Archer and Varner MEET in the Octagon (Cage Fighting)

bfdlad · 2009-04-05T19:12:02+00:00

I am sorry this is so long but I think its all good stuff and the picture will follow and the Archer/Varner cage fight is at the end. Well I have some great news of this past 2 days. Some of you know that Myself Johnny Archer and Nick Varner (The Legends and Champions Pool Tour) went to Saint Robert, Missouri for a exhibition and pool school for the Troops that cam back from active service overseas. This was put together by the great people at Q's Billiards there in Saint Robert. We know that some people had come forward to donate cues etc for us to give away to these guys and gals, but when I got there I found that we had more things that we thought. I would like to just acknowlage those who helped. Sterling Viking Cue & case Of Course Cuestix International/ Scorpion Cues Mr 400 John Schmidt Nick Varner Signature Cues Jim Murnak Cue Cases Brunswick Billiards are always helping us. Tiger Products Each of these supporters send acouple of pieces or something very special. Ok, so we got to the exhibition and everyone had just a great time we had Jim Murnaks cue case engraves with "The Legends and Champions Pool Tour Thanks you for your service" This was a sexy case and the young serviceman who won it was a avid player and just loved it (picture to follow) We raffled off the chance to play on Team Archer or Team Varner in a rack of scotch doubles and those winners also were given one of the great cues, shafts and prizes that we had been given. It was just a awesome time. Johnny and Nick signed a set a Centenial balls that had been donated by Brunswick Billiards and we began to auction them off to anyone in the crowd and give all the proceeds to the Wounded Warriors Program. I could not believe what happened next. You see we usually sell the signed balls after our exhibitions for $10.00 and I thought that we would maybe get $15 or $20 per ball. So first comes the 1 ball. $65.00, I thought that was awesome but I knew that the other balls would not bring as much maybe. I was right as most of them went for $45. Then the 8 came out and went for over $200.00 and the 9 and if I remember right went for $300. People were donating the Camouflaged cues and US Army cues back to the cause for the wounded Warriors Program and so the night ended up donating over $1,000 to that great program. I know its not much but it was not bad. So Saturday night we had been invited to the cage fights that were going on. We were treated by everyone like VIPs and had a great time as quite a few of the pool players we had been hanging out with were also Military men and MMA ultimate fighters. Stevie Lightning (2 time world champion kick boxer) had asked me a few time if he could have a photo with Nick and Johnny. I told him no problem just tell me when, well he decided that the when was during the intermission of the cage fight. Not only did he want the picture there and then he wanted the picture in the Octagon with a massive crowd in attendance. The MC then announces johny and Nick and their accomplishments and it seemed (shocking to me) that most everyone in the room knew who they were. They were recieved with a tremendous round of applause and cheers. The ywere awarded a medal each that are only given to the winners of each of the bouts for the Rage in the Cage (Oh they felt sorry for me I guess as I got one too:). Then after all the events We were invited back inside the cage for some more photos were johnny and Nick decided to have a little fun in mock challenging each other saying "Well since were are here Johnny you wanna piece of me?" This comes from Varner now aged 60. So Hopefully a couple of the pictures will be posted for me by Bill Porter real soon. This has to be a first to of the greatest pool players in history in a cage fight. I could not stop laughing at the whole thing. As soon as I get some of the pictures from the night with the troops I will have them posted too. All in all we had a great time in the short time we were there. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped with this event and to Q's Billiards, also to all our great service men and women who have put their lives in danger and have told me some stories that are hard to take. I hope you all enjoy this report and also enjoy the historic picture. Mark,