The Miz
Years ago, 1985, I attended my first big tournament the Miller Lite Tournament. The Miz had a challenge area where people stood in line to play the Hall of Famer a game of pool. I think it was five dollars to play. I paid and stood in that line, as I was a green horn pool player and thirsty to play. He was beating most. Losing about one in ten. I won my challenge game against him. I felt pretty good to beat the Miz needless to say. 7 Years later, the Miz came to town to do a pool trick shot exhibition for the Southland Corporation. This was a special business convention only for people of the Southland Corporation. Myself and a friend, heard about it and went there to sneak in We posed as managers and they bought it. While in the convention room I went up to Steve and started a conversation with him, yes about pool. I told him jokingly we played before and that he has never beat me a game of pool not one I told him the Miller Lite story. Moments later Miz started his trick shot exhibition. A lot of cool shots. After words he played some of the big shots in attendance as part of the exhibition. After playing about 5-6 people he announced boldly “I want you” and pointed at me. Said this in front of about 50-60 people. He racked said “you can have the break”. We played that game and I happen to win. We played again I broke and ran out, in one of those games nothing was easy. I kicked balls in, masse them, and even had a three rail shot on the 8 ball. The whole time the Miz tried to shark me everyone was having fun.The crowed was very interested in this chain of events and of course added to the event. In the third game the Miz, up staged had put on a show he ran out in just as wild a fashion as i did it, but left himself long bank shape on the 8 ball. He banked it and was missing it badly so he guided it in with the butt end of his cue to win. He said get out of here kid! I can say The Miz never beat me. The crowd laughed. The Miz was a great showman.