I announced Jai Alai for many years- Tampa-Hartford and Ft Pierce. It is such a beautiful game and I miss it. All the frontons were grossly mismanaged. Very sad.
I knew alot of the Jai Alai players in Palm Beach back in the mid 80s. Over the years after the strike, i have lost contact. I wish I could find them again. Does anyone remember Osa, Barenda, Mandiola, Felix and Andonegui?? Thanks for posting this, it brings back alot of good memories....
This takes me back. I remember watching this game when i was very little, In Tijuana. A few yrs back, they stopped playing. The building is still used for other things.
There are several sports derived from Jai Alai. Its pkayed in many countries mainly Spain, France, Mexico, Cuba. Variations of this are raquetball, vasc ball, squash, padel and even hand fronton. Its very exciting and requires to be in good shape and strategy.
this is the most addictive sport ever, I try many sports until I knew jai alai, this sport is for every kind of people example : short people tall people muscular or not, skinny ugliest or pretties, the only people doesn't play jai alai is dirty people , jai alai is a clean sport white clean pants and withe snickers any shirt., even if you don't have any skills you can be good player using your skills , of course the best have all the skills, most of the players are right hand some of them are left hand , they learn how to play with the basket in the right hand and they usually are good with left shots like costado, rebote or reves ,similar like tennis players when they hit the ball holding the racket with two hands, I can say is a super difficult sport because the speed of the ball is fast and the ball spin super fast sometimes make curbs and floats like the knuckles ball in base ball but at 150 to 178 MPH everything in jai alai is difficult the serve, rest, the concrete or granite is difficult to run , fun because you will play always with someone in the same level, if you guys curious about jai alai ask me ; i play 22 years professional and 6 amateur and I really love sports specially Jai alai , even when the ball hit me I use to laugh LOL and cry. ball can brake ribs if hit you pretty good.
o man, best find ever ... mendi is my dad, laughed when i saw him creeping n the background .... and then with the borat comment... p.s. ... he still rocks the mustache
Well, if we don't get out of here soon, then we're all going to die from something. Anything is preferable to drooling in your soup, staring for hours at people you don't know, or care to know.........i.e. dying in a nursing home. How boring is that! You know the famous alligator fighter died from being mauled by an alligator. He finally moved too slow. I guess he died happy. I saw on the internet that some storm chasers got sucked up in a tornado........I bet they went the way they wanted too.
In WWI Jai Alai txisteras ( or zestas) were used to throw hand granades by the Basque soldiers fighting with the french troops during entrenchment battles.
At this present moment in time (right this minute) I can't hear what is being said on this video because I don't have headphones with me and the library that I'm at doesn't have any available. I have one very simple question. Being used as a weapon rather than a sport, how far can a baseball be thrown from one of these mitts? 100 yards? 150 yards? 200 or more?
It's a very fast, and exciting game to watch. Unfortunately, Jai-Alai attendance has dropped dramatically in Florida when the Florida Lottery began. The Palm fronton was rebuilt and damaged by hurricane before it was completed. It was built and never opened almost 20 years ago. Dania, and Miami Jai-Alai have few regulars. Hopefully, if Slot Machines are installed in these frontons, then maybe attendance will increase.
i thing i was just commenting on how cool the 80s was. it was predicated on the visuals that i took from this documentary. As far as Jai Alai, i think its cool during anytime. a ball that can go 170 mph for 20 minutes sounds cool to me.
this is a fucking awesome sport i wish it was more available in the US. Kinda reminds me of Polo in that you need highly specialized equipment and conditions to play with. Looks real fun though
It's unusual in that it was played on Sundays after church in Basque towns. There's quite a few Catholic churches where the Priests predict dire pain for anyone who plays sports on Sunday.
Actually, the balls are given to the player to play the game, but they cant keep them. Players buy balls, so they can play somewhere else. The players have to buy the baskets, which are $600 brand new, or $100 used.
Does Dania Beach Jai Alai still get crowds this big? I remember my grandpa used to go there all the time back in the day. I guess it was popular because you could gamble.
