Has the Billiards Congress Of America become a detriment to the health of professional pool in the United States?
I ask this question as a result of reading a post to the string about some professional players retiring from pool.
JAM posted a comment that read in part;
The existing lot of American pro players is dwindling. In my opinion, this is the result of the abhorrent disregard by the Billiard Congress of America to the very players they are supposed to support and represent. Shame on the BCA organization for creating this mess. If they had been doing their job, professional pool would be alive and well. Industry members support industry members and look at pro players as if they're panhandlers or a gnat in their collective ears. Shame on them! Shame on them! Shame on them.
I asked JAM to expand on this comment with sound supporting argument. I also decided to see what the BCA web site had to offer. I found it interesting that their own web site seems to support some of what JAM had to say.
JAM’s response was;
The Billiard Congress of America is supposed to be the governmental organization for North American professional pool, which includes the United States.
The WPA is above them.
The WPA doesn't give a damn about industry members, yet the BCA seems to center their entire existence around its membership consisting of industry members.
The once-a-year BCA Open, which really wasn't an open since it was an invitational, with half of its player roster coming from abroad, outside of the BCA jurisdiction, folded like a lawn chair a few years ago. That was the little bone with not much meat on it that the BCA "gave" to professional pool. They decided that wasn't worth it anymore.
If the BCA wants to look out for its membership consisting of industry members, then they should relinquish their position representing North America. I say give it to Mark Griffin or some other entity that really does care about pool players. Industry members care about industry members getting fat while professional pool players go to two, three, and four tournaments a month and cannot ever break even.
The BCA with its fat industry members should have created a pro tour with funds coming from the fat industry members. If there were a pro tour, pool might have a chance in mainstream America on TV.
Instead, we have American dancing monkeys for pro players who sell their services like prostitutes to the highest bidder. The pool player ends up with a sliver of pie.
The industry members aka BCA in this regard have created the demise of professional pool with their shameful disregard to the players themselves. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.
From the BCA web site we get the following;
A brief history
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) was established in 1948, with early involvement by players like Willie Mosconi and Willie Hoppe. The objective was to organize the players and promote the sport through qualifying tournaments at the local, regional and national levels in Straight Pool and 3-Cushion billiards (the popular competitive disciplines of the era) and recognize those champions. Organizers were also determined to produce an official rulebook to standardize the sport and help fund the effort; and to involve billiard rooms, retailers and manufacturers in meeting these promotional goals.
In 1982, the BCA board of directors decided to develop and host an industry trade show, at which all segments of the sport could meet. Today the BCA International Billiards & Home Recreation Expo is the largest billiard trade show in the world. Profits from the show, along with retail sales of "Billiards: The Official Rules & Records Book" generate substantial operating revenues, which allow the BCA to promote the sport at many different levels.
In 2004, the BCA re-dedicated itself to achieving a united, growing, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership. The BCA enhances the success of its members and promotes the game of billiards through educational programs, the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, tournaments and other programs designed to make pool everybody's game.
What started as an organization of professional players to organize themselves in a bid to promote the game with the involvement of billiard room operators, retailers and manufacturers appears to have been hijacked by these same entities which have turned this organization into something other than what the founding players had envisioned.
Players are now a fringe part of this organization started with players.
The July 12 2011 by laws confirm lack of player representation i.e.
Section 2.2
The objectives of the BCA shall be:
(1) To develop interest and participation throughout the United States in the sport of billiards and
to educate those connected with or desirous of becoming affiliated with the billiard industry.
(2) To collect and disseminate statistics and information of a general economic, social and
government character, analyze subjects relating thereto, and secure and present the view of the
members to other organizations, the government and the public.
(3) To conduct trade promotion activities, including advertising and publicity.
(4) To work with other organizations to improve all areas of the billiard industry.
(5) To engage in any lawful activity that will enhance the efficient and economic progress of the
industry and inform the public of its scope and character.
Article III: Membership
Section 3.1
There shall be four (4) categories of membership, each with its own privileges, voting rights and dues
structure.
Category 1 Manufacturer/Distributor – Licensed business entity with its principle business in the
manufacturing process or wholesale distribution of billiard equipment or accessories.
Billiard Media – Licensed business entity with its principle business in billiard media.
However, Billiard Media members are not entitled to hold a Board of Directors position.
Category 2 Retailer – Licensed business entity with its principle business in the selling of billiard
equipment or billiard accessories from an established, publicly known place of business.
BCA Bylaws – Approved July 12, 2011 Page 2 of 1010
Category 3 Room Operator
1. Licensed business with its principle business operating one or more establishments
where billiards are played, and
2. Licensed business with its principle business operating a billiards league or league
system.
