America’s Forgotten Sport - Jai Alai
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
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You may have seen a short clip of Jai Alai in the opening credits of Miami Vice, and like me, not known what the heck it was! In fact, it used to be a very popular sport in the USA and has seemingly fallen on hard times. As a fan of learning about things that have been forgotten (like ghost towns), in this video I talk about what happened to Jai Alai. There is a small community of people at Dania Beach Casino keeping it alive in Miami, and I spent an evening at one of the matches. I was very entertained, but also learned why it's not as popular as it used to be. I hope the sport continues on into the future, because it is worth watching!
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We had family members who liked to go to Miami to the Jai Alai games in the 1960's. We watched the tv commercials for the players, the frontons, etc. on our little black and white tv Thank you for this very enjoyable vlog, Wiseguy! 👍
Thanks! It was actually a lot of fun to watch! Would’ve been interesting to see it in its heyday!
Hey Coach.My cousin played well down in Florida years ago.The stress levels on the throwing hand"s shoulder, wrist and elbow can tell on a person years later. Thanks for posting.
Oh my I can imagine it would be so hard on the body. And these guys play A LOT of Jai Alai!
Looks like the fans are there moms and dads ❤
If their moms and dads are betting on their kids 😂
My parents retired from Schenectady to Ormand Beach in the 60's. There was a fronton next to the Daytona Speedway they would take me to, when I visited. I never could figure how to bet though! I also lived in Tulsa when Roger was killed...a small world. BTW, the fronton was packed when we used to go...
Nice! Some interesting things to see as a kid!!
I remember seeing it on tv as a kid, I had forgotten all about it, thanks for reminding me
For sure! Same for me 😂😂
I love jai alai me and mom a few brothers and sisters I started playing Tampa jai alai back in 1976 with the best player Bolivar , Francisco, Jesus I still play semicast here i will always love it❤
Very entertaining sport I think!
I remember it on Miami Vice, but never knew what it was called, I can now put a name to it. Going into a casino is something I have never nor would do, I abhor any gambling only because I have seen the misery caused by a gambling addiction at a young age at a neighbours home. I don't judge people that do, but it is something I don't like on a personal level. What this video has shown me is a perspective that I would never see so thanks for that John.
I’m definitely not a gambler and rarely visit casinos. Obviously I was there for the sport of it all. Sounds like the gambling was part to what made it fail as well.
I've never been close to a Jai Alai facility, what an interesting looking game.
Excellent job on a quick and concise explanation of the game, TIL.
As always...
Thanks! Not sure if I’d ever be a huge fan, but I’m glad it’s still surviving!
I remember this from Miami Vice but had totally forgotten about this game otherwise. Thank you for this video. 😊
😊
G'morning Brother. Enjoyed this video. I first read about the sport in encyclopedia's, however the most memorable exposure to Jai Alai, like you, was the opening credits of Miami Vice....🤓
It’s interesting how a sport can seep into our consciousness and we don’t know much about it 😂
I had never heard of this sport before, the more understood about the game the more interesting it could be . 🤔
I agree - I found it pretty fascinating!
I was there 3 days ago! It was awesome! I really want to try the sport to see how hard it is to throw.
That’s awesome! Seems like a hard sport to play!
John,
Given that the sport was imported into Cuba in 1900 from Spain. I wonder if most of the professionals still come from Cuba.
"The game now commonly called jai alai was first played by the Spanish Basques who called the sport pelota vasca. Jai alai (pronounced high lie) means “merry festival” in the Basque language. The game was imported by Cuba in 1900, and there it got its new name. The sport probably evolved in the 17th century."
Incidentally, the ball is 3/4 the size of a baseball, it's the hardest ball in sports. It's so hard that it clicks when it strikes a hard surface. A fast ball moves around 187 mph.
If it hits your body, it will destroy whatever it hits. The rackets are custom made for the players hand and arm. Players can only play for so many years before their arm and joints are thrown out permanently.
Gord
If I remember correctly there was only one American on the roster that night. Most were from South America. I saw one guy get hit and hurt pretty bad!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Yes, that doesn't surprise me. I think Brazil has a number of players. It's mainly a Latin sport. Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and South America.
Over the years it has expanded to Asia as well, where players from Indonesia and China have evolved.
It is a high risk game but players can't think that way. It's all or nothing. The speed at which that ball moves requires an incredible eye to see in order to anticipate in time.
This was interesting! I have a couple of work colleagues in Miami, I'll have to ask them if they've ever been to a match. Thank you for yet another informative video!
If I lived there I’d probably go from time to time. I’m not a big gambler but I’d enjoy the game!
