Don "Wateredog" Edwards passed away

[Nostroke]

Only after we are done, he tells me he is high on acid. He is broke but very happy. He also told me earlier that he is Waterdog. After the game he thanks me and leaves. In bliss. Later I tell people I busted Waterdog and they don't believe me. When I tell them he was high on acid, then they do.

I did not see him for several years afterward. When I did, I asked him if he remembered me. He did and he remembered our game in Bakersfield. We never played again.

Even though he stayed wasted much of the time, his memory, both short and long term was excellent. He beat guys 2 and 3 times over long time spans who didn't remember HIM!


For a time in the mid 90's he actually literallly lived in a series of pool rooms in NY and CT. At one spot in NY, once retired for the night, he couldnt get up otherwise he would set off the alarm. When he did, the police wouild respond and eventually he lost his home because of this. When the police came, there would also be a charge of $60 to the poolroom. When this happened the Dog was desperate to get some action so he could pay his debt which he always managed to do.

In Chicago, he lived in an abandoned car for quite awhile.For the last 25 years of his life he had a terrible painful leg/hip and limp which im pretty sure was the result of a bad car accident.As i remember there were drugs and women involved in the crash. If anyone knows that story, it might be interesting to hear. And someone please scan in that article, I dont think i ever read it.

BTW- He also is mentioned in Grady's book Bet High Kiss Low. Maybe Grady can come with some stories too.

 

[jay helfert]

Ray Booth, this was his great line: "When its my time to go, I want to lay my head on the spot and let Cannonball Lefty break the balls." Alibi Al, had a dance studio in NY and lost it, floor by floor, playing all the New York monsters nine-ball. His line: "I will spot any hustler who has a wife and three kids, like I do, the wild eight." I was around "The Hat" for years before I discovered he was bald. Thats how often he took that hat off.

the Beard

Freddie, some day I have to tell about the time I took Frank Tullos out to five Points, Popcorn's hangout and we busted the whole joint. Frank beat everyone (including Mike Massey and Larry Lisciotti) and The Hat went down last, taking the whole crew along. He was all pilled up and Frank played on the natch all night. Six ahead sets for $600. A big bet way back when. He must have won five sets to bust everyone. We won a telephone number.

I got a lot of heat over this score and took a beating because of it. But that's another story.

 

[a_susie_cue]

I do recall a story about him a while ago and think you are correct.

I heard a story too about him from when he was going to be an extra in the Color of Money. I do not know how true this is, but I was told it by one of the guys from Chris's. The story is that Waterdog told the director that he really should have a speaking part in the movie. They had a friendly discussion over that and Waterdog lost his part. Does anyone know the truth to this story?

 

[freddy the beard]

That was me.

I do recall a story about him a while ago and think you are correct.

I heard a story too about him from when he was going to be an extra in the Color of Money. I do not know how true this is, but I was told it by one of the guys from Chris's. The story is that Waterdog told the director that he really should have a speaking part in the movie. They had a friendly discussion over that and Waterdog lost his part. Does anyone know the truth to this story?

Sue, the guy that argued with Martin Scorcese about a part was me. He ended up sticking me in a scene with Tom Cruise just to pacify me. The Doggie did not break his leg in a car accident. Waterdog broke his leg when he was in the middle of a drug bust and he had just paid the DD for his sh*t when the law intervened. The DD threw the dope away and the Doggie tried to pick it up and run. A big burly copper ran him down and tackled the Doggie and crushed his ankle in the process.

the Beard

 

[Jerry OC]

I was passing through Denver in 1977 and I ran into Tony Chandler from Idaho at Colfax Billiards or "something billiards" on Colfax St. I asked Tony what he was doing and he said he was going to play this guy 8 ahead for $500.00, I asked which guy?

Tony said this guy told him he was going to shoot some heroin and he would be right back, I'm like ok. In walked Waterdog, they started playing and Waterdog didn't miss a ball and the session was over in less than an hour.

I seen Waterdog a couple of times after that and he was a very nice guy. Once he told me he found his stroke while high on Acid, I'm like you're kidding right, he was like I'm serious but don't try it, no need to worry on that one.

It's a bummer when someone passes away so young.

 

[JPB]

I was passing through Denver in 1977 and I ran into Tony Chandler from Idaho at Colfax Billiards or "something billiards" on Colfax St. I asked Tony what he was doing and he said he was going to play this guy 8 ahead for $500.00, I asked which guy?

Tony said this guy told him he was going to shoot some heroin and he would be right back, I'm like ok. In walked Waterdog, they started playing and Waterdog didn't miss a ball and the session was over in less than an hour.

