You really believe VBI does NOT exert control over the decision process of USASF?
USASF Board of Directors directly or indirectly connected to VBI business ventures would influence control. Currently VBI has over 50% control for issues addressed by USASF when they recognize a business need.
Why would VBI provide the "seed" money to establish USASF ... unless it would provide new business opportunities?
Has all of the "seed" money for USASF been repaid to VBI, or is there an outstanding balance, if so what balance remains?
That is true. I do not believe that Varsity as an entity exerts control over the decision process of USASF. They certainly express their opinions and those opinions are given weight - in much the same way that JAM Brands, the independent EPs, the NACCC, and several gym owners do. If I did not have the opportunity to witness the way that most of the important decisions were made, I may believe as you do, however, I have been privy to MANY discussions and votes regarding the direction of the USASF so I am in a better position to judge how much influence VBI has.
VBI does not have "over 50%" control of the decisions. They have less than 50% of the Board. The Varsity employees could ALL vote in unison (which actually seldom happens on contentious issues) and they could still get overridden.
VBI provided the "seed" money to do exactly what the USASF mission statement reads. They believed that they would get the money back (which they either have or are close) and that the new USASF would do precisely what it is doing - organize the all star market, give it credibility, provide a uniform set of rules and guidelines, and yes, help promote the safety of the sport. I do think that it indirectly has or will make them more money as all star continues to grow. However, this is also true of JAM brands, other EPs, and the majority of gym owners. It is absolutely in VBIs best interest that All Star continues to grow and expand and I think that they believed that investment in the industry itself would probably pay off.
I do not know the remaining balance. My guess is that at least half has been repaid, but I am not certain of the exact amount.
"For profit" businesses do not automatically have nefarious motives for everything they do. Example: nearly every gym that has a special needs team loses money on it. Does that mean that there somehow MUST be some underlying motive that means they will make more money in the long run? NO. Corporations aren't automatically lifeless, coldhearted, and greedy by definition. They are simply groups of people that, more often than not, want was is best for society as a whole.
Do I think that VBI is perfect? Hardly. They do things that I wholeheartedly disagree with. They do things that I think present clear and obvious conflicts of interest. (Example: I can't believe it doesn't upset more people that VBI owns gyms that compete and win at VBI events - beating out gyms that are not owned by VBI.) That is not the same as me saying I think they are doing anything underhanded. It does mean that I think there are more obvious targets for those hell-bent on exposing some vast conspiracy.
Bottom line: If people truly believe that Jeff Webb dons his Hitler mustache and sends his Varsity troops goose-stepping down the hallway to order USASF to squeeze money out of the broken, lifeless bodies of 8 year old cheerleaders, then there probably isn't much I can say to dissuade them. Those types never let truth get in the way of their opinion. All I can say is that my experience is that Varsity is generally in the business for the right reasons and the Varsity employees do NOT collude within the USASF to get the result that is best for VBI. The USASF folks are genuinely interested in the health of the industry as a whole.
