Who becomes a Pro?
A handicapper who can:
1) Providep icks that win, either overall or in certain categories (for example, certain sports, top-rated picks, or when on a hot streak).
2) Provide quality analysis (either in pick analysis or otherwise). Rare exceptionsallow for no analysis if the winning is overwhelming.
3) Be honest, professional, and consistent (that is, deliver content & effort as promised, which typically means daily).
Note that none of the factors have to do with short-term winning (or losing).
When a person meets these conditions, Pregame.com gains from having them. When a Pro stops meeting these conditions, that is when they should be "cut".
Now keep in mind that being a Pro is MAJOR work. First, producing enough quality free content to gain high standing in the community is a challenge. Then, there's the work of producing the extra content to be sold. Then, there's the administrative duties like loading picks, creating packages, and the extra forum work of being a Pro. This is a huge commitment that many elite volunteers have no desire to make, but the opportunity is there for those who want it.
A Pro can be valuable without posting in the forums. That said, forum contribution represents a huge opportunity to deliver value. NO OTHER SITE IN THE WORLD has so many quality handicappers interacting in the community and trying to help each other win - offering insight, encouragement, and advice.
All of this without in any way interfering with the many volunteer contributors who make PregameForums.com a one-of-a-kind community.
Being a semi-established professional elsewhere tends to make me take more notice, but we'll likely require a few solid weeks of contribution in the forums to prove their ability to contribute and generate interest.
Non-professional forum members will be given the opportunity IF they are elite contributors and they understand that their free contribution can in no way suffer.
In the end, it's about a handicappers ability and willingness to contribute at an elite level and share the Pregame.com mission. Said another way, is Pregame.com better off without them, or with them?