My high school graduation was held at the Fort Pierce Jai Alai
Fronton. Seeing the dormant betting machines and the huge court
got me wondering about what jai alai was all about. So shortly
after I turned 18 I went with some friends to check it out. I
fell in love with it immediately and within a few weeks was getting
quite a good handle on it. I remember betting wins, places and
shows for the most part. But on closing night I decided to go
for it. The star player was Rufino and I was certain he was going
to win at least one of the final three games. I just had a $2
an hour job at the time (1976) but had saved enough to wheel $3
perfectas in those last three games. Sure enough, in the second
to last game, he won. It was an 8-7 perfecta that paid $135. I
may have been the happiest 18 year old on the planet that night.
A few years later I was going to Florida State University, but
spending much of my free time at Big Bend Jai Alai. What a great
place. I remember convincing two friends to join me one night
for a few games. We were all so broke, but we managed to put together
$50 or $60 bucks. I had convinced them I knew what I was doing
so I made the picks for $3 daily doubles in game one. I remