Who I am is not really important at all and not part of this forum.
To my knowledge there are only 2 other writers that know who I
am and I would like to keep it that way.
I was fortunate to have played for many years, during the golden
years and with some of the best players ever. There are so many to mention.
I am old enough to have seen Frias, Chucho Larranaga, Alex, Roque, Echave etc....
I have played in the same performances (in Europe) with Churruca,
Chimela, Ondarres, Egurbide, Guisasola, Elejabbarieta, Bengoa, etc....
One small anecdote about some of them.For many years during my
youth, the partido that was a must see in the Basque Country was
Egurbide-Churruca against Ondarres-Chimela. The frontons were
packed to the rafters when they played in any frontons. Among
all the partidos I saw, the one I will never forget took place
in St Jean de Luz and I don't remember the exact year but it was
in the early 70s. I had played in the opening partido and the
stars were playing after we were done. In St Jean de Luz the locker
room is right under the stands. I could hear the crowd getting
louder and louder. I was getting treatment for a nasty fall I
had taken during my partido and was thinking there was not need
to hurry to watch because the crowd in the summer is mostly made
up of tourists so we thought they were getting just excited because
Chimela jumped a couple times or Egurbide threw one of his nasty
cortada or something like that. I came out of the locker room
and saw the score of 25-25. Went to sit by my father who at that
point told me they were playing unbelievably. When he said that
I knew that it had to be pretty good as he was a man of few words
and difficult to impress. Well chalkies, the partido ended 35-34
and those few points I saw were, are and probably will be the
most amazing collection of points I have ever witnessed. After
each point, there was a standing ovation. At the end of the partido
the audience did not want to leave and was asking for more and
were chanting for an 'encore'. I went to the locker
room and I can assure you that those four could not play another
point. They had given their all. Remember at that time in France,
wagering was not allowed. The audience came for the show and the
players gave them one.
Boy I have been rambling.
I have played with and against some of the best of my era and
not in any particular order: Joey, Irigo, Rufino, Asis, Bolivar,
Alberdi, Enrique, Salazar, Javier, Aramayo, Gorrono, Arra, Michelena,
Mendi, Gerny, Pablo, Durango, Acin, Uriarte, Echeva and so many more....
All the trophies have come and gone.
All the fame has come and gone.
All the fantastic memories have come and are with me to stay until
one day I fall asleep and never wake up.
I have been giving hints (perhaps too many) thru some of my postings
but will not just use this forum to say who I am.
At one time or another, I have had more fame and recognition to
last me a lifetime and I am not seeking more.
My only reason to write on this site is to correct or elaborate
some of the things that are written.
I can only hope that I am informative in my messages and that
the chalkies enjoy reading them.
Sorry if it is long but I thought I had to share.