I seen Waterdog a couple of times after that and he was a very nice guy. Once he told me he found his stroke while high on Acid, I'm like you're kidding right, he was like I'm serious but don't try it, no need to worry on that one.

It's a bummer when someone passes away so young.

That might have been around the time when he matched up with an Air Force guy in Aurora. That story went around the poolroom I played at, wish I saw it. The air force guy said "look, I got this junkie to play for a dollar a ball straight pool" They were laughing at him as Waterdog ran the game out after the Air Force guy got 3.

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

In Chicago, he lived in an abandoned car for quite awhile.

Nostroke.....You might be referring to...Right downstairs/next to Chris's billiards there is a car repair/auto body shop.....there was a junked car in their lot that the doggie used to live/sleep in.

 

[Nostroke]

Nostroke.....You might be referring to...Right downstairs/next to Chris's billiards there is a car repair/auto body shop.....there was a junked car in this lot that the doggie used to live/sleep in.

What a rough life! Chicago winters-wow! I dont think he ever had a legit pay-the-rent place his whole life.

 

[dogginda9]

When I first started playing, I used to hang around a bar outside of Chicago that had a lot of action. One night, John the Greek brings Rocketman and Waterdog in there. A buddy of mine was to play Rocket for some pretty good money and Waterdog had nobody to play. Once the big action started, I asked Waterdog to play and said I would play him even as long as he kept it cheap. He said no problem and it was some great $5 experience and he could not have been any nicer than he was. He played awful hard for my $5. I'd see him at Chris' from time to time and he always remembered me. It was sad to see him deteriorate the way he did. Hopefully, he's in a better place now. RIP Don

 

[jason]

Some great stories here of the dog.
So much potential and such a tragedy.

This is why it is important for the IPT to be successful. Maybe is will save some poor kid growing up today.

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

Here is the pic that I promised to post of the Doggie taken about 6 months ago....He is lying in his bed in his room at the nursing home....Unlike the lanky Waterdog of the past that all of you remember, as you can see in the pic, he gained quite a bit of weight over the last couple of years....This was a result of all of the medication that he was on, and also he had to pretty much lay or sit down all of the time.

One good thing at least - As you can see by that smile on his face, he was on some seriously mellow drugs all of the time, and as the days drifted by, he wasn't feeling any pain...............RIP

 

[JAM]

Thank you for sharing that picture! He looks happy in that snapshot.

I hope someone will be able to find that article written about him in the "Reader" a while back.

It is sad to remember someone with such fondness, only after they have departed this earth. Waterdog must have truly had some good friends in Chicago who were able to help him get services in his time of need.

JAM

 

[jay helfert]

Here is the pic that I promised to post of the Doggie taken about 6 months ago....He is lying in his bed in his room at the nursing home....Unlike the lanky Waterdog of the past that all of you remember, as you can see in the pic, he gained quite a bit of weight over the last couple of years....This was a result of all of the medication that he was on, and also he had to pretty much lay or sit down all of the time.

One good thing at least - As you can see by that smile on his face, he was on some seriously mellow drugs all of the time, and as the days drifted by, he wasn't feeling any pain...............RIP

Wow, he used to be a skinny dude. Still has a youthful face tho.

 

[Scott Lee]

He was skinny even a few years ago. I would see him in Chris's every time I went in there, emptying trash or wiping down tables. He must have gained all that weight in the past 3 yrs. or less. He does look content in that picture!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Cory in DC]

When I first started playing, I used to hang around a bar outside of Chicago that had a lot of action. One night, John the Greek brings Rocketman and Waterdog in there. A buddy of mine was to play Rocket for some pretty good money and Waterdog had nobody to play. Once the big action started, I asked Waterdog to play and said I would play him even as long as he kept it cheap. He said no problem and it was some great $5 experience and he could not have been any nicer than he was. He played awful hard for my $5. I'd see him at Chris' from time to time and he always remembered me. It was sad to see him deteriorate the way he did. Hopefully, he's in a better place now. RIP Don

John the Greek brought Waterdog into the Mark II on Western Ave. on the north side, too...cost us about $250. I played him a few times at Chris's after that. You could tell the years had been tough on him, but he was a nice guy.

In fact, Waterdog is a big part of the reason for my rule, which I still can't seem to stop violating: don't gamble with people who have nicknames.

RIP

Cory

P.S. This is the article people talked about (anybody have Lexis/Nexis access?):

C O V E R F E A T U R E
Shark Out of Water
Broke and addicted, pool-hall legend waterdog lives in the shadow of what could have been.

