UPA and 25 bucks

M

manlyshot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Currently and as I post here, a $25 one-time fee is being "attached" to upcoming and very near-term tournaments -- in addition to the tournament fee. It is my understanding that this is a one-time $25 fee that all non-UPA members must pay if they are going to play in a tourmanent that is "sanctioned" by the UPA.

If I am not a UPA member and I do not live within 60 miles of the vicinity of the tournament venue, then I must either attempt to join UPA -- if I am accepted, meet the UPA requirements, and pay their membership fee/dues -- or pay a one-time $25 fee for every tournament sanctioned by UPA. If I am not a professional player and do not live within 60 miles of the tournament room, then I am required to pay this $25 one-time fee in addition to the entry fee if I desire to play in the tournament. Am I understanding this correctly?

I would like to hear the advantages of this $25 fee and what it can do for pool players -- professional, non-professional, and the pool player who just likes to compete in big tournaments. Hopefully, you folks on this board will be able to enlighten me.

Manlyshot
 
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manlyshot said:
If I am not a UPA member and I do not live within 60 miles of the vicinity of the tournament venue, then I must either attempt to join UPA -- if I am accepted, meet the UPA requirements, and pay their membership fee/dues -- or pay a one-time $25 fee for every tournament sanctioned by UPA. If I am not a professional player and do not live within 60 miles of the tournament room, then I am required to pay this $25 one-time fee in addition to the entry fee if I desire to play in the tournament. Am I understanding this correctly?
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Ask the UPA, IMO.
 
Are they asking you to pay $25.00 extra for every UPA sanctioned tournament you wish to enter?

Or is it just a one time fee that you never have to pay again, like to cover some bookkeeping costs or something.

This is the first time I have heard of this.

-CM
 
Hi Manlyshot,

If you contact UPA, they will tell you that you can join for one calender year for $100! For the money, you accumulate points towards player of the year and unfortunately, player seeding. The $25 per event fee is your choice to pay if you do not wish to play more than one or two events. I understanding that after three events, paying the $25 will not get you the points you accumulated.

Just check the UPA Tour link under tournaments.
 
You may never find out where the $25 goes...........

The UPA to me is just another temp. tour amoung many that have tried before. Nobody has came up with the right formula for a Mens Tour that will work for any length of time. The $25 "who knows where it goes and why do you have to pay it" fee is a step in the wrong direction for any tour. If it goes in a general fund for promotion or to charities makes no difference, it should be written along with the demand for all to read.

The problem has been the ego's of male players over the years (Williams & Strickland are good examples). Male players seem to believe that sponsors should chase them and The Female players chase the sponsors. That is why the Womens Tour gets so much airtime while the Mens Tour ranks below even the Trick Shot Matches in the media.

There are very few people that make a decent living by being a "Player". The money comes from accessories promoted by them, not the actual playing. It is a shame that the stars of our chosen sport rank close to the bottom on the pro sports earnings list. One day in the future we may see a tour that resembles the way that the Snooker Tours do in Europe in stature. But the UPA is not going to be it.

R1 - Orlando
 
Hear Hear, Ruthless. You must be a pool veteran who has witnessed the many changes that have occurred in the pool industry. I am a relative newcomer to the tournament scene in recent years.

Let the good times roll!

Manlyshot
 
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He wasn't at the pool room last night, but I may see him where I will be tonight if he is in FL now. So, maybe I'll have an answer for you late tonight or in the morning :)
 
UPA & $25

Hi Ruthless,

Yes your right, this isn't the perfect mens tour, yet. Maybe there are too many big egos. I hear a lot of grips but no one has come up with a better working idea. I gave up complaining and joined the UPA this week. I am also a Joss, NEPT, Viking and CNY Tour member. I love the game. I support the game.

Like you, I've heard the flaws in men's pool vrs. the women. It appears that Charlie et al have started to gain some impact with the promoters. Check the three straight week UPA tournament sanctions in August. Boy, wouldn't it be great for the players to have a chance at PGA sized payouts. We would all like it but it has to start somewhere. Look at the Women's tour. Take away the casino dates (with TV coverage) and what do you have? Where is Camel, Busch, Nike etc.? How about GM or Ford? Where's Brunswick or even Titlist and Calloway? Virtually every quality pool player I know plays golf (check Earls handicap) or bowls.

Where the $25 goes is obvious to me. How do you propose to support the people and activities of the organization? Who pays for the mailings or phone calls? I chose to join for $100. I know of at least three tounaments on the schdule right now that I will attend. Only want to play in one? Give them $25 extra with your entry. Simple enough.
 
"It appears that Charlie et al have started to gain some impact with the promoters." (posted by Cardiac Kid)

Let the good times roll.

