Tiny Pool Shark
Gloversville toddler’s skills draw attentionBy KAYLEIGH KARUTIS/The Leader-Herald
GLOVERSVILLE - Keith O'Dell Jr. wraps his fingers around the cue stick and eyeballs his next shot. He lines it up, pulls his arm back and shoots; the ball sinks into the pocket with a soft "thunk."
It's a scene you might see at any bar across the country. Except Keith O'Dell is too little to shoot pool in bars - he's only 23 months old.
He takes his next shot on the miniature pool table his father bought for him for Christmas. It's a bit off - he hasn't had his nap yet today - and the cue ball sinks into the pocket.
"Keith scratch!" he exclaims, then runs to his father, tiny fingers straining toward him. "Daddy up!"
His father, Keith O'Dell Sr. of Gloversville, explains that his son went from never playing pool to routinely making difficult shots in about four months. In the last few weeks, O'Dell and his wife, Courtney, have been approached by Oprah Winfrey, Bonnie Hunt and Rachael Ray, all of whom
sought an interview after seeing Keith Jr. shoot pool in a video on YouTube. Just Wednesday, the O'Dells went to New York City to be on the Rachael Ray Show. The episode is due to air sometime in April.
"I took a few videos and went to post them online," O'Dell said. "I tried searching for something like him: 'toddler playing pool,' '23-month-old pool.' Nothing came up. He's the only one."
Since the post weeks ago, there have been imitators, but no one is quite like Keith Jr., his father said. It's mostly kids using a stick to hit the balls into the pockets. No one seems have the fine motor skills Keith Jr. has. While he mostly plays on a mini-table, he can play on a full-sized one almost as easily.
It's all a result of Keith Jr. wanting to be just like his dad, Courtney O'Dell explains. She introduced her husband to pool on their first date about three years ago. Since then, O'Dell has gone on to win competitions and plays regularly, with his son and without.
O'Dell took his son with him when he went to play pool, and the younger Keith liked to watch. Then, while shopping for a Christmas tree stand, Keith Jr. came across a pool table. He insisted his father get it for him, which O'Dell did.
He emulates everything his father does, Courtney said.
"When were waiting in a doctor's office ... Keith sat on a chair and pulled up another one to put his feet on it. [Keith Jr.] did the exact same thing," she said.
Keith Jr. plays for hours every day, with no urging from his parents. When he wants to stop, that's fine, too, they said.
As for right now, O'Dells, who also have a 4-month-old named David, are preparing for a trip to Las Vegas, where Keith Jr. will film a show at the APA National Singles Championships in late April. He'll also travel to California to appear on The Bonnie Hunt Show. In August, he will make the trip to Turning Stone Casino in Verona, Oneida County, for a 9-ball classic tournament, O'Dell said.
Having a 23-month-old who can play pool does have its downside, though, O'Dell said.
"Now, when I miss a shot, the line is, 'your son could have made that,'"O'Dell said, laughing.
Kayleigh Karutis covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com
|
teebzz
|
|
|---|---|
|
04-05-09 2:26 PM
|
better start playing on the big-boy tables... toy pool tables dont count and are quite different. 23 month old kid "insisted" his dad get him the table. alrighty then.
|
|
Violet
|
|
|
04-04-09 12:41 PM
|
Wow, I think thats amazing...sounds like someones a tad jealous.
|
|
snodrifter
|
|
|
04-04-09 11:26 AM
|
I believe this falls in the journalistic genre called a human interest story. This lad seems to have an amazing grasp of geometry and Newtonian mechanics. I wouldn't worry about his math skills just yet. As long as he enjoys it, I say rack 'em up. Who knows, young Keith could be the Tiger Woods of Billiards.
|
|
militaryspouse
|
|
|
04-04-09 11:00 AM
|
Zena01 at least he's not on an electronic game and he's using his motor skills and brain. Don't be so down on the kid!
|