Category 4 Affiliate – All others in four subgroups:
1. Associations, organizations, billiard media and other licensed entities actively
engaged in the billiard industry,
2. Licensed entities not engaged in the billiard industry,
3. Professional Billiard players (individuals) that earn their living from playing billiards,
giving exhibitions of billiards, or otherwise promoting the sport, and
4. Any other person or entity that the board of directors deems appropriate for
membership in the organization
TO HIGHLIGHT: Players are now relegated to the “all others” in a sub group with no right to vote on any matter before the BCA as per.....
Section 3.3
Member entities in Category 4 do not have voting privileges and their personnel are not eligible for appointment or election.
To re-iterate, only cat 1, 2, 3 can serve as officer or director.
Category 4 has a $200 per year membership. Note that the VNEA, BCA leagues and the APA would appear to be category 4 members so again the associations that represent actual players have no vote.
What does the Billiard Congress of America actually do for the professional pool player?
Well for one, they have a travel fund to support those who they sanction to go to World Pool & Billiard Association (WPA) events and they indicate that the Billiard Congress of America is committed to the growth and advancement of North American professional pool players. Nice words until you read on;
The North American professional pool player travel fund was established to assist North America's best professional pool players' travel expenses when they compete at WPA sanctioned world championships. To support the professional player travel fund, 50% of all revenue sales from the Official Billiard Rules Mobile Application will go directly in to the travel fund. Once the Billiard Congress of America determines it can adequately invest in North American professional pool player travel for a complete year, we will launch and announce the effort and the fund's parameters to all professional billiard players in North America.
The Billiard Congress of America would like the fund to work as a "zero-risk loan” to players who agree to pay back the funds if they earn more than 50% of the loan money at the WPA event. As the fund grows, the Billiard Congress of America will work on the specifics in order to provide more travel stipends to North America's best professional pool and billiard players.
If I read this right a player can (if 50% of the revenue from selling the Official Billiard Rules Mobile Application is enough to invest in player travel for the full year) borrow travel money to attend events and they agree to pay back 100% of the loan if they win prize money equal to 50% of the loan.
By this point I reached my own conclusions about the Billiard Congress of America and was left wondering if this organization was still valid or had the original intent been hijacked by self interest at the expense of the players holding the players hostage to their will by using their power as a sanctioning body to keep them in line.
I would love to hear some clear examples of what they have done to support pool in general and the professional player in specifics. As always, I wonder where the money goes. This is a non profit entity.
I will leave it at that, thanking JAM for her input and anyone wishing to give specific examples of a benefit given to pool in general or to specific professional players.
I ask this question as a result of reading a post to the string about some professional players retiring from pool.
JAM posted a comment that read in part;
The existing lot of American pro players is dwindling. In my opinion, this is the result of the abhorrent disregard by the Billiard Congress of America to the very players they are supposed to support and represent. Shame on the BCA organization for creating this mess. If they had been doing their job, professional pool would be alive and well. Industry members support industry members and look at pro players as if they're panhandlers or a gnat in their collective ears. Shame on them! Shame on them! Shame on them.
I asked JAM to expand on this comment with sound supporting argument. I also decided to see what the BCA web site had to offer. I found it interesting that their own web site seems to support some of what JAM had to say.
JAM’s response was;
The Billiard Congress of America is supposed to be the governmental organization for North American professional pool, which includes the United States.
The WPA is above them.
The WPA doesn't give a damn about industry members, yet the BCA seems to center their entire existence around its membership consisting of industry members.
The once-a-year BCA Open, which really wasn't an open since it was an invitational, with half of its player roster coming from abroad, outside of the BCA jurisdiction, folded like a lawn chair a few years ago. That was the little bone with not much meat on it that the BCA "gave" to professional pool. They decided that wasn't worth it anymore.
If the BCA wants to look out for its membership consisting of industry members, then they should relinquish their position representing North America. I say give it to Mark Griffin or some other entity that really does care about pool players. Industry members care about industry members getting fat while professional pool players go to two, three, and four tournaments a month and cannot ever break even.
The BCA with its fat industry members should have created a pro tour with funds coming from the fat industry members. If there were a pro tour, pool might have a chance in mainstream America on TV.
Instead, we have American dancing monkeys for pro players who sell their services like prostitutes to the highest bidder. The pool player ends up with a sliver of pie.
The industry members aka BCA in this regard have created the demise of professional pool with their shameful disregard to the players themselves. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.
From the BCA web site we get the following;
A brief history
The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) was established in 1948, with early involvement by players like Willie Mosconi and Willie Hoppe. The objective was to organize the players and promote the sport through qualifying tournaments at the local, regional and national levels in Straight Pool and 3-Cushion billiards (the popular competitive disciplines of the era) and recognize those champions. Organizers were also determined to produce an official rulebook to standardize the sport and help fund the effort; and to involve billiard rooms, retailers and manufacturers in meeting these promotional goals.
