Interview with Bolibar: Talking with a Genius

   Deep in the province of Bizkaia, there is a village with 408 inhabitants named Bolibar; which is two miles from the town of Markina. It is here that one of the greatest pelotaris in the history of Jai-Alai, Txikito de Bolibar, was born and still resides.
 
   Bolibar lives with Kontxi, his wife, and his two daughters 24 and 28 years of age, respectively. Together, they run a small bar located just a few meters away from the fronton. . Moreover, right in front of the museum-house; this holds the origins of Simon Bolibar, the “Libertador de las Americas.”


Bolibar earned a lot of money playing Jai-Alai – in 1982, in Durango, he earned more than $1,000 USD per partido ---and he knew how to save it, we know that well, the bar appears more a hobby than a source of income. At age 57, he has an excellent physical appearance. Since he retired he has been training twice weekly in Markina – he does this by playing the backcourt.

Who can forget the lanky figure with narrow shoulders and arms that would go on forever? The simian walk that would suddenly turn to predator, merciless with his adversaries. Bolibar was a well-rounded pelotari; his game could be the dirtiest and the cleanest, depending on the moment. He could just as well go down to line 2 or up to line 10 to help his backcourt. He was a genius of Jai-Alai, proud of his game, sometimes angry, and very ambitious. Once in Mexico, Bolivar who was already a veteran had just won a final beating a young Alberdi. Alberdi was in the dressing room crying inconsolably when Bolibar addressed him: “You cry, you cry, eh! ...You would be crying much more if I had gotten you when I was 28 year old.” On another occasion in West Palm Beach, when an average player made a point against his serve, Bolibar would declare from the bench: “Bah! 1,500 peseta players in Durango [a reference to minimum wage caliber]. He was very ambitious. During his first year in Tampa, he was injured for a few days. Every night he would pray to the Virgin Mary, not for his recovery but so that at the end of the season he would have the most wins.

Bolivar is still passionate about Jai-Alai. He lives it and does not miss a chance to relive his feats. What follows is a humble interview for someone who, as Orbea I said of him: “how can anyone play Jai-Alai so well”. I recognize that his career, his achievements, his adventures provide material for much more than just an interview, it could easily fill a whole book

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Interview

• Of all the seasons you played in the US, which one was the best?

“They were all very good. I had the most wins in most of them. Maybe, the 1979-1980 Bridgeport season was the best. I won 216 quinielas, 49 singles, and 45 wins in the last quiniela.”

• And your best year in the Basque Country?

“My best memories are from 1982 when, playing with my brother Agustin, we won the World Championship in St Jean de Luz.”



• What was the most powerful roster that you have played in?

“In 1977, half the Tampa roster was taken to Hartford and the other half came from Miami. Perhaps that was the best roster. I played in that roster several months and established a record 99 quinielas and 50 singles.”



• Why did you not play in Miami?

“In 1969, I signed with Berenson to go play in Miami. Later on, Berenson bought Tampa and took me there. As much as a player stands out in Tampa, he will never play in Miami, Berenson said. As it turns out, in 1974 he wanted to take me to Miami. I declined the offer and reminded him of his words. Plus I was doing well in Tampa.”



• Your favorite US court?

“Tampa”



• Your favorite court in the Basque Country?

“Markina”



• What was the strongest part of your game?

“To point something out, my right hand, the rebote was pretty good as well.”



• What was the weakest part of your game?

“Look, I would have liked to have had a better costado; I was never able to dominate it like Inclan, Joey or your brother Zulaica I.”



• Who was your favorite players’ manager?

“I would say two, Beitia (Tampa) and Lasa (Bridgeport).”



• The most well rounded pelotari you have ever seen.

“Ondarres.”



• A Backcourt?

“Churruca.”



• Who was your most dangerous rival in the quinielas?

“Without any doubt, Inclan. He was a terrifying opponent. He would catch any serve and he would throw costado everywhere. He would drive you crazy. I would opt to lob the serve to buy me time to reach the remate. I played with him four seasons in Milford. He used to tell me that he would rather be at the bottom of the wins record than to be number two behind me.



• Your worst rival in partidos?

“Uriarte and Ondarres.”



• Your greatest Jai-Alai achievement?

“I have won everything. My career is complete. That final in the World Championship when my brother and I won against Castro II and Goiogana, in San Juan de Luz, was something incredible.”



• Any memorable points?

There was one in Tampa. Almorza and I were disputing a singles point. I returned 3 chic-chacs; and then I caught the ball  and pass to dominate. "Big Al" returned 2 incredible chic-chacs; I made the point with a dejada. It was an incredible play, an unusual volley; we were both burnt out when it ended. The crowds gave us a standing ovation, applauding for a couple of minutes. “Big Al” was a tremendous athlete, what a great rebote!” [I witnessed that point, truly memorable, otherworldly]



• What current player do you like?

“Goikoetxea. In the back-court I like Lopez more than Irastorza.”



• Do they play dirtier now?

“Yes. When Goiko and these guys get the ball by the side wall and they get away from the wall by taking some steps…..that was not done before.”



• What has changed from your time to the present?

“In those days, there were more high caliber pelotaris, both front and back court. Presently, there are few.”



• Do you remember an American pelotari who played with the name Rastock?

[He tries to remember…..]. “I know that he began to play in Milford at the inception of the strike and afterwards we played there. I am unable to recall anything else, in particular.”



• When you played in Bridgeport there was someone in the audience who called you Booooooli!!......and you would answer back, remember?

“Yes, of course (and he laughs). He would come every Sunday. He was Cuban and came to visit Markina a while ago. Now he lives in Dania.”



• Would you return to Florida for any exhibition?

“No. But I would like to play that month and a half in Ocala, I would love it.”

• Did you retire being Number One?

“I was 44 years old. I had had the most wins in Milford. Totorika offered me a contract to play in Euzkadi, but I decided to leave it. Everything I had to do in Jai-Alai, I had achieved.”



We said goodbye at the door of the bar, just a few meters from the fronton where he, Txikito de Bolibar, a genius of Jai-Alai, had taken his first pelotazos. Before I left, he made a gesture as if he were to catch the pelota with his reves, as he said, “Still got it, eh!”…….

Humor en el Jai-Alai

El humor siempre ha estado presente en el jai.alai. Gente joven los pelotaris, desenfadada. Antes sobre todo, salían de un entorno rural y se adentraban en un mundo desconocido con problemas de expresión linguistica dado su desconocimiento o limitaciones fuera del euskera, la lengua materna.
 
   "En cierta ocasión varios pelotaris se disponían a entrar a una discoteca en USA. Uno de ellos llevaba unas zapatillas deportivas como calzado. El portero se percata de ello y les dice que está prohibido el acceso con zapatillas. A éste, al de las zapatillas, que no entendía ni papa de inglés, le traducen lo que había dicho el portero. Se le queda mirando fijamente al portero y le dice. "Qué!..., hase barro dentro o qué!".
                                          ................................................................................
   "Hace bastantes años los célebres puntistas Unanue y Urrutia hicieron la mili en Valencia. Los dos medio asustados entran al cuartel. Comienzan a vestirse, y como las polainas son todo botones, se arman un lío terrible, al final, tras darles vueltas y vueltas, salen a la calle con ellas puestas al revés. Un desastre.
  Pasan 4 días, y una tarde, estando tranquilamente en el patio, oyen a un cabo gritar con ronca voz:
  ¡A formar, rápido, que viene el capitán! ¡Vamos, reclutas, daos prisa, y a formar!
   Formaron todos, entró el capitán, que echó un vistazo por el grupo, volvió a pasar, miró y remiró, sobre todo a los dos pelotaris y, con los reclutas saludando marcialmente, se retiró.
  Al día siguiente ahí iban Unanue y Urrutia tan panchos, vestidos de soldados, por la calle Ruzafa, y en esto que se cruzan con el capitán de la víspera, y pasaron por su lado como si pasaran por delante de un farol, ni caso.
  ¡¡Alto ahí!!, les gritó rápidamente hecho una furia el tipo de las estrellas. ¡¡A cuadrarse he dicho!!
 Y zaguero y delantero hicieron lo que les mandaron.
¡¡¿Quién les ha dicho a ustedes que cuando han de pasar ante un jefe no deben saludarlo?!!
    Los dos pelotaris nada, mudos.
¿¡¡Pero cómo es posible que...?!!
Y como la cosa íba a peor y el hombre estaba cada vez más furioso, a Unanue, para calmarlo, no se le ocurrió nada mejor que decirle con la más cándida sinceridad:
 "Hombre, capitán, ¿por qué se enfada? ¿No se acuerda que ya lo saludamos ayer?".
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No se han dado casos muy repetidos como éste,pero se han dado. Jugando en el Fronton Mexico Jose Ramon Garmendia, un tipo tan alto que parece que tiene una nube en el ojo, en el transcurso de un tanto muy peloteado, por los nervios y la emoción que flotaba en el ambiente, al ir a entrar el zaguero contrario a la pelota que le correspondía devolver, se le adelantó Garmendia, que metió la cesta y que soltó tremendo pelotazo.
   Se armó el alboroto padre; los contrarios pidieron falta y, cuando su compañero le preguntó al grandullón de Garmendia por qué razón había devuelto dos veces seguidas la pelota, el de Villabona, le contestó todo serio:
   ¡"Sí, ya sé, ya sé!...¡Pero es que la tenía tan a la mano y tan bien!!".
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Ansola, un puntista de un caserío de lo más alejado del barrio San Miguel de Elgoibar, fuerte como pocos, con unas patillas enormes en forma de hacha, camisa de flores siempre, que jugó en Florida. En cierta ocasión, en Palm Beach, llevó el coche a repostar a una gasolinera. Al cubano que le atendía le dice: "Échale viento"..., refiriendose a que hinchara las ruedas del vehículo.
 El cubano le contesta: !"Cómo lo quieres chico, viento norte o viento sur!"

