Dear friend Steve
How are you doing? pal. How is winter down there? Nice and sunny as usual? I know that you like hot weather, that you love summertime in Florida when is hot as hell. Don’t count on me.
I promised you that I would write you as soon as I was back in the Basque. Well, here I am. It´s been a while, but I´m ready to roll.
You don’t know how much I enjoyed when you took me to that little place over in Fort Lauderdale. Yeah! the Tropical Comida Cubana. The joint is not the one I would choose to take a girl for the first date. Not too much glamour in there, but what the hell! The food was terrific, the vaca frita superb. And your company, what can I say Steve.
I loved talking to you while we were watching the games at Dania Jai Alai. I was amazed to find out how much you knew about the game and the players. You know all about Florida´s jai-alai since 1974. Players bios. When they started playing. Where. The level of play. Their side jobs. Were they lived and what kind of shoe size they wear. You know all about them.
Yes, I loved talking to you about jai-alai.
Let me ask you something, Steve.
Are you missing jai-alai? The sound of the ball punching the walls? Well, let me tell you. The players, the ones that remained in Dania: Foronda, Arrieta, Zulaika, Arta, Ubilla and couple of them more, are practicing once or twice a week. You probably know that, your friend Benny might told you already. Otherwise you can go over the fronton, and with the excuse of betting a couple of bucks in the casino, you can sneak in the fronton and watch the players practice. Not a bad idea. Don’t you think so?
I know that you are doing that already. I know you Steve.
Wel, there’s one more thing that I want you to know. Beginning April 1 until the tenth, a tournament is going to take place at Dania. The “Battle at the Palace” it’s called or something like that. 20.000 $ for prize money. Remarkable , isn’t it?
I know that Benny is one of your buddies and that you are always well informed, but, just in case, let me ask you if it´s true that eight teams are going to participate. Couple of them will travel from the Basque. Do you know if one of your favorite players, Johan, is going to play, maybe with his brother? I don’t remember his name right know. I’ll be glad to see Johan playing there. The kid deserves it.
You told me, and I agree, Johan is going to be a top player pretty soon. You were right, pal. He’s got all the tools. Remember when after the matinees he would stay practicing by himself? No question about it. Johan is the future.
You know me Steve. I can’t remain silent. I’ve heard that if things go swell with this sort of Invitational championship, it may be repeated in a few months ahead. Isn´t that a great news? With the closing of Dania, November the 28th I think it was, we all were mourning like “plañideras” in a funeral. And now, suddenly, it seems like magnolia trees have blossom all year round.
I’ve got more stuff to let you know, Steve. Rumors that next Christmas there will be a two months season. Ask Benny, please. Yes, quinielas, with 20 or more players. I know that you know it. I know that you opened a bottle of Champagne when you heard the news. But what the hell! I feel that I had to say it, just in case. Now you can open another bottle of Champagne.
If that takes place, Steve. I’ll promise you that I go down there and spend the two months so I can sit by your side and watch the games together. That way I’ll continue getting lessons from a guy that didn’t t turned pro but knows a hell of a great deal about the sport.
I may ask Benny for a job. How about as a judge? Nooo! way… I’d rather sit nearby you and exchange some comments about the game and the players.
And afterwards, we can go to the Tropical Cocina Cubana over at Fort Lauderdale, near Sears, and ask for a Cuban sandwich, because the one they offer at Dania´s fronton is s…. I payed 10 bucks for a brick. Believe me.
We have a deal. Ok?
Did I tell you that a tournament is taking place in Gernika?
I’m going to try to be as brief as I can.
They said. Dania closed why not try to organize a nice championship. Dania players are back, let’s offer them some kind of reward. They fought and got the compromise of the Basque Television to offer partidos live on prime time.
Who are they? young local fellows organizing festivals in Gernika. With a lot of success. They are fabulous organizers. A lot of local talent.
The festivals are on Monday night. 22:30 (16:30 overseas). You can follow the partidos through the Basque Television. I know that you are doing that but, just in case, I mention it to you.
All the participants, even Olaharan and Etcheto, the two Basque-french kids, are veterans, most of them played in Florida. The average age of the players is 35. Any thoughts about that, Steve?
By the way, I heard that the two of the French players will be playing the April tournament at Dania´s. It’s that true? Steve. Ask Benny, please.
Goikoetxea, Lopez, Diego, Arbe. You know Arbe. A tiny guy that played at Dania. He’s good and smart. I know what you’re thinking. He’s has not the power to play with the big guns. Well, let me tell you something, pal. He’s playing with Lopez. They lost the first match against Diego and Aldazabal, but watch out! They still have the chance to pass to semifinals if the win the next partido.
This coming Monday I’m going to Gernika to watch one of the matches. Barandika and Lekerika would be playing against the two French kids. The loser goes home, I think.
Barandika and Leke are both form Gernika. You can picture it. Hell is going to break loose. If I was Olaharan and Etcheto I would go with the gendarmerie, you never know.
Because of Covid only 800 people are allowed inside the fronton. The place is going to be packed. I bought three tickets on the internet. One for me and the other two for Uriarte and Arratibel. You know the two of them. Miami, the seventies… Oh!… what a f… roster!
As a matter of fact, I sometimes forget that you know all of them.
Yeah! Arratibel. Great back-courter, very hustle. I remembered you told me that your playing stile was some kind like Arratibel´s. Not bad, Steve. Especially in the canchitas over North Miami. You know how I used to call Arratibel? the Shanghai Express.
Erkiaga and Zabala (yes, the one that played in Dania) are the favorites to win the Winter Series, which is how they called this tournament. I’m not so sure. Erkiaga has that great costado and an unbelievable left hand rebote. But I saw playing last monday Goikoetxea and Aimar (yes, Aimar) and they beated the hell out of Diego and Aldazabal.
Saw the game? Steve.
By the way, pal. I’ve heard rumors that some of the top guns won’t be playing the Dania´s Invitational. Not even Erik. It’s that so? What the hell is going on! Ask Benny, and please let me know it.
On the other hand, if young kids like Johan and Gorka (now I remembered his name) have the change to participate, good enough for me. Jai-alai needs young blood.
By the way, dear friend, too bad that the Goixerri brothers wont be playing the tournament either. I know that Goiexerri was one of your favorite players. As you know both of them are playing over Magic City. I saw some videos. I know that you’re not too fond of that version of jai-alai. But what the hell! Steve. The kids have to make a living. I’d heard that down at Magic they pay a pretty good money. So…
Besides, what are their chances of playing home? What can they do? The other day a friend of mine told me a joke: “if you want to play in the Basque you have to be at least over 30 or be a French”. That’s pretty malicious, isn’t it?
Jai-alai players are like surfers. One Big Wave is not enough. They need many waves. And if they don’t find them, they have to move, on car or airplane. And keep searching for new beaches. You know what I´m talking about. You worked as a life guard down in Miami beach. That’s what you told me.
Let me tell you something, Steve. You know that I´m not too excited about that version of Magic City kind of jai-alai. You are not either. We belong to the old school. But it seems to me that those Magicians are doing a fantastic Fantasy job as far as promoting the sport and coming up with new ideas. And that’s what traditional jai-alai needs, a punch in the stomach, a way to get a benefit out of it. Innovation. Breaking with the past. Try to attract new people and sponsors.
The good news for us, dear pal, is that traditional jai-alai will be around for a while.
I promise you to write you another letter in a week or so. Keep in touch.
Take care, buddy.