Mr. Jai-Alai’s World’s Fastest Column

John Homan III of Dania asks:

Is there a farm system for Dania Jai-Alai?

Most young players start out in Europe playing for the cities that they live in. As they progress they are scouted in tournaments by the American frontons and could possibly be signed to a contract.

Now at Dania we offer an amateur program that teaches kids and young adults how to play the game with the hopes that someday some of these players will shine at Dania. For more info on this program, you can contact Benny Bueno at bbueno@betdania.com.

Who’s Hot:

In the early games Jairo and Garita are both playing very well. In the late games it’s been all Diego and Urtaran. Both players are having excellent seasons.

Jairo leads the fronton in wins with 86. Garita has brought his win % up to.112 and his in- the -money to .388.

Diego is tied for the top spot in the Florida Singles Championship with 16 wins and is #1 in wins with 17 in the Florida Doubles Championship in the frontcourt.

Urtaran is leading in the back in wins for the Florida Doubles Championship with 17 wins and is 4th in the fronton in total wins with 74.

I remember so vividly the day about a year ago when this young, skinny kid from the Phillippines ran onto the Dania court and the usual matinee “critics” approached me complaining, “This guy’s the worst! How could you put him on your roster?”
Of course, this railing against this poor, hapless player came after watching him play about two of the early games, his first ones here at Dania.

Now, after playing here almost two complete years, this same player that was not supposed to be able to compete on this roster, this guy that puts out 110% of his 130 pounds, this young frontcourter that even took a pelota to the head a few weeks ago and didn’t want to scratch, this fabulous frontcourter named Medrano needed a truck to carry his load of championship plaques won during this summer season.

Yes, the young Filipino, the first to represent his country on this Dania roster, was not only the Wins Champion for games 1,3,4,5,6, and 7, but took the Campeonato plaque for being in-the-money the most and the coveted Overall Wins Championship. He won 8 plaques in all, but even more importantly he won the hearts of even the most skeptical of fans.

I rarely hear a bad thing said about Medrano. Of course, I never hear one of these fans say, “I guess I was wrong, he is a very good player.”

True, Medrano needed to get adjusted to the Dania court, to his new home. But, when he did, he showed that he plays with a lot of heart and tremendous skill. He shows he knows how to win. One thing he did have trouble doing, that’s carrying 8 championship plaques off the stage during the final presentations without help.

Closed for Thanksgiving Reminder

Dont forget, Dania Jai-Alai is closed Thursday, November 26th, for live jai-alai, poker, and simulcasting. We will be open on Friday, for all the normal activities.

Dania Jai-Alai is definitely the place to be on Saturdays and Sundays… if you like action, that is. You can see all your favorite college games while playing a little poker or betting a little Jai-Alai or doing it all at the same time.

The Sports Bar in the Poker Room will have the all your favorite sporting events with the feature college game on the big screen.

Gator fans can enjoy the #1 Gators featured on our 110″ hi-def screen in the Skybox along with a free pitcher of beer or soda if you wear a Gator shirt (or show any Gator club card). The Skybox is the unofficial home of the Gator Nation this season. Also, we’ll have most of the other games on in there, so Canes fans, we love you too.

Then, on Sundays, we will have all the NFL games going in the Skybox with the Fins on the big, hi-def screen. There’ll be some prize giveaways and some surprises, so join us each Sunday in the Skybox. By the way, the view of the playing court from there is spectacular.

$40,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool Poker Tournament on Oct. 10th

We’re having another one, the big $40K Hold’em tournament on 10-10, at 12:30 pm. It has an entry fee of $250 and the prize money is enormous. Last time, we sold out the 250 entries and shut some players out. We are limiting it to 260, so get your entry in early. Also, there will be satellite tournaments to win a free entry. Don’t miss this great event. Nobody does it better than the Dania Poker Room.

Le Batard Celebrity Tournament Scheduled for Sept. 30th

It’s official, the Dan Le Batard Celebrity Poker Tournament is on for Wednesday night, 8 pm., on Sept. 30th. The $50 entry fee is the best price in town for a tournament that is such a special event. You will have a ball. Don’t miss it.

