Looks to me like J&S sold Cuetec to Imperial something-or-another. In an effort to downsize, they drop Earl Strickland, citing reasons which are often written about by the American pool culture about one of the greatest American legends to ever walk the earth.
Years ago, Falcon cues poured in duckets to a regional tour in my area, and for a solid year, it was the Falcon Tour. After one year, they shut down their Canadian offices, so I was told, and moved everything overseas. The Falcon Tour was thriving, receiving positive press advertising the Falcon product, and the membership of the tour grew by leaps and bounds. The tournament stop results were mentioned in every American pool magazine. The overseas new Falcon management withdrew their sponsorship, with no warning, to a tour which provided them good advertising.
Falcon also dropped Nick Varner like a hot potato a few years back, and Hall of Famer Nick Varner is still hitting 'em good and is an ambassador to the sport even today.
Buddy Hall also experienced some industry member sponsorship, and at the drop of a hat, they withdrew their sponsorship.
This happens all the time, but because it is Earl Strickland, it is controversial. Maybe he should shave his head like Britney, and then we can all have something to talk about.
Pool is cruel to its own.
JAM