Mr. Jai-Alai’s World’s Fastest Column

Why isn’t Jai-Alai a permanent game in the Olympics?

Rmartinez via the world wide web

Jai-Alai has been played at three Olympics in the modern era. All three were played because the games were held in an area of the world where Jai-Alai is played. The first time was in Paris in 1924, the 2nd in 1968 in Mexico City and most recently in Barcelona in 1992.

Dania Jai-Alai star Celaya was actually one of the gold medalists in the 92 games, joined by former Dania Jai-Alai stars Kompa and Atain. It was big news in the Jai-Alai world when the trio signed with Dania Jai-Alai following the 92 games. Of course, Atain went on to become the best backman in Dania history, while Celaya has been a staple of the feature games for a long time.

If Jai-Alai is a sport one more time in the Olympics, then it would be eligible to become a permanent sport in the games. An effort was put forth in 1996 Games in Atlanta to actually play Jai-Alai here at Dania. The effort fell just shy of happening. The Tampa/Orlando market has been trying to acquire the Olympics and if they ever do, Jai-Alai would most likely get it’s chance to shine.

What would happen if a player runs out of cestas?

Mark Hambert of Delray Beach

While extremely rare, this has happened because of cestas that got lost in shipping on their way to the fronton. In that case the player would purchase a cesta from another one of our players.

This might make it more difficult for them to play, so they would try to find the player whose basket frame is either identical to theirs, or as close as possible. The vast majority of players use a basket style that is similar to at least one of our other players, so in the rarity that it happens it usually does not affect the player too much.

One that might have, though, is former star Ochoa. He used a very different basket style than any of our other players. Besides being an incredibly fast basket, it also had a tip that tapered at the end, requiring incredible control for throws. It is one reason he was so good with the kill shots, his basket was designed for them. Ochoa may have had a hard time adjusting to another basket style.

Dania officials announced on Friday that as of the Tuesday Evening performance on August 19th 2008, all live performances of Jai-Alai action will contain twelve games. The matinee on the 19th will be Dania’s last 14 game card for the near future.

With a spate of injuries and many of its players competing overseas, the fronton felt it was left without many good choices. Other frontons around the state of Florida have responded by playing a multitude of singles matches, but the Dania fronton did not want to add more singles games. The Dania Jai-Alai fronton plans to return to its normal schedule when the roster is ready for it.

There is no specific planned date to return to 13 and 14 game cards. Injuries are always part of the sport and any additional ones cannot be anticipated. Dania officials hope lightening the load on the currently healthy players is one way to help prevent more injuries.

Unfortunately, every time a player is injured, other players have to step in and compete in more matches. This increases a players risk of injury and only makes the situation worse.

All bets and formats to Dania’s 12 game card will run the same. Each game will still feature Win, Place, Show, Quiniela, Exacta and Trifecta betting. Daily Doubles remain on games 1 and 11, while Pick 3 betting will be available on games 3 and 10. Superfecta games will remain games 4, 7, 9 and 12. Game 12 will now be the Florida Doubles Championship match.

Have a beverage on us a the Poker Table

Beginning on August 19th the Dania Jai-Alai Cardroom will be offering free fountain sodas and coffees to all players who play in non-tournament (live) games. Players can enjoy them for as long as they play at a non-tournament table. The CardRoom is open 7 days a week. Sundays through Thursday from noon until midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from 1pm to 1am.

Clark Johnson of Tamarac

All eyes are on #41 Enbil, who looks to win his sixth straight World Championship of Partido Jai-Alai. The tandem of he and Goikoetxea have been unstoppable for many years now. Of course, Enbil was joined by Urtaran, who hasn’t done so bad for himself so far. Arriaga and Celaya have just left the departing gates and will start play soon. Oyarbide is set to join the group a little later this month.

#89 Urtaran made his first trip for Partido action this year, a well deserved reward for his excellent play over the last year. Urtaran won his first Partido teamed with Lander against Lauzirika and Elizegi. After that he lost two partidos, the first he teamed with Goikoetxea and lost badly to Alberdi II and Enbil, in the 2nd he teamed with Barronio and fell to Olha and Felix.

Olha has been a thorn in Urtaran’s side so far, as Urtaran has faced him two more times and lost in both. In one Olha was teamed with Enbil, which is probably a superior team to Urtaran and his partner Alberdi II, aka Oregi. In the other Olha teamed with Alliez to defeat Urtaran and Treku.
The current festival is now in Durango, where Urtaran is teaming with Hormatxea, who you may remember from the World Circuit of Jai-Alai played here at Dania last year. The duo have gotten off to a good start in the tournament, winning two matches, the last one against Lander and Alberdi III, who they defeated by the score of 25-22.

Enbil is now 6-3 in his partido matchups, but is slumping right now, on a 2 loss streak. Enbil lost his first partido, which is not uncommon as it takes some time to get used to that style of play. He then went on to win five straight. The most important of those partidos was probably one on June 17 in the fronton of Maule. In it, Enbil teamed with Olha to defeat Goikoetxea and Alliez 35-28.

In other partido news the Master of Donostia will have its final match this week. The semis were held on Saturday, August 2nd. Egi and Iru fell to Bereikua and Pradera (better known in these parts as Alex), who will move onto the finals. In the other semi Erkiaga and Lopez defeated Zen and J. Arriaga and will bace Bereikua and Pradera in the finals.

#91 Ivan started at Dania Jai-Alai this past week. A backcourter from Cuba he has played the last year at Orlando, Ocala and Hamilton Jai-Alai’s. Ivan continues the diversification of the 46 member Roster of Champions, which now features players from seven countries.
Ivan has a stocky frame, which bodes well for a backman. He’s put up pretty good numbers at the other frontons, but faces much more relentless competition at Dania Jai-Alai. 21 Seems to be his lucky number so far, as it took him that many games to earn his first victory, Saturday, July 19th in Game 1 with Angel.
Before you dismiss Ivan because of his slow start, don’t forget the lesson learned with Medrano. The young Philippine took over 80 games to win his first, but has turned into an excellent selection in the early game matchups. He is currently in the top 10 in wins in his second season.
These two players have a lot in common, in that they both don’t have much experience against the sports best and both made huge leaps in the competition faced when coming to Dania. For Medrano, it was his overwhelming desire to compete to be elite. Ivan has the potential and the opportunity. Only time will tell how well he fares against Dania’s Roster of Champions.
Mr. Jai-Alai and everyone else from Dania would like to welcome Ivan and wish him the best of luck.

It took hitting a straight on the turn card for Leonel Alberto to capture the first-ever Dan LeBatard Celebrity Poker Tournament Wednesday night at Dania Jai-Alai.  The tournament drew 309 entries, who paid a $25 entry fee, the largest crowd to ever play in a multi-table tournament at Dania.
“We were taking pre-paid reservations for about 2 weeks and sold out the tournament easily,” said Frank Risi, Dania’s cardroom manager.  “We probably could have seated another 150 players if we had the space.”
Dan LeBatard and many of the 790 The Ticket personalities and staff  not only participated in the tournament, but entertained the crowd throughout.
With producer Marc Hochman emceeing the prize giveaways and boasting which celebrities were knocked out, it was a party atmosphere the entire night.
The final 10 players played it off until Alberto, from Miami, took first place money of $1,963, and the “Golden Moustache” trophy awarded by LeBatard.