A Place Called Tampa

Last Saturday, many of the jai-alai players that played in Tampa during different decades shared a table and break bread in Bolibar, near Markina. This gathering of friends has been taking place for several consecutive years. As far as I know, those of us who played in Tampa are the only ones that get together for this type of celebration. Why is that?
Tampa in the seventies and eighties was a place of privilege for the pelotari. In the mid seventies, the roster was very young and many were unmarried. The players' manager tandem, Arregui and Beitia, were good people, demanding of the players but the pressure was bearable. If we try to compare it to Miami, there is not point of comparison; which is why many players wanted to play in Tampa and some made the move. The general manager, Mr. Gerrity, was a good guy, always in the locker room mingling with the players. The city, back then, was a quiet place, an excellent place to live and raise your children. We had a "private beach": "Jose´s beach", a long and sandy parcel of land on which we took daily walks.
The night scene... I remember this place called "Pat", a bit sinister, sort of a nightclub with "live music" near the fronton, the owner`s name: Pat Matassini, I think it was on Ghandi Boulevard. It was a place we frequented nightly to drink some beers and where a pure jai-alai crowd congregated, with "groupies" included... why not man. Oh! We were young and had all the freedom in the world. We shared a profession and did our best to excel but the environment was, generally, magnificent.
We still have our memories and nostalgia for those days of long ago, we look different and, yes, a bit older -why not say it. But we continue to get together for the simple reason that we are bound by an invincible bond of frienship that we forged and nurtured in a place called Tampa.

Un Lugar Llamado Tampa

Este sabado compartiremos mesa y mantel en Bolibar, cerca de Markina, muchos de los pelotaris que jugamos en Tampa en diferentes épocas. Ya son varios los años que consecutivamente se celebra dicha reunión de amigos. Que yo sepa sólo los que jugamos en Tampa hacemos una celebración de este tipo. ¿Por qué?...
Las décadas de los setenta y ochenta fueron décadas gloriosas para los jai-alais, visto lo que estamos viendo posteriormente, no cabe la menor duda. Tampa fue un lugar privilegiado para el pelotari. A mediados de los setenta el cuadro era muy joven, mucha gente soltera. La intendencia, el tandem Arregi y Beitia, eran buena gente, se exigía pero la presión era llevadera. Si comparamos con Miami no había ni punto de comparación, por eso que más de uno quería jugar en Tampa, algunos lo consiguieron. El general manager, Mr. Gerrity, era un buen tipo, siempre metido en el vestuario saludando a uno y a otro. La ciudad, por aquel entonces, era un lugar tranquilo, un estupendo lugar para residir. Teniamos una playa particular: la "playa de José", un trozo alargado de arena en el que dabamos paseos matutinos.
El ambiente nocturno... recuerdo un lugar el "Patt", un lugar un tanto siniestro, una especie de nightclub con "live music" cerca del fronton, en Ghandi Avenue creo que estaba, un sitio al que ibamos todas las noches a tomar un par de cervezas y donde se juntaba ambiente puro jai-alai, "groupies included"...cómo no, chico. Oh! Eramos jovenes y teníamos toda la libertad del mundo. Compartíamos un trabajo y nos esmerabamos pero el ambiente era, en líneas generales, magnífico. Nos queda el recuerdo, la nostalgia, nos veremos diferentes, algo más viejos, sí, porque no decirlo. Pero seguimos juntandonos por la sencilla razón de que estamos unidos por un lazo invisible que se sostiene en base a una amistad que hicimos y conservamos en un lugar llamado Tampa.

