UPA scuttlebutt

[manlyshot]

Recently, I got a chance to hear it from the horses' mouths, pro players' feelings about the UPA and its effect on tournament participation. Since the inception of the UPA and the cumulative events that have transpired, I have remained skeptical and fearful of the long-term outcome as well as the eligibility requirements for upcoming tournaments.

Capital City Classic realized the $25 mandatory fee was ridiculous, and so this problem was resolved. However, the $25 mandatory fee is still in effect for the upcoming Big Apple tournament. The good news is that these pro players want to and will continue to participate in upcoming tournaments, UPA-sanctioned or not, and don't give a hoot about paying the $25 mandatory fee to the UPA. The pro players that I spoke to stated that they WILL NEVER SIGN any contract presented to them and will continue to enjoy the tournament trail.

The UPA involvement in tournaments affects these pro players and not the general pool-playing public. I am hopeful that the UPA will come up with a different system of acquiring new members. One suggestion to the UPA is to get rid of those legally binding contracts.

The financial responsibility clause is also unclear, confusing, and needs to be clarified. The way it reads now, almost every single pool player I know will never be able to meet the financial responsibility clause. It is too vague and should really be eliminated altogether.

The UPA has taken a lot of heat on the forums. The pro players I spoke with do not think Charlie Williams, a "professional pool player" by the UPA definition, should be president; that he is unable to administrate in a fair and unbiased manner, i.e., player selection for upcoming events. I believe Charlie Williams to be a good-intentioned man with integrity, but it is something to think about.

ManlyShot

 

[azhousepro]

Well, Charlie's term as president should be up at the end of this year and someone else will step into that position.

Should be interesting to see where it goes from there.

Mike

 

[Ken in CT]

manlyshot,
I guess that the "financial responsibility clause" in the UPA contract that you are referring to must be in paragraph 6 which is titled "Enforcement". I think that it is relatively clear to me.

What the paragraph says is that if you sign as either a "Touring Pro" or as a "Standard" member you agree to play in all the UPA sanctioned events. If you decide to skip an event or play in a conflicting event you agree to be sued. You also agree that the UPA can get an injunction forcing you to play in any future events. In other words, it seems that you also agree to lose the lawsuit and consent to whatever the UPA asks the court to do to force you to comply with the contract.

In essence, you become an indentured servant of the UPA somewhat similar to contracts that were common hundreds of years ago.

You also give up the rights to any recorded matches you might be involved in.

I assume you have a copy of the contract. If not, I'd be glad to email one to you or anyone else. It's good for a laugh, anyway.
Ken in CT

 

[manlyshot]

Manlyshot,
I guess that the "financial responsibility clause" in the UPA contract that you are referring to must be in paragraph 6 which is titled "Enforcement"...I assume you have a copy of the contract.
Ken in CT

I don't believe I have seen that one.

If you go to the www.UPATOUR.com website, hit the MEMBERSHIP tab at the top of the home page, then click on CODE OF CONDUCT, a two-paged document entitled "THE PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT" comes up. The second paragraph in Section 3, "Violations," subpart (d) is confusing. "Financial Irresponsibility:
The overall financial irresponsibility of a Member may violate the Code of Ethics if the Member’s failure to meet financial obligations is determined to impact adversely or otherwise injure the reputation of the UPA or its Members."

Most of the pool players I know, unless they are sponsored, do experience financial difficulties, especially attending pool tournaments, whether UPA sanctioned or not, making some tournaments economically unfeasible.

Then, in subpart (c) of the same Section 3, "Applying for or otherwise seeking, soliciting, discussing or accepting any employment in an unacceptable manner" is unintelligible. The pool player must now get approval of the UPA before seeking employment to make sure the job is acceptable.

The pool player must attend sanctioned events if requested to do so by the UPA. If he tries to get a job to cover these expenses, he needs to be selective and get the blessing of the UPA. This seems wrong to me.

ManlyShot

 

[Ken in CT]

The contract says a member must "abide by the UPA's Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, Operating Policies,..."

I read the Code of Conduct but don't know where to find the other documents they mention. The Code of Conduct at the website is incredible. It's very poorly written and seems to try to regulate every aspect of a member's life. They call it a "proposed" code so I don't know why they don't publish the final version.

The Associiation is so unprofessional it's pitiful.
Ken in CT