What has Happened to the WPBA?

cuechick

cuechick

Flys In the Kitchen
Silver Member
I just saw an announcement about the regional tour championships... on the home page which is sponsored by the WPBA... Great but what is actually going on with the WPBA itself? Have they had any actual events this year or are any coming up? I see nothing on their website calendar? I know there was a Masters event held in Feb though I don't think this was a regular tour stop?

Why can they organize the RTC but not actual tour stops....? They use to have as many as 8 events a year! I know times are tough but ever since Peg Ledman left the tour has gone down hill fast. I have heard from one tour player that the powers the be thought they did not need her and could do it all themselves... failing to realize she was the one who had all the connections & relationships with the casino venues. Basically they thought they could run the show without the engine.... only to discover way too late how bad an ideal that was!

I just think its all very sad, it was at one time a great tour that had really overcome the odds. With so much strong, young talent coming up... I think it really could have made pool a bigger draw in the sports arena, if it had been handle right.
 
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TimKrazyMon

TimKrazyMon

Kid Delicious' Evil Twin
Silver Member
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cuechick

cuechick

Flys In the Kitchen
Silver Member
No. There is a not West Coast tour that just launched last weekend at Hardtimes.. open to both men and women... I think thats what you're thinking of.
 
N

NitPicker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
cuechick said:
No. There is a not West Coast tour that just launched last weekend at Hardtimes.. open to both men and women... I think thats what you're thinking of.
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I see...Tiger West Coast Women's Tour...under WPBA and BCA rules. But doesn't look like WPBA sponsored...sorry I was confused.
 
Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
I could be wrong but probably not. The WPBA ship so to speak, has been run by board members whom are pool players and that in itself is the most likely reason the business has not flourished. I remember years ago when the ladies walked away from supporting the game alongside the men, and they seemed to have ''something'' workin' but one things is for sure....pool players are NOT the same animal as a college educated business person with a career in mind.
 
Allen Brown

Allen Brown

Pool Whale
Silver Member
There was a WPBA event not long ago in Decatur, AL. I think Kelly Fisher was talking about one on this past weeks edition of American Billiard Radio. The WPBA is still kicking.
 
cuechick

cuechick

Flys In the Kitchen
Silver Member
Allen, I think that would have also been a regional tour event, not an actual WPBA event... the only event showing points awarded to the rankings for this year was the one held in Mt Pleasant, MI held back in Feb... The WPBA Soaring Eagle Masters...


In many areas the Regional tours are going strong... however where I live (So Cal) the tour has evaporated... I was told, there was no motivation since there were no pro events to qualify for... :frown:
I would play regardless but I'm not sure I would go all the way to Virginia to play in the RTCs ... I know many girls that will though.
 
boogeyman

boogeyman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Island Drive said:
I could be wrong but probably not. The WPBA ship so to speak, has been run by board members whom are pool players and that in itself is the most likely reason the business has not flourished. I remember years ago when the ladies walked away from supporting the game alongside the men, and they seemed to have ''something'' workin' but one things is for sure....pool players are NOT the same animal as a college educated business person with a career in mind.
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You're absolutely correct, Island Drive.
The problem with many of the start-up tours over the past decades
[(ABP) is the last one I can remember]
is that they have been driven by pool players who are not college educated in anything.

All you have to do is look at the large sample we have on this forum.
Many people can't write English well. It's disgusting.
That engenders miscommunication and guess what? That can lead to system breakdowns.

When we can finally get someone to take charge who is not only educated,
but also honest, our sport might take off.
Until then we are relegated to the quality of pool business we see happening today.
I have hope however, that someday it WILL happen.
 
alstl

alstl

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ESPN never properly funded the tour. I don't know why because I'm sure it drew more viewers than some of the garbage the put on their network but that's what happened to the WPBA.
 
T

thebark

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Cuechick you may want to check out the Arizona Women' Billiard Tour on awbt.net or look for them on Facebook. Many talented ladies from all over the southwest compete in the 6 yearly tournaments held in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The next AWBT event will be September 6,7 at Bullshooters in Phoenix. Maybe we will see you there.
 
Nostroke

Nostroke

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just one event this year and it's over. No Nationals no US Open- nothing.

The grand WPBA days were a matter of being around in the right place at the right time. before the real rise of the Internet, porn, video games and casinos within 50 miles of everyone -


America still had an interest in just what women could do in this man's game and other sports as well. There was sex and glamour and Ewa and Jeanette ruled and Jen kept it going a while too. It's different now. A whole lot better players but no one cares.

The recession didnt help but Companies made more money in the history of the earth last quarter and the last 18 months also and no one is rushing to the WPBA. That excuse is gone..

I am positive Rich Sacco has begged places to hold events. There were 8 saviors before him. The WPBA time has come and gone-just like CB radios and roller derby.

You know no one enjoyed the events more than I, but I'm afraid it's just over and it is very sad.

