I remember a time back in the mid 70's when I first was introduced
to Jai Alai and fell in love with the game that the excitment
was generated by the connection of the large loud crowds and the
fantastic play on the court. There was nothing like seeing live
Jai Alai at Miami on a Friday or Saturday night before a standing
room only capacity crowd. The building vibrated with the sound
of every ball bouncing off the granite wall and the fever pitch
of the crowd yelling at the players. That was something to see
and you could feel it in your soul. That place at that time was
magical and there was nothing like that experience for me, not
a Super Bowl, NBA finals, or World Series game (and I have attened
all three). Everyone even on the top floor (standing room) was
into the action which was non stop, riveting, and intoxicating
to the point that you never wanted it to end. Those were great
times and anyone that experienced those can only feel sad over
what has happened to Jai Alai over the past twenty years.
I don't go to Jai Alai much these days not because I can't but
because I want to remember the way it use to be and it's so sad
to watch such a beutiful game played in the catheral of Jai Alai
before less then 100 people. The place (Miami) is falling apart
(not the 'casino' part) and that's what management wants
as Jai Alai is a means to an end to finally get true casino gambling
into the city. We are witnessing Jai Alai in it's final days (it's
on life support) in Florida and therefore the US. After seeing
what happened to Jai Alai up north (Conn. and Rhode Island), I'm
surprised Florida Jai Alai has been able to stay around this long.
Enjoy it while it last because the next generation will only be
able to read about Jai Alai in the US and that makes me sad.
