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| Zim's Rack 8-Ball League is a division of Zim's Rack Billiard Promotions-- www.zimsrack.com |
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| Danny Deiters and Michael Zimmerman began playing pool in 1995. Danny's parents had a game room with an oversized 8' AE Schmidt pool table, refidgerator, electronic dart board, a couple couches and a fireplace. We started to play pool in this game room (later became known as Deiter's Inn) with some friends and thought we were pretty good. One of our friends, Mark Schuchmann knew far more about the game than Danny and I did, so we looked up to him. Our group of pool players decided to join a pool league at Teacher's Billiards in Troy, Illinois, which was about 25-30 minutes away. Danny and I went to the local businesses in Pocahontas to see if they would sponsor our team with a $50 donation and we would put their name on our team shirts. We acquired enough sponsors to pay for the league and the shirts. This is the first time any of us had played competivly, let alone belong to a league. Teacher's 8-Ball League was an "in-house" league, meaning that you never have to play anywhere but at Teacher's. We got to know many players and the managers pretty well. Our team, Deiter's Inn, was the only team with sponsors and team shirts... kind of funny to some people, kind of creative to others! We didn't care, we were having fun and winning. After winning our division at Teacher's Billiards, we joined the local league in Pocahontas. After a couple of years, Teacher's closed down and we had to finish the season at a different Teacher's location. This ended up being to far to drive for most of our players, so we thought we'd try another league. Riverbend Billiards in Jerseyville, Illinois was our next "in-house" league. After recreuiting a few new players for this league and a couple sessions later, we won our division there also. Michael left for the US Air Force in 1999 and Danny decided to join the local APA league. After playing with them for a couple years, it started to become a waste of time. When Michael returned in 2002 he joined Danny's APA team. Within a couple sessions, we finished at the top of our local division, but couldn't advance further. We then tried out the local VNEA league, again winning that division, but nothing beyond. At this time Danny and Michael formed the Zim's Rack 8-Ball League. A league that combines all of the positive aspects of Teacher's Billiards, Riverbend Billiards, the APA, and the VNEA. We were able to take the positives and improve them, creating a fun, rewarding, handicapped league that allows the better players to play, but gives the advantage to the lower level players. Good luck to everyone and thanks for playing in the Zim's Rack 8-Ball League. |