In 1982, the BCA board of directors decided to develop and host an industry trade show, at which all segments of the sport could meet. Today the BCA International Billiards & Home Recreation Expo is the largest billiard trade show in the world. Profits from the show, along with retail sales of "Billiards: The Official Rules & Records Book" generate substantial operating revenues, which allow the BCA to promote the sport at many different levels.
In 2004, the BCA re-dedicated itself to achieving a united, growing, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership. The BCA enhances the success of its members and promotes the game of billiards through educational programs, the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, tournaments and other programs designed to make pool everybody's game.
What started as an organization of professional players to organize themselves in a bid to promote the game with the involvement of billiard room operators, retailers and manufacturers appears to have been hijacked by these same entities which have turned this organization into something other than what the founding players had envisioned.
Players are now a fringe part of this organization started with players.
The July 12 2011 by laws confirm lack of player representation i.e.
Section 2.2
The objectives of the BCA shall be:
(1) To develop interest and participation throughout the United States in the sport of billiards and
to educate those connected with or desirous of becoming affiliated with the billiard industry.
(2) To collect and disseminate statistics and information of a general economic, social and
government character, analyze subjects relating thereto, and secure and present the view of the
members to other organizations, the government and the public.
(3) To conduct trade promotion activities, including advertising and publicity.
(4) To work with other organizations to improve all areas of the billiard industry.
(5) To engage in any lawful activity that will enhance the efficient and economic progress of the
industry and inform the public of its scope and character.
Article III: Membership
Section 3.1
There shall be four (4) categories of membership, each with its own privileges, voting rights and dues
structure.
Category 1 Manufacturer/Distributor – Licensed business entity with its principle business in the
manufacturing process or wholesale distribution of billiard equipment or accessories.
Billiard Media – Licensed business entity with its principle business in billiard media.
However, Billiard Media members are not entitled to hold a Board of Directors position.
Category 2 Retailer – Licensed business entity with its principle business in the selling of billiard
equipment or billiard accessories from an established, publicly known place of business.
BCA Bylaws – Approved July 12, 2011 Page 2 of 1010
Category 3 Room Operator
1. Licensed business with its principle business operating one or more establishments
where billiards are played, and
2. Licensed business with its principle business operating a billiards league or league
system.
Category 4 Affiliate – All others in four subgroups:
1. Associations, organizations, billiard media and other licensed entities actively
engaged in the billiard industry,
2. Licensed entities not engaged in the billiard industry,
3. Professional Billiard players (individuals) that earn their living from playing billiards,
giving exhibitions of billiards, or otherwise promoting the sport, and
4. Any other person or entity that the board of directors deems appropriate for
membership in the organization
TO HIGHLIGHT: Players are now relegated to the “all others” in a sub group with no right to vote on any matter before the BCA as per.....
Section 3.3
Member entities in Category 4 do not have voting privileges and their personnel are not eligible for appointment or election.
To re-iterate, only cat 1, 2, 3 can serve as officer or director.
Category 4 has a $200 per year membership. Note that the VNEA, BCA leagues and the APA would appear to be category 4 members so again the associations that represent actual players have no vote.
What does the Billiard Congress of America actually do for the professional pool player?
Well for one, they have a travel fund to support those who they sanction to go to World Pool & Billiard Association (WPA) events and they indicate that the Billiard Congress of America is committed to the growth and advancement of North American professional pool players. Nice words until you read on;
The North American professional pool player travel fund was established to assist North America's best professional pool players' travel expenses when they compete at WPA sanctioned world championships. To support the professional player travel fund, 50% of all revenue sales from the Official Billiard Rules Mobile Application will go directly in to the travel fund. Once the Billiard Congress of America determines it can adequately invest in North American professional pool player travel for a complete year, we will launch and announce the effort and the fund's parameters to all professional billiard players in North America.
The Billiard Congress of America would like the fund to work as a "zero-risk loan” to players who agree to pay back the funds if they earn more than 50% of the loan money at the WPA event. As the fund grows, the Billiard Congress of America will work on the specifics in order to provide more travel stipends to North America's best professional pool and billiard players.
If I read this right a player can (if 50% of the revenue from selling the Official Billiard Rules Mobile Application is enough to invest in player travel for the full year) borrow travel money to attend events and they agree to pay back 100% of the loan if they win prize money equal to 50% of the loan.
By this point I reached my own conclusions about the Billiard Congress of America and was left wondering if this organization was still valid or had the original intent been hijacked by self interest at the expense of the players holding the players hostage to their will by using their power as a sanctioning body to keep them in line.
I would love to hear some clear examples of what they have done to support pool in general and the professional player in specifics. As always, I wonder where the money goes. This is a non profit entity.
I will leave it at that, thanking JAM for her input and anyone wishing to give specific examples of a benefit given to pool in general or to specific professional players.
.