Author: Ted Kleine Date: January 5, 2001 Appeared in Section 1 Word count: 5679

...By Ted Kleine It's been three decades since Waterdog disappeared into the neon wilderness of all-night poolrooms. He was 15 years old, a kid hustler from Connecticut carrying nothing but a cue stick and a bus ticket. In the late 1960s there was action in every town and even a skilled teenager could make money on the road. In Norfolk...​

 

[Nostroke]

Here is the pic that I promised to post of the Doggie taken about 6 months ago....He is lying in his bed in his room at the nursing home....Unlike the lanky Waterdog of the past that all of you remember, as you can see in the pic, he gained quite a bit of weight over the last couple of years....This was a result of all of the medication that he was on, and also he had to pretty much lay or sit down all of the time.

One good thing at least - As you can see by that smile on his face, he was on some seriously mellow drugs all of the time, and as the days drifted by, he wasn't feeling any pain...............RIP

Hey maybe Nursing Homes aren't so bad! He looks younger there than he did in NY 8 years ago.

It's hard to believe they could give him enough of anything to make him happy with the resistance he has built up over they years. Im sure you could give him 2 percosets an hour and he wouldnt even know it.

Anyway, the bed doesnt look too great but to the Dog it was probably like a 4 Star Hotel. The times I knew him, i dont think he ever slept on a bed.

If anyone wants the Article-PM me and ill Email it to you. Its too big to post.

 

[JAM]

If anyone wants the Article-PM me and ill Email it to you. Its too big to post.

I just PM'd you with my e-mail address, Nostroke!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for doing this! It is very much appreciated!

JAM

 

[Nostroke]

OK-One last Dog story or maybe it is mostly about me and this pool tournament- Anyway here it is

There is this pool room in Brewster NY that has a tournament every Sunday. There is also a Break and Run pot which grows every week no one runs out.

The guy that owns the poolroom is a very nice guy but somehow he convinced himself that he has the fairest tournament around because “Everybody starts as a 9”.

Once you are in this tournament, you have to play 3 weeks at the nine. If you don’t cash, you go to the 8 on week 4 where you stay for next 3 weeks and if you are bad enough you eventually bottom out at a 5 after 12 weeks of ponying up the entry fee. To add insult to injury if you paid the cash and got down to a 7 lets say, but then didn’t play in the tournament for more than a month or so-next time you showed up you were back at the 9.

The point is I felt this is the most unfair tournament around for a guy like me-Most everybody in the place agreed that I couldn’t be competitive til I hit 5, with a few saying 6. At the same time guys that could play a little would show up first time, be put in at a 9 and start winning matches right away! I played in this tournament maybe 6 times. I never won a single match or came close for that matter. Soooo the Dog arrives in town and I say to myself. They punished me with this “everybody starts at the 9” crap so now is the time to get even.. Still though the way this tournament works and the sandbaggers who are playing at the 6 or 7, doggie is favored to win but he doesn’t have to win.

We arrive and enroll Waterdog at the 9 of course. He picks #6 for the charting and for the Break and run draw. We were told the Break and Run was up to $2100.00 and we were both pretty happy. Everything is a go, the matches are minutes from starting when in walks Barry M who just 3 days earlier had a DR appointment 40 miles away next to a poolroom where the Dog was playing. He walked in and saw Buffalo Bill as the Dog was known around NY( He had the shoulder length hair and a prominent moustache-had quite the scruffy old time western look) whom he had heard of but never seen . Barry was the man at this poolroom in Brewster back then and soon told the owner “That’s Buffalo Bill, he can’t play in this tournament”. The owner then told the Dog “no professionals in this tournament” After a brief and fruitless protest we were given our money back. Some no-shooter was given the Dog’s spot and you may have guessed-The number picked for the Break and Run ‘6’! This would have been a great score for the Dog and a little justice for me but it was not to be.

 

[Frogmom]

Dear 1 pocket host :

thank you for that photo of my dear friend Waterdog.

I took him into my home for several months back in 1978-1979. ( Minneapolis, Minnesota )

He did in fact have a time in his life with a real home, home cooked meals, new clothing , and a caring person that tried to free him from his addiction.

Just thought y'all would like to know.

I have often wondered what happened to him. Now i know. RIP my friend.

 

[billy]

Dear 1 pocket host :

thank you for that photo of my dear friend Waterdog.

I took him into my home for several months back in 1978-1979. ( Minneapolis, Minnesota )

He did in fact have a time in his life with a real home, home cooked meals, new clothing , and a caring person that tried to free him from his addiction.

Just thought y'all would like to know.

I have often wondered what happened to him. Now i know. RIP my friend.

Thanks for bringing this back. Didn't realize the posts were years old until after several reads

Didn't know him but all the kind words and deeds of his friends was enlightening

Thinking somehow, someway I can relate

Again, rest in peace sir