BCA Ignores Pro Pool and Continues to Fatten Industry Members' Pockets

[9ballhasbeen]

So the Oz of CSI is on the BCA Board. What does he do?!

Ozzy is a top notch person and works hard for CSI and the game. It is my understanding that the board advises more than anything else. Board members aren't compensated financially and each of them comes from a different subset in the industry, i.e. leagues, manufacturing, retail, pool hals.

 

[cajunfats]

I paid $15 in "membership fee" to play BCA 9 Ball in one pool hall, and then I had to pay another $15 "membership fee" to play BCA 9 Ball in another pool hall. Ok, that's my only complaint about BCA. I don't have any input about BCA ignoring professional pool, but I do wonder what ever happened to the big money matches.

In the "old" BCA League System, if you sanctioned in one league, you were sanctioned in any BCA League. You merely had to pay any local fees that were collected by the league operator.
I am not aware of the requirements of the "new" BCAPL in regards to sanctioning or membership.
I have input regarding the current Trade Association and Pro Pool, but I'll reserve that for another thread and time.
Enjoy playing in your league and good luck developing your 9 Ball Skills.

P.S. Long ago, I put the OGIPUS REX in my sig line, is a tongue in cheek reference to the whole issue of "who" is the official governing body of pool in the United States.
OGIPUS REX-Official Governing Institute for Pool in the United States...of which I have declared myself...King. LOL.

 

[cardiac kid]

In the "old" BCA League System, if you sanctioned in one league, you were sanctioned in any BCA League. You merely had to pay any local fees that were collected by the league operator. I am not aware of the requirements of the "new" BCAPL in regards to sanctioning or membership.

Fats,

For several years, BCAPL allowed a player to pay one sanction fee in their primary league. They could then play in other BCAPL leagues and the $15 fee was sufficient. For the past few years, BCAPL requires a player to pay a sanction fee for each league whose league number is not the same. The league here in Rochester is #669. The league I play in in Vegas is #769. You would think with the incredible computer system CSI uses they could figure out I'm the same player in each league and allow me to pay once. Oh well.

Lyn

 

[cajunfats]

Fats,

For several years, BCAPL allowed a player to pay one sanction fee in their primary league. They could then play in other BCAPL leagues and the $15 fee was sufficient. For the past few years, BCAPL requires a player to pay a sanction fee for each league whose league number is not the same. The league here in Rochester is #669. The league I play in in Vegas is #769. You would think with the incredible computer system CSI uses they could figure out I'm the same player in each league and allow me to pay once. Oh well.

Lyn

Lyn, thank you for the explanation. I agree, with bar coding and other application technologies, you'd think they could have you assigned a player specific number and you use it everywhere you play. Especially handy for Snowbirds who Summer North and Winter elsewhere. Thanks again for the clarification.

Carl

 

[jburkm002]

Can someone define professional pool?

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[Tony_in_MD]

The opposite of amateur pool.

:grin:

Can someone define professional pool?

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[KissedOut]

Just because it's a game doesn't mean valuable learning can't be involved. Many things could be taught with and on a pool table


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Why stop there? We could do some great teaching of probability by setting up casinos in schools.

 

[BmoreMoney]

How many different, "organizations", have the players tried to rally under? Have they run out of acronyms yet?

Pool is a very individual sport with one tournament per year, in the Mosconi Cup, that forces them to unite for a few days of play. Scotch Doubles tournaments might be the only other notable exception.

Because of this nature it's hard to get people who don't intrinsically trust others to get together and work together. Look at the uproar over the WPA fines. But that is what's needed; a framework that everyone adheres to. It goes against their grain.

That is not a bad thing either, it's just the nature of the beast. A beast that has to be tamed or nothing will change. Darren is using 8-ball in his events which could bring about more of an audience than 9-ball and 10-ball.

Golfer's play golf. They don't play a completely different game than amateurs. They use the black tees to make it harder, and have more difficult pin placements. Pool can do the same thing: standardize the equipment (everyone plays on a 9') but make the pockets harder (facings and smaller size). If you change the game you lose the audience. So far that's all that's ever been done; random games, random tables, random pocket sizes. It's no wonder no amateur can follow it.

I actually think the variety of games, tables, etc is a huge plus. Just like all of us on here , not everyone likes the same game so some variety is good. No, these gamessages are not hard to figure out for the general public either as someone saod. I'd like to believe most everybody can figure out the rules and basics in like 10 Mims or so, and the nuances not too too long afterward.

If anyone wants to liken it to other sports let's take a quick look : tennis has what 3 playing surfaces? Nascar has different size and style tracks. Golf is even a good example with all the different courses and layouts. I think the variety in tables and games make it more interesting and exciting and will keep more folks interested for longer than if everything was the same - kinda like bowling. Now that brings up and interesting question / observarion.

