Pay Tribute to a Legend

These days, there aren’t many superstars in the Pro Billiards arena – especially since pool lost perhaps its brightest star last year, Steve “the Miz” Mizerak. The Miz was a dominating player – he won his first tourney at 13, topped the U.S. Open Championships four times, and was inducted...

By John Linn

November 29, 2007

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These days, there aren’t many superstars in the Pro Billiards arena – especially since pool lost perhaps its brightest star last year, Steve “the Miz” Mizerak. The Miz was a dominating player – he won his first tourney at 13, topped the U.S. Open Championships four times, and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame in 1980 – and an amazing trickster, capable of making the toughest of shots look pedestrian. The camera loved Miz too. In his now infamous commercials for Miller Lite, Mizerak sank six balls at a time while delivering dialogue with his infectious charm, and he appeared opposite Paul Newman in the 1986 film, The Color of Money. Yet, we remember Miz best as the jovial fellow behind the counter at his Deerfield pool hall, Mizerak’s. When he passed away last May from complications after surgery, South Florida lost one of it’s most cherished figures.

Now, the folks at Hard Rock Live (5747 Seminole Way, Hollywood) are paying tribute to the Miz with their first ever Steve Mizerak Charity Pro-Am Billiards Tournament. It all starts Thursday night with a charity event that teams local celebs with amateur and pro players, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County. $20 will get you in to see the action, $100 will get you entry into contest, and $300 will earn you and two friends spots on a celebrity team. Stick around Friday through Sunday for the tournament, where top 10-ball shooters will compete for a $55,000 pot. For tickets and information call 954-523-3309, or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2007

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