(...) "I dont know about you, but the whole idea of playing the tournament on 5 different courts completely ruins the deal"
(...) But I look at the list and not every player on that tournament roster is "great".
(...) And also given that I have seen throughout my career great players the excel in one arena but completely lose it in another.
Very interesting thoughts posted by Alberto Etxaburu about the World's Doubles Championship that is about to begin this Friday in Markina. There is not doubt that if the Tournament would be played just in one court that would it be more appropiate for watching the best of each player. The way they organize it when it takes place in the French-Basque, like in Biarritz or Saint Jean du Luz, helps to that. The level of the game would be slightly higher rather than playing in five different courts. However, I do consider excessive that the fact "ruins the whole deal"... From a Florida jai-alai player point of view, every day same court, it may seem strange seeing a player perform in different sites almost every partido. Durango tonight, tomorrow in Markina, Gernika next. That has been and it is very usual. I know it does not help at all. It is a mess. But you get used to it.
I completely agree with Alberto when he says "that great players that excel in one area but completely lose it in another". Do you think that it is fair that a player like Goiko has to play this Tournament in a 47 meter long Berriatua court and next in Markina or Gernika? It is insane. Imagine Tiger Woods playing in Augusta for the Masters and in a par-three local golf course to win the same Masters?
However, we have to understand the overall context that Jai-Alai moves on. Do not forget that we are talking about a minority sport with low incomes and low budgets. Since nowadays it is a tough mission to get an audience of more than 300 people in a fronton. Placing the Tournament in five sites instead of in a single one, chances are that more people would attend. You may get some new customers each time. And if it happens that a certain town is celebrating its annual Town Festival like the San Faustos in Durango or the Gernika's Monday's Fair, chances are that more people than usual will appear by the fronton. In other words, you have to diversify saling the same product in different town markets.
I also agree with Etxaburu when he says "but I look at the list and not every player on that tournament roster is "great". Some of the players should not be on the roster, no doubt about it. From an overall point of view that is a very reasonable thought, we all know that in Miami or Dania there are players that should be included on that list.
But again we have to keep in mind the context. Jai-Alai is a poor business so far. Low budgets run the show and conditionate the whole business. This is an old issue, not always the best players used to come and play in the old days. I am sure that Totorika and Egiguren would like to have Rekalde, Andoni Arriaga, Diego, Oiarbide, Solozabal and others... Do they want to come just for one "risky" Tournament? Where you get the money from? What do you do with the rest of the players that conform the summer' roster, considering that they have to be paid? Yesterday Totorika said that this is the best Tournament possible, and I agree. Any aficionado would like to see another format. A Championship in which any player would have the chance to qualify, the way it happens in tennis for instance. We will have to wait though. In the meantime even 47 years old players will be fighting for the crown, something unusual in other sports, not in jai-alai. A matter of context.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Jai-Alai World's Doubles Looks Good
This coming Friday, the 2009 World's Doubles Championship, the years' maximun jai-alai competition, will begin in Markina.. It looks good. I just took a look at the format and I find it interesting. Let`s review the teams:
Goikoetxea-Alberdi III (Master Jai)
Olha-Irastorza (Master Jai)
Baronio-Enbil (Master Jai)
Lander-Alliez (Master Jai)
Egiguren-Felix (Mixed)
Foronda-Lopez (Jai Alive)
Alberdi II-Arriaga (Mixed)
Garcia-Hernandez (Jai Alive)
They will be playing in five different courts: Gernika, Berriatua, Hondarribia, Durango and Markina. Semifinals will take place in Durango and the final in Markina. Five different forums and all of them have nothing in common. It is like playing golf in five different courses. This is a real challenge for the players.
The Basque Public Television (ETB) cameras will cover four days, and that is good news.
Goikoetxea won`t be playing with Enbil (that is good news, as well); Alberdi III will be the Boss' bodyguard. It was about time we saw Goiko dancing with one of the "ugliest". A super star like Goiko has to demonstrate that he is able to win the Championship with the weakest player on the roster, the way Bolibar used to do it.
The same applies to Lopez. Foronda is his front-courter, the weakest on the list as well. Shotgun Lopez is having problems with his shoulder, but if he is in good shape, they are one of my choices.
