Michael Lee Nation
My “pool” biography. At the end of this pool biography is an enlightening and interesting testimony for my Perfect Pool Empowering Positive Meditation II audio recording from a pool playing friend and former teammate Billy who listened to it for 3 weeks straight day after day and his entire life changed for the better. Check it out if you are curious. I was born January 2, 1948 at Vickers Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois 62859 at 12:41 am. McLeansboro had and still has 3000 people. I was the 1st baby born in Hamilton County, Illinois in 1948. I started playing pool in January of 1964 at 16 years old in McLeansboro at Sanduskys Pool Hall on the north side of the square next to Irvin’s Jewelry. When you walked through the front door on the left was the counter with snacks and the snooker balls and pool balls. On the right side was a soda pop machine. Straight ahead was a 9 foot A.E. Schmidt snooker table. Past the snooker table were 5 8 foot A.E. Schmidt pool tables. In the back of the 19 foot by 100 foot poolroom was a bathroom and a card room. The men played rummy and poker for fun and for cash. At that time McLeansboro was a dry town thus no alcohol sales in town. At that time McLeansboro had a law that you had to be at least 16 years old to enter the poolroom. Immediately I was drawn to play pool and snooker after I entered through the front door. When the poolroom closed in around 1969 I was the best snooker and pool player at the poolroom. There were quite a few good pool and snooker players. Sanduskys Poolroom was open 6 days a week. It was busy every day. There were 2 men who racked the balls for the players. I think it cost 20 cents to play snooker a game. 9 ball cost 10 cents a game. 15 ball rotation was 15 cents a game. I saw a Keno board a few times on the first pool table. Never played Keno. There were also spittoons for the tobacco chewers to spit in on the floor. The ceiling was 12 feet with stamped steel ceiling cover. The floors were hardwood.
My life at that time wasn’t great. My mother Shirley raised me and my brother Mark. My mother, my brother and I left my dad Dane when I was 13 years old. My mother divorced my dad when I was 15 years old. He wasn’t a good father nor a good husband. He drank lots of alcohol, worked, gambled and chased other women. He ignored me and my brother all our childhood and as adults. But it is what it is. I made peace with my dad inside myself in my early 20s. My mother was an amazing woman. She took care of me and my brother. I started out life on my grandfather’s 65 acre farm west of Thackeray about 5 miles east of McLeansboro with my mother Shirley Nation, my father Dane Nation and grandfather Raleigh Nation. There was no indoor plumbing. A 2 hole outhouse west of the small 2 bedroom house. A well near the back door for clean cold water. A wood burning cook stove in the kitchen to cook on and to heat the house. Around 1956 there were 4 oil wells drilled on 80 acres of land that my grandfather owned southeast of Thackeray. Because of the oil money indoor plumbing, a bathroom was installed in the house and a gas floor furnace installed in the house.
We moved to McLeansboro when I was 5 years old. My dad had a small 2 bedroom house built in McLeansboro that my mother, my dad and I moved into. My brother Mark was born in October of 1953. My grandfather stayed at the 65 acre farm. I spent most weekends and summers with my grandfather. His wife Tida died in 1945 of cancer at 50 years old so he lived alone. My grandfather was my father figure since my dad ignored me. My grandfather Raleigh Nation passed in January of 1961 at 76 years old. I was 13 years old. No father figure now. I went to the first grade at Dale Grade School, Dale, Illinois 7 miles south of McLeansboro. I went to the East Side Grade school in McLeansboro from 2nd through 8th grade. I went to McLeansboro Township High School graduating in May 1965. I completed 1 year of college at Mt. Vernon Junior College in Mt. Vernon, Illinois which later became Rend Lake College. I had the ability for college but not the ambition. My first full time job was an apprentice printer at The Times Leader newspaper in McLeansboro, Illinois. My mother and brother moved to Taylorville, Illinois in 1968 and my mother remarried. I was on my own now for the first time. I had family in McLeansboro.
