Some people might pass Joe Diaz on the street and not take any notice of him. But billiard fans would stop and shake his hand. To them, he was one of the game's MVPs -- and a link to some of its greatest players.
Mr. Diaz, one of the nation's top experts on 3-cushion billiards -- a complex game of angles and Newtonian physics -- has died at Thorek Hospital at age 86. His family plans a Chicago tribute to him next month.
His home away from home was Chris's Billiards , where scenes were filmed for the Tom Cruise-Paul Newman film "The Color of Money." He's in the background of some scenes in the movie, according to his relatives and Buddy Jacques, a manager of the revered pool room at 4637 N. Milwaukee.
After the film came out in 1986, "Every time we walked in to Chris's, it was, 'Hey Joe, did you see yourself' in the movie,' " said his daughter Celena Moore. Chris's Billiards is planning to name a tournament in his honor, said Eric Rosen, an owner of the pool room.
"You could call him the great behemoth of the 3-cushion billiard world," said Jim Parker, founder of the Illinois Billiard Club. "Joe was the ambassador of a very fine game." "He's taught it; he's played it at tournaments all across the country," said his daughter Judy Rosegay.
He was tutored by the legendary Jake Schaefer Jr. --himself the son of an esteemed turn-of-the-century player, Parker said.
As age took its toll, Mr. Diaz continued to go to Chris's Billiards , even if it meant taking a bus for an hour from a nursing home or assisted-living facility. "If he could get up and out, where he wanted to be was the pool hall," Celena Moore said. "The pool room was part of what kept him alive."
An intense competitor, he was patient with new players, teaching them tricks in a soft-spoken way, said his daughter Sue Diaz. "He had a wonderful smile and a good sense of humor," said his daughter Diane Diaz. "He'd teach anybody that would pick up a cue," said Parker. "He'd go to California just for a $50 tournament" to promote the game.
He was born Jose Diaz in Mexico, but his family relocated to Chicago. He drove a cab, tended bar, and taught dance, Sue Diaz said, but " billiards was his love." He also was devoted to his late dog, George. It was imposing: part Malamute, part St. Bernard, and maybe a little wolf. It resembled a red lion.
"He actually took the seats out of all his cars so he could take the dog with him," Judy Rosegay said. George was the only dog ever allowed in Chris's Billiards , Celena Moore said.
Three-cushion billiards means three impacts. It's a difficult game played with only three balls on extra-large tables without pockets. Players have to use their cue ball to hit either of the two other balls, then bump three or more side cushions before striking the final ball, said Jim Parker.
The game is also called "carom." Some think that's because "you 'carom' off another ball," said Paul Frankel, editor of Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool and 3-Cushion News.
Mr. Diaz, who was cremated, is also survived by his brother, George, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to a family celebration of his life next month, Parker said he is organizing a 3-cushion tourney in Mr. Diaz's honor June 12 at the Illinois Billiard Club, 8446 Archer Ave., Willow Springs.
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Thursday, March 11, 2010
Author: Maureen O'Donnell
Mr. Diaz, one of the nation's top experts on 3-cushion billiards -- a complex game of angles and Newtonian physics -- has died at Thorek Hospital at age 86. His family plans a Chicago tribute to him next month.
His home away from home was Chris's Billiards , where scenes were filmed for the Tom Cruise-Paul Newman film "The Color of Money." He's in the background of some scenes in the movie, according to his relatives and Buddy Jacques, a manager of the revered pool room at 4637 N. Milwaukee.
After the film came out in 1986, "Every time we walked in to Chris's, it was, 'Hey Joe, did you see yourself' in the movie,' " said his daughter Celena Moore. Chris's Billiards is planning to name a tournament in his honor, said Eric Rosen, an owner of the pool room.
"You could call him the great behemoth of the 3-cushion billiard world," said Jim Parker, founder of the Illinois Billiard Club. "Joe was the ambassador of a very fine game." "He's taught it; he's played it at tournaments all across the country," said his daughter Judy Rosegay.
He was tutored by the legendary Jake Schaefer Jr. --himself the son of an esteemed turn-of-the-century player, Parker said.
As age took its toll, Mr. Diaz continued to go to Chris's Billiards , even if it meant taking a bus for an hour from a nursing home or assisted-living facility. "If he could get up and out, where he wanted to be was the pool hall," Celena Moore said. "The pool room was part of what kept him alive."
An intense competitor, he was patient with new players, teaching them tricks in a soft-spoken way, said his daughter Sue Diaz. "He had a wonderful smile and a good sense of humor," said his daughter Diane Diaz. "He'd teach anybody that would pick up a cue," said Parker. "He'd go to California just for a $50 tournament" to promote the game.
He was born Jose Diaz in Mexico, but his family relocated to Chicago. He drove a cab, tended bar, and taught dance, Sue Diaz said, but " billiards was his love." He also was devoted to his late dog, George. It was imposing: part Malamute, part St. Bernard, and maybe a little wolf. It resembled a red lion.
"He actually took the seats out of all his cars so he could take the dog with him," Judy Rosegay said. George was the only dog ever allowed in Chris's Billiards , Celena Moore said.
Three-cushion billiards means three impacts. It's a difficult game played with only three balls on extra-large tables without pockets. Players have to use their cue ball to hit either of the two other balls, then bump three or more side cushions before striking the final ball, said Jim Parker.
The game is also called "carom." Some think that's because "you 'carom' off another ball," said Paul Frankel, editor of Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool and 3-Cushion News.
Mr. Diaz, who was cremated, is also survived by his brother, George, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to a family celebration of his life next month, Parker said he is organizing a 3-cushion tourney in Mr. Diaz's honor June 12 at the Illinois Billiard Club, 8446 Archer Ave., Willow Springs.
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Thursday, March 11, 2010
Author: Maureen O'Donnell