Renick Miller

Renick Miller is an American former professional paintball player, team owner, tournament promoter and paintball industry entrepreneur. He is best known as a co-founder and longtime owner of Chicago Aftershock, one of the leading professional tournament teams of the 1990s, and for his involvement in Bad Boyz Toyz, Badlandz Paintball Field and Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP).[1][2][3]

Miller was involved in the establishment of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) and the development of professional tournament paintball in the United States. He promoted the Chicago Open and other major events and subsequently became a founding partner of PSP in 2001.[4][5]

Paintball career

Scream and the formation of Aftershock

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Miller led Scream, a tournament paintball team based in the American Midwest.

Scream competed in regional and national events against established teams, including the Lords of Discipline, led by Steve Copeland.

The two teams discussed merging as their competitive and organisational circumstances changed.

In the spring of 1991, Miller and Copeland combined their teams to establish Aftershock.[1]

The original roster included Miller, Copeland, Gary Noblett, John "Spud" Jackson, Steve Elbrecht, Ryan Northrup, Rob Northrup, Fred Eicke, Donna Eicke, Tim Brown, Bruce Tognetti and Michael Karmin, among others.[1]

Aftershock competed nationally during 1991 and 1992 before establishing itself among the leading professional teams.

Professional tournament success

Aftershock achieved a major breakthrough in 1993 following the addition of Danny Love and Mike Bruno.

The team won the Boston Open, the World Cup and the International Masters, recording victories in both five-player and 10-player competition.[1]

Miller was associated with the team's championship-winning organisation during a period when Aftershock competed against leading professional teams including the Ironmen, All Americans and Avalanche.

In 1998, Aftershock won the professional 10-man division at the NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida.[6]

Miller subsequently became more involved in team ownership, management and tournament promotion.

Team ownership and management

Miller remained the owner of Chicago Aftershock as professional paintball transitioned from traditional 10-man competition to X-Ball during the early 2000s.

At the inaugural 2003 National Xball League event, contemporary roster records identified Miller as an assistant coach for Chicago Aftershock, alongside John Jackson.[7]

He continued overseeing the organisation during later PSP and NXL competition.

In February 2012, Miller was identified as Aftershock's owner during a period of significant roster changes, including the departure of several established professional players.[8]

Miller also participated in the later revival of classic-format paintball.

Official International Classic Paintball League (ICPL) reporting identified him as part of Aftershock's 2023 Sunshine Classic roster, alongside Billy Ceranski, Todd Adamson and other former and current professional players.[9]

PBLeagues also records Miller as a historical team owner and player.[10]

The team's current website identifies Todd Adamson as owner and lists Miller among its former personnel.[11]

Bad Boyz Toyz

Miller operated Bad Boyz Toyz (BBT), a Chicago-area paintball equipment business associated with Aftershock.

The business supplied paintball markers, accessories and customised equipment during the 1990s and 2000s.

Bad Boyz Toyz became particularly associated with custom mechanical markers and parts used in tournament competition.

Historical equipment records document products including BBT Autocockers, the Rat Valve and customised Palmer's Pursuit Shop markers.[12]

The business was also associated with equipment development undertaken by Aftershock players, including Danny Love.

Bad Boyz Toyz products and related developments formed part of the early history of Shocktech, a manufacturer of customised paintball markers and aftermarket components.[12][13]

Badlandz Paintball Field

Miller was involved in establishing and operating Badlandz Paintball Field, located in Crete, Illinois, south of Chicago.

The field was developed during the early 1990s, with assistance from Aftershock player Billy Ceranski.[14]

Badlandz became Aftershock's home playing facility and a regular venue for national tournament competition.

During the 1990s, the venue hosted the Chicago Open, one of the principal events in the NPPL calendar.

The facility featured wooded playing areas and constructed tournament fields, including Hyperball and inflatable-bunker layouts.

