UPA _ what a joke !

J

jungledude

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Charlie Williams and the UPA are the worst thing that could ever happen to professional pool. The top players - Corey D. and Earl Strickland can't play because they won't sign his exclusive contract then he holds a seeded tournament where he is seeded in the top 16 but Hopkins, Danny Medina, and others are not. What a joke - was just two years ago I watched Corey give Charlie Williams the wild 7 in Louisville in front of thousands.
Great format he plays someone from the house of the blind while Medina/Hopkins have to play each other. They were both stringing racks when he was just a thought in his dad's testicles.:mad:
 
I totally agree/ very long reply

I have to totally agree with you. Charlie Williams has no class and because of that the UPA won't survive. If you are holding a tournament and you do not let the UPA sanction it he threatens you with a boycott of UPA players. He proved what he was about at the U S Open last year (2002) by showing up and asking the players to boycott the Open. This after the players meeting. He has done nothing but try to harm the OPEN and Barry Behrman since Barry had a problem with his Masters payouts and The Open the year of 9/11. Since the gate was so low cuz all the airports were shut down he had to cut the purse. And the attendance was so low also. We all know Barry is no saint and has had his problems. Now if a big tournament comes up Charlie "MAY" give waivers to the UPA players. The players will always go where the money is. When Charlie plays at the joss tour event in Rochester NY like he has for the last couple of years does he give himself a waiver since it is not a UPA sanctioned event. who did he keep out this year. a couple of "friends". Hell, the threat of hurricane Isabel kept more players away. Don Mackey from the old pro Organization tried the same thing with exclusive contracts. But atleast he got sponsorship money for most of the players from DON MEUCCI and his cues. But there is a big difference betwen both of these organizations. What does the UPA guarantee the players. Charlie won't/ can't answer that question. Don Mackey guaranteed all the purses by having an insurance on all of them............finally.... like i said... players will go where the money is. If someone was to hold a Very large money tournament, do you think the players would boycott it cuz the UPA was not allowed to sanction it.................mike
 
Charlie Williams is the "voice" of the UPA and changes the rules as he goes along. Nobody answers the phone number listed on the UPA website in Hardy, Virginia, and if you e-mail the website, you are lucky to get a response within a week. The website is not updated on a current basis. It lists the L.A. tournament as part of the UPA Tour, when we all know that it was canceled A LONG TIME AGO.

Here are some of the provisions in the UPA legally binding contract that Charile expects pool players to sign without benefit of counsel:

Pool player agrees that in the event of a breach...the UPA may obtain from any court having jurisdiction, such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including an injunction...in addition to any other remedies which may be available. Pool player understands that such relief includes, but is not limited to, the obtaining of an injunction prohibiting Player from participating in any billiards event not...sanctioned by the UPA.

Or, pool player hereby grants to the UPA the right and permission to copyright, use, reuse, publish, broadcast, republish and rebroadcast the pool player’s appearances in billiard tournaments and in tour events. Pool player further grants to the UPA the use of his name, signature and likeness in conjunction with said billiard tournaments.

Or, any controversy or claim arising out..or any breach thereof, shall be settled in Orlando, Florida...and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

The UPA passes out these legally binding contracts like fliers at commencement of tournaments and expects pool players to sign the dotted line without benefit of counsel. A prominent well-known attorney was given this contract in Las Vegas to sign at the commencement of the UPA event, and he wouldn't sign it because, with his legal background, he realized the contract was written in such a way as to only benefit UPA.

Recently, within the past week, Charlie changed the UPA rules, forcing pool players to either join the UPA or be banned from tournaments. They created a "touring pro" category targeting Corey, Troy, Keith, Earl, and whoever else the UPA wants to define as a "touring pro."

If you, Cueball1950, want to play in any UPA event, you can still pay $25 one-time fee and not be a UPA member. Charlie's intent is to force the "touring pros" to join UPA or be BANNED from competing in UPA events, such as Fury World Summit and the recent Atlanta tourney.

The UPA has hurt men's pool immensely, and the nightmare continues.

ManlyShot
 
ManlyShot,

Are there enough non-UPA players so that tournament directors could actually ban the UPA without hurting their pockets? I think that if these directors and promoters stopped letting the UPA bully them then it would disolve on it's own because the players would not let this come in the way of making a living. Just a thought and I will be out this weekend supporting whoever shows up in Quincy, MA for the Joss event.

Regards,
DDK
 
DDKoop said:
Just a thought and I will be out this weekend supporting whoever shows up in Quincy, MA for the Joss event.
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DDKoop, I may show up in Quincy. I am currently trying to juggle a few logistical situations, but I want to show up for the Joss Tour event, $5,000 added. Mike Zuglan runs a good tour, and the money count is always right in the payouts. He pours endless hours into making this Joss Tour happen and should be commended for his hard work. He ain't in it for the money, believe me, and he also hits 'em pretty darn good.

The pool room in Quincy is nice, good food and great spirits, and the hotel accommodations are first class in the area. I would definitely suggest the Marriott Conference Center, if traveling, one of the nicest in the country (IMO).

Independent promoters and TDs are now wise to the UPA strangelhold and are not bowing down to their demands. I know of several pool higher-ups who have resigned from the UPA because of all of the problems created.

