Eddie
was committed to partying and "acting crazy" as a way of life.
Attempts to get him to "clean up his place" (translation: "get
rid of the niggers") were greeted by him with total contempt. He
antagonized police, other club owners, and anyone else he considered
"square," and reveled in his own defiant stance. After two in the
morning, when bars are supposed to be clear of patrons, he would lock the door,
draw the curtains, and party with the players, laughing, loud-talking, snorting
cocaine, and serving drinks after hours. "Ready Eddie," as he was
known, presided over what he proudly dubbed "the Toilet of the
Street." He had no intention of running a square or respectable joint and
was furious at the predictable official attempts to force him into compliance.
"They just want to get my friends out of here," he would bellow,
"they don't want no niggers on their street. Well, fuck them punks in the
asshole!" This attitude was well appreciated and respected.