For Whom The Bell Tolls

They toll for us my friends, for all of us who love jai-alai. The Orlando fronton is already dead. One more jai-alai coffin and, above all, one more proof that jai-alai depending exclusively on betting does not have any future in the U.S. A thought comes to my mind. Realizing how many people loves jai-alai in the U.S. as a consequence of almost one century of presence in that country, was not possible, for instance, a group of people hiring and running the Orlando fronton and transforming it in the great U.S. Amateur Fronton? where all kind of aficionados could travel from Connecticut and Florida and practice. Organize different clinics all year around. Include Benny Bueno's program in it. Organize as well professional tournaments as the Citrus Tournament collaborating with Dania, Miami and the two Basque companies. Place in the fronton a permanent site of the Jai-Alai Hall of Fame. As I read in a forum "Disneylize" jai-alai offering families different events where adults and children can attend alike. Do we have to wait untill we see two more coffins, the last ones, to see any reaction from the so many american jai-alai lovers? I can't believe that if jai-alai as an industry vanishes in Florida, all the corpus created around this sport will go down the tub. The collective of jai-alai fans has a tremendous energy and a great potential but it is conditioned by the betting mentality. The Connecticut and Florida aficionados cannot depend on Dania and Miami to justify their existence. Orlando may be too late, before is too late something should be done in another place and reinforce the amateur activity around a great U.S. Amateur Fronton. The right people is needed. "Remember, Tiger, in my last posting, "Confusion", the kid that went outside the summer camp and brought with him the biggest object he could it find? the one about the huge trayler?... You answered me that Miami Jai-Alai should sign up this kid". Well, let me correct you. We are missing the target. Jai-alai in the U.S. is at risk, not just Miami. The entire collective of the jai-alai universe should sign up this kid and put him working. As a matter of fact, you can find him anywhere. Carl, Mark, Hov, Mike, Tom, Dan, Jose, Tiger, Christian....

Confusion

You talk to jai-alai players, ex-players, with management, you follow different web sites and I get the idea that jai-alai does not know where is heading, sort of confusion invades all. In Florida nobody knows about the outcome of the negotiations among the State, the Seminoles and the Pari-Mutuel industry. Jai-alai as an industry is an endangered species that nobody knows if it will survive for years or will disappear in a couple of months. Not that bad here in the Basque. Although the presence of two companies, Master jai and Jai-Alive, may be seen as a sign of a good health. I'm not that sure. They depend too much on the Basque Public Television as the main income, beginning next years' January 1st both companies will get the same share, until then as it happened till now Master Jai is the only beneficiary. What is going to be Master Jai's strategy in the future? Will they produce and then sell the product to any tv network, Basque Television included? If this is the case, the other company may be relegated to a weak dependable situation. I have the feeling that there is not place for two companies here in the Basque. Will the French Government finally allow betting in the frontons next year, as expected? What is happening with young amateur players? the few motivated to become pro, that their only chance to make a debut is doing it in Florida? What players from Florida will come over the Basque next year for the summer season? Definitively, new blood is needed. New ideas, action is neded. Here is a nice story. A teacher was working with kids in a summer camp. One afternoon the educator proposed the kids to go outside and come back in a half hour with the biggest object they could find. What a surprise after the half hour passed: a well over 20 meters trayler entered into the camp touching the claxon. One kid had gone to a nearby highway stopping different trucks untill he convinced one. This way he got into the camp with the biggest object he could it found: a twenty meter long truck. When we know what to do in life wondeful things happen.
Please, give me some comments. Si alguien estuviera interesado en leer lo que escribo en español, que me lo comente, o bien en este blog o en el "Fronton de Christian".