After entering Sanduskys Poolroom my life changed in a very positive and empowering way. I had a natural passion for the game of pool and snooker. I observed the best pool players and snooker players at the poolroom and what they were doing. I started practicing. No one showed me anything about pool or snooker at that time. I was all self taught. I would shoot a long cut shot on an object ball and move the cue tip all over the cue ball to see the reaction from hitting each spot on the cue ball. I apparently had a straight, smooth, soft, complete follow through perfect stroke from the beginning. I practiced thin cut shots. I started picturing a spot on the pool table for the cue ball to end up on for perfect position on the next object ball or for perfect defense. The cue ball started going where I pictured for it to go. Amazing feeling. Within 2 to 3 years of constant playing and practicing I became better and better at pool and snooker. I taught myself to play pool and snooker left handed. I am naturally right handed playing pool. I also taught myself to play one handed pool both right handed and left handed. I could run racks of 9 ball with my right hand, my left hand, one handed right and one handed left.
In April, 1971 I moved to Taylorville Illinois for work. The population was 13,000 people. I worked for the local newspaper as a union printer. My mother and brother had moved there in 1968 so I stayed with them until I got my own apartment. There was a Bakers Pool Room just off the square. There were 5 8 foot pool tables in the pool room. Some of the players gambled on 9 ball. They bet on the 3 ball, the 6 ball and the 9 ball. They bet 25 cents to $1.00 on the 3 ball, the 6 ball and the 9 ball. Not lots of money. But when I gambled with them playing 9 ball every time I gambled with the players in a few hours I won between $60 to $100. A few months later they wouldn’t gamble with me. I broke and run too many 9 ball racks against them. My mother and her 2nd husband John hung out in a bar called Nats Bar right off the square. There was a pool table in Nats bar. I was playing 9 ball with my brother just for fun. When I quit shooting 9 ball with my brother my mother told me that I just finished breaking and running 15 racks of 9 ball in a row without any errors. That’s getting into the perfect pool zone,
In February, 1973 I moved to Springfield, Illinois for work. Springfields population was around 105,000 people. I worked at the Illinois State Journal Register newspaper as a union printer in Springfield. My mother had moved there. I lived with my mother until I got my own apartment. There was one big pool room in Springfield called Capitol Q Billiards on 4th street on the 2nd floor above a green stamp store between Monroe Street and Adams Street. A 2 story building. At the top of the stairs was the counter. There were new cue sticks on the wall behind the counter. Snacks and other items for sale under the glass on the counter as well as pool, snooker and billiard balls for the 23 tables in this carpeted very nice pool room. To the left of the counter was a very large pool room. 8 foot pool tables, 9 foot pool tables, 10 foot 3 cushion billiard tables and 10 foot snooker tables. AE Schmidt and Brunswick tables. Open 7 days a week. Busy all the time. The first 9 foot AE Schmidt pool table right next to the stairs and the counter the best pool players gambled at 9 ball. There were lots of very good pool players there. I ended up in a few months beating all the top 9 ball players for around 7 years. I was gambling with a man from Decatur around 1976. We were playing 9 ball. I don’t remember how much money we were playing for. We were playing on a 9 foot AE Schmidt pool table. I broke and ran 10 racks of 9 ball in a row without any errors. He quit and wouldn’t play any more. In 1975 in August on a Friday night Minnesota Fats put on an exhibition at Capital Q Billiards. Dorothy who managed the pool room knew Minnesota Fats. He put on quite a show. Made lots of great shots. He talked non stop while he was playing. Very interesting man and great pool player. Fats lived in Dowell, Illinois for many years a few miles north of Carbondale, Illinois on route 51 about 44 miles west of McLeansboro. Some of my pool playing friends from southern Illinois knew him. A picture of me and Minnesota Fats in front of the counter on this website.