ETB-Basque Sports Television?

¿Cual puede ser la alternativa para la supervivencia de los deportes minoritarios vascos?... (Me refiero en cuanto a vascos a los deportes autóctonos de Euskal Herria: las modalidades de pelota, las traineras y los "herri kirolak").
La alternativa, a mi modo de ver, podría venir de la mano de crear un canal televisivo via satélite y que ofrezca exclusivamente las actividades más importantes de los deportes vascos.
ETB, la Televisión Pública Vasca, debería de ser la creadora de dicho canal.
¿Por qué?
1. La imagen del Pais Vasco, nuestras señas de identidad, se darían a conocer en todo el mundo.
2. La oferta deportiva no sólo tendría un valor etnográfico sino también ofrecería una espectacularidad igual o mayor que la mayoría de los deportes de masa. Es decir, que las expresiones deportivas autóctonas vascas no tienen nada que envidiar a ningun otro deporte.
3. Un obstáculo que puede tener un canal temático puede ser la falta de suficientes productos para darle contenido. En el caso nuestro, la variedad de deportes creo que sería suficiente para darle contenido.
4. La ventaja de ofrecer un "paquete" es obvia:
a) facilitaría la captación de patrocinadores por un lado.
b) creación de una "marca": deportes vascos.
c) garantizaría la supervivencia de los diferentes deportes.
d) fortalecería las señas de identidad culturales como Pais.

Lo ideal sería crear un grupo de presión compuesto por federaciones, empresas etc, para canalizar la necesidad de un canal televisivo. Hacer ver al Govierno Vasco que existe una demanda social y además que la vocación global no entraña más que ventajas en una sociedad moderna donde el deporte es un fenomeno sociologico integrador.
Los responsables de estos deportes no deben de caer en la trampa de mirarse al ombligo y lamentarse de que no existen ayudas. Es un tópico decirlo pero el futuro está en la interdependencia. Pocos y mal avenidos, sólos y dispersos no conlleva a nada. Los retos cara al futuro son tremendos. Hay muchisimos competidores pero también hay más oportunidades que nunca. Una de ellas es la exposición global de lo local. Donde a mi modo de ver se deberían de subir los deportes autóctonos vascos, antes de que sea demasiado tarde.

Generational Relay in Jai-Alai

We all know who the current jai-alai stars are: Goiko, Lopez, Egiguren II... Having said that, let us consider that the average age in the recent World Championship was 32 years. In the next ten or twelve years, who will those celebrities be and, most importantly, where will those generational replacements come from?
We know where the stars have come from until now: from American jai-alai frontons. Nevertheless, with the closing of US frontons, how many young pelotaris have made their debut in Florida in the last 5 years? In the past, quality was derived from abundance of players. It has been that way for decades. The system intrinsically produced super stars. That market tumbled and no longer demands or attracts candidates, but for a few exceptions. Reflection is required:
1. If jai-alai no longer motivates and, therefore, the outflow of players towards Florida is reduced to its most basic expression, where will the future super stars come from?.
2. For the motivated few who wanted to pursue the sport professionally, where will they develop their skills? In the past, development and apprenticeship took place mainly in frontons like Barcelona and Florida. But now where will it happen? Can Dania and Miami serve as farms to pump out the quantity of players necessary to produce quality?
In recent years, how many young players have turned pro in the Basque Country? Master Jai and Jai Alive round out their respective rosters with three or four "American" stars. The remaining roster is made up of "finished product" with low risk. In other words, experienced players that have completed their North American tour and return home where few of them continue playing pro jai-alai, becoming their "part time" occupation.
I understand that the situation is difficult for both companies, which face the difficult task of surviving and issues like mid to long term planning may not be appreciated. Additionally, they have not yet faced the shortage because the US market has addressed the need to create stars and they have only to pick and choose players. I think that this luxury will come to an end in a few years.
Can these two companies do something to prevent the generational vacuum from becoming reality in the mid to long term? Why did Master Jai not organize a Pro-Am this year as it did last year?, when it was so succesful and well received?.
Can jai-alai survive the future without farms that can produce super stars? With the aging of current stars and the jai-alai birth rate declining to a minimum, I am afraid that in the future the Goiko, Lopez, Egiguren and others who are 50 years or so will continue playing and being the best.

¿Relevo Generacional en el Jai-Alai?

Todos sabemos quienes son las figuras del jai-alai en la actualidad: Goiko, Lopez, Irastorza, Egiguren II... Ahora bien, pongámonos a pensar que si tenemos en cuenta que la edad media en el pasado Torneo Mundial fue de más de 32 años, de aquí a 10, 12 años ¿qiénes?, pero sobre todo, ¿de dónde saldrán las piezas de recambio para ese relevo generacional?.
Hasta ahora ya sabemos de dónde han surgido las figuras en los últimos tiempos: de los jai-alai americanos. Sin embargo, con el cierre de frontones ¿cuántos jóvenes puntistas han debutado en Florida en los últimos 5 años?. En el pasado de la cantidad salía la calidad, así desde hace décadas. El propio sistema se encargaba de fabricar figuras.Ése mercado se ha desmoronado. Ni demanda ni atrae posibles aspirantes, salvo algunas excepciones. La reflexión obligada es:
1. Si el jai-alai ya no motiva y, por lo tanto, el flujo hacia Florida se ve reducido a su mínima expresión, ¿de dónde van ha surgir las figuras del futuro?.
2. Los pocos motivados que puedan plantearse el profesionalismo ¿dónde se van a formar?. En el pasado esa formación, aprendizaje del oficio, se daba en frontones como Barcelona, en Florida sobre todo. Pero, en la actualidad, ¿dónde?. Dania y Miami pueden hacer labor de cantera en suficiente cantidad como para que pueda darse la calidad?.
En Euskadi en los últimos años ¿cuántos jóvenes han debutado? Veamos, Master Jai y Jai-Alive conforman sus cuadros con 3 o 4 figuras "americanas", el resto lo completan con "producto terminado" sin riesgo, es decir, pelotaris contrastados que tras concluir el periplo americano regresan a casa donde el jai-alai se convierte en una ocupación "part-time".
Entiendo que la situación es difícil para ambas empresas que bastante hacen con sobrevivir y cuestiones como la planificación a medio y largo plazo no se aprecien. Además, tampoco se han visto necesitadas todavía, si el tirón del propio mercado americano se ha encargado de fabricar las figuras y no han tenido más que coger las pinzas y seleccionar al pelotari. Esto, desgraciadamente, se habrá acabado en pocos años, pienso yo.
¿Pueden estas 2 empresas hacer algo para que ese vacío generacional no sea una realidad a medio y largo plazo? ¿Por qué Master Jai no ha organizado este año el Pro-Am que organizó el pasado año y tan buena acogida tuvo?.
¿Puede el jai-alai del futuro sobrevivir sin una cantera que produzca figuras?
Con la población de estrellas envejecida y el índice de "natalidad" bajo mínimos, mucho me temo que en el futuro los Goiko, Lopez, Egiguren etc, con 50 años sigan jugando y siendo los mejores.

One Vs. 2 Players Partidos?...

Throughout the history of jai-alai very few players have played in solitarily against 2 players. Following you have a list of most of them.

