Dear old Steve
Let me tell you something, pal. I have bad news for the two of us. I contacted the CEO of Jai Alai News. A real nice guy by the way. I told him about the idea of me going over to Florida for the “Battle” at Dania Jai-Alai. Remember that I talked to you about that in my last letter?
Well, it did not work. They are ready to pay expenses for those ten days in sunny Florida. So far so good. The trouble is that they offered me a cheap motel over US-1. You know, Steve, one of these places that no matter the time of day or night, there’s always a Dania sheriff’s car in the parking lot.
No way, I told them. I need a place to relax so I can concentrate for my daily column about last nights partido game. Margaritaville would be fine, I said. So after breakfast we can walk over the beachside boardwalk, the two of us, and discuss the championship.
Finally we got an agreement about that. I also asked them for an airplane ticket in business class. No way they said. They want me to travel in tourist. I said no. I’m 65 years old. Too many years throwing that damned ball. I’ve got a pinched sciatic nerve, my needs hurt and I suffered of nightmares because the 1988 strike. Therefore, my mind and body can’t stand transatlantic travels.
So far negotiations are broken. Doesn’t look too good, pal. To tell the you truth I feel sorry for the Basque fans. They are the ones that are going to suffer most. Our chronicles could it be as good as Jack London’s about boxing. A piece of art.
I’ll keep you informed about that.
One more thing, Steve. Remember that we talked about the Tournament of Champions in our last letter?
Well, I never realized that me and my brother were the only brothers ever playing such a prestigious tournament. Isn´t that neat? He represented Miami and I did for Tampa. When I think about it, man, I feel so proud. I’ll talk my brother about that.
Such memories keep me alive and make my day brighter.
Let me tell you a story related to the T. of C.
Days after the championship, 1980. I was coming back from a walk on the beach. A VW van falling in pieces passed by and stopped suddenly about 30 meters away from me. A hippie looking guy comes running towards me. I said to myself. Oh! shit…
When he reached me. He asks: You’re Zulaica the second, aren’t you?”
I said, “Sure I am”.
“Oh! My god”, he says. “I can´t believe it. I’m so excited to meet you. Could you sign me an autograph?”
What do you think of it? Steve. The price of fame. Not bad at all for a defensive player.
In my last letter I did mention a partido that took place at Gernika. Yeah! The one Arbe and Lopez played against Goikoetxea and Aimar. Did you see it?
Arbe and Lopez, were suppose to win the match 2 sets to zero in order to get into the semifinals. They won, 2-1. Not a big deal because that means that they are out and won’t play a next partido in who knows how many weeks.
Goiko and Aimar won the first set pretty easily. After that, the party was over. Right after that set, it seemed to me that Goiko and Aimar went to a nearby coffeeshop for a cup of cappuccino. While Arbe and Lopez remained playing the two sets.
However, there was a point that was worth the whole partido. It happened in the first set. They were tied with 4 points each. Goiko threw a right-hand rebote that took my breath away. What a chic-chac! man. The ball disappeared under the floor right after hitting the back wall.
Let me tell you something, Steve. You should see it. Leave alone watching those MC quinielas and spend some time finding the damned video. It’s worth it!.
Remember that I told you in my last letter about this famous writer, Arturo Bandini?
I talked to him by phone and he’s eager to meet you. Besides that, he said that he worked in Hollywood (California) with Jepprey Gionfriddo´s father. Both of them screenwriters for big pictures companies.
You know Gionfriddo, don’t you? A nice guy form CT. that was at Dania Jai-Alai matinee and night five days a week. One of us.
The world is so small. Isn’t?
Let me tell you something before I´m done with this letter. A crazy idea is hanging around my head lately. I’m thinking in opening a fronton down the Keys.
Yes. Key West would be fine. A lot of tourists. Snowbirds and many gays from Providence. Do they still hang around? Oh! Boy. What was that back in the seventies when my hair was still black.
A small court type of jai-alai. Like the one at Magic City. A second hand cancha would be fine. Do me a favor, Steve, long distance calls are expensive nowadays so please contact Jeff “Laca” Conway from Saint Pete. Ask him if he has any available. Or tell Gionfriddo to go up north and check with the Connecticut chalkies if the have a cheap second hand cancha.
Now is the time I think. Plenty of young talented unemployed players. You could be the general manager. As far as financing the project, don’t you worry about that. We can talk Joey. He knows a lot of wealthy people ready to invest their money.
Besides, Joey always wanted to open his own fronton. Remember Arizona?
Now that Donovan is not around we could offer him a position as players´ manager. That would work.
Do me a favor, offer Joey a piece of the cake. 5% would be fine. If he starts bullshitting promise him a bonus, a box of A.J. Fernandez Nicaraguans cigars. That would work.
If it doesn’t work with Cornblit we can contact MC. Rumors that they have tons of cash out of the Casino would help us. They may want to expand business. You never know.
Otherwise, our last chance would be talk to Rufino and Corky from Tampa. They know business.
Think about it, pal. You know all about business down there. Instead of selling t-shirts you could manage a jai-alai fronton. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Pedro Mir gave me his ok. Hemingway loves the idea.
Keep in touch.
Your old pal, Juan