Ultimo Lunes de Octubre

¿La felicidad?... La felicidad es derpertarse el último lunes de Octubre y saber que tienes un plan con tus amigos para ir a Gernika, visitar la feria por la mañana, comer en un restaurante abarrotado, hablar hasta por los codos de pelota en la sobremesa, y después, cómo no, al Jai-Alai a ver jugar a los Goiko, Lopez, Irastorza... Oh, la felicidad!
Mi felicidad el lunes fue parcial. No acudí desde por la mañana a Gernika. Acudí directamente al Jai-Alai, al Taj Majal de los frontones. Incomparable escenario que a pesar de haberlo visitado en numerosas ocasiones sigue impresionandome. El color oscuro del mármol, ese brillo del suelo de la cancha donde la danza de los jugadores se reproduce como en un espejo. El Jai-Alai bien merece una visita. Suspendió Goiko y los intendentes modificaron la programación. En el primer estelar Egiguren II y Hernandez batieron a Olha y Enbil. Un bonito partido donde los delanteros remataron con alegría y los zagueros se enfrascaron en una pelea total. El más destacado fue Egi, es una delicia verle jugar cuando no está en juego alguna final como puede ser la pasada edición del Torneo Mundial. Valiente en el remate, agresivo con ele rebote. Antes de iniciarse el segundo estelar saltaron a la cancha Lopez, Irastorza y Enbil con el ánimo de romper el record estableccido por Areitio, 302 km/h. en Newport allá por el año 1979. Tras lanzar varios pelotazos y sin que los allí presentes nos enteraramos de lo que había pasado, se retiraron los candidatos. El máximo de velocidad lo logró Lopez con 221 km/h. Muy por debajo del record logrado por Areitio, muy cerca de la sensación extendida de que aquella noche en Newport la cerveza corrió a discreción, "free beer all night long". Un ambiente propicio para establecer records de cualquier índole.
Foronda y Lopez, los recientes ganadores del Torneo organizado por el Consejo Mundial, perdieron en el siguiente estelar contra Lander e Irastorza. A priori parecía que íbamos a asistir a un gran encuentro. Lander, últimamente, en gran forma. Irastorza en una cancha ideal para su juego, mucho hueco y pelotas vivas. Lander estuvo bien, sacando a relucir su repertorio de remates de costado. Irastorza luchando mucho, seguro, en su línea de gran zaguero. Y Lopez... Desde el inicio puso el diesel en marcha y no pasó de las 3.000 revoluciones en todo el partido. Daba la impresión de estar jugando al 50% de sus posibilidades.. Ni se le ocurrió meter el turbo en ningún momento. Una gran figura, el zaguero llamado a reinar en la zaga en la próxima década, debe de jugar con otra actitud. Gane o pierda, el público allí presente y los que seguían el partido a través de ETB, que no queden indiferentes. El lúnes pasado Lopez me defraudó por su acitud. Un Campeón tiene que sacar más arranque, intentar dar espectáculo para que se sumen adeptos al jai-alai, el lúnes pasado se perdió una oportunidad. Su actitud me recordaba a los días anteriores a finalizar la temporada en Florida, el chip compeitivo perdido ante el inminente fin de temporada y nuestra mente estaba ya en otro lugar. El lúnes pasado Lopez acababa su temporada estival, pero le faltó la rúbrica, el colofón final a una gran temporada. El lúnes Lopez nos dejó indiferentes. Como me comentaba un ex-puntista tras el partido. "No quiero entrar en comparaciones, pero veía jugar a Churruca o a Bolibar y ganaran o perdieran mostraban cosas con las que te marchabas feliz a casa"... El lúnes pasado mi felicidad fue incompleta.

Happinnes?