One team that I really like is the one formed by Alberdi III and Arriaga, they won the World crown in Biarritz, 2001. Together they form a solid couple. The fac that they have to play in different courts helps them. They are what we call very pelotaris, guys that get adjusted to the court, people that know how to play the opposite team, what kind of ball to choose in every moment. Together they are winners.
Anyways, even though I see three teams above the rest: Goiko-Alberdi III, Foronda-Lopez and Alberdi III-Arriaga, the rest also looks good. If anybody dares to consult among aficionados, they would get numerous different picks. A priori is the best thing we can expect from a Championship
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sebastian, "Let Me Tell You Something"
Sebastian, dear old friend. "Let me tell you something"...Yesterday morning when you left us the day was so beautiful, one of these autumn days with the sky so blue, a north-western breeze that gets into your lungs and makes you think that life is great and worth living. I knew that sooner rather than later I would get the phone call announcing that you were gone for good because it was not worth living the way you were living lately. Freedom at last, old buddy. The Partido is over.
Years back, in good old Florida days, whenever you started a conversation in english, you began with a .... "Let me tell you something"... introduction. It was so funny, we used to laugh so much.
When I heard the news memories burst into my head, memories that went back to our childhood. The first time I saw you, you were practicing jai-alai in Tolosa's Beotibar fronton. You were already a big guy for a teenager; you came from Astigarraga, your hometown, together with a tiny guy that people called Xapaterito de Astigarraga. A couple of years later we were in Barcelona, we both still teenagers and already playing professional. We were roommates in a Pension nearby the Ramblas, close to the Principal Palacio fronton. We were young and careless and we had so much freedom to do anything we wanted to do, but, in fact, what we really wanted to do was go to Florida. Barcelona was a temporary station on the way to that desired destination and we were travel companions. I picture myself, you and me and Calzas Calzacorta and Alcalde Garamendi back and forth by the Ramblas, some people thought that we were part of a basketball team... Do you remember when we attended the English academy? The four of us. Our classes lasted a two or three weeks, at most. The teacher invited us not to comeback anymore. We were a complete disaster. "This is an umbrella" I had to say, and hand it to you. You had to answer, "thank you for the umbrella" and continue the conversation with Calzas. Obviously, sentences were never completed because we exploded in hilarious laughs in front of a desperate teacher that finally expelled us from class.
"Let me tell you something"... I went to Tampa for the 1974 season, you remained in Barcelona for the military service. News arrived from Barcelona, Sebastian is playing great. Facing téte a téte with the greatest players at that time. Chimela, Etxabe II, Churruca, Ondarres, Bengoa... there you played your best jai-alai ever.
After Barcelona you came to Ocala, we were there after the Tampa season, that was 1974 I believe. Tampa again after Ocala. Tampa was a heaven for a player, nice atmosphere among the players, singles most of us; Beitia and Arregui, the players' managers were good fellows. The city at that time was not too crowded. In the mornings we, Joakin, Echeva, Azca you and me, used to go fishing trout to Tampa Bay. You`d bought a second-hand outboard canoe that hardly started running and when it did, black smoke was all over.
In 1976 before the Tampa season was over, Echeva, Azca, you and me, decided to travel home by ship instead of taking an airplane. As soon as the season finished we went up to Connecticut stoping at Bridgeport Jai-Alai, their inauguration year. A couple of days in Hartford and then we embarked on the Queen Elizabeth II ship in New York. Oh, glorious days! Four days in paradise before we arrived to Cherbourg (France), then took a train to Paris and an airplane to Bilbao, ready for the summer season in the Basque country.
Those seasons were like living in some kind of paradise that at the time we did not realize (nostalgia again) being part of it just because we were young and young people just live life and do not worry about philosophizing.
Bridgeport came later. You married so did I, life went by after that. We chose different paths but even though we hardly saw each other we remained being friends.
So Sebastian "let me tell you something"... wait for me up there, in the eternity. I`ll go some day to get back "my umbrella", the one you never gave back to me. "Take back your umbrella"...you'll say and we again wont be able to complete the sentence because we'll burst in laughter but this time the Teacher won`t expel us from class .
Monday, September 21, 2009
A Wonderful Book!
Close to four- thousand the number of professional jai-alai players that dedicated their lives to the practice of jai-alai, cesta-punta, in more than 120 years of history. 75 % of them basque sportsmen.
Has anybody thought of the universal dimension of this basque pelota modality?
