(...) "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.
I understand the concern of Alberto regarding the court change and it is fact that many "remates" won't be as adjusted as if the pelotaris play always in the same court. But as an aficionado player, we have to deal with this every weekend and for me it is also interesting to see how, and how fast can a player adapt his game on behalf of the fronton.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I feel that there are many tasks that are "ruinin the deal" more than this one: what about the pelotas they are using lately profesionals? for me it is completely distorting the game (remember the individual final? and also the fact that everybody hits the rebote easily..) not to talk about the dirty way of playing that is becoming "standard"...
Anyway, it is great to be able to share my thoughts with you, thanks for the job of making this blog available. Keep on posting!
To my fellow players
ReplyDeleteI know that maybe my comment "ruining the deal" could have been a little harsh but at least it has raised some good dialogue and debate as to what jai alai needs and doesnt need at this moment. Although I didnt want to accept it, I viewed the score of the last partido played by Goicoechea and Egiguren in Jostaldi and it makes you wonder. In the same article it said that the partido was very lackluster(look at the score) and that Egiguren scored several points on aces. Mikel you do have a great point about the pelotas. When I first got to Miami, you really had to battle out the point to win it being with the nice balls they had and the low roof. But just years before I retired, the balls were so fast, that it really had to make you change your whole strategy and the way you actually played just to get ahead and maybe win. It was such an interesting dynamic that it has changed jai alai to what we have now. Sometimes to fast can be counterproductive to the sport and that is what we see today. But hey, at least we have the sport in an organized manner and that we are still able to enjoy it(well at least in spain and france). And my socio Zulaika is right in that although the sport is going through a very rough spot(notice I say going through;im a believer), at least we still have a championship. Great discussion
Regards, Alberto Echaburu
By the way- one interesting note; if you notice, both in the individual and the doubles championship, the opening media presentations were both held in Bilbao I believe. I was there last summer and the place is beautiful and full of people. Why not just hold the tournamet in Bilbao? It seems like a stategic place to hold it and you can definetly do some cross promotions with several international companies that I know exist in the city. Well just ramblings from an old dog. God bless guys