What is happiness?... Happiness is to wake up the last Monday of October and realize that you have a plan to go to Gernika with close friends, visit the years' most important Fair in the morning (more than 100.000 people attend), have a lunch in a nice crowded restaurant and spend the time before you go to the fronton discussing about jai-alai. Then you go to the Gernika Jai-Alai to see playing Lopez, Irastorza, Goiko, Egiguren... Oh, la felicitá!...
Yesterday my happiness was partial. I did not go in the morning to visit the magnificent expositions of fruits and vegetables, have a drink or two, enjoy the sunny day... Instead I went directly to the fronton. The Gernika Jai-Alai, the Taj Majal of jai-alai. Even though I've been there in many ocassions I feel subyugated by the magnificent scenario. The dark marble walls, the shining of the floor where the images of the players dancing reflects causing such a visual pleasure. It`s worth the visit. Goikoetxea scratched and the matchmakers changed the program. In the first estelar Egi and Hernandez beated Olha and Enbil. Nice partido to watch. Both front-courters shot all kind remates, especially Egi. This player when he is not in a final is an outstanding player, his game is extraordinary, aggressive with the costado, attacking with the rebote... a joy to see him playing. Before the second estelar, Lopez, Irastorza and Enbil jumped into the court. Ready to break Areitio's World Record. After a couple of shots the tree players and the technicians left the court. Areitio`s record was safe. Lopez did not overpass the 221 km/h, far away from Areitio's. Very close to the spreaded believe in the audience that at that night, 1979 Newport, "free beer all night long" run free. A lot of excepticism created by the abysmal distance from Lopez to Areitio.
Foronda and Lopez, the recently winners of the World Tournament, faced Lander and Irastorza. It seemed that we were going to watch a great match. Lander is in a great shape, playing lately his best jai-alai. Gernika's court suits very well for Irastorza. The partido went tied till the end. Lander using his costado again and again and causing a lot of damage. Irastorza fighting like a brave, catching almost anything. Foronda having problems with his serve along the whole game. Lopez... Oh, my god! Since the beginning of the match he put his diesel engine working, 3.000 revolutions, no more. I was convinced that in any moment he would connect his turbo and start setting a faster pace. Wrong. During the whole partido Lopez played at 50% of his possibilities. A true champion, the back-courter that should dominate the next decade ought to play with a different attitude. Win or loose the 1.000 people audience and the people following the game trough television had to notify that they were watching play the best, a super star. I was so upset with Lopez's attitude. It made remember the days previous to the end of the season when our mind was disconnected from competition after a long season. Yesterday Lopez was playing his last partido of the summer season. Just for that he had to give his best, more than usual. First of all to put an end to a magnificent campaign. Second, because jai-alai needs the best performances to get new adepts, especially when good crowds and the television cameras are functioning. After the partido, an explayer told me "I don't want to get in that comparison steril discussions, but when I saw playing Churruca or Bolibar, even winning or loosing I used to leave the fronton fulfilled because I had seen things that pleased me so much"... Yesterday, my happiness was partial.

"Picadas"...

Last Friday evening more than 100 former jai-alai players got together at Chino Bengoa's restaurant in Markina for the 15th edition of the annual dinner party. A chance to meet again old friends and a way to keep the good memories alive. Among the former players was also Miguel A. Bilbao, the author of the book "Jai-Alai, The Professionals", a magnificent book where almost 4.000 players' biographies are collected. He promised to find a way for those overseas fans interested in purchasing the book. I'll keep you informed. An ex-player that is obviously included in Bilbao's book was also present. Jose Ramon Areitio in 1979 at the Palm Beach fronton set a world record that is included in World Guinnes Book od Records. Areitio threew the ball over 300 km/h, about 188 miles per hour. Today at the Gernika Jai-Alai, Lopez, Irastorza and Goikoetxea will attempt to break Areitio's record. None of them will be able to break it, I guess. Areitio's record is an impressive one.

A group of six people coming all the way from Mallorca attended dinner as well. Two former Tampa players, Ortiz and Matias, Paco Aguiló, the owner of the Mallorca fronton back in the sixtees, and three more jai-alai aficionados. According to the players that played at the Mallorca fronton, Aguiló was one of various romantic jai-alai empresarios that the sport has known. Always predisposed to help young players and keep the business alive even though the attendance was minimal. A good honest man. Once he called to his office to a veteran player to notify him that he was so sorry but it was time to retire and leave his place to a younger player. Chiquito de Urrestilla, also known as Auntxa, got the news and felt desolated. He was an enthusiastic humble early games player, one of the few that did not expect to play overseas, he had a job as a furniture salesman, jai-alai was his passion. "Señor Aguiló, I, I...beg you. Don't fire me. I'll pay for playing!"... Defenitively, those were some of the romantic days of jai-alai. Yesterday morning, while watching at the University some partidos among aficionados, the Mallorca group tributed a humble homage to Aguiló, a very emotive moment when he stepped into the cancha in a wheelchair, some of the players that played at the time in Mallorca were present, Capella, Corta, Olaizola...

Last Friday night, after dinner, most of us went to the fronton to see the last partido of the evening between Goiko against Meabe and Joakin. Since the beginning of the match, Goiko put in action a missile-ball and smashed his opponents. The pair did not know how to play against one, both, especially the back-courter comitted too many unforced errors, Goiko won the partido by five points. Pretty soon I'll write about different partidos played by a single player against two player, I'm recollecting information.

