Well, it's that time of year where we see some of the pro staffs change.  Here are a few that I have heard of so far.

Amleto Monacelli has joined Ebonite.   He is now the international sales rep for Latin America and the Caribbean.  A news release of this was done a while back:
http://ebonite.com/news_events/news_detail/amleto_monacelli_named_ebonite_international_latin_american_caribbean_sales

For those watching the PBA League this year, you may have noticed that Amleto was throwing Storm earlier in the year with the tapings.  On the last show, he was throwing the Ebonite Champion.  He's also been throwing Ebonite exclusively on the PBA50 as of late.

Track has named 3 new staffers.  According to their Facebook page, they are Mika Koivuniemi, Jesse Buss, and Dan MacLelland.  Ebonite is no longer allowing 4 brand contracts, so expect to see a lot of people choosing 1 brand. 

As for Dan MacLelland leaving Columbia 300, that leaves Chris Barnes as the only PBA staffer for that brand.

Even more interesting, is that Mike Fagan may be leaving Track.  Now, I have not seen anything specific other than someone mentioning it on their Facebook page.  If he leaves, who knows what his next ball company will be.  Fagan has thrown Brunswick, Ebonite, Hammer, and Storm in the past on tv.

Ryan Ciminelli has left Brunswick and is now part of their sister brand DV8.   "Mr. 300" Bob Learn Jr has also joined DV8.

Brunswick made Jason Sterner a full time pro staff member.  Wayne Webb has also joined Big B.

Motiv has a sizeable pro staff now.  Dick Allen returns and the 5 other members now include Patrick Girard, Anthony LaCaze, Jake Peters, Brett Spangler, and Lee Vanderhoef.

There will be others during the summer most likely, but this is what has already happened over the past few weeks.

Wasn't Mike Wolfe an EBI staffer with a 4 brand contract?

Mike Wolfe has signed with Storm.

Bloody hell.

Pretty soon we can just call the PBA tour the Storm tour. 

Something is going on at EBI, and it doesn't sound good at all. I mean, regardless of the 4 brands there, I haven't seen an exodus of this nature from any ball company in the time that I've been in the sport, and that is going back to the late 70s when I was 4.

I don't know if it is all 4 brands, and those that remain have been loyal to them for 15 to 20+ years, or if it is just Ebonite by itself. But this doesn't look good for Ebonite, and just for the sake of fair competition, I hope I am wrong.

BL.

This kinda combines another post that was made on here on "Why has Storm/Roto Grip not come out with anything new" Maybe Storm/Roto Grip have realized that you can only make so many core designs and they have found cores that work. Didn't someone post on here that it costs like $75k to design a core? Guess by using what works and is still making other products look subpar to theirs, that $75k saved for each core that other companies are producing that they can use to sign Staff members. I drill and throw all brands and I have not found a non Storm brand that I feel has developed a quality ball in the last 3-5 years. (One exception - I do like the Track 508a.) not trying to start an argument, just saying if its not broke, don't fix it. If you take all Ebonite brand cover stock that is supposed to be the next greatest thing, how many are the same with just different names used as a marketing ploy?

I'm beginning to wonder if Ebonite is dropping to Grass Roots membership on the PBA to save money. 

That could be.  But, that would be one of the stupidest things that could be done in terms of name recognition.  How would it sound with EBI having their flagship brand Ebonite as grassroots?  I'm thinking it would only hurt them to some extent.

Now 900 Global and AMF are a different story from last year.  I can understand them going that route, and even Lane #1 prior to that.  They had a small or non-existant pro staff and decided to focus on their ball lines instead of shelling out to the PBA. In their case, it made sense.

If Tommy Jones is leaving Ebonite in favor of Hammer, that is my first clue that something's up.

My understanding is Tommy is still with ebonite, that is from a text to my friend who is on staff with EbI and talked with Tommy.

Quote from: JamminJD on May 06, 2013, 10:15:58 PM

Quote from: lifted rillo on May 06, 2013, 01:17:18 PM

If Tommy Jones is leaving Ebonite in favor of Hammer, that is my first clue that something's up.

My understanding is Tommy is still with ebonite, that is from a text to my friend who is on staff with EbI and talked with Tommy.

That's what was so weird about it. I know TJ threw a lot of Track stuff during the week so IF he moved I figured it'd be to them.

Yeah, I guess we just have to wait and see what really shakes out from EBI.

As far as Storm, theres more guys to get on deck. Stay tuned. Its really simple, Ebonite stuff is incredibly bad right now. The best in the world cant get that stuff to strike.

I wouldn't be surprised to see more Storm/Roto staffers.  Same goes for Brunswick/DV8.  The real surprise could be Motiv or Lord Field getting some huge exposure as a result of this.