George Fels -- heart attack

George ! Dammit George. Don't you be cashing in your chips just yet. We're not done here. Get outta that hospital pronto
 
Very sad news! Whenever I receive my Billiards Digests, I always start at the back with his articles!
 
George was an unsung hero and a gift to the pool world. I savored the opportunity I had to do commentary with him in the 1989 U.S. Open 14.1. What a total class act he is all the way.
 
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So sorry to read this this morning - Prayers sent out to George and his family. You never really know the outcome of things like this, let's hope for the best.

Dave
 
I hate to be the one throwing cold water, but I just talked to George's son Adam and it looks very dim. Very dim. George doesnt figure to regain consciousness, barring a miracle.

I am devastated. George and I go back to Bensingers 1962. His sons went to the same school as my daughter, Francis W Parker.

Without George editing all 389 pages of my book -- three different times! -- I had zero chance of putting out any sort of decent product. Speaking of zero, that was what he charged me to do that extremely professional editing job.

An editing job of that magnitude would ordinarily run an author around $10,000. My daughter just went for $2500 just to take a basic look at her manuscript.

I am going to really miss my pal.

I am out of words, sorry.

Beard

That's a big dose of cold water Freddy. Any chance some here could post some experiences with George and perhaps a friend or family member could read them to him in hopes of spurring him on? I'm not sure what else we can do besides continue to pray for him.

:(
 
Very sad day indeed! Met george and played him in champaign il. U of i back in 1980s. George put on a great exhibition of knowledge! My prayers go to him & his family!
 
We will keep him in our prayers. After opening my Billiards Digest I would always flip to the last page to read George's article first.................
 
George ! Dammit George. Don't you be cashing in your chips just yet. We're not done here. Get outta that hospital pronto

Very sad to hear. George is a good friend and I saw him just a few weeks ago at the BCA Hall of Fame dinner at the Mirage. Hoping for the best for one of pool's true gentlemen and one of the sport's most legendary writers.
 
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Very sad to catch up with this news. I too read his column on the last page as the first order of business. Let's pray for the miracle Freddy mentioned. God Bless.
 
hi george from dean campbell
we haven't talked in a while but i wish you the best
ps last time i saw billy incardona he spoke affectionately of you

your book on pool is the greatest ever

get well soon happy new year

dean
 
I love his column in BD. I always read the magazine slowly, leaving his column until last. It's like eating dinner knowing there's an ice cream sundae for desert. :)

I also love his commentary. I love that his opinion about the Aramith TV ball set is that "pink is for panties."
 
I hate to be the one throwing cold water, but I just talked to George's son Adam and it looks very dim. Very dim. George doesnt figure to regain consciousness, barring a miracle.

I am devastated. George and I go back to Bensingers 1962. His sons went to the same school as my daughter, Francis W Parker.

Without George editing all 389 pages of my book -- three different times! -- I had zero chance of putting out any sort of decent product. Speaking of zero, that was what he charged me to do that extremely professional editing job.

An editing job of that magnitude would ordinarily run an author around $10,000. My daughter just went for $2500 just to take a basic look at her manuscript.

I am going to really miss my pal.

I am out of words, sorry.

Beard

George had plans to come to Minneapolis to see my new project this summer. Words can't express how saddened I am to here the grave nature he now finds himself in.

There are so very few really decent people in the world, let alone the pool world. George IS one of them. Sigh......

Doubling my prayer out put. Starting now.
 
Randy, my goodness, that is scary for you. My brother had a couple stents put in as well. You're a brave man.

One thing I know from experiencing this from afar with my family, eating habits are key. One must eat healthy.

Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR, Randy, with good health, joy, and love in your heart -- and this goes for everybody else too.

Very kind words.

My problems were poor genetics and smoking. At the time of my heart attack my cholesterol was over 400. I was always reasonably fit at 5'8" and 175lbs. My diet was awful, though. Modern medicine now has my cholesterol down to about 120 and I quit smoking the day I wound up in intensive care.

Anyway, I don't want to derail the thread here by making it about me. All I will add is that today's cardiac care is nothing short of miraculous. If George has the will to live, there are medicinal/invasive remedies.
 
I've known George since the late 1970's, and a highlight of my annual summer trip to Chicago is always walking into Chris' Billiards and seeing him practicing his 14.1 game.
 
Truly sobering news. As one of the younger members on this forum most of you have known or read Mr Fels' work for much longer than I. However I love his writing and his views on the game and its history. I have spent more than a few moments at work reading his columns in the online archive rather than working. Also he did some excellent commentary for the 2011 dragon promotions 14.1 championship which are on YouTube.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
I joined a straight pool league here in Chicago this year. They told me that my first match was with George Fels. And I said " 'Thee' George Fels" as in the straight pool writer, player, teacher, commentator? Yes he was the one I was to play. Well I went up to him and said it was my honor to be playing a legend. He said "yea let's lag for the break". Well he was spotting me about 30 balls and I easily won the first rack and thought to myself this guy may know pool but I'm going to win easily. He destroyed me in no time at all. He took every shot as though he was playing for a US Open, very focused and serious. He took first place in the league and I was lucky to get second. It truly was an honor for me to play that game and I kept trying to get him over my to my home table for a grudge match, but it never worked out. George, dammit, get out of that coma and let's play that game!
 
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