fred bentivegna
Verified Member
Cole is gone. I just got a text message from Larry Schwartz. He said Cole passed this morning. Later old pal.
Beard
Beard
It seems like just when the sadness starts to ease, we lose another one – another legend. I've been told by numerous friends that Cole Dickson lost his battle with liver cancer this morning.
Cole had already "semi-retired" from pool by the time I hit Southern California in 1980 so, unfortunately, I missed Cole's era. I heard plenty of stories though - every time I heard the name Cole Dickson, it was automatic to hear people describe him the same way. "Hippie Cole," flashy, brash, high rollin', hilarious, straight shootin', no fear...
Although I occasionally saw him around at the various events of the day, I never really knew him. It wasn't until I had Cue-Topia that I got to know Cole. I was up on a step ladder, wrestling a heavy drill & trying to secure some framed photos to the wall when I heard someone bark, "Geez! What the hell are you doing? Gimme that!" I turned around & Cole snatched the drill like it was a marshmallow out of my hands & ZZZ...ZZZ screwed the frame into the wall. Cole turned around & hollered at my partner, "C'mon, give me a C-note! We're going to get her a drill she can handle without a forklift!" Five minutes later, we're in my car on our way to the Makita store...
It was the days of the cheap plane tickets & although Cole lived in Montana, he came down to Vegas frequently. He'd fly through the door & immediately, the place lit up. Cole was one of the few people who could do that. Always laughing - always teasing. After a while, he'd wink & say, "Mare - you hungry?!!!"
I'd dutifully get a rack of balls, we'd go to the table & play for dinner. Race to 9 - I got the 7 & the breaks. Never won...lost every time we played. 9-8. I played my ass off, he was stalling, I was being hustled, I knew it, he knew it & I loved every minute of it. I know I got way the best of it...I got to play with, learn from & see the occasional glimmer of greatness & then, dinner & world-class conversation.
It was during those dinner conversations that Cole talked often about his girls...Christine & Susan - know that he loved you & was so proud of you.
I last talked with Cole around the beginning of March. I had been told he was very sick & I knew it was probably the last time we'd talk - I think he knew it too. Even so, he was the same old Cole – facing the toughest opponent of his life – with humor, bravely & without fear. RIP, my friend.
Ronnie Allen, Cole Dickson & Larry Schwartz - '88 Cue-Topia - Las Vegas, NV
It seems like just when the sadness starts to ease, we lose another one – another legend. I've been told by numerous friends that Cole Dickson lost his battle with liver cancer this morning.
Cole had already "semi-retired" from pool by the time I hit Southern California in 1980 so, unfortunately, I missed Cole's era. I heard plenty of stories though - every time I heard the name Cole Dickson, it was automatic to hear people describe him the same way. "Hippie Cole," flashy, brash, high rollin', hilarious, straight shootin', no fear...
Although I occasionally saw him around at the various events of the day, I never really knew him. It wasn't until I had Cue-Topia that I got to know Cole. I was up on a step ladder, wrestling a heavy drill & trying to secure some framed photos to the wall when I heard someone bark, "Geez! What the hell are you doing? Gimme that!" I turned around & Cole snatched the drill like it was a marshmallow out of my hands & ZZZ...ZZZ screwed the frame into the wall. Cole turned around & hollered at my partner, "C'mon, give me a C-note! We're going to get her a drill she can handle without a forklift!" Five minutes later, we're in my car on our way to the Makita store...
It was the days of the cheap plane tickets & although Cole lived in Montana, he came down to Vegas frequently. He'd fly through the door & immediately, the place lit up. Cole was one of the few people who could do that. Always laughing - always teasing. After a while, he'd wink & say, "Mare - you hungry?!!!"
I'd dutifully get a rack of balls, we'd go to the table & play for dinner. Race to 9 - I got the 7 & the breaks. Never won...lost every time we played. 9-8. I played my ass off, he was stalling, I was being hustled, I knew it, he knew it & I loved every minute of it. I know I got way the best of it...I got to play with, learn from & see the occasional glimmer of greatness & then, dinner & world-class conversation.
It was during those dinner conversations that Cole talked often about his girls...Christine & Susan - know that he loved you & was so proud of you.
I last talked with Cole around the beginning of March. I had been told he was very sick & I knew it was probably the last time we'd talk - I think he knew it too. Even so, he was the same old Cole – facing the toughest opponent of his life – with humor, bravely & without fear. RIP, my friend.
Ronnie Allen, Cole Dickson & Larry Schwartz - '88 Cue-Topia - Las Vegas, NV
A small room "The Circus"in San Jose, Cole was asking another young upcoming player (Bobby Ledger) to go with him on the road. Bobby said that he had to talk it over with his parents. "What's your parents have to do with it" was Cole reply. Continued on and Said,"well are you going to go with me on the road or stay in San Jose and rot"! Cole was either 14 or 15.Always had a great way of expressing himself. Rest in peace my friend.Ron Lilies.
Larry Schwartz, Jimmy Mataya, and myself visited with Cole the week before he passed and shared some time with our friend, I remember him saying many times that ...every things all right.
He would say that often as we were speaking, totally unrelated to what we were talking about I guess it was his way of telling us that he was at peace with himself. I really can't say that it made me feel good or sad, maybe a little of both. We went out to eat and then other times we went out to the casino, just wanting him to get out and be a part of something...like old times and I was glad to see him enjoying himself ...all along knowing that he was struggling with life. the last day we were there ..before we left we said to Cole that we were leaving, and he had this look on his face like a little boy and said...I guess i'm not going with you guys today,right?' We kinda knew that we wouldn't ever be seeing him again, however, I said to him that I would see him in Vegas for the US Open One pocket championships...he said yea,ok.
Rest In Peace my friend,
Bill Incardona
Ron:
I come from the bowling world. Most of the bowling alleys in the 50's and 60's also had pool tables. When not bowling, we spent our time on the pool tables. I met Bobby at Moonlite Lanes when he was 13 or 14 years old.
Bobby, despite being a few years younger than me, I'm now 65, use to back me in bowling pot games in the San Jose area. If anyone was destined to be a hustler, it was Bobby.
Any idea whatever happened to him?
I was introduced to Cole by Poker Paul at Santa Clara Billiards about 20 years ago - John Henderson and Paul Martinez were matched up. Cole talked to me about his blackjack exploits. He was a very charismatic. Unfortunately I never saw him shoot.
Eric:
Poker Paul is doing great. As you probably know, he had a 5-way bypass a few years back. We get together for some 1-pocket every few weeks at Best or the Cue Club. He robs me, but I can't make a ball.