Denied Employability

I worked for a technology consulting company. While going through financial difficulty, the owner/president decreed that all staff, effect the payroll lady, would now be on straight commission. I started at the company on salary plus commission, was promoted to director after 1.5 years and was put on full salary, substantially higher. Having a wiffe and four children, I could not continue to work on full commission, so decided to leave. However, before I couldget my last paycheck, I was asked to sign a non-compete with assurances that a waiver would be signed if I landed another job. Now that I have an offer, the waiver was denied and was threatened will court. Alabama is a work-at-will state (if that helps, any) and there is nothing else for which I qualify without significant loss in salary/compensation. Please advise.

By the way, the non-compete prohibits me frokm working in any capacity for any company which does the same and has no geographic restrictions. Feel free to contact me if there is any legal code or statute which may help me.