Jai-Alai players along with Basque missioners and sailors have been, in some way, the first ambassadors of our little Country.
The practice of jai-alai extends from European Countries like Belgium, Spain, France and Italy; American Countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, U.S.A., Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela... even in exotic and unknown places for the occidental world like in China, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines Islands and Marruecos.
Migel Angel Bilbao (author of the book: "Cesta Punta, The Professionals"...
What a surprise to get this book and find out the magnificent work done by Migel Angel Bilbao. This book is a blessing, a tribute to the historical memory of an international sport: Jai-Alai.
I always thought that it was a disgrace that so much histoy, so much information would disappear forever without any trace. Bilbao`s work does not cover entirely the gap because is just impossible, but it helps. He has traced information here and there about near 4.000 people, jai-alai professionals. Years of work collecting information fot the sake of love to a fascinating sport. A lots of fotographs, biographies of players. A collection of amazing information. Bilbao includes everybody, no matter procedence, he does not recall the level of playing, who was a star and who was not. His is a list of people that made a living out of it. The practice of Jai-Alai.
This book helps in creating a sort of a collective consciousness. A way to confirm onself proudly that yes: "I was part of it, and I`m so proud". It`s also a mind exercise, a way to remember past years, like seating in a family living room and start looking at the old fotograp album, and start recalling passages long ago gone.
I paid 33 euros for more than a book, a treasure that does not have a price. I know that it`s been sold in Markina, don`t know where though. I could find out if anybody is interested and if is still available. It goes for the second edition. What I just can tell you is that Bilbao`s book is more than a gift: it is a blessing for all of us that took part in a way of life that was unbeliaveble.
Thank you Migel Angel.
Has anybody thought of the universal dimension of this basque pelota modality?
Jai-Alai players along with Basque missioners and sailors have been, in some way, the first ambassadors of our little Country.
The practice of jai-alai extends from European Countries like Belgium, Spain, France and Italy; American Countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, U.S.A., Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela... even in exotic and unknown places for the occidental world like in China, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines Islands and Marruecos.
Migel Angel Bilbao (author of the book: "Cesta Punta, The Professionals"...
What a surprise to get this book and find out the magnificent work done by Migel Angel Bilbao. This book is a blessing, a tribute to the historical memory of an international sport: Jai-Alai.
I always thought that it was a disgrace that so much histoy, so much information would disappear forever without any trace. Bilbao`s work does not cover entirely the gap because is just impossible, but it helps. He has traced information here and there about near 4.000 people, jai-alai professionals. Years of work collecting information fot the sake of love to a fascinating sport. A lots of fotographs, biographies of players. A collection of amazing information. Bilbao includes everybody, no matter procedence, he does not recall the level of playing, who was a star and who was not. His is a list of people that made a living out of it. The practice of Jai-Alai.
This book helps in creating a sort of a collective consciousness. A way to confirm onself proudly that yes: "I was part of it, and I`m so proud". It`s also a mind exercise, a way to remember past years, like seating in a family living room and start looking at the old fotograp album, and start recalling passages long ago gone.
I paid 33 euros for more than a book, a treasure that does not have a price. I know that it`s been sold in Markina, don`t know where though. I could find out if anybody is interested and if is still available. It goes for the second edition. What I just can tell you is that Bilbao`s book is more than a gift: it is a blessing for all of us that took part in a way of life that was unbeliaveble.
Thank you Migel Angel.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thriller in Markina
It was kind of Ali-Frazier in boxing, some sort of Thriller in Manila years ago, but in Jai-Alai version and the place was the town of Markina, home of hundreds and hundreds of players. A Challenge of the Century could be read in the posters of the Fronton, the famous University of jai-Alai. Best match possible. Goikoetxea and Enbil vs. Egiguren-Lopez.
Lots of people in the audience, lots of ex-players, some on vacation from Florida, others just for the sake of watching jai-alai, great jai-alai. I saw Bengoa, Goio, Echeva, Elorrio, Katxin Uriarte, Chasio II, Carea... you name it! All of us wishing to enjoy with good shots, great rebotes... making comparisons with players of other epochs. State of the art jai-alai yesterday in Markina. Just before the beginning of the game, the corredores (bookies) were singing in favor of Goiko and Enbil, 60 euros to 100. There was not question that the catedraticos' (people who bet) choice favored the six times World Champions. First point lasted about five minutes, a premonition of what was coming. A tough fight, ups and downs on the scoreboard. Thriller. Partidos are long matches and you can not tell who will win till the 25 point, that`s the line were most games are decided. Yesterday was not an exception. Thriller in Markina, no doubt about it. Four of them want it to win.