In 1975 I was part owner of a graphics business called Springfield Graphics on Adam’s Street between 4th Street and 5th Street in Springfield. Just a block away was the old State Capitol Building. On the south side of the old capital mall was an Oscos drug store. There was a large poster on the window of the Osco drug store for a free lecture on Transcendental Meditation. I was curious and drawn to check this out. One of the best decisions of my entire life. I went to the lecture at a house on Lake Springfield. There were 2 men talking at the lecture on Transcendental Meditation. They were both so calm, relaxed and happy. I was very impressed with the 2 men. Because of my dad rejecting and ignoring me when I was growing up. I wasn’t a happy person inside except at the pool table. So I paid $150 to learn Transcendental Meditation. The man told me to meditate twice a day for 20 minutes each time. The man whispered the word “Shring” in my ear. He told me to just think of the word “shring” over and over inside my head for 20 minutes. So after meditating for 18 months straight day after day in the morning and after work for 20 minutes each time my inner world calmed way down, I had more confidence, I was happier. I was one with myself. My anger went away. Played better pool with more confidence, very calm and relaxed, in the moment. Got into the prefect pool zone more often.
In 1978 I ended up with a state job with my mother’s help at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency In Springfield, Illinois. I worked there over 25 years. I started out working in the print shop, then I had 2 graphics jobs. My last job was the facility planner for 900 people. I taught myself to use a Fastcad drawing program to do all the office and building drawings. The cover for my book “Out from Behind the Eight Ball, the Zen of Pool” I designed and drew with the Fastcad drawing program. I ended up getting married in August, 1980. So I basically quit playing pool for a few years. My daughter Angela was born February, 1981. My wife Sherrie, my daughter Angela and I moved into a 3 bedroom full basement house in Williamsville, Illinois just north of Springfield, Illinois in October 1982. I bought a used 8 foot Sears Brunswick pool table for $350 from an ad in the local shopper in 1983 and put it in my basement. 6 years old. Like new condition, belgium pool balls, a few one piece pool sticks. I still have the 1977 Sears Brunswick 8 foot pool table in my 2 car garage in McLeansboro, Illinois. My wife had a son Joshua born July 1985. In August 1987 my wife left me, my 2 year old son Joshua and a 6 year old daughter Angela. I became a single parent with no family close by. My son and daughter are grown now with their own life and family. They both have good paying careers. I am very proud of both of them. I always taught my son and daughter that you can be, do or have anything you desire in life if you are willing to put forth the time and the effort to accomplish your hearts desire. I never got married again.
I started playing in 8 ball league in 1984 in Springfield, Illinois. I had not really played much 8 ball. Never played in any leagues nor tournaments at that time. For many years I mainly played 9 ball and for money. The first 8 ball team I played on the players on the team were very weak. Out of 6 players there was only 1 other good pool player on the team. So the next year I switched teams. All the pool players on this team were good players. My first trophy from an 8 ball pool league was a 1st place trophy. There is a picture of the trophy on this website. The words on the trophy is 1986-87 1st place. Shirley’s Place II. VNEA 8 ball league. Springfield, Illinois.
Around 1990 I got into Okinawan karate in Springfield. I studied karate for over 3 1\2 years. In 1991 there was a workshop at the YMCA on 4th Street in Springfield. Bill “Superfoot” Wallace had a workshop there in April of 1991. I was a green belt at that time. I attended the workshop. There is a picture of me and Bill “Superfoot” Wallace sitting in chairs at the YMCA. Picture on this website. I still have the tee shirt like “Superfoot” is wearing in the picture, the green belt and the Ghi are in my closet at home. About a month after the “Superfoot “ Wallace workshop I entered a National Karate Association karate tournament in Springfield, Illinois. This was a point karate tournament. Not full contact. There were quite a few men in the karate tournament. I won 2nd place. Defeated lots of opponents. In the finals I lost by 1 point. I was very proud of myself. The trophy on this website says 1991 2nd place. NKA Grand Championships. Springfield, Illinois.