It was a cross between a phys ed class, a birthday party, and a class reunion. Kids were sitting in the audience at 9 am (yes, they were up that early)listening to our newly-acquired, “retired” professional jai-alai player Benny Bueno carrying the coveted title of Player Development Manager, lecturing them on rules, his philosophy of the sport, and safety.

The kids actually listened intently and patiently, but inside they must have been thinking, “just let me get out on that court and throw the darn ball.” And,then, they did. More than 20 of them, most between the ages of 10 to 16, some a little younger, some a little older.

Benny, Dania pros Arregui,Carvalho, and Miami player Fernandez all showing the proper stance, form, position… and, then, whoosh, rubber balls flying toward the side wall. Yes, Benny had it all figured out. He had the group lined up most of the length of the 178′ court throwing toward the mammoth side wall, where all could throw together and safety always paramount.

Then, a truly great moment as you looked near the front wall. Orbea III, the son of the Orbea who was truly one of the all-time greats and ex-player manager at Dania, was showing the next generation of Orbeas, his two young kids how to throw the ball. It was quite a moment, watching the formation and, perhaps, the continuation of a dynasty in this ancient sport we all love so.

The adults, many older amateurs, remembering their “glory days” where they scrambled to play for a few hours here or there on any court they could find, were shaking hands, hugging each other, and just enjoying the moment on the big court.

“I never thought I’d see the day where this would happen, where we would be able to bring our kids or grandkids into one of the major frontons and watch them learn,” said one misty-eyed father.

While stories were being told about the old days, and a lot of pats on the back to anyone close by, it seemed everyone was just relishing the moment. Indeed, it was reality.

The future for Jai-Alai glistened that Saturday morning. We saw not a dying sport, but one that had hope. Our young ones, that “extreme generation” as they are often called, were embracing the sport that we love. All of us on the court that morning could only smile.

Hi my name is Benny. Am I Mr. Jai-Alai? I am today! I have been hired as the Player Development Manager for Dania Jai-Alai.

Looking back on my career as a Jai-Alai player, I remember as a small child having my mother pick me up from school and driving me 25 miles to the North Miami Amateur Fronton. Arriving at the facility, there were about 20 kids just like me learning to play this sport that very few others played.

I remember the man that taught us, “Miguel Aparicio,” a former player from Spain. The man had a passion not only for the game, but for teaching kids to play. That man developed close to 75 American professional Jai-Alai players.

My role at Dania Jai-Alai is to develop not only players for the sport but the sport itself. I will be starting this development process in August, 2009, by hosting a few “Youth Jai-alai Clinics” here at Dania Jai-Alai. These clinics will be for ages 10-16. Parents and family members are welcome to stay and watch. The clinics will be held on Saturday & Sunday morning and will be an educational session that will include an introduction of the sport, lessons on safety, a tour of the court, and the unique opportunity to throw around the pelota on the big court.

What about the present day amateurs? Extract download While our focus is developing the youth, we realize the excitement that playing the sport brings to adults. Dania Jai-Alai has decided to allow specific time slots for amateur leagues and tournaments that will be announced later.

What about beginners? The court will, also, be open for beginners on a day to be determined.

Player Development Webpage:
Dania Jai-Alai has produced a “Player Development Page” on their main website. This page will have all updates, registration forms and information about upcoming events.
Check www.dania-jaialai.com/clinic for this page. Please submit your email to join our amateur Jai-Alai mailing list.

Thing you need to know:

The Grudge 3 full

All players must register and be required to sign an insurance waiver to play on the Dania court. This is a one-time registration and must be done before entering the court. To save time, register online. If you do not have access to a computer, forms can be found at our security office.
Amateurs: your equipment must pass a safety inspection. That includes cesta, helmet and playing shoes. Equipment must be in good condition for safety purposes.

I look forward to helping this sport and the youth playing it.
Jai-Alai is my passion and I want it to become yours too.