26 even on the scoreboard. Till them Goiko was trying hard, Throwing like a beast, smashing the front wall; Enbil playing the roleof the loyal centurion taking care of his Emperor, covering the chula, hardly missing a point. Egi did his best and most of the times he did it weel, few ocassions to show his remate though. How about Lopez? Shotgun Lopez.... Yesterday he played like always, catching a lot, reachind the back wall so easyly, but that was not enough. Number one back-courter has to do more. He did not play agressive enough with his explosive lefthand, reverse shot. Lopez seemed to be afraid of shooting long shots that would reached the back wall and would allow Goiko to kill with his rebote. Shotgun Lopez showed yesterday his defensive face instead of a fierce attack.
The only way that Egi and Lopez can beat the Emperor and his loyal Centurion is if the game would last 20 points, that`s what Katxin Uriarte told me while we were watching the game.
When they were tied at 26, suddenly, Goiko started offering his best jai-alai, smashing cortadas, a serie picadas, two carom shots, great rebotes... It seemed like he was saying, "Hey guys, party is over, time to go home, I`m the One, let me show you now what jai-alai is all about". And he did it. Point by point, shot by shot, they knock down Egi and Lopez who were playing fairly well till the bell wrang and Goiko made his final rush leaving behind the rest but Enbil, his travel companion. 35-28, the final result.
The match was good, they worked hard, about 90 minutes of long points, some good remates, not too many because the balls were fast and dont allow the frontcourter to catch the ball confortably enough to execute remates. What I missed yesterday was a more aggresive Lopez, he is got a tremendous reverse, he can do a lot of damage but playing like yesterday he seemed to be dancing ballet instead of hunting in the wild, shotgun in hand.
The only way that Eugi and Lopez can beat Goiko and Enbil is if the partido would last 20 points and not 35. Katxin Uriarte dixit.
Lots of people in the audience, lots of ex-players, some on vacation from Florida, others just for the sake of watching jai-alai, great jai-alai. I saw Bengoa, Goio, Echeva, Elorrio, Katxin Uriarte, Chasio II, Carea... you name it! All of us wishing to enjoy with good shots, great rebotes... making comparisons with players of other epochs. State of the art jai-alai yesterday in Markina. Just before the beginning of the game, the corredores (bookies) were singing in favor of Goiko and Enbil, 60 euros to 100. There was not question that the catedraticos' (people who bet) choice favored the six times World Champions. First point lasted about five minutes, a premonition of what was coming. A tough fight, ups and downs on the scoreboard. Thriller. Partidos are long matches and you can not tell who will win till the 25 point, that`s the line were most games are decided. Yesterday was not an exception. Thriller in Markina, no doubt about it. Four of them want it to win.
26 even on the scoreboard. Till them Goiko was trying hard, Throwing like a beast, smashing the front wall; Enbil playing the roleof the loyal centurion taking care of his Emperor, covering the chula, hardly missing a point. Egi did his best and most of the times he did it weel, few ocassions to show his remate though. How about Lopez? Shotgun Lopez.... Yesterday he played like always, catching a lot, reachind the back wall so easyly, but that was not enough. Number one back-courter has to do more. He did not play agressive enough with his explosive lefthand, reverse shot. Lopez seemed to be afraid of shooting long shots that would reached the back wall and would allow Goiko to kill with his rebote. Shotgun Lopez showed yesterday his defensive face instead of a fierce attack.
The only way that Egi and Lopez can beat the Emperor and his loyal Centurion is if the game would last 20 points, that`s what Katxin Uriarte told me while we were watching the game.
When they were tied at 26, suddenly, Goiko started offering his best jai-alai, smashing cortadas, a serie picadas, two carom shots, great rebotes... It seemed like he was saying, "Hey guys, party is over, time to go home, I`m the One, let me show you now what jai-alai is all about". And he did it. Point by point, shot by shot, they knock down Egi and Lopez who were playing fairly well till the bell wrang and Goiko made his final rush leaving behind the rest but Enbil, his travel companion. 35-28, the final result.