It does not mind. Every time that something spanish (althought this is only basque) appears in american TV, has spanish guitar music from background xD
@LastAttemptUserName The ball costs $100, you have to recover it every twenty to thirty court minutes, unless you get really lucky and throw it on to a metal strip or into the fence that protects the patrons and it rips, then you can get all of 2 minutes out of the cover..the cover has to be cut off and replaced, and that takes 1 day to dry, as the skin is applied wet and the recover costs about 7 USD
Yeah, 192 mph....leaving the tee. In jai-alai the ball is coming AT you and you have to catch it and return (in one motion) to keep the point alive. Apples and Oranges to compare the two.
Besides Casinos becoming more prevelant, how did Jai Lai's popularity decrease so much ?? Use to be 20+ Frontons now only 5. JaiLai's USA headquarters in 1990s make bad decisions , not use marketing and advertising?
The documentary is fine. But the guitar music behind (flamenco)is like seeing a Baseball game with chinese music!! Flamenco = South Basques =North Greetings from Euskadi!
@Qber4life He didn't say "allowed"; he said "unable" to play because of the structure of the frontón. If one were to make a frontón facing the opposite direction, only left-handers )or ambidextrous) could play.
I was watching this, and I spotted my dad #28 at 1:02 to 1:04. Lol he had a crazy mullet, so I am guessing that this footage was scattered over the 80's, then put together in 1990.
I used to go to Miami, Dania and Palm Beach Jai Alai as a kid. My Dad is Fred Morales. Played in Dania and Palm Beach from '85-93.
Really dude? Stealing my comment? What a weirdo
I remember Fred playing as early as 1983 at Dania. I remember your uncle Alphonso "Fons" as well.
And I know you have to know Ellyn. I worked at Dania and Miami with her 1982-84.
I announced Jai Alai for many years- Tampa-Hartford and Ft Pierce. It is such a beautiful game and I miss it. All the frontons were grossly mismanaged. Very sad.
I knew alot of the Jai Alai players in Palm Beach back in the mid 80s. Over the years after the strike, i have lost contact. I wish I could find them again. Does anyone remember Osa, Barenda, Mandiola, Felix and Andonegui?? Thanks for posting this, it brings back alot of good memories....
Okay so, these sort of documentaries are what make me fall asleep in class.
First saw Jai alai at Dania, 1970. Wow! Fast! Amazing sport.
Great video...Thanks for posting this
my brother is a profesional player in miami jai alai and is the best mexican in jai alai and one of the world !
This takes me back. I remember watching this game when i was very little, In Tijuana. A few yrs back, they stopped playing. The building is still used for other things.
There are several sports derived from Jai Alai. Its pkayed in many countries mainly Spain, France, Mexico, Cuba. Variations of this are raquetball, vasc ball, squash, padel and even hand fronton. Its very exciting and requires to be in good shape and strategy.
I absolutely loved going to the Fronton in Miami and Dania and also up in Rhode Island of all places.
this is the most addictive sport ever, I try many sports until I knew jai alai, this sport is for every kind of people example : short people tall people muscular or not, skinny ugliest or pretties, the only people doesn't play jai alai is dirty people , jai alai is a clean sport white clean pants and withe snickers any shirt., even if you don't have any skills you can be good player using your skills , of course the best have all the skills, most of the players are right hand some of them are left hand , they learn how to play with the basket in the right hand and they usually are good with left shots like costado, rebote or reves ,similar like tennis players when they hit the ball holding the racket with two hands, I can say is a super difficult sport because the speed of the ball is fast and the ball spin super fast sometimes make curbs and floats like the knuckles ball in base ball but at 150 to 178 MPH everything in jai alai is difficult the serve, rest, the concrete or granite is difficult to run , fun because you will play always with someone in the same level, if you guys curious about jai alai ask me ; i play 22 years professional and 6 amateur and I really love sports specially Jai alai , even when the ball hit me I use to laugh LOL and cry. ball can brake ribs if hit you pretty good.
helped so much on my spanish report.
Whenever I see Jai-alai I alway associated it with Bud Spencer, as he played in the movie Odds and Evens :)
o man, best find ever ... mendi is my dad, laughed when i saw him creeping n the background .... and then with the borat comment... p.s. ... he still rocks the mustache
Miami Vice brought me here too!! Classic telly!
Hey man I’m one of the Gypsy kids that use to play w u n ur wife n kids in the 90s Lincoln park Hollywood Florida good luck in the tournament
I first saw this in an episode of Miami Vice.
Me too. Miami Vice brought me here
Greatest game on Earth! Exciting, fun, clean sport! Leave it to the Basque to come up with something so incredibly unique.
Also unorthodox, dangerous, and expensive.
Well, if we don't get out of here soon, then we're all going to die from something. Anything is preferable to drooling in your soup, staring for hours at people you don't know, or care to know.........i.e. dying in a nursing home. How boring is that! You know the famous alligator fighter died from being mauled by an alligator. He finally moved too slow. I guess he died happy. I saw on the internet that some storm chasers got sucked up in a tornado........I bet they went the way they wanted too.
Thank you so much for the info livendie4jaiali ......
In WWI Jai Alai txisteras ( or zestas) were used to throw hand granades by the Basque soldiers fighting with the french troops during entrenchment battles.
cool vid thx for posting
wow. this video totally helped me with my hw.
:D
lol. thanks!
What an interesting program.
Wish I had known this awesomeness earlier!! now I wanna see it live...
Nice profile pic bro
you too man, you too
correct! And we wish we had more places to play as well, especially at the professional level
LOL, the music brings back so much memories.
loved this
Neat. I hope to see it one day.
I remember passing this building on my right heading south on Dale Mabry on the way to gandy for some fishing . I believe it's gone now.
I used play it at school when i was younger xD
Yes, i am from basque country xD
Assy McGee brought me here. Interesting sport.
Thumbs up if you first saw this on Miami Vice!!
can anyone tell me where can i buy one of that cesta... i appreciate it...
Awesome looking sport.
Archer-Honeypot made me look this up . .
At this present moment in time (right this minute) I can't hear what is being said on this video because I don't have headphones with me and the library that I'm at doesn't have any available.
I have one very simple question.
Being used as a weapon rather than a sport, how far can a baseball be thrown from one of these mitts?
100 yards? 150 yards? 200 or more?
It's a very fast, and exciting game to watch. Unfortunately, Jai-Alai attendance has dropped dramatically in Florida when the Florida Lottery began. The Palm fronton was rebuilt and damaged by hurricane before it was completed. It was built and never opened almost 20 years ago. Dania, and Miami Jai-Alai have few regulars. Hopefully, if Slot Machines are installed in these frontons, then maybe attendance will increase.
wish this still happened here like the good ol days
Archer brought me here!
im basque and i play since the 3 yars at jai alai or zesta punta and i thing is one of the most quiklye sport
YES, the music!
i thing i was just commenting on how cool the 80s was.
it was predicated on the visuals that i took from this documentary.
As far as Jai Alai, i think its cool during anytime.
a ball that can go 170 mph for 20 minutes sounds cool to me.
Charles Trippy sent me. CTFxC FTW!!!
@Chaz Lenz ive been to quite a few it was sooooooo fun you should DEFINENTLY go to one. 😁😁😁😁😁
The first time I went to see it, I thought it was a blast.
When I take my mom to work I pass that exact staduim evryday
this is a fucking awesome sport i wish it was more available in the US. Kinda reminds me of Polo in that you need highly specialized equipment and conditions to play with. Looks real fun though
Black Mass brought me here.
Was wondering if there were others who wanted to know more because of that movie.
Same here.
whats the song called around 1:00
extreme wall ball lol! that shit looks crazy
i wanna go to a real hai alai match someday :)
@Constantine57...archer honeypot got me here too...dangerzone!
How much does a Jai-Alai pro make?