Never would have gotten that one right. Thanks for filling us on the game
My pleasure!
I used to go to jai alai in CT in the 1980’s. I live in FL now and make at least 1 visit a year to Dania jai alai. Whether it was 40 years ago or now, jai alai is the only gambling activity I can enjoy without actually placing a bet. I am in awe of the skill of the players. I find it to be a very entertaining sport to watch.
It's a truly fascinating sport to me too!
They had the sport in Milford Connecticut when I was kid
I’m a little young to have watched Miami Vice (born in 1984), but I remember seeing this in a movie, I want to say “The Substitute”? But totally forgot about this sport!
Not sure about the movie - I don’t recall young buck 😉
Wow, I have never heard of this sport! That was interesting and exciting looking.
I thought it was pretty interesting and entertaining!
I've heard of Jai Alai but never saw it played. Thanks.
👍🏼😊
Interesting video. I didn't realize there was such a sport. Thanks for sharing.
Any time!
I've heard of the game, had no idea how it was produced lol Looks like a very intense sport. Keeping your eyes on the ball, catching it and throwing it certainly takes concentration and practice, practice, practice. I can only imagine the brutal wear shoulders and wrists take! One wonders how long a participant lasts career wise. I remember the Wheeler murder, it dominated news for some time. That and the player's strike were very certainly the death knell, fans just lost interest. Sad. Thanks for enlightening this Okie on a forgotten sport, a new subject to research. Safe travels friend, GOD bless
Such an interesting history good and bad with the sport. Fascinating that it’s still hanging in there.
Remember doing a paper on the game of jailai in 5 or 6 grade. Ancient game that someone decided to make money on.
Kind of a fascinating sport with an unusual history in the US!
I saw it on Miami Vice and Mad Men.
I've heard of it now I know what it looks like. 😊
😊
you should come join us in the live chat when they are playing Pelota games. No live chat for Battle court
I first head of Jai Alai a very, very long time ago when I was a Cub Scout (early 1960s). At one of our den meetings we made paddles (?) to play the game out of Clorox bleach bottles. I don’t think any of us knew how to play the game so it never amounted to anything. It interesting to see people actually playing it. For the record, the actual paddles look nothing like what we made from bleach bottles.
Oh wow that sounds like it was fun!
Connecticut was promoting jai alai for a while, mostly as a way of getting tax revenues, but it quickly faded away
Interesting 🤔
@@TravelwithaWiseguy The opening of a huge tribal gambling casino in the eastern part of the state, later followed by a second one nearby, pretty much kiboshed jai alai in Connecticut.
Battle court at Magic City
Jai Alai has been in Newport, Rhode Island since the 1970s a few years after the second fleet of the US Navy pulled out of the city. It continues to bring tax revenue to the city
Have a nice day 😊
Thank you - you too!
That is quite the sport. Do not think that I will take it up at my age .that ball moves way too fast!
They call it the fastest sport in the world! 😊
@@TravelwithaWiseguy I definitely know it is too fast for this old geezer!
😂
Interesting video, and I, too, have never heard of the sport. Do you know if the players receive a salary and if so, how much it might be? Im assumingcthey dont play "just for the fun of it." ?
I think they do get paid but I have no idea how much. Maybe they are casino employees? 🤷🏼♂️
Really odd/nice video. My wifes mother had 2 (made of bamboo, some thing like that) and a ball. I asked my wife about them and she said, don't ask. Erica (wifes daughter) got them when she came down. Be good, be safe !!
Oh wow that’s interesting!
Well it was, she took anything that was worth money. I'll say no more.@@TravelwithaWiseguy
Anybody else here after watching Black Mass on Netflix lol😅
I only know about jai alai because it’s a common crossword puzzle answer. 😂🤦🏼♀️
😂😂
no sabía que se jugaba ahí en Miami El Fronton, el origen es del Norte de España concretamente del Pais Vasco
Thank you for the info! Very interesting 🤔
Frontenis is a sport that was born as such at the beginning of the last century in Mexico. Its birth dates back to 1916 and its origins lie in the fusion of tennis and Basque Pelota. From tennis it takes its tool: the racket, while from Basque Pelota it took the playing court: the fronton.
This all sounds so familiar. Oh, I know. In certain places, it's almost word for word the same as a six year old video on Great Big Story. I guess it doesn't matter. Nobody cares about this topic. I remember my dad taking me to the Ocala jai alai arena when I was young in the late 80s. We lived in that area. And I was wondering what happened to this sport. That's the only reason I'm here. There aren't many videos about it so you have to know anyone looking for information on it is likely going to see both this and the six year old video. But, whatever. It doesn't matter.