So bowling is supposed to be in much better shape than pool right? They do have a tour, better prize money and some tv. I'd venture to say that amateur / recreational bowlers probably number very close to the same for pool players ( leagues and what not ). So why the different results? That's the crux of this and Jam hit it pretty good. Lack of leadership / promotion, and unity. Imo, those three things are the problem. With those I'm sure pool could be at least as big as bowling and probably much bigger.

 

[hang-the-9]

I paid $15 in "membership fee" to play BCA 9 Ball in one pool hall, and then I had to pay another $15 "membership fee" to play BCA 9 Ball in another pool hall. Ok, that's my only complaint about BCA. I don't have any input about BCA ignoring professional pool, but I do wonder what ever happened to the big money matches.

The BCA pool league is not the BCA this is about. BCAPL is part of CSI and a CSI associate membership should be enough to quality to play in all CSI events that are not specific to their team leagues.

CSI Membership
We recognize that many people live in an area that does not offer a BCAPL league or they simply cannot make the commitment to weekly league play. Therefore, we have created the "CSI Membership" as an avenue to qualify those people for BCAPL singles and scotch doubles events. Please note that this does not qualify players for team events.

CSI Membership Benefits:
Eligibility for the BCAPL National Championships (singles and scotch doubles only)
Eligibility for select BCAPL state and regional events
Digital copy of "The Official Rules of CueSports International" (PDF, e-book, and Mobile versions)
Exclusive members only discounts - click here to learn more
Personalized membership card
Full-time national office support (M-F 9am-5pm Pacific Time)

 

[Ghosst]

No, these gamessages are not hard to figure out for the general public either as someone saod. I'd like to believe most everybody can figure out the rules and basics in like 10 Mims or so, and the nuances not too too long afterward.

If anyone wants to liken it to other sports let's take a quick look ...

So bowling is supposed to be in much better shape than pool right? I'd venture to say that amateur / recreational bowlers probably number very close to the same for pool players ( leagues and what not ). So why the different results? That's the crux of this and Jam hit it pretty good. Lack of leadership / promotion, and unity.

I've honestly watched a lot of players groan and say they don't care about 9-ball. Even if it's the only thing on television - the Mosconi Cup - it's not what they play and they walk away. It has nothing to do with my personal opinion whatsoever. I'm just using my eyes and ears.

As far as sizes - great, amateurs play on 7' tables because that's what fits in a bar. The APA had a good comment on a YouTube video about why they keep using Valley tables - it's what people are used to. It's not a slight against Diamond either in what I read. It makes sense. Pros should not be competing in that arena; they're just too good. There needs to be some kind of separation between them and league players.

Even I'm guilty of seeing pros on a barbox and changing the channel. It holds no interest for me to watch them run out like water. Watching someone run out on 4.125" pockets on a 9' does hold an interest because it's different than what I can see at the poolhall where there are at least 10 players locally that can run a short set on a 7'.

I believe I touched on all of your points about an organization before you wrote them. If I missed something, please point it out. It may have been in my second post in this thread.

 

[336Robin]

The cost of buying Pro Pool and Pool in the US

Even pool's fourth estate is crying for BCA to step up to the plate and resurrect pool in AMERICA. I mean, after all, the name of the organization is Billiards Congress of AMERICA.

According to a recent Billiards Digest Publisher's article, Mike Panozzo writes: "The BCA should lead the charge to develop a national team. It's part of their mission. And it would be a lift for the sport."

And then there's this: "The BCA isn’t flush with money, but it does have upwards of $1 million in its reserves. I understand the BCA has a fiduciary responsibility to its members to keep the association alive and sound. I also believe it has a responsibility to use some of that money to grow the sport."

A million dollars? What, are you kidding me? And they can't produce a frigging professional tournament?

Like the WPA, the BCA continues to fatten the pockets of its members while ignoring the very thing they are charged with supporting, and that is professional pool. After all, the BCA is the so-called governing body of professional pool. Well, what have you done for them lately, BCA?

Industry members continue to say the BCA is there for them, but I've got news for you, Industry Members, it ain't all about you. That's not what the purpose of the organization is supposed to be.

The WPA and the BCA are a joke. Somebody needs to be held accountable for the continued pocketing of funds while professional pool is dying a slow and ugly death in the United States.

If nothing is done, I suggest nobody support the WPA and BCA with membership dues and sanctioning fees. Screw 'em!

Read more here about what can be done to promote professional pool: Battle Cry.

At this point I haven't read this thread but will say this:

If you had half a million in the stock market.."in a decent mutual fund", "lets say from memberships of different kinds and levels" you could earn off interest enough to fund a pro tour.

If the capital of that money were never dipped into, that fund would grow and pool would have an inexhaustible fund to promote the sport.

Eventually that fund would grow larger and pool would also be larger. It would require a 5013c organization that could offer its members tax deductible contributions.