Interview with Super Lopez

Yesterday, Lopez, the great back-court, was interviewed by BERRIA, the only newspaper in the basque language. Here are some pieces of the interview.

Last year too you won the World Championship; however, this years' was more pleasant to you, may be because player from both companies took part?

No, last years' was more pleasant because it was my first one.

Why did you won the World Championship?

The two more regular teams got to the final. The team that better adjusted each other finally won the partido. We knew what we had to do, and we did it troughout the whole Championship.

What is your opinion about the Championship?

The level has been good. The best players of the moment took par in it; only Bereikua missed it. Both companies tried to balance the pairing. Not all the teams adjusted on the court. You have to work hard for that, to have a name is not enough.

Frontons got big audiences. That's something.

Yes. Above all people enjoyed. In semifinals, against Olha and Irastorza, at Durango, I saw something that I haven't seen before; people standing clapping and cheering. Full house too the night of the final at Markina. People of all kind of ages.

It's jai-alai coming out from hell?

The fact that both two companies are getting together that is good. The summer time tournaments have been good, they got together, and television got involved itself. Last year was much worse. It is good for us the players and the audience.

Television is a must if jai-alai wants to go ahead?

For everything you need tv. Television means money. The easiest way to promote jai-alai. Behind tv the rest of media follows. As a matter of fact, it is a chain. Companies too must do a good job, and us the players have to show the best jai-alai. Schools also have to be promoted. It is a sum of different factors.

As far as jai-alai schools concern, is jai-alai healthy?

In the Basque are doing well, I myself have been working with young players in Tolosa and Hondarribia. I gave clinics for two weeks. We have done it, however, it's convenient to promote younger players.

Is it good the existence of two companies?

Always better than just a single one only. In our case, there was only one in the past, and we were under, so to speak. Now we have more than one choice, and that's great. Conditions are better, good for all. Monopoly is good for the companies, no for the players.

Looking towards the future, are you optimist?

We are doing better and better. The best times wont come back, however, I think that it would be possible to play the whole year in the Basque. I would love it.

Are you sattisfied for the summer time season?

I'm pleased. To win the Individuals that's the only lack, however, if you want to beat Goikoetxea, you have to play perfect, and wait for his bad day. Even so, my goal is the doubles. I feel proud being a back-courter and being able to score 26 points against Goiko.

In Miami you are doing real well?

Yes, I'm doing fine. Last year Goiko won the most wins, singles and doubles. I did second in the first two, and I was the best back-courter. I wanted more and this year I got the most wins title, and the best back-courte in doubles.

How is one regular day for you at Miami?

I get up at nine and go to the beach for a walk. I do some shopping, lunch after that, and at 14:45 I have to saty at the fronton. I leave at 17:30. Get the car and back home. I go to the gimnasium as well. Dinner after that, and get together with friends... Arrasate is my roommate.

A Couple Of Chulas

Do you know that the players' age average in the past Jai-Alai World Championship was 32 years old?

31 age average for Jai-Alive players; 33,4 for the Master Jai players.



Jai-Alive Master Jai

Arriaga 36 years old; Felix 47 years old

Garcia 35 " ; Baronio 38 "

Egiguren 32 " ; Alberdi II 35 "

Foronda 30 " ; Irastorza 33 "

Hernandez 28 " ;Alberdi III 32 "

Lopez 25 " ; Enbil 32 "

Alliez 31 "

Lander 30 "

Olha 29 "

Goikoetxea 27 "



A few thoughts come to my mind...

I. Top jai-alai players are within the best age for the practice of jai-alai.

2. If there is not a future substitution in the near future, players will be "too old" for the health of the sport.

3. The two best players, Goiko and Lopez, are the youngest of all.

4. Considering that only Dania and Miami frontons remain open, and that the quantity of professional players has drastically decreased in the last years, which top players will substitute in ten years from now the actual ones? Don`t you think that the future of jai-alai may be at risk because of the lack of top quality players?

Which players from Dania and Miami would you include for the next years World Championship, considering that some of the players that took part in the last tournament should not been participating?

Would it be appropiate for the health of the sport to organize a future World Championship at Dania or Miami? If so, in what format, quinielas or partidos?