1990-91 1st place. Winter Wednesday Night Valley 8 ball league. Allstar Music. Springfield, Illinois. Trophy on this website. In 1993 I decided to enter the Illinois Coin Operators 8 ball pool tournament at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois in the Saturday and Sunday Mens 8 ball tournament. The tournament was in early April. I decided to sit down at my computer and write all the positive, empowering and relaxing words I could think of. I came up with 30 minutes on a cassette tape recorded on a Radio Shack cassette player recorder with classical music in the background. I listened to the cassette in a Walkman for over 3 weeks every day before the tournament. There was a man’s and a women’s 8 ball tournament Saturday and Sunday right after the Friday night tournament. The men’s 8 ball tournament was a race to 2 games double elimination. In order to be qualified for the men’s 8 ball tournament you had to win 2 tournaments at a bar or pool room who purchased a package from the vendor with a certificate telling what time you played in Saturday. When I played on Saturday I was in the perfect pool zone, calm, relaxed, focused and on fire. Saturday I didn’t lose a match. I stayed at my friend Bills house on Saturday night after playing great all day. Shortly after laying on the bed the title for a pool book came to me. “Pool from the Heart”. I had thought about writing a book on pool. The next day Sunday I ended up in the finals. I made a mistake in the finals and got beat but I won 2nd place winning 15 matches against the best men players and only lost 2 matches. I got into the perfect pool zone in that tournament. I was awarded a trophy with a picture on this website and $600. 1993 2nd place. Illinois Coin Operators Association. Illinois State 8 Ball Tournament. Mens. Springfield, Illinois. Very good not playing much pool at that time. Single parent and full time job.
In 1996 I was playing on an in house 8 ball pool league at Scoobys & Stix poolroom on the west side of Springfield, Illinois. There were 8 8 foot solid wood leather pocket Connelly pool tables, 1 9 foot snooker table and 4 7 foot Valley pool tables in Scoobys & Stix. Our league played on the 8 foot Connelly pool tables. Our team Partners in Crime won 1st place. Trophy says 1996 1st place. “Partners in Chrime” Scoobys & Stix 96 Fall in house league. Springfield, Illinois. Picture of trophy on this website. 1996 1st place. Winter 96 Wednesday Night 8 ball league. VNEA Dugout II. Springfield, Illinois. Picture of trophy on this website. 1996. Illinois Coin Operators Friday night 8 ball tournament. Early April. Prairie Capitol Convention Central, Springfield, Illinois. Race to 2 games, single elimination, 256 players, men and women. My friend Troy and I tied for 3rd and 4th place.
1998-1999 Top Gun Award. The Depot Pub, 8 ball league. Nokomis, Illinois home bar. 22 teams. A race to 9 8 ball games each night of league. Picture on this website. 1999-2000 Top Gun Award. The Depot Pub., 8 ball league. Nokomis, Illinois home bar. 22 teams. A race to 9 8 ball games each night of league. Picture in this website. Around 1999 or 2000 there was a 9 ball tournament at Scoobys & Stix poolroom, Springfield, Illinois. 9 ball race to 5 games double elimination. The only professional pool player at this tournament was Mark Wilson. I ended up playing Mark Wilson for 3rd and 4th place. I beat Mark Wilson 5 to 3 games. The only pro pool player I ever played. I lost the next match and got 3rd place. 2001. 2nd place. February 3 & 4, 2001. Linjos Pool Tournament, Linjos Bar, Pocahontas, Illinois. 16 teams. Lots of strong players and teams. Our team played great. Picture on this website. 2003. Fall VNEA 8 ball league. Super Shooter. Springfield, Illinois. 5 player league. Picture of trophy on this website. 2004. Fall VNEA 8 ball league. Super Shooter. Springfield, Illinois. 5 player league. Picture of trophy on this website. 2005 Winter VNEA 8 ball league. Super Shooter. Springfield, Illinois. 5 player league. Picture of trophy on this website.
2004 I attended the Illusion Conclusion workshop, Chatahoochie National Forest, northern Georgia. 8 day workshop. About 38 people in the workshop, the speaker Jerry and a few helpers. Very interesting workshop. We did lots of things to get us out of our routines and enhance our lives. The second Friday of the workshop it got dead still in the room. It seemed like a vacuum cleaner sucked all of the noise and thoughts out of my head. Complete silence inside my head and thoughts still now. I close my eyes and all I hear is silence and a little ringing in my ears. I had a one on one with Jerry who was the speaker. I told him that I was writing a book called “Pool from the Heart, Seven Spiritual Secrets of Successful Pool”. He said that was a good title but how about the title “Out from Behind the Eight Ball, the Zen of Pool”. I loved the title he came up with. So that is the title of my pool book. My life changed for the better because of the workshop. 2005. 2nd place. Illinois Team Pool and Darts Association State Championship. Bloomington, Illinois. 8 ball tournament. 4 player teams. 38 teams. Saturday round Robin. Sunday the final 8 teams played. I started out Saturday morning winning 14 games straight before my first loss. I was shooting with a homemade sneaky Pete. I bought a 1 piece Dufferin pool stick from Kmart many years ago. I had my friend Bruce make it into a sneaky pete. The pool stick was crooked because of being in my trunk for years. I was on fire that tournament. At the end of Saturday we were # 2 in the point standings. 8 teams left on Sunday. Our whole team played great the whole tournament. We got in the finals and barely got beat out of 1st place by a few points. Picture of trophy on this website.
