Yep. The 'private company' quip just kills me. To have pro pool you need MONEY thus commercial involvement. MR/WNT is the dominant pro tour and probably will be for some time. No one else has the $$, the logistics, management, the whole enchilada it takes to run a pro tour. Damn sure isn't the stuffed shirts in Qatar aka the WPA. They may have a place in the game but its not in the pro arena.
Joshua Filler withdrawn from the Mosconi Cup!
- Thread starter vjmehra
- Start date
Nice to have a dream i guess. Having contractural agreements is nothing new in pro sports. Why should pool be any different? BTW, there really is no 'other side' here as the WPA does not run professional events, they just bless/sanction them and get fees for basically doing nothing.
Exactly
Read his original statement standing with players
...
Then read his weaseling to excuse abandoning them.
Guy deserves all he has coming.
Guess we all knew this might happen, but this certainly downgrades the 2024 Mosconi as an event.
Matchroom is certainly making a statement here, and unlike during the Reyes Cup disqualification, they have not cited the ridiculous reason of "team integrity." Although it was not cited at that time, it's hard not to suspect that some kind of breach of the WNT contract is in play here. Still, given that Josh skipped Hanoi in 2023 as well, it is hard to conclude that by skipping Hanoi, he breached his WNT contract. That said, I'm sure Matchroom's exceptional management team is doing what it believes to be necessary, and that there is some good business behind their actions.
The escalation of this feud serves nobody's best interests. If WNT plans to proceed without Filler, the WNT, as a product, has been cheapened. Filler will surely be remembered as one of the five best players of all time, and possibly even the greatest. If the Filler/Gorst rivalry is being cut off as it has just entered its fullest bloom, the fan is the other big loser.
As we all try to swallow this very disturbing news, I don't think we need to spend much time on who is right and who is wrong in the Filler vs Matchroom feud, because that's not what matters. The bottom line here is that if we are about to enter a period in pro pool where the majors will no longer feature all of the most elite players, we may be entering yet another dark age in pool. We've seen it before.
I want everything good for both Matchroom and Filler, but I'd sure hate to see the fans shortchanged by the ugly politics that now frame pro pool's landscape.
Matchroom is certainly making a statement here, and unlike during the Reyes Cup disqualification, they have not cited the ridiculous reason of "team integrity." Although it was not cited at that time, it's hard not to suspect that some kind of breach of the WNT contract is in play here. Still, given that Josh skipped Hanoi in 2023 as well, it is hard to conclude that by skipping Hanoi, he breached his WNT contract. That said, I'm sure Matchroom's exceptional management team is doing what it believes to be necessary, and that there is some good business behind their actions.
The escalation of this feud serves nobody's best interests. If WNT plans to proceed without Filler, the WNT, as a product, has been cheapened. Filler will surely be remembered as one of the five best players of all time, and possibly even the greatest. If the Filler/Gorst rivalry is being cut off as it has just entered its fullest bloom, the fan is the other big loser.
As we all try to swallow this very disturbing news, I don't think we need to spend much time on who is right and who is wrong in the Filler vs Matchroom feud, because that's not what matters. The bottom line here is that if we are about to enter a period in pro pool where the majors will no longer feature all of the most elite players, we may be entering yet another dark age in pool. We've seen it before.
I want everything good for both Matchroom and Filler, but I'd sure hate to see the fans shortchanged by the ugly politics that now frame pro pool's landscape.
Just as he always did before the boycott and the ban of the 245. Filler has been doing a lot of cleaning up at the WPA majors for years now.
I agree with some things here BUT whose fault is this entire dumpsterfire?? Filler's and no one else's. Had he gone to NZ with his ol lady just to hang out we wouldn't be here. Just my guess here but the timing/tenor of what he did sunk him. This all came very soon after the WNT player's statements and JF came off as totally self-serving. I don't think he's done with WNT/MR but i do think they're letting their other contracted players know they aren't dicking around. He's getting an extended 'time out'.
Kaci skipped the US Open and didn't get banned. So I don't see why Filler would get banned for skipping Hanoi.
I suspect the WNT contract gives Matchroom flexibility to pretty much do anything. So I don't think Joshua has any legal rights.
Filler being banned by Matchroom is exactly why I don't want a single private company controlling pool. Giving Matchroom the right to decide who can play in tournaments is not right.
It's funny how all of the Matchroom fans who were criticising the WPA for banning players are silent.
What is the difference between WPA banning players and Matchroom "withdrawing" Filler?
I suspect the WNT contract gives Matchroom flexibility to pretty much do anything. So I don't think Joshua has any legal rights.
Filler being banned by Matchroom is exactly why I don't want a single private company controlling pool. Giving Matchroom the right to decide who can play in tournaments is not right.
It's funny how all of the Matchroom fans who were criticising the WPA for banning players are silent.
What is the difference between WPA banning players and Matchroom "withdrawing" Filler?
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It was not the case.
Good
you paying their bills big talker? They aren’t playing for fun like us. They are trying to eat and keep a roof over their head
Who's gonna pay for dat?
Badpenguin
Well-known member
To be honest, good. I don't care how good of a player he is and how fun to watch he is, what he did, especially going to NZ, left a bad taste in my mouth and always will. He can enjoy his Predator money.
I wonder if they will also cancel the Filler junior event.
I wonder if they will also cancel the Filler junior event.
like fedor did with his wife
Badpenguin
Well-known member
Except Fedor kept his word and didn't play.
So why are posters stating that Filler has been banned...? I haven't read anything to that effect. This is what is actually wrong with pool and social media for that matter. People running their mouths like they're preaching the gospel. Inflaming a situation to support their narrative.
Assuming that Filler does not play in the WNT any further. I see this no differently than a couple of top flight Americans not playing professionally either. Filler can be known as the best player, who doesn't play against the best players. That's his call, and his alone.
It would be great to see consistent clashes between him and Gorst in the finals of majors throughout the year. However pro pool is so random these days due to depth that the likely hood that we'd see something so dramatic unfold is extremely unlikely.
Assuming that Filler does not play in the WNT any further. I see this no differently than a couple of top flight Americans not playing professionally either. Filler can be known as the best player, who doesn't play against the best players. That's his call, and his alone.
It would be great to see consistent clashes between him and Gorst in the finals of majors throughout the year. However pro pool is so random these days due to depth that the likely hood that we'd see something so dramatic unfold is extremely unlikely.
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So Matchroom doesn’t have the right to decide who plays in a Matchroom event?
I can't imagine any additional info that wouldn't make someone mad. Better to remain silent.
Ticketmaster is reselling tickets for about double the original price, so anyone who doesn't want their tickets can make a profit selling them.