Shark Out of Water - Chicago Reader
Broke and addicted, pool-hall legend Waterdog lives in the shadow of what could have been.
chicagoreader.com
GREAT 'Waterdog' story..................
- Thread starter garczar
- Start date
chicagoreader.com
Don "Wateredog" Edwards passed away
To everyone who knew "Waterdog", Don Edwards, he passed away on Wednesday, August 9th in the morning. He was very well known in the Chicago area and was a regular at Chris's Billiards. I have no more information on services or any details. You can try Chris's, and maybe they can tell you more...
forums.azbilliards.com
Thanks, garczar. I imagine I read that thread back in 2006, but I had forgotten.
Yep. Great read! A memorable and sad one too.Shark Out of Water - Chicago Reader
Broke and addicted, pool-hall legend Waterdog lives in the shadow of what could have been.
I did not know him but it reads like a familiar story of hustlers and drugs from the 70's. I do however understand his drug addiction and have seen it take many friends over the years. But I miss Chris's, one of the all-time great pool halls I can remember. The front room reeked of pool and only pool. No music, just pool, pool players and the sounds of friends chatting and folks enjoying the game and all that comes with it.
I knew Waterdog, but only a little. He was also known as "Buffalo Bill," at least in New York City circles. He was an amazing player (perhaps Fargo 750 speed) but developed a heroin issue that he never overcame.
His later days were very disheartening. We had a chance meeting in Manhattan. He approached me and asked me if I could spare a few dollars for a pack of cigarettes. Fearing he had other plans for the money, I took him to a small store and bought him a pack of cigarettes and said goodbye.
His later days were very disheartening. We had a chance meeting in Manhattan. He approached me and asked me if I could spare a few dollars for a pack of cigarettes. Fearing he had other plans for the money, I took him to a small store and bought him a pack of cigarettes and said goodbye.
I had a friend like that. World class talent but a jones he couldn't beat. I would feed him when we met. I couldn't give him even a few dollars because he would keep going around to friends until he gathered enough to score.
Waterdog's story sucks. I encountered a beautiful very young baby born to two heroin addict parents. No knowledge about the mother, the father too was a major talent at what he did. He had blown his mind by the time I saw him that last time and I had to let him go after letting him work a few weeks. Too dangerous to have around the place. An accident waiting to happen. My wife wanted the baby but we had no leverage to get it and I didn't have the trust in the authorities to make them aware of the situation. That baby has haunted me off and on for over thirty years.
Waterdog is the other side of that coin, that baby of Peanut's grown to be a man. Considering the cards he was dealt it seems he did his best to be a good and honorable man.
Hu
I am going to Chicago next month for a little weekend with the wife. I am planning on checking out Chris’s. I’ve never been. I’ll probably check out another pool room as well. Unsure which one yet.
Anyway, really looking forward to finally getting down there. It’s only 2.5 hours away after all.
Anyway, really looking forward to finally getting down there. It’s only 2.5 hours away after all.
Hello Patrick, I can't imagine it closing, it certainly has survived some monumental challenges over the years. Buddy's passing so suddenly was quite a shock though, along with Noy, I liked them both equally. In the years I was there we lost quite a few more as well. George F, Freddy B, John Davis, and The Polish Prince, George Pawelski. He was a character. Miss em all...
Good to know that Chris's survives, thanks for that.
. I didn’t get that memo Chris's had closed. Glad it didn’t. We’ve lost enough in pool the last year. 
When I was about 20, Waterdog was hanging around the rooms in San Francisco.
There was a bar in a swank neighborhood on Union Street with two 8 fts in their back room during the go/go stock market days. Stock brokers and attorneys playing 8ball for $50 a game.
I walked in one day and there was Waterdog and Ronnie Barber leaning against the wall waiting for their quarters to come up. Waterdog recognized me from The Palace or Cochran’s and just gave me little nod.
Dem were the days.
Lou Figueroa
There was a bar in a swank neighborhood on Union Street with two 8 fts in their back room during the go/go stock market days. Stock brokers and attorneys playing 8ball for $50 a game.
I walked in one day and there was Waterdog and Ronnie Barber leaning against the wall waiting for their quarters to come up. Waterdog recognized me from The Palace or Cochran’s and just gave me little nod.
Dem were the days.
Lou Figueroa
Here is a link on One Pocket forum in case you had not seen it.
George Pawelski AKA "The Polish Prince" passes...
In the last two years, we have lost four of the eight Johnston City veterans in this photo - we only lost Freddy a week ago. It saddens me to hear that another great player, George Pawelski, AKA "The Polish Prince," has passed. My condolences to his family & many friends...RIP, George, RIP...
Kobachi
Scarred but Smarter
I knew Waterdog from Chris’s, I had loaned him money in occasion, not much, and played him cheap a few times knowing I had zero chance of winning. I remember walking in on him in the bathroom once after he had just shot up. Sometimes he would bleed through his white sock and then get right back to running racks.
I remember him having a very gentle demeanor. Even the way he would walk around the table, or rack the balls, very careful and deliberate. He wouldn’t talk much, not to me anyways. When I would watch him, I’d play a game in my head, trying to guess what his next move would be. If it looked like he was out of position, I’d try to guess a safety or a low percentage offensive shot. I learned early on that what I thought were low percentage shots were just the opposite.
His stroke was smooth, uncomplicated, and boring if that makes sense. Think robotic. I have a friend who I believe was at his side when he passed. I think he was in a nursing home or assisted living.
He is without a doubt one of the best players I have ever known.
I remember him having a very gentle demeanor. Even the way he would walk around the table, or rack the balls, very careful and deliberate. He wouldn’t talk much, not to me anyways. When I would watch him, I’d play a game in my head, trying to guess what his next move would be. If it looked like he was out of position, I’d try to guess a safety or a low percentage offensive shot. I learned early on that what I thought were low percentage shots were just the opposite.
His stroke was smooth, uncomplicated, and boring if that makes sense. Think robotic. I have a friend who I believe was at his side when he passed. I think he was in a nursing home or assisted living.
He is without a doubt one of the best players I have ever known.
Go to Red Shoes. Nice place.
Thanks! Maybe we will check it out. It’s always nice to play somewhere different. Maybe I will get to donate while I am there too!