In March 2006 I moved from Williamsville, Illinois back to McLeansboro, Illinois to take care of my ailing mother. I watched my mother die day after day for over 30 months. My mother passed in October of 2008 at 79 years old. I took early retirement from IEPA in Springfield in August 2004. My daughter moved out in 2000 and my son joined the Marines in April, 2006. I really didn’t know many people In Williamsville. I grew up in McLeansboro. After I moved back here the American Legion here in town had lots of pool players on Friday night. They also had a few pool tournaments there. 2007 playing 9 ball with my friend Patrick for fun race to 5 games on my 8 foot Sears Brunswick pool table in my garage at home. After I broke the first 9 ball rack I ran 12 straight racks of 9 ball in a row without one mistake. I was in the zone. 2008 1st place. John Moss Memorial Pool Tournament. American Legion, McLeansboro, Illinois. Picture of trophy on this website. 2009\2010 1st place. English Majors. VNEA 8 ball league. Siscos Bar in Harrisburg, Illinois. My 1st year playing in this league. Our team only lost 1 match in 2 sessions. I got 9 eros (earned run outs) in the fall session and 9 eros in the winter session. Total 18 eros. Broke the record for most eros the first year. Picture of trophy on this website.
2011 1st Place Team 4th Annual Ron Joyner tournament. Siscos bar in Harrisburg, Illinois. 19 2 player teams. A player and B player on each team. We played 9 ball, 8 ball and 8 ball scotch doubles, double elimination. First time playing in this tournament. I was in the perfect pool zone. My partner was playing great. The owner of the bar bought our team in the Calcutta. Picture of the trophy on this website. 2011\2012 1st place. Fall\Winter LEO Open Pool League. Coors Light. VNEA 8 ball league. Picture of trophy on this website. 2011 1st place. 14th Annual Multi-League Tournament. Open Team Event. J & J Ventures. 19 teams. Bloomington, Illinois. 8 ball tournament. In the zone. Our whole team played great. Picture of trophy on this website. 2013 1st place. BCA 8 ball league. Benton, Illinois. Picture of trophy on this website. 2013 playing 9 ball with my friend Tim for fun race to 5 games on my 8 foot Sears Brunswick pool table in my garage at home. After I broke the first 9 ball rack I ran 13 straight racks of 9 ball in a row without one mistake. I was in the zone again. 2014 1st place. Farris Family Fighters Relay for Life 3rd Annual Pool Tournament. 8 ball tournament. American Legion. McLeansboro, Illinois. 8 ball tournament. Picture of trophy on this website. 2014 my dad Dane Nation passed in May at 88 years old. 2015 Farris Family Fighters Relay for Life 4th Annual Pool Tournament. 8 ball tournament. American Legion. McLeansboro, Illinois. Picture of the trophy on this website. 2015 Most Valuable Player. Chris Cues. LEO Open VNEA League. Spring. 8 ball league. Picture of award on this website. 2015. 1st place. Fall WEW Open VNEA 8 ball league. Pooligans. Grayville, Illinois. Picture of award on this website. 2016 1st place. 3 Rivers BCA 8 ball league. Benton, Illinois. Picture of trophy on this website.