The match was good, they worked hard, about 90 minutes of long points, some good remates, not too many because the balls were fast and dont allow the frontcourter to catch the ball confortably enough to execute remates. What I missed yesterday was a more aggresive Lopez, he is got a tremendous reverse, he can do a lot of damage but playing like yesterday he seemed to be dancing ballet instead of hunting in the wild, shotgun in hand.
The only way that Eugi and Lopez can beat Goiko and Enbil is if the partido would last 20 points and not 35. Katxin Uriarte dixit.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Iñaki Egiguren. Presidente de Jai-Alive
Hace unos días Imanol Magro periodista del diario en euskara Berria entrevistaba a Iñaki Egiguren, presidente de Jai-alive. Su empresa ha recorrido cinco años de trayectoria, es optimista. Dice que la cesta-punta tiene futuro ya que es patrimonio cultural; ahora bien, siempre que se venda bien, el modelo a seguir es el de los frontones vasco-franceses.
"La apuesta no puede ser la base del negocio; el futuro depende del espectáculo, de la television..."
Hace cinco años surgía Jai-Alive y parecía una locura. El mismo nombre de la empresa es un juego de palabras. Egiguren I. sin embargo no se arrepiente y es optimista. "Tiene futuro la cesta-punta", repite a menudo. "Los próximos años van a ser importantes. Necesitamos un plan estratégico, hay que cimentar las bases del futuro".
¿Qué tal la temporada?
"La valoración es buena. La pelea entre las dos empresas ha provocado una curiosidad especial. La semana pasada fue buena. En la final de Biarritz (Guante D'or) las dos empresas nos vimos las caras, el fronton a reventar; ganamos nosotros en una final excelente. Sobre todo ganó la cesta-punta. En la final del individual también sentimos el apoyo de los aficionados y de los medios de comunicación".
El nombre Jai-Alive es un juego de palabras. Lo que fué una apuesta arriesgada sigue viva.
"Toda empresa tiene su riesgo. Hemos aprendido algo en estos cinco años. Nos hemos amoldado a la especificidad de los fans, instituciones de cada sitio y veo que la modalidad tiene futuro.Estamos poniendo las bases, tal vez todavía no se vean, pero ahí están y harán falta años para que resurja".
El modelo de los frontones industriales se acaba, y vosotros desde el principio os desmarcasteis. ¿Todavía apostáis por lo innovador?
"Nuestro compromiso es ofrecer lo mejor al aficionado de siempre. Pero aparte, ahí están los nuevos fans potenciales: los jovenes, turistas... Los jovenes de Donostia y Bilbao no distinguen el remonte de la cesta-punta, y son deportes de aquí. Hay que enseñarles, pero".
¿Tiene la cesta-punta ése atractivo?
"Sí. Cuando acuden nuevos espectadores sentimos que se quedan sorprendidos: la velocidad, la estética del juego... Necesitamos tiempo, ayuda, dinero... Colaboramos con la Federación Guipuzcoana. Es importante hacer labor de atraer, hacer exhibiciones en las ikastolas (escuelas públicas vascas), con material barato.. y esos jovenes sabrán para siempre de que trata la cesta-punta".
¿Hay lugar en Euskal Herria para dos empresas?
"Claro. La pregunta no es si hay sitio o no, tiene que haber dos empresas, y construir a partir de ahí. Así el mercado será mayor, mayor competitividad, mejores combinaciones... Para vender un proyecto el contexto es mejor, a las televisiones, ayuntamientos...".
Las empresas habéis hecho las paces, en algunos frontones y campeonatos a veces habèis estado juntos... Pero no es suficiente.
"Es un momento importante para construir la cesta-punta. El objetivo es completar para cinco años un plan estratégico: diseñar para le año que viene los campeonatos, buscar sponsors, la Television Vasca ETB de qué manera se comprometerá, el Gobierno Vasco... Hay que pensar en eso. Este año el Guante de Oro ha sido un éxito pero hay que pensar en el año que viene, sobre todo mirando hacia la parte Vasco-Española".
En Lapurdi (provincia vasco-francesa, Biarritz, San Juan de Luz...) ha funcionado muy bien, más de 1.500 espectadores. Sin embargo, en Guipuzcoa y Bizkaia, muy poca gente. Por qué?
