed everything and made every shot look like a hanger. Buddy NEVER got an inch out of line and Billy ran racks until you got tired watching. Jimmy Reid had that kind of firepower too. I was in with him when he played a very good player ten ahead for a dime (he spotted him the eight). Jimmy got behind and was stuck five or six games for an hour or more. Then he caught his gear and when he was down one game the other guy never shot again. Jimmy hit him with an eleven for the cheese!
Cool!! He played about Paul Turner's speed at least. John B.
I've been around since the early 80's. I've played or been around all the players on "the list" you had your bar table players and you had your big table players,and they didn't mix it up much. Most of em had a rep for one or the other,not both. Very few would play on either table. I would say it would have been under 20. In all my years out there from the early 80's Matlock was a shoe in for the best on the bar table. Even though I blanked him one time in a tourney in Moline,IL 
John B.
John B.
I used to hang around a place nana used to spend time. He was probably the first REAL player I used to hang around. He was always a quiet guy and a killer on the 9' table. I hung around that place for about six years and only saw him lose a serious matchup once.
I never saw him on a bar box. The place didn't have any.
I've been around since the early 80's. I've played or been around all the players on "the list" you had your bar table players and you had your big table players,and they didn't mix it up much. Most of em had a rep for one or the other,not both. Very few would play on either table. I would say it would have been under 20. In all my years out there from the early 80's Matlock was a shoe in for the best on the bar table. Even though I blanked him one time in a tourney in Moline,IL
Ah yes, the Moline Massacre.
Was it "Miller Time Billiards"?.That was one heck of a poolroom/ bar!! About 50 of us left a tourney from down south and all ended up there,lol John B.