It's unusual in that it was played on Sundays after church in Basque towns. There's quite a few Catholic churches where the Priests predict dire pain for anyone who plays sports on Sunday.
proud to be basque,proud to be a pelotari ^^
I'm only here cuz my Spanish teacher is making me watch this
omg! that music @ 0:35 is soooooooooo 80s!
...why is saddam making a cesta in the beginning?
I was glad The Simpsons managed to stick it into an episode.
Subtitulado en español por favor=-)
Actually, the balls are given to the player to play the game, but they cant keep them. Players buy balls, so they can play somewhere else. The players have to buy the baskets, which are $600 brand new, or $100 used.
Does Dania Beach Jai Alai still get crowds this big? I remember my grandpa used to go there all the time back in the day. I guess it was popular because you could gamble.
It does not mind. Every time that something spanish (althought this is only basque) appears in american TV, has spanish guitar music from background xD
@LastAttemptUserName The ball costs $100, you have to recover it every twenty to thirty court minutes, unless you get really lucky and throw it on to a metal strip or into the fence that protects the patrons and it rips, then you can get all of 2 minutes out of the cover..the cover has to be cut off and replaced, and that takes 1 day to dry, as the skin is applied wet and the recover costs about 7 USD
Only option in the netherlands to buy a basket is on ebay I guess
P.s. I'm from the netherlands to!
Yeah, 192 mph....leaving the tee. In jai-alai the ball is coming AT you and you have to catch it and return (in one motion) to keep the point alive. Apples and Oranges to compare the two.
How so?
The best part is when, at 5:41, Jesse Jackson does a little cameo, giving us a shimmy.
Besides Casinos becoming more prevelant, how did Jai Lai's popularity decrease so much ?? Use to be 20+ Frontons now only 5. JaiLai's USA headquarters in 1990s make bad decisions , not use marketing and advertising?
ok... this is one of why i love usa
The documentary is fine.
But the guitar music behind (flamenco)is like seeing a Baseball game with chinese music!!
Flamenco = South
Basques =North
Greetings from Euskadi!
does jai alai not exist anymore??
wealthy, or just really good.
@Qber4life He didn't say "allowed"; he said "unable" to play because of the structure of the frontón. If one were to make a frontón facing the opposite direction, only left-handers )or ambidextrous) could play.
That reminded me of that scene from Miami Vice where the dude got hit in the head by that ball or whatever it's called.
Brother Mouzone brought me here
I was watching this, and I spotted my dad #28 at 1:02 to 1:04. Lol he had a crazy mullet, so I am guessing that this footage was scattered over the 80's, then put together in 1990.
OMG @ 5:02 Borat is at the back xD
i’m here for spanish class!!!
When they are talking about basque country, why they put spanish guitar music in the background? This guitar is not played there xD
on Guinness World Records 2008 the fastest speed recorded was 188 mph (302 km/h)
when they say ball game it means one ball you dip, paintball uses numerous balls, as ammo
@stymie86 you are so right
one bounce of the ball and you have to return it the front wall and make the other team miss it.
100 dollars for a ball that lasts 20 minutes? Madness. No wonder this got banned.
aah okay so kind of like wall ball I want to try this unfortunately I am left handed
Kinda like you don't see many lefthanded throwing catchers or shortstops in baseball.
wtf at 04:10 ?? holy shit
It looks like fun, but it would be hard for me to play with my right hand. I can't even throw a football far with my right hand.
LOL the 80's were RAD!!
One word : hurling. The fastest field sport in the world and you catch the ball with your hand...not a basket.
Inside a Nuclear power Plant? Wow, don't know if I would play against a Nuclear Power Plant, LOL.
That guitar in the background is derived from a Cuban song ... duh. LOL
so this is like ultimate racquetball?
I would think the people in Spain who play this would like lacrosse. It's kind-of a combination of this and soccer.
LOL Jai Alai still exists, it was not just an "80's" thing
the fastest sport in the world because of the balls' speed. The ball can travel up to 302 km/h (188mph) wow
This shit was played in TRON! Fuck yeah!
I thought his reputation was expanding faster than the universe?
This game looks fucking fun