However, the UPA still continues its discriminatory practices of targeting their categorized "touring pros," to prevent Corey, Troy, Keith, Earl, and anybody they want from competing in tournaments. It is discrimination in its ugliest form because ALL OTHER POOL PLAYERS IN THE WHOLE WORLD are allowed to compete in a UPA event by paying a $25 one-time fee. Charlie Williams has created a list of "touring pros," and if these pool players who are HIS TOURING PROS don't sign the legally binding UPA contract, they are BANNED.

For the life of me, I don't understand how this helps pool at all. Rather, it creates a division. Many pool players have not renewed their UPA contracts, and folks like Corey decided to actually READ the contract and had the good sense to realize it could hurt his pool-playing career, not to mention his sponsors' interests.

Even if Charlie Williams steps down as president of the UPA, he is still on the board of directors making up the rules as he goes along.

I do look forward to meeting you in Quincy if I make it. The Joss Tour is GREAT.

ManlyShot
 
If you do make it I will be there Sunday to watch the final day. I'd love to do both days but with a wife and two kids I'm happy with one. You are right about the Joss tour and Mike Zuglan. I can't imagine too many other tours being any better as far as players attending or even from a spectators point of view. I have the luxury of living about 15 minutes away so luckily I don't need the accomodations but you're right. Hopefully, for all of us who love the game, the UPA will either wise up or dissolve. These players are already payed well below what other professionals are payed and you hate to see them further strapped by some non-sensical agreement which obviously only benefits the UPA. Take care and I hope to see down there.

DDK
 
Well i will be there on Saturday only. Sorry i will miss you Koop. maybe at another one. i also have a similar problem as you. only my wife is terminally ill and i am luck to get a full day. Unless it is the open or the dcc which i will go to for the 1st time in january. I will be wearing my U S OPEN t-shirt...see everybody there on Saturday.............................................................mike
 
Just so every one knows, The Joss event this weekend is $7500.00 added. I'll also be there doing repairs.
 
Gremlin said:
Hi Michael,

I wish I could get away to be there this week end. Please, give Karen Mary Diane Corr and Julie Ann Kelly "Gremlin's" best wishes if they play. LOL

Cheers,

Gremlin
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Wow you know their middle names. Boooooooooo!
 
Michael Webb said:
Just so every one knows, The Joss event this weekend is $7500.00 added. I'll also be there doing repairs.
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Michael, you are so right. The Joss Tour event in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a $7,500-added tournament.

The Joss Tour has a rich history with many repeat customers, not just the pool players, but the pool rooms who host the events. They recognize success and always come back.

Mike Zuglan manages to bring his expertise, experience, and humor to every tournament, and the added monies on the Joss Tour produces some of the highest payouts, very generous for any tour if you do the math. Calcuttas and action games have been known to happen.

Probably why the Joss Tour attracts pool players like Jim Rempe, Karen Corr, Julie Kelly, Santos, Jose Parica, Keith, Frankie Hernandez, Efren, Ginky, Kid Delicious, Ronnie Alcano (Joss Tour 2002 Player of the Year), Alex the Lion, Mika, Marcus, Earl, Jarod Clowery, Bustamante, and Sandor Tot, just to name a few.

With a $7,500-added event, I know this tournament is going to attract many a player. And guess what? You don't have to sign a legally binding contract to play. Come one, come all, because EVERYBODY is welcome and treated with the utmost courtesy and respect.

Keep it going, Mike Zuglan, and thank you.

ManlyShot
 
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cueball1950 said:
Well i will be there on Saturday only. Sorry i will miss you Koop. maybe at another one. i also have a similar problem as you. only my wife is terminally ill and i am luck to get a full day. Unless it is the open or the dcc which i will go to for the 1st time in january. I will be wearing my U S OPEN t-shirt...see everybody there on Saturday.............................................................mike
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Mike,
Sorry I'll miss you down there and my deepest best wishes for your wife. Maybe the next time the event is in Quincy we can get a bunch of people from the board to meet up. I can also atest to the work that Mike Webb does on cues. He is a great cuemaker and repair man. Hope to see some of you down there on Sunday.

Dave
 
DDKoop said:
I can also atest to the work that Mike Webb does on cues. He is a great cuemaker and repair man.
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Mike Webb also traditionally has worked on pool players' equipment at extremely reasonable rates.

Joss Tour this weekend at the Renaissance Billiards Club, (617) 847-3959, in Quincy, Massachusetts, a $7,500-added event. The Marriott Conference Center on the hill is the BEST hotel accommodation (IMO) for those traveling.

Mike Zuglan, Mike Webb, and a first-class tournament, and you don't need to belong to a union to play. The spectators will be treated to some of the best pool playing in the country.

The great thing about the Joss Tour tournaments is that they occur on weekends. They don't stretch a tournament that can transpire in 2 days into 5 and 6 days, like the UPA, which is extremely expensive to the pool players and the rail. And a $7,500-added event is going to draw the TOP PLAYERS like a magnet.

I am looking forward to attending this event, if possible. I have attended MANY Joss Tour tournaments and have NEVER been disappointed.

ManlyShot
 
Hey ManlyShot and cueball1950,

Looks like I will be there Saturday evening instead of Sunday so hopefully I'll bump into you there. First round is on me :-)

DDK ( The one who will be wearing the Cape Cod sweatshirt )
 
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