Keith McCready Speaks Out

About 15 months ago I conducted an interview with Keith McCready, pool’s most entertaining player. I was going to include the interview in a follow up to the story about Keith that I ran on the site previously. I never did finish the story as a number of projects have taken up my time. Still, the interview (even without the story) turned out great as I think you’ll see by the depth and thoughtfulness of Keith’s answers. Enjoy.

Phil Capelle

PC  You are from Southern California.  How do you like your new home in the East?  I like the East very well.  

KM  There are lots of tournaments, and I get to play a little bit more out here.  The regional tours, like Joss, Falcon Cue, and Viking offer a variety of weekend road trips.  I have a real nice home in a suburban neighborhood in Chevy Chase, D.C., that I share with my girlfriend Jennie.  Being on the road for so many years, it is nice not to have to worry about where you are going to sleep next or where your next meal is going to come from.  Actually, I have picked up about 30 pounds, which is a lot for me, and my game has definitely improved, not staying up late hours, eating three squares, and being a good boy.  There's not much action in D.C., but there is an abundance of pool tournaments all up and down the East Coast, which is where I intend to keep myself.

PC  How long have you been with Jennie?  

KM  We've been together for about 2 years.  I met her at the Capital City Classic in New Carrolton, Maryland, and we have been together ever since.

PC  Has she influenced your career? How?  

KM  There is no doubt that she is good for me.  My lifestyle has changed, and she has been the biggest influence in that department.  Living in one location gives me an opportunity to discover other things in life, and having someone who really believes in you makes you push harder.  I guess being happy helps you play better, too.

PC  What has motivated you to play in tournaments and get your game back to a higher level?  

KM  Winning a few and doing well in tournaments inspires you to keep getting better.  I feel that my game is at about 80 percent from what it was back in the '80s, and the good thing is it looks like I'm getting better as more opportunities arise.  I have been a pool player my whole life.  At a younger age, I knew I had some talent.  I was a natural, and I'm starting to like what I see again when I'm playing.  

PC  Do you just play, or do you also have a practice routine?  

KM  I don't practice that much.  From time to time, I may play in a couple of local tournaments.  I have always been known as playing for the money more than a tournament player, and, of course, if there was more money involved in the tournaments, I would practice a lot more.  The money ain't like what it used to be.  You could always go out and make money years ago, but now it is hard to find those action games that were so common in the early '80s.

PC  What period (age) did you play your best?  

KM  I would say when I was 21 and living in California, I was playing my best pool.  I don't think there was a soul breathing who could beat me on a bar table back in the late '70s.  Many of the good players that you read about now, back then I spotted them the 7-ball when they played the two-shot/push-out rule.  It seemed like when they changed the rules, my game went down.  They made it to where there is more luck involved instead of skill, and I really believe this to this day.

PC  How would you compare your game now versus when you were at your peak? KM  Again, I think I'm at about 80 percent.  I think my game has picked up about 20 percent in the past year.  I finally have a good cue stick now and am gaining a lot more confidence with it.

PC  What are the strengths of your game?  

KM  The strength of my game is my offense, being able to shoot certain shots.  I go for a lot of shots that most people wouldn't  attempt.  It's always nice when they go.  I shoot combinations pretty well, too, where a lot of people have trouble with them.  I get through the cue-ball with more english than most players, which it seems like my shape looks easy.  And I have always banked real well, too.

PC  What could you improve on?  

KM  What I could improve on is my break.  I guess if I would have to practice anything, it would be my break.  I know what I'm doing wrong, but I'm just not applying myself.  I just started breaking with the Sledgehammer, and it seems like the balls break a little bit better, but I'm still struggling with it.

PC  If you could take one part of another player's game and put it into your own, who would it be and what would it be?  

KM  I guess if I was to take something from somebody, I would have to say Buddy Hall's patience.  Plus, he looks good over a ball.  As far as anybody else's stroke, I'd rather just have my own.

PC  How did it feel to finish in the top three in the U.S. Open, and to beat such world-class players as Buddy Hall, Jose Parica, Neils Feijen, Alex Pagulayan?

KM  Actually, I felt like I was jumping out of my skin.  It was like an out-of-body experience.  That was one of the toughest line-ups I've faced in a long time, and I wasn't seeded and had to start from the gutter in the charts.  Once I got past Alex, I knew I had a chance to win the tournament, and then the rest was history.  The crowd was electrifying, and their cheering and calling out my name made me play with more intensity.  I'm going to play in every tournament possible, and I'm looking forward to maybe winning one of those big events, if given the chance.

PC Does your finish in the U.S. Open and win over Bustamante the next week give you the feeling that you can now beat anyone at any time in a match?  

KM  It is always nice beating Bustamante or any Fillipino because they're so hard to beat, but anyone can beat anybody at any time when it comes to our level.  There's one thing about when you play a Fillipino, you must bring you "A" game.  If you make any mistakes at all, you're a cooked goose.  I seem to bring my best "A" game to the table when I play better players.  When I play the B players, they seem to bring their best "A" game against me.  And sometimes they will dwell on it when they beat me, but I like it like that.

PC  Are you going to play in even more big pro events given your recent success?  

KM  I'm planning on attending each and every event that I can without it costing me an arm and a leg.  Week-long events are expensive, and it does take a toll on you.  I'm 46 now and not 21.  I can't go hard now like I used to.  So I am pretty selective on which ones I go to.  My girl has her own business, and we try to juggle our schedules to fit both the pool and her business.

PC  You like to play to the crowd. Does their support give you encouragement?  

KM  I play for the crowd and the money.  It seems like the crowd and the money brings out the best in me.  I always like to have a good time when I play.  It is not the end of the world if you lose.  I wish everybody else thought like that, but they don't.  It seems like the more money in the tournament, the better I play.  And when I am playing good and the crowd is on my side, it seems to motivate me even more.

PC  Do you think other players should adopt your showman style of play?  

KM  Every player has their own style, and what works for me might not work for them.  When playing one another, the players like to try to get the other player to adapt to their speed of play.  A lot of players are slow.  I wish some of the players did play a little faster.  It would probably make it a little bit more exciting, but whatever works and there is some truth in the statement different strokes for different folks.

PC  Would it be better for the game?  

KM  I think when there is audience involvement, it creates a better atmosphere.  At most sporting events, people like to root for their favorite horse.  When there is less tension in the air and folks are laughing, applauding and cheering after every good shot, there's some kind of magic that fills the air.  When the fans are pulling for you, you connect, and everybody becomes a part of that wonderful experience.

Photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics by Hoppe and AZBilliards.com