Pelotari: Salsamendi I (2 times)
1.Fronton: Habana-Madrid
Year: 1956
Players: Salsamendi I vs.Constante-Illeta
Score: Salsamendi won the match
.....
2.Fronton: Habana-Madrid
Year: 1956
Players: Salsamendi I vs. Tejero-Illeta
Score: (?)
-----------------------
Pelotari: "Txino" Bengoa
Fronton: Ezkurdi-Durango
Year: 1965
Players: Bengoa (23) vs. Egia-Arrieta (25)
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Pelotari: Elorza
Fronton: Olabe-Vitoria
Year. (?)
Players: Elorza (25) vs. Ibarra Brothers (?)
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Pelotari: "Txikito" Bolibar (4 times)
1.Fronton: Durango
Year: 1982
Players: Bolibar (25) vs. Goitia Brothers (13)
2.Fronton: Durango
Year: 1983
Players: Bolibar (25) vs. Alex-Ubilla (15)
3.Fronton: Durango
Year: 1984
Players: Bolibar (25) vs.Alberdi II-Roman (16)
4.Fronton: Durango
Year: 1985
Players: Bolibar (25) vs. Murelaga-Retolaza (20)
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Pelotari: Felix (3 times)
1.Fronton: Durango
Players: Felix (23) vs. Elgeta-Loibe (25)
2.Fronton: Markina
Players: Felix (?) vs. Barandika-Bilbao (25)
3.Fronton:
Players: Felix (25) vs. Inziarte-Alain (24)
-------------------------------
Pelotari: R.Alberdi (2 times)
1. Fronton: Mexico
Year: 1995
Players: Alberdi (24) vs. Urkiaga-Urkidi (25)
2. Fronton: Mexico
Year: 1995
Players: Alberdi (19) vs. Urkiaga-Urkidi (25)
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Pelotari: Inclan
Fronton: Mexico
Year: 1995
Players: Inclan (25) vs. Lauzirika-Corrado (?)
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Pelotari: Goikoetxea (5 times)
1. Fronton: Durango
Year: 2005
Players: Goiko (25) vs. Berraondo-Kevin (23)
2. Fronton: Gernika
Year: 2005
Players: Goiko (19) vs. Berraondo-Iriondo (25)
3. Fronton: Munitibar
Year: 2007
Players: Goiko (23) vs. Aimar-Joakin (25)
4. Fronton: Berriatua
Year: 2008
Players: Goiko (18) vs. Aimar-Mugartegi (25)
5. Fronton: Markina
Year: 2009
Players: Goiko (25) vs. Meabe-Joakin (19)

_

o

Garate's Mexican Shoes

Garate is one of the finest jai-alai player in the amateur field. He is 19 years old and 6 foot 6 inches tall,a back-courter obviously. You see him and reminds you physically and his playing style in some way to a 7 years ago Lopez. Garate's left-hand swing is so loose that he reaches the back wall easily, better than most of the pros. His right-hand posture has to improve but he is got the potential. He is not a consistent catcher yet when comparing with professional players. Beñat Garate (his father played in Dania and Milford) is in Mexico D.F. playing the "Lorenzo Berho" tournament, a competition where two Mexican amateurs, Valdez brothers, two Basque aficionados, Zulaika and Garate play mixed with 4 professionals, Egiguren, Foronda, Arriaga and Hernandez. Garate, the young giant from Markina is doing well on the court, but outside he had apeculiar problem because his physical sizes.

Last Friday when the expedition from the Basque arrived to Mexico city, they were informed that a welcome dinner party was organized to honore them. The thing is that according to protocol people invited had to attend all dress up, a suit and formal shoes required. The two aficionados of the expedition, Zulaika and Garate faced a problem, nobody told them anything about dinner parties, so tennis shoes, shorts and a sport playing uniforms, that's all they had for dressing. Zulaika, 5 feet, 9 inches high and a 10 shoe size, did manage wearing Hernandez's jacket and pants, and Arriaga's shoes. The problem was with Garate. Where in all Mexico do you find a 13 shoe size? when just a few hours remain for dinner?...

Don't ask me who or how they got them or what kind of shoes he wore, the thing is that the giant from Bolibar-Markina appeared for dinner fulfilling all requirements. Young players have a lot to learn, inside the court and outside, especially when travelling.

Mexico City Tournament

Last Friday 4 professional jai-alai players: Egiguren II, Foronda, J. Arriaga, Hernandez (Jai-Alive) and 2 amateurs: Zulaika and Garate (Basque Selection) travelled to Mexico city to participate in the Lorenzo Berho Tournament.

According to jai-alive.com last saturday night at Elorduy's fronton, in a full house of a 700 people audience, Egiguren II and the Mexican amateur Valdes III beated 35-22 to Zulaika and Hernandez. In another partido Valdes II and Arriaga defeated Foronda and Garate, 35-20. Yesterday, Egi and Valdes III defeated Valdes II and Arriaga, 35-22. Tonight Foronda and 19 year old Garate(amateur) will play against 18 years old Zulaika (amateur) and Hernandez. I'll keep you informed...

I think that it is a great idea to organize such tournaments in unusual places. Although there's a great jai-alai tradition in Mexico city we haven't seen lately this type of championships over there. I hope that it is a new beginning. In my opinion it's a good idea to include top amateur players mixing them with the pros. Is this type of worldwide tournaments what jai-alai needs? Can you imagine a worlwide circuit like in tennis, all the top players playing in different places? Miami, Orlando, Mexico, Barcelona, the Basque...