WPBA Fine of $2,000

[sjm]

I've had a few and unless someone has to make a business work, they generally don't understand it when they do things that get in the way....contract or not. Nothing says contracts can't be in their own bad interests which I think is part of the problem. Strictly my opinion.

Now I think we are basically on the same page. While the thread deals with the "was there a breach or not?" issue, what ultimately matters is the question "what will future contracts look like?" It is incumbent on the players to take the process of negotiating the contract seriously to ensure that the contract is not overly restrictive and that their rights are protected.

 

[MattPoland]

Honestly didn’t we cover this already a few years back. I want to recall a player like April Larson opted not to sign with WPBA because they would t let her play in regular regional women’s events. I recall a Windows Open episode where LoreeJon really flew off the handle and shit the PR bed. Maybe Dean had a follow-up appearance. They said it wasn’t just about concurrent events. They said a talking point they sell to the casinos is that the marquee names they bring to the venue can be seen at the WPBA events but it dilutes their marketing pitch if those same players can also easily be seen at any mom and pop pool hall robbing a bar box event. It keeps the prestige of the WPBA brand higher to make sure those players are only found at upper echelon events.

The sad thing is that the list of elite WPBA players is too long for how shallow the talent pool is. When you’re talking women that play at a 730+ level, I get it. Kristina, Jasmin, Kelly, Margaret, Seo, Rita, Pia, etc. but when you’re talking second and third tier talent. Junior talent. Kids still grinding their way up and haven’t even crested 700 yet. The only way a pro female at that range can navigate their career is on the wallets of their parents or their spouse. There’s no way a 670 is paying their bills on WPBA and Predator winnings. They’re lucky to cash at all. To take away even the option to grind out winnings at the regional and local level is to kneecap any possibility of building a personal bankroll to fund their travel and entries into these more prestigious events. We’re eating our young and chasing them out of the industry.

 

[decent dennis]

both have to abide by the contract and rules they sign. its a deal you make and are supposed to honor it.

and both can be subject to the penalties specified.

If they aren’t paying for my insurance and retirement then she should be like Jean and say 6.3- em

 

[VTEC John]

The higher you go in a company the less true this becomes. Lots of normal people have non-compete clauses.

Absolutely right, and you don't have to go very high. Most jobs are "at will" employment, not contractual, and often it's just right there in the Employee Handbook that you don't work for competitors.

 

[GideonF]

On Window’s Open a few points came up:

The restriction is on “Elite” players (as defined). The real issue there is the definition of Elite is very broad. Too broad in my view.

The restriction is on women only events that (a) aren’t handicapped; and (b) non WPA sanctioned. So mixed events are fine. I assume they are trying to protect their product (being the women’s professional tour) from someone running their own competing events. This seems reasonable to me, but I do question whether an 8b BB event like Ultimate Pool is really in competition with the WPBA. Also, the WPA exemption has a disproportionate impact on US players vs European based players (since there are many WPA tournaments for women in Europe and few in the US).

Also, the Mast situation really arose because of her sponsor. I’m pretty sure the sponsor was sponsoring the Ultimate Pool event. They offered to pay her fine when the WPBA refused to grant her an exemption.

 

[sixpack]

Absolutely right, and you don't have to go very high. Most jobs are "at will" employment, not contractual, and often it's just right there in the Employee Handbook that you don't work for competitors.

Normally in business, non-compete agreements are not enforceable without some kind of compensation attached to them. If you are an employee and getting paid a non-compete is valid. If you get let go, normally they will ask you to sign a non-compete in order to get some kind of separation package. Without the package it would be unenforceable. Which makes me wonder if the "elite" WPBA players get any compensation from the tour. If they do not, maybe that clause should be scrutinized a little more closely.