2016 3rd place. “36th Annual” VNEA Pool Championships. Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas, Nevada. 8-Ball Open Regular Team. Mens division. 309 teams from 37 different countries from around the world. Our Chappys pool team was in the perfect pool zone in this pool tournament. We won 6 or 7 matches in a row against the best players in the world. We lost by a few points by a team out of Wisconsin in the 7th or 8th match. We then won 7 more matches in a row against the best players in the world. Our last win for 3rd place and $5000 was against Australia II. With 8 games left out of 25 games in the match Australia II had won 9 games in a row. They were 56 points ahead of us. Australia II just needed 24 points in 8 games to win. Just 3 points per game. We got in a huddle. If we won the 8 games remaining and kept our opponents from making less than 3 points average a game we could beat them. Chappys team got on fire. We won 8 straight games in a row. I played game 25. My opponent only needed 4 points to win. The table didn’t break open very good. Back and forth a few shots. My opponent played a safety on me. I missed the ball and my opponent had ball in hand. He only needed to make 4 balls to win. He made 2 balls. He tried to draw the cue ball and miscued and the cue ball jumped over the object ball and scratched in the pocket. He must have been very nervous. I had 4 object balls and the 8 ball all very open. I was very calm and relaxed and I ran the 4 object balls and the 8 ball out. We won 162 to 160. The biggest comeback in the 36 year history of this tournament. We lost our next match by a few points against the team from Wisconsin. 3 senior citizens on our team. Mike 68, Bud 67, Bill 65, Nate 37 and TJ 27. Picture of trophy on this website. I also won 17th place in the singles VNEA 9 ball tournament at Bally’s Hotel and Casino the previous week.
2019 Highest Points Achievement Award. BCA 8 ball league. Grayville, Illinois. Picture on this website. 2019 Most Valuable Player. BCA 8 ball league Grayville, Illinois. Picture on this website. 2023 1st place. Fall session. Three Rivers BCA 8 ball league. Wizzards. Benton, Illinois. Picture of award on this website. 2024 1st place. Spring session. Three Rivers BCA 8 ball league. Wizzards. Benton, Illinois. Picture on this website. Just finished a VNEA 8 ball and 9 ball league end of October, 2025. Our team won both the 9 ball and 8 ball at Siscos bar in Harrisburg, Illinois.
At this time I have been playing pool over 61 years. Through the decades I have won lots of pool tournaments and won lots of awards in pool. I have been very blessed in my life going from inner turmoil and unhappiness to peace of mind. Through transcendental meditation, tai chi churn, yoga, jogging, karate, a men’s drumming group for 2 years once a week, workshops and reading and listening to hundreds of books on health, self improvement and self empowerment. We are all the captain of our own destiny. Around 2017 I put a vision board with my pool products and my son Josh’s 77 drawings of Aliens – UFOs Josh’s Mysterious and Unusual Coloring Book cover on my wall in my front living room. Picture on this website. I also put copies of my 5 copyrights on the same wall. Picture on this website. I have been in what I call the perfect pool zone countless times in my pool career. It takes from 28 days to 60 days to change a habit. The products on this website will improve your pool game and your life. 30 days to playing better pool, more confidence, in the moment, more consistent, in the perfect pool zone. More relaxed. A challenge to you. Are you up to the challenge. Nothing ventured nothing gained. My friend and former teammate Billy finally decided to listen to my audio cd Perfect Pool Empowering Positive Meditation II a few years ago for 3 weeks after much convincing and seeing that the same audio cd had helped a mutual friend and pool player Mike with his pool game and life. Before that time Billy wasn’t in a happy place inside. He played very good pool. He sit at the bar every night after work. After listening to my meditation II audio for 3 weeks Billy’s world started to change for the better. He was happier inside and in a much better place inside. Shortly after listening to the meditation II audio there was a 51 player double elimination 8 ball tournament at Brew II in Benton, Illinois. Billy won the 8 ball tournament in the winners bracket. Billy was in the perfect pool zone. Eventually Billy found a girlfriend and stopped going to the bar every night. Billy has thanked me personally for what my meditation II audio did for his life many times in person. A true story. I wish you the best in your quest to play perfect pool and getting into the perfect pool zone every time at the pool table. To become more happy and peaceful inside. My pool products are unique and revolutionary. Enjoy your life. Keep smiling. Peace and love. Namaste.