Last Friday night was a night to enjoy although the celebration was not complete. Foronda and Lopez set the record straight. For most people, they were the favorites to proclaim themselves World Champions and they met expectations battling Egiguren II and Felix without mercy. Last Friday night in Markina it was, above all else, Imanol Lopez's night: Super Lopez. The Jai-Alive pelotari made it clear who is number one in today's back-court scene. At 25 years old of age, he dominates in a way only put into question by another great player, Irastorza.
The court at Markina University is not fast, it's slow by today's standards. The ball that in other courts might seem excessively fast, are very adaptable within the walls of this forum. Also, Foronda and Lopez, began with the advantage brought by wintry cold temperatures; which create a dry environment that makes the balls less lively. Even so, Foronda and Lopez always sought out slower balls. They knew where to inflict pain, they brought with them prior lessons learned. From the beginning of the match, Lopez put on his Super Lopez uniform and set the wearing pace of the game. Those back handed lines, authentic missiles, beat down the opposing back court, again and again. Those right handed shots that constantly avoided the opposing front court. The awsome confidence transmitted by the sensation that there would be no difficult balls for him. His placement on the court was admirable. The correcting gesture when the ball descended upon him and he let it go by only to pick it up on the rebote, with total ease. He reminded me of the grest Patxi Txurruka. It's a pleasure watch Lopez, Super Lopez, play. Another virtue of the pelotari from Zumaia is that he makes his front court look good. Foronda played a flawless partido, hardly making any mistakes; other than that, he did what he should have done. He took of advantage of his back court's dominance and killed the points. With all due respect to a professional role model like Foronda --few take the profession as seriously as he does-- this Championship would have been won by Lopez with any front court partner. That is a merit of great Champions.
On the other hand, the evening seemed to foster the epic achievement. Felix, a jai-alai star, at 47 years of age was disputing the World Championship finals. Part of the audience trusted they would see their idol win and they expressed it by cheering after every point made by Rocky Felix. On the other hand, even the most loyal and unconditional of his followers realized that everything they hoped was wishful thinking, an emotional reaction more out of a fictional account than reality. Lopez, Super Star Lopez, with his pelotazos managed to shread the dreams of those who dreamt right up to the start of the partido. Felix, the powerful right handed back court who until not too long ago did a lot of damage with his right, was trapped throughout the partido in the farthest recesses of the back court; that infernal place where nothing is possible except for the most heroic defense. As Felix was being chastised against the ropes he was reminiscent of Stallione's Rocky Balboa. He did what he could and he did it wonderfully, covering the Chula and and firing some strong back hand shots. His right hand continues to be a thing of beauty, texbook jai-alai. His power, on the other hand, is not damaging to his opponent. He is not longer the knockout puncher of yester year, who would drag his opponents down misery street with a chain of right hand shots. Last Friday night Foronda was grateful for that.
A few days before the partido, Egiguren II his front court, promised to play aggressively by attacking Foronda. Declarations that fed the hopes of those that dreamt with seeing Felix transformed into Stallione's Rocky Balboa; a winner, a dream. It all ended up being a statement of intentions. The former Dania player did what he could and he did it well when he was in his own territory; he put his stamp on a series of costado remates amd some rebote shots that only the very best can make. He could do little more than that. After the game, I was overcome by a feeling that we often demand that pelotaris play in a manner in which they are incapable. The desire to witness a great match where epic and surprise are both possible, is not enough. Foronda and Lopez went out to win and they did it in a big way. Furthermore, I am convinced that they would have won with any type of ball. Last Friday Night, it became clear that it is practically impossible to beat Super Lopez, Super Star, unless he faces Goikoetxea or Irastorza, whichever combination player managers may deem appropiate.
The court at Markina University is not fast, it's slow by today's standards. The ball that in other courts might seem excessively fast, are very adaptable within the walls of this forum. Also, Foronda and Lopez, began with the advantage brought by wintry cold temperatures; which create a dry environment that makes the balls less lively. Even so, Foronda and Lopez always sought out slower balls. They knew where to inflict pain, they brought with them prior lessons learned. From the beginning of the match, Lopez put on his Super Lopez uniform and set the wearing pace of the game. Those back handed lines, authentic missiles, beat down the opposing back court, again and again. Those right handed shots that constantly avoided the opposing front court. The awsome confidence transmitted by the sensation that there would be no difficult balls for him. His placement on the court was admirable. The correcting gesture when the ball descended upon him and he let it go by only to pick it up on the rebote, with total ease. He reminded me of the grest Patxi Txurruka. It's a pleasure watch Lopez, Super Lopez, play. Another virtue of the pelotari from Zumaia is that he makes his front court look good. Foronda played a flawless partido, hardly making any mistakes; other than that, he did what he should have done. He took of advantage of his back court's dominance and killed the points. With all due respect to a professional role model like Foronda --few take the profession as seriously as he does-- this Championship would have been won by Lopez with any front court partner. That is a merit of great Champions.
On the other hand, the evening seemed to foster the epic achievement. Felix, a jai-alai star, at 47 years of age was disputing the World Championship finals. Part of the audience trusted they would see their idol win and they expressed it by cheering after every point made by Rocky Felix. On the other hand, even the most loyal and unconditional of his followers realized that everything they hoped was wishful thinking, an emotional reaction more out of a fictional account than reality. Lopez, Super Star Lopez, with his pelotazos managed to shread the dreams of those who dreamt right up to the start of the partido. Felix, the powerful right handed back court who until not too long ago did a lot of damage with his right, was trapped throughout the partido in the farthest recesses of the back court; that infernal place where nothing is possible except for the most heroic defense. As Felix was being chastised against the ropes he was reminiscent of Stallione's Rocky Balboa. He did what he could and he did it wonderfully, covering the Chula and and firing some strong back hand shots. His right hand continues to be a thing of beauty, texbook jai-alai. His power, on the other hand, is not damaging to his opponent. He is not longer the knockout puncher of yester year, who would drag his opponents down misery street with a chain of right hand shots. Last Friday night Foronda was grateful for that.
A few days before the partido, Egiguren II his front court, promised to play aggressively by attacking Foronda. Declarations that fed the hopes of those that dreamt with seeing Felix transformed into Stallione's Rocky Balboa; a winner, a dream. It all ended up being a statement of intentions. The former Dania player did what he could and he did it well when he was in his own territory; he put his stamp on a series of costado remates amd some rebote shots that only the very best can make. He could do little more than that. After the game, I was overcome by a feeling that we often demand that pelotaris play in a manner in which they are incapable. The desire to witness a great match where epic and surprise are both possible, is not enough. Foronda and Lopez went out to win and they did it in a big way. Furthermore, I am convinced that they would have won with any type of ball. Last Friday Night, it became clear that it is practically impossible to beat Super Lopez, Super Star, unless he faces Goikoetxea or Irastorza, whichever combination player managers may deem appropiate.
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