Manlyshot
 
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UPA & $25

Hey Manlyshot,

Check out the TV ratings and attendence when Tiger Woods is or isn't playing a tournament! What is the attraction? The tournament or the players? No players, no tournament. Weaker players, smaller audience. If I were promoting a tournament, I sure would like to have all the "big" names in attendence. Do you really think the PGA doesn't have a minimum tournament attendence clause in it's contract with the individual players? Do you also think that Tiger could walk up to a local golf club and say lets have a tournament and I'll attend? Some of the arm twisting done by the PGA is the reason "name" players attend each event. Why shouldn't the UPA act for the players the same way?

I played the Reno Open in June. Scott the Shot kept introducing the next round of play with "212 of the world's greatest players". As I passed the stands on my way to a table, I heard a "fan" ask "if these are the worlds best, why isn't Earl Strickland here?" Care to answer that question?
 
"'...if these are the worlds best, why isn't Earl Strickland here?' Care to answer that question?" (posted by Cardiac Kid)

Hey, Cardiac Kid, what a GREAT question. For those who love to watch Earl Strickland play pool -- and I am one of those fans -- it must have been a big disappointment witnessing his non-attendance. Should celebrity pool players be barred from playing in tournaments if they are non-UPA members, though? I know this is like answering your question with a question.

Let the good times roll.

Manlyshot
 
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UPA & $25

Hey Manlyshot,

My only disagreement is the way we 'unite". PGA is discriminatory. Try to enter one of their events without a tour card, invitation or exemption. Lots of luck! Sooner or later and I am hopeful of sooner, the players need to unite. Individually, we have absolutely no power. Together we have some. The PGA has been in existance longer than the UPA. The game of billiards however appears to be much older than golf. Yes. our panacea is TV coverage. Like TV and Tiger, put you and me in the finals of the US Open instead of Earl and Efren and who would care other than us! Got some ideas? Perhaps Mike Janis is correct about unifying all the tours. Who knows? We need to at least talk. Lets hear the ideas fly!
 
UPA & $25

Hi Manlyshot,

Please go to www.upatour.com. Go to the Master Billiards area and click on "read the contract". Under "playing field", you will find the pronouncement regarding the dread $25 per event temporary membership. With the Capitol City two weeks later and the Amsterdam event later this fall, you might choose just to give them the $100 and be a "touring" member. I'm playing in the Gabrial event also so, the $100 up front gains me points (wow!!?).

You may also print a membership form from the site. I'll let you know how long it takes for me to be recognized as a "Touring Professional"(when my check clears?).

Incidently, BCA changed the rules on being a "professional" player. Now, you have to accumulate enough points to be in the top 32 of the UPA or WPA on December 31st of each year. No more cashing in a $300 entry fee tournament requirement. As Valley and APA recognize BCA members and their playing status, this is important. Your still an amateur! What a country!
 
Thanks, C. Kid, for your helpful response, and may the good times roll!


Manlyshot
 
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manlyshot,

I'm sorry I couldn't get over to Capones this weekend due to a problem at work. So I couldn't ask Charlie any questions about this $25.

I may see him at the pool room during the week and I will ask him. Also the wild card spots are if they don't meet the required number of players I believe.

And the Florida Pro Tour is not UPA sanctioned that I know of. John DiToro would not pay anything to anyone to get players. Should the Florida Tour stop UPA members from playing that tour? I don't think that would work both ways... I don't care who plays what myself, but we do need a decent tour to be developed in the future. The quagmire that was created at the last US Open caused the UPA major damage in a lot of players eyes.
 
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Thanks for trying to get some info from Charlie, Ruthless. I do appreciate your efforts. I am still hopeful that the UPA will clarify some needed answers in order to be able to compete in the upcoming August tournaments in Philadelphia and New York.



Manlyshot
 
You should save and come down to play a FL Tour date or 2. It has been the toughest tour in the country for years. It has been getting even stronger. I believe Mika, Rodney Morris, and Danny Harriman will soon be added to our resident list. I don't know of any other place with as many top players as Florida, The Miz, Buddy Hall, Ray Martin, Nick Varner, TK, David Howard, Tom Brown, Mike Siegal (if he ever plays again), Steve Cook, Charlie Williams..... just to name a few. How many Hall of Famers and US Open Champs are just combined in that list?

I played the P.B.A. of the early 80's and did fairly well with it. I decided to move on to a more secure future and still love the game.

Good Luck and I hope you do very well :)
 
Thanks for your words of encouragement, Ruthless. The Florida Tour looks like it got off to a GREAT start with so many seasoned and august pool players. Floridians are fortunate to have so many tournaments going on, and there are no hurdles to overcome in order to compete in them.

Let the good times roll!

Manlyshot
 
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