I've been lurking for quite some time, and I've got to throw in my $.02 on this.
I'm not sure I understand what all the fuss is about over the UPA. Can anybody possibly argue that the state of men's pool is satisfactory at this point in time? Players aren't happy, promoters aren't happy, and fans aren't happy. Right now, the sport has no direction whatsoever, there is no real governing body, and the players have no future. There are no benefits to being a pro player. There are no health plans, no 401K, no pensions, nothing. All a pro is guaranteed is a chance to have to beat somebody else just as good in order to make just enough money to survive. Obviously, a change must be made in order to garner our sport the attention and monetary awards it deserves. Somebody (Charlie Williams) is trying to do something to organize pool in an attempt to effect some changes, and all anybody can do is bitch about it. Seems to me that people are complaining about the status quo, and then complaining again when somebody wants to change the status quo. There's a saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The corollary is also true - if it's broke, then dammit, fix it. Well, pool is broken, and it needs to be fixed.
A lot of people seem to think that CW is harming the game by trying to get a certain promoter to honor his promises. If I agree to pay you $20 to wash my car, and after you're done, I give you $10, wouldn't you try to seek some course of action to get the other $10 owed to you? What course of action can a pool player take against Barry Behrman? Is there a governing body with which the player can file a grievance? Is there anybody else he can complain to besides other people who got screwed? Yes, I know that Barry did pay up in the end, but what if he didn't? The player just ends up biting the bullet. CW's forming of an organization which represents the players and their interests means using that organization to do just that. It is in the players' best interests to have guaranteed money be exactly that - guaranteed. The game could possibly be harmed short-term, but long-term, it can only get better if the UPA is supported. There's too much short-term thinking, and too much "me, me, me." That type of thinking has destroyed past tours. The men need to put away their selfishness. The women are getting it right, and the UPA is trying to mimic them. The WPBA seems to be a good model to me.
The UPA contract is exactly the same as the WPBA contract, but I don't hear the women players whining about playing in non-sanctioned events. Obviously, the contract isn't as restrictive as some people seem to think (see Grady's rant), since I see women all the time playing in non-WPBA events. The women are doing what's necessary to promote the game, and are willing to do whatever it takes, and they're still able to do the extra things on the side. The men should do the same by forming an organization for the players, by the players, in order to provide some guidance for the sport (see the US Declaration of Independence). This is what CW is trying to do, and I can't see how he can be faulted for it.
As far as having to be a member of the UPA to play in a UPA-sanctioned event, what's the big deal? In golf, you have to earn your tour card in order to play on the tour. On the WPBA tour, you have to earn your way onto the tour. To play in a UPA event, you just have to join the UPA. No qualifiers, no points, just a very small fee ($25/year for membership, or $100/year for your tournament points to count in the standings). Personally, I would rather see the qualifier format for the UPA, but that's just my opinion (as is this long post). Obviously, there are exceptions to the required memberships of these respective organizations (see Annika Sorenstam), so I can't see why Earl wouldn't be allowed to play in UPA events (unless his infamous "charm" gets him into trouble).
These are just my opinions, but I feel like pool seriously needs a change. I'd be willing to bet that most people in the pool world feel the same. Instead of tearing Charlie and the UPA down, I feel he deserves to be lauded for attempting to put together a real unified tour. If it succeeds, then great, pool may get out of the gutter. If he fails, nothing has been lost since pool is already in the gutter. I support CW and the UPA because I feel that the rewards far outweigh the risk, and I would like to see his dreams come to fruition.