"Biarritz y San Juan de Luz llevan más de 40 años organizando estos campeonatos. Allí hay mucha implicación de clubs, padres... Y sobre todo los Ayuntamientos ayudan mucho. Muchas veces monetariamente, como en San Juan de Luz, donde la Cámara de Turismo hace una labor de marketing grande. Trabajan todo el año par ello, como en Donostia con el festival de Jazz y el Zinemaldia. Tenemos que aprender de ellos, como llevan gente al fronton. En la parte Vasco-Española no nos damos cuenta que es algo que se puede vender bien. Se puede llevar la gente al fronton, metido en paquetes de turismo, en las oficinas de turismo mostrando la cesta-punta... Hemos empezado en Hondarribia (Gipuzkoa), pero harán falta algunos años".
Todo el año el conflicto de las televisiones ha estado en el candelero.
"Es algo que hay que dejar a un lado. Las bases para un futuro a corto plazo están puestas. El Tribunal de la Competencia las ha puesto, bien para los campeonatos, y también en lo que respecta al tema de ETB (Televisión Vasca). Está bien claro en la televisión del futuro qué es lo que tienen que hacer y lo que no. Ahora bien, ha llegado la hora de negociar la oferta televisiva del futuro y no lo tenemos bien claro qué clase acuerdo será, en ETB hay cambios derivados del cambio politico".
¿Es bueno el ejemplo de la pelota a mano? Muchos sponsors, televisión... Hace 25 años la mano estaba en la situación en que se encuentra hoy día la cesta-punta.
"Sí. La cuestión es la televisión, te dá continuidad, y el poder ofrecer un producto a los patrocinadores. Si ofreces a la semana un partido de punta, son 50 al año; algo atractivo para un banco o una compañía telefónica. Le das al público una parte de tu deporte, "atas" al al espectador. La televisión no espanta a la gente de los frontones; todo lo contrario, si los pelotaris son conocidos pueden atraer a más gente. Hoy día la cesta-punta es la modalidad de mayor nivel deportivo, pero sin la televisión no existes".
La apuesta (dinero que se juega en el fronton) se ha agotado? La herramienta (modalidades que utilizan una herramienta) siempre estará unida a la apuesta?
"La sociedad ha cambiado, y ya la apuesta no puede ser la base de la cesta-punta. Las apuestas electrónicas pueden ser una ayuda, pero la apuesta no es el futuro. El futuro son la televesión, los patrocinadores, campeonatos atractivos, el espectáculo... Lo más fácil es programar tres funciones semanales en Donostia y atraer a 200 espectadores, pero la cesta-punta no puede ser un pretexto para la apuesta; porque nos puede ocurrir lo que ha ocurrido en USA". . .
"La apuesta no puede ser la base del negocio; el futuro depende del espectáculo, de la television..."
Hace cinco años surgía Jai-Alive y parecía una locura. El mismo nombre de la empresa es un juego de palabras. Egiguren I. sin embargo no se arrepiente y es optimista. "Tiene futuro la cesta-punta", repite a menudo. "Los próximos años van a ser importantes. Necesitamos un plan estratégico, hay que cimentar las bases del futuro".
¿Qué tal la temporada?
"La valoración es buena. La pelea entre las dos empresas ha provocado una curiosidad especial. La semana pasada fue buena. En la final de Biarritz (Guante D'or) las dos empresas nos vimos las caras, el fronton a reventar; ganamos nosotros en una final excelente. Sobre todo ganó la cesta-punta. En la final del individual también sentimos el apoyo de los aficionados y de los medios de comunicación".
El nombre Jai-Alive es un juego de palabras. Lo que fué una apuesta arriesgada sigue viva.
"Toda empresa tiene su riesgo. Hemos aprendido algo en estos cinco años. Nos hemos amoldado a la especificidad de los fans, instituciones de cada sitio y veo que la modalidad tiene futuro.Estamos poniendo las bases, tal vez todavía no se vean, pero ahí están y harán falta años para que resurja".
El modelo de los frontones industriales se acaba, y vosotros desde el principio os desmarcasteis. ¿Todavía apostáis por lo innovador?
"Nuestro compromiso es ofrecer lo mejor al aficionado de siempre. Pero aparte, ahí están los nuevos fans potenciales: los jovenes, turistas... Los jovenes de Donostia y Bilbao no distinguen el remonte de la cesta-punta, y son deportes de aquí. Hay que enseñarles, pero".