Just FWIW-

MHO and other people have quite different ideas on it-
 
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cuechick

cuechick

Flys In the Kitchen
Silver Member
thebark said:
Cuechick you may want to check out the Arizona Women' Billiard Tour on awbt.net or look for them on Facebook. Many talented ladies from all over the southwest compete in the 6 yearly tournaments held in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The next AWBT event will be September 6,7 at Bullshooters in Phoenix. Maybe we will see you there.
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Thanks, I have thought about it, I just don't play enough anymore to justify the time and expense to travel to an event... but never say never...


To Nostroke... sadly I think you are mostly right... however, I do think Peg Ledman was the major cog in the wheel that kept it all going. Her importance was highly underestimated by the then powers that be... which actually were highly influenced by a non-player/ marketing specialist that took over just long enough to permanently damage the tour... (some of you will know who I mean...)

Though I do believe outside help could have been a good thing, in this case it was not... so that puts a little dent in the previous post theory that it was the inmates running the asylum that did them in... though I think that is partially true... :embarrassed2:
 
Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
alstl said:
ESPN never properly funded the tour. I don't know why because I'm sure it drew more viewers than some of the garbage the put on their network but that's what happened to the WPBA.
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Most likely, they had no ownership of the event/video, just a one time nugget. Too bad they didn't sign a deal where they would of received income in perpetuity for each showing. I even remember when the show House/MD mentioned something about old men in the hospital watching the women bend over the pool table, so the gals did have it kick started, but never were able to herd the cats so to speak and get someone to STEER the ship, and get away from all the inner personal agendas.
 
F

FranCrimi

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As long as the sponsorship money continued, there was always hope. When Brunswick pulled out, it was the beginning of the end. The WPBA never recovered from the loss of their largest sponsor.
 
Nostroke

Nostroke

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
FranCrimi said:
As long as the sponsorship money continued, there was always hope. When Brunswick pulled out, it was the beginning of the end. The WPBA never recovered from the loss of their largest sponsor.
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You are right-that's the number one reason! I totally forgot about that. I once heard the number they were giving from a board member and it was way higher than i had ever thought.

Probably a minor point but i thought they should have found a way to continue the NY and the Valley Forge events where they drew real fans! Not a scattering off a bus from a senior center.

Having those shows on TV, with perhaps even a TV personality in the front row, made the WPBA a way more attractive product- solidifying a core fan base at the same time who are now largely gone.

It was a looooooooooong slow downhill slide that started at least 12-13 (?) years ago just before they brought in the "NY Marketing Outfit" who were heralded as being the savior with all their business savvy and connections to Corporations etc.. They had 2 or 3 more saviors after that and not one of them was able to accomplish anything of note.
 
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beetle

beetle

Do I bug you?
Silver Member
Wasn't sjm on the board? I'd like to hear his perspective on how to get the WPBA back on track.

Is it just me that perceives a lack of motivation from any players (or anybody) to do this?

I've been curious lately about how the top ranked women pool players make ends meet these days. I occasionally see Karen Corr competing in regional tours, and also giving lessons, but never any other women.

We have some regional womens events around here (JPNEWT) but they attract surprisingly few women even though they may be the only women's events for weeks or months at a time.

Are they (and the strong amateur women) just giving up on playing pool?

Top players like Allison Fisher and Jeanette Lee would do well in open events, but they never (or very rarely) seem to play in them.

Is all this really because of Brunswick pulling out?
 
Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
FranCrimi said:
As long as the sponsorship money continued, there was always hope. When Brunswick pulled out, it was the beginning of the end. The WPBA never recovered from the loss of their largest sponsor.
Click to expand...

Good info Fran, but having all your eggs in one basket is extremely risky in business. I remember when I had talked with Sean Cummings who worked for Brunswick and was also at that time, was the president of the BCA board of directors. I had addressed the board in Boulder Colorado, right after Paul Newman had passed, during my presentation, he was the ONLY person that perked up and listened intently, when I said lets try this player program that targets the homeowners who purchase over 90% of all billiard items sold in the states. I called him on Monday after the meeting and he said, Brunswick has tied my hands, won't let me do anything, I'm walking away from the BCA board and from Brunswick and I'm gonna work at Matco in Milwaukee at a new job. Pretty surprising tho, with such close contact with corporate/Eva....that NO one saw this coming.
 
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F

franko

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Recall

I recall reading that during the midst of their success they could never agree with the person who was governing their organization , I do not remember his name. I know they pretty much voted him out , and chose a panel / board from themselves. In essence they would now govern themselves. This led to much in house squabbles and back biting and their well oiled machine started to break down. Currently it seems as if the wheels have come off. It is a shame because they were a driving force for the good of Pool. My information may be somewhat sketchy it was from an article in Billiard Digest.
 
cardiac kid

cardiac kid

Super Senior Member
Silver Member
Several years ago during a thread regarding a men's tour, a poster held up the WPBA as being the template the men should follow. My post suggested a different take. My thought was as soon as the Native American tribes decide there are other promotion possibilities, the TV / cable audience that drove them to sponsor the events would end. With that loss, the WPBA tour would end as well. Appears I wasn't too far off. Sorry.

Lyn
 
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