Pool Cue News and Review

Well, it should come as no surprise that the ACS has issued their own “press release” about the BCA/UPA situation.  Sure, it doesn’t really have anything to do with them, but considering that John Lewis and the BCA don’t see eye to eye… scratch that.  Considering that John Lewis still holds an 800lb gorilla sized grudge against the BCA over the sale of the amateur leagues, any time he can speak out against the BCA, he’s going to.  For the record, this is from one of the people who thinks that pool should be an Olympic sport, so take it for what its worth.  In all fairness to the ACS, I have posted the entire letter.

For those who have asked, no, I am not the BCA’s bitch.  The BCA does plenty wrong, believe me.  I just think this feud is beyond stupid and the UPA (and now the ACS) are making themselves look extremely childish.  As for me, I’ll just grab some popcorn and happily watch the fight.

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Bravo to the UPA for standing up to the recent “BCA Resumes Control of Men’s Rankings, Communications” release!

The UPA - United States Professional Poolplayers Association, is an affiliate to the ACS - American CueSports Alliance. The ACS – a member-governed association – fully supports a pro men’s player union in the United States and their right to administer and govern their own affairs.

When issues arise that negatively affect the players, too often there’s a lack of activism. Regardless of -
- who is promoting a pro men’s event
- who claims to be a governing body
- who advertises themselves as the next savior of pool, it is paramount that the professional pool players in the United States remain focused on their own union, whose sole purpose is to look after their interests.

In recent years, that has been the UPA. Some may criticize the organization for doing too little, but such critics should never lose sight of one vision - the UPA is “the men pro player’s thing” to which they can look to when outside forces make decisions that affect their future without including their “union” in the decision-making.

The Billiard Congress of America trade association should only be supported for what it is – a trade association that is necessary to the industry.

However, since 2004 when the BCA divested itself of its player programs, it has unfortunately insisted on continuing to adopt a governing body stance, with the also unfortunate backing of the world-governing body for the sport of pool, the WPA - World-Pool-Billiard Association.

The WPA is a credible world sports body, but even a credible body can make poor decisions. The WPA interference in United States pool growth by their continuing to recognize a trade association whose entire board of directors is trade people, is a black mark on the world-governing body. Unlike all the other confederation members of the WPA, the BCA is NOT a sports organization! It has no sports structure. If it walks like a trade association and quacks like a trade association…IT’S A TRADE ASSOCIATION! No amount of coaching from the WPA to be otherwise is going to change the BCA’s true profile.

The ‘Committee’ formed by the BCA of various Player Member organizations (which included the UPA) to somehow satisfy the WPA and to somehow address their complete lack of player membership, has shown itself to be the ‘window dressing’ of which it was suspected. In the United States, the women pros have a strong player’s union, and the WPBA serves that function very capably. But the men pro player’s in the United States should never lose sight of their best interest in supporting their own player’s union, and the UPA currently serves that purpose!

When the BCA announced a new ranking system that will affect the men pro players in the United States without consultation or input from representative players from their player’s union, the trade association showed its true colors.

Players in all member-governed associations should not support such actions. Let your voices be heard! Support the UPA on this issue and discourage the BCA trade association from any involvement in governing the sport.

Especially with the current overall weakness in the billiard industry, we need the BCA to fully focus on trade issues. The BCA should be working with and fully supporting Player Member organizations such as the UPA, instead of needlessly meddling with player issues that it is simply not organized or suited to responsibly handle.

John Lewis
Current ACS Executive Director
Lewis is the longest-tenured BCA employee (1991-2004) in the association’s history and a former board member of the WPA (1991-2007).

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So here’s a question… if she’s hot and she’s a pool referee, should she be included in the pool hottie guide? When it comes to someone as foxy as Michaela Tabb, the answer is a resounding “hell yeah!”. Michaela is smokin’ hot and these pictures don’t even come close to doing her justice. Plus, she’s got that killer accent and god knows I’m a huge sucker for gals with English, Scottish and Irish accents.

If you haven’t heard of Michaela, you must be living under a rock. She’s one of the most respected pool and snooker refs in the industry and among other events, she’s reffed the Mosconi Cup and the WPA World 9 Ball Championships. She doesn’t get intimidated by anyone and was famously presented flowers by prepetual asshat Earl Strickland as an apology after Earl acted like a jackass during a match she reffed.

Next time you’re at an event, keep an eye out for Michaela. She’s all kinds of Milfy goodness! If you happen to be in Vegas for the BCA Nationals, you might be lucky enough to spot her at The Riv.

Apparently the UPA isn’t quite done stamping their feet about the new rankings system.  In a response to the BCA’s new rankings, the UPA has updated their rankings.  Meanwhile, the rest of the world collectively yawns, scratches their heads, shrugs their shoulders and goes back to not paying a lick of attention to the so called “men’s tour”.

Of everything that’s come out in the past few days, this has to be my favorite quote.

“I am not requesting that my name be removed from the new ‘rankings’ posted by the BCA, I am demanding it.” -Rodney Morris

Seriously?  It’s a ranking system.  Who cares.  Anyone can create a ranking system for just about anything.  Wait… I think I just did.  The following is the Pool Cue News Power Report as generated by the Futura 3000 megacomputer:

1. Ralf Souquet
2. Shane Van Boening
3. Francisco Bustamante
4. Johnny Archer
5. Jung-Lin Chang
6. Allison Fisher
7. Gabe Owen
8. Mika Immonen
9. Ronnie Alcano
10.Brian Gregg

I dig Rodney Morris.  I like his game and he’s a good guy, but I really hate to see him going down this road.  I get that you’re pissed about this whole situation, but demanding that your name be taken off the rankings is just silly.  Besides, the UPA really brought this on themselves by having a such disorganized tour to begin with.  Had they been able to co-exist with the WPA, I seriously doubt the BCA would have felt the need to step in.  If you’re really pissed at the BCA, skip the 9 ball tournament next month in Charlotte and make a statement instead of just denouncing the new ranking system.

It looks like Jasmin Ouschan is pulling a Michelle Wie and is going to take on the boys this Spring. According to AZ Billiards, Jasmin qualified for the Men’s WPA 8 Ball Championships slated for this April. Considering the fact that her break rivals most male players, I think she’ll have a little more success than when Wie tried this with the PGA tour.

Just keep showing that flat stomach, give ‘em that sexy scowl, crush that hammer of a break and show the boys how its done.