Contemporary WARPIG coverage of the 1998 NPPL Chicago Open identified Miller as the tournament promoter and documented the field's facilities and event organisation.[15]

The Chicago Open later returned to Badlandz during the PSP era, including the 2010 tournament.[16]

Tournament promotion

Chicago Open

Miller became involved in professional tournament promotion through the Chicago Open, which developed into one of the established events on the national NPPL circuit.

The event was originally produced through Bad Boyz Toyz and held at Badlandz before moving between different Chicago-area venues.

Miller's tournament operations included organising playing fields, referees, safety arrangements and facilities for participating teams.[4]

He subsequently became involved in promoting other NPPL tournaments.

Contemporary WARPIG reporting identified Miller and Dave Youngblood as promoters of the fourth tournament in the NPPL's annual series, an event which moved between several cities during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[17]

Paintball Sports Promotions

In 2001, Miller became a founding partner of Paintball Sports Promotions.

PSP was established by promoters previously responsible for individual NPPL events, with the intention of coordinating resources, tournament infrastructure and operational standards.

Other figures involved in the original organisation included Dave Youngblood, Jerry Braun, Richmond Italia and Ed Poorman.

The promoters invested in shared infrastructure, including netting, air-filling systems and tournament equipment.[5]

During disagreements between PSP and the NPPL in 2002, Miller represented the promoters in negotiations concerning tournament sanctioning, financial arrangements and operational requirements.

He was quoted extensively in contemporary WARPIG reporting discussing the relationship between the two organisations.[5][18]

The dispute resulted in the development of separate tournament circuits, with PSP continuing independently and the NPPL introducing the NPPL Super 7 for the 2003 season.

Later involvement

Miller's involvement in paintball has extended across professional playing, team management, field operations, equipment retail and tournament promotion.

He remained associated with Chicago Aftershock for decades following its formation.

His participation in the 2023 ICPL Sunshine Classic demonstrated his continued connection with competitive classic-format paintball more than three decades after the team's establishment.[9]

References

Chicago Aftershock – History. Official team history documenting Scream, the 1991 merger and Aftershock's early championships.
Paintball Media – Then and Now: 26 Years of Aftershock Photos. John Amodea, 8 March 2017.
WARPIG – PSP Chicago Open 2011. Historical coverage identifying Miller's Bad Boyz Toyz and his role in establishing PSP.
WARPIG – PSP Chicago Open 2010. 24–27 June 2010. Historical account of the Chicago Open and Badlandz.
WARPIG – NPPL and PSP Get Back Together. Bill Mills, 22 May 2002.
WARPIG – 1998 NPPL World Cup. Contemporary tournament coverage documenting Aftershock's professional 10-man victory.
WARPIG – 2003 Mardi Gras Open NXL Rosters. Contemporary roster identifying Miller as an Aftershock assistant coach.
Social Paintball – What's Next for Chicago Aftershock?. Byron Woodfork, 3 February 2012.
ICPL – The 2023 Major League of Paintball Season Is Underway in Tampa. Official tournament coverage naming Miller among Aftershock's players.
PBLeagues – Chicago Aftershock Team Profile. Official competition registration and historical ownership records.
Chicago Aftershock – Meet the Team. Official current and former personnel listing.
Paintball History – Bad Boyz Toyz. Historical equipment archive covering BBT products and custom markers.
Paintball History – Skip Swift of SwiftLine, an Early Autococker Innovator. Includes historical recollections and equipment information supplied by Renick Miller.
KORE Outdoor – Management Team. Billy Ceranski biography documenting his work with Miller at Badlandz during the early 1990s.
WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Chicago Open. Contemporary coverage of tournament operations at Badlandz.
WARPIG – 2010 PSP Chicago Open. Historical coverage of Miller's Chicago Open promotion.
WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Atlantic City Open. Documents the event promotion activities of Miller and Dave Youngblood.
WARPIG – NPPL League and Promoters Split. Bill Mills, March 2002.

External links