The following is a response from the new BCA Pool Leagues denying the sanction of the largest league formerly sanctioned by the Billiard Congress of America - the Players Pool League of Canada.  We have received communication from other independent league operators with similar claims of denial, but to whom BCA Pool Leagues refuses to put such denials in writing.  The ACS will continue to operate as did the Billiard Congress of America.  If an operator is critical of the ACS for any reason, yet still requests to sanction or dual-sanction with the ACS; as a non-profit organization run by its membership,  the ACS cannot reject such sanctioning. ACS treats ALL independent leagues fairly and equally,

 

The action documented below displays a major reason for the formation of the American CueSports Alliance – that the membership, not an owner, would set the policy.  In this case, personal national owner prejudice against a local operator will not penalize the local operator as much as it will penalize the players who desire only to play pool in the local operator’s system. I rejected the job offer from the owner of the new BCA Pool Leagues to oversee his league company and accepted the offer from the officers of the new ACS because I could only – in good conscience - justify working for an association run by the membership, not an owner-operator.  That the former Billiard Congress of America league system was embracive of ALL was a major attraction of the system, and those principles will continue to be embraced by the ACS.

 

- John Lewis, ACS Executive Director

 

PREFACE:

 

Hi John:

 

I just sent you a copy of my reply to David V. of the BCA Pool Leagues Company.

 

Thank god we did what we did. This is real life proof of the difference between private and member run. It's not theoretical anymore.

 

Feel free to copy ANYBODY you want.

 

Regards,

Ted Harms

 

COMMUNICATION:

 

Dear David:

 

Having sanctioned with the BCA since 1992 and having been the BCA's biggest League anywhere since 1994, the request by the Players Pool League in Calgary, Alberta to sanction with the BCA Pool Leagues Company was a serious one.

 

After receiving unsolicited from your offices, all the Sanctioning Forms and Posters etc, I inquired regarding same on July 28, Aug 3, and Aug 12th. I now finally get a reply on Sept 2nd FIVE TIMES, all with the same message: BCA SANCTION DENIED. Your message was most definitely received.

 

Now I have to try to explain the why to 1400 members. Your very terse response with NO EXPLANATION doesn't help.

 

I certainly met all the sanctioning requirements of the Billiard Congress of America since 1992 and also of the Valley National Eight Ball Association since 2000. I must note that since two other VNEA League Operators in Calgary are heavily advertising the availability of BCA league play, I would assume that the BCA sanctioning of both of my competitors has been approved.

 

It appears that I must have committed some grave offense. I must admit that I attempted to dissuade Mr. Mark Griffin from purchasing the BCA league system and since then have been very active in the creation of the CCS - Canadian Cue Sport Association; in fact I was elected as the first President.

 

Is that it? Surely not. Already several Canadian Leagues have indicated their intention to dual saction CCS/BCA which the CCS has no problem with. Is the BCA going to deny them too, or is it just the Players Pool League and Ted Harms?

 

After the BCA sale, my concern was not the PRESENCE of another privately owned and operated league system. Thankfully, it's a free country and more power to anyone who has the resources and the will. Pool gets promoted and the players win. I have never made any negative personal comments about Mr. Mark Griffin nor have I ever questioned his right to do what he did. I do very seriously question the actions of the Billiard Congress of America in this matter.

 

Instead, my great concern was with WHAT WAS NOW ABSENT as an ALTERNATIVE:

A truly 'OPEN TO EVERYONE' league system which was owned and operated by and for its members.

 

That void now appears to be filled with the CCS in Canada and the ACS in the United States. That's great in my personal opinion and life goes on.

 

As a League Operator, I've always tried to offer as many choices as possible for the members and thus the sanctioning with VNEA previously and also the sincere request to sanction with the BCA this League Year.

 

Quite frankly I thought you would have welcomed my sanctioning request as it could  have been viewed as a kind of endorsement.

 

I fully understand. Just as a privately owned and operated bar has the right to deny entrance and service to anyone it chooses, so does the privately owned and operated BCA Pool Leagues Company.

 

I'm just very disappointed that this company has chosen to act as it has and without explanation of any kind. Very regrettably, it only seems to further reinforce what my concerns were in the first place. Ironic isn't it?

 

I guess it's a case of 'actions speak louder than words'.

 

Unless you intend to reconsider the Denial of the BCA Sanction, would you please remove the PLAYERS POOL LEAGUE from your Mailing List so I don't keep getting your e-mails and materials.

 

Regards,

Ted Harms

Players Pool League

Calgary, Alberta.

 

DENIAL FROM BCA POOL LEAGUES:

From: "david" <[email protected]>

To: [email protected]

Subject: BCA sanction denied

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 03:12:21 -0400

 

Ted Harms,

 

We will not sanction your Players Pool League with BCA Pool Leagues at

this time.

 

David Vandenberghe

 

BCA Pool League - (702) 719-7665

www.playbca.com - [email protected]

Click Here to Unsubscribe from receiving Future ACS Updates