Personally I would like to see less qualifiers and no national exemptions.
The field is too watered down.
I think the drive for pro cards in the US and Canada for that matter is a tool to market their shows.
It makes little sense to give every weight class winner at the Nationals a pro card. It is even sillier that Team Universe winner gets a pro card, even though they can't win at the worlds.
The rest of the world only markets for the World Championships. It works for them.
Pro's should also have to perform more than once a year. It would be a good idea to have a play down system, like the rest of the sporting world is moving to.
Not a bad post, but I think having our current 3-tiered system is good for business all the way around.
You've got the amateurs, you've got your 'pool' of pros, and then you have your pro stars.
Are there always going to be pros who will *never* qualify for the highest-level shows? Yes, but we have to have lineup fillers, otherwise there's no show.
I'd love to see some of the non-Americans come over and test themselves here against our best amateurs. Likewise, I'd love to see our best competing against other top amateurs outside the U.S. on a more-than-once-a-year basis.