¿Tiene la cesta-punta ése atractivo?
"Sí. Cuando acuden nuevos espectadores sentimos que se quedan sorprendidos: la velocidad, la estética del juego... Necesitamos tiempo, ayuda, dinero... Colaboramos con la Federación Guipuzcoana. Es importante hacer labor de atraer, hacer exhibiciones en las ikastolas (escuelas públicas vascas), con material barato.. y esos jovenes sabrán para siempre de que trata la cesta-punta".
¿Hay lugar en Euskal Herria para dos empresas?
"Claro. La pregunta no es si hay sitio o no, tiene que haber dos empresas, y construir a partir de ahí. Así el mercado será mayor, mayor competitividad, mejores combinaciones... Para vender un proyecto el contexto es mejor, a las televisiones, ayuntamientos...".
Las empresas habéis hecho las paces, en algunos frontones y campeonatos a veces habèis estado juntos... Pero no es suficiente.
"Es un momento importante para construir la cesta-punta. El objetivo es completar para cinco años un plan estratégico: diseñar para le año que viene los campeonatos, buscar sponsors, la Television Vasca ETB de qué manera se comprometerá, el Gobierno Vasco... Hay que pensar en eso. Este año el Guante de Oro ha sido un éxito pero hay que pensar en el año que viene, sobre todo mirando hacia la parte Vasco-Española".
En Lapurdi (provincia vasco-francesa, Biarritz, San Juan de Luz...) ha funcionado muy bien, más de 1.500 espectadores. Sin embargo, en Guipuzcoa y Bizkaia, muy poca gente. Por qué?
"Biarritz y San Juan de Luz llevan más de 40 años organizando estos campeonatos. Allí hay mucha implicación de clubs, padres... Y sobre todo los Ayuntamientos ayudan mucho. Muchas veces monetariamente, como en San Juan de Luz, donde la Cámara de Turismo hace una labor de marketing grande. Trabajan todo el año par ello, como en Donostia con el festival de Jazz y el Zinemaldia. Tenemos que aprender de ellos, como llevan gente al fronton. En la parte Vasco-Española no nos damos cuenta que es algo que se puede vender bien. Se puede llevar la gente al fronton, metido en paquetes de turismo, en las oficinas de turismo mostrando la cesta-punta... Hemos empezado en Hondarribia (Gipuzkoa), pero harán falta algunos años".
Todo el año el conflicto de las televisiones ha estado en el candelero.
"Es algo que hay que dejar a un lado. Las bases para un futuro a corto plazo están puestas. El Tribunal de la Competencia las ha puesto, bien para los campeonatos, y también en lo que respecta al tema de ETB (Televisión Vasca). Está bien claro en la televisión del futuro qué es lo que tienen que hacer y lo que no. Ahora bien, ha llegado la hora de negociar la oferta televisiva del futuro y no lo tenemos bien claro qué clase acuerdo será, en ETB hay cambios derivados del cambio politico".
¿Es bueno el ejemplo de la pelota a mano? Muchos sponsors, televisión... Hace 25 años la mano estaba en la situación en que se encuentra hoy día la cesta-punta.
"Sí. La cuestión es la televisión, te dá continuidad, y el poder ofrecer un producto a los patrocinadores. Si ofreces a la semana un partido de punta, son 50 al año; algo atractivo para un banco o una compañía telefónica. Le das al público una parte de tu deporte, "atas" al al espectador. La televisión no espanta a la gente de los frontones; todo lo contrario, si los pelotaris son conocidos pueden atraer a más gente. Hoy día la cesta-punta es la modalidad de mayor nivel deportivo, pero sin la televisión no existes".
La apuesta (dinero que se juega en el fronton) se ha agotado? La herramienta (modalidades que utilizan una herramienta) siempre estará unida a la apuesta?
"La sociedad ha cambiado, y ya la apuesta no puede ser la base de la cesta-punta. Las apuestas electrónicas pueden ser una ayuda, pero la apuesta no es el futuro. El futuro son la televesión, los patrocinadores, campeonatos atractivos, el espectáculo... Lo más fácil es programar tres funciones semanales en Donostia y atraer a 200 espectadores, pero la cesta-punta no puede ser un pretexto para la apuesta; porque nos puede ocurrir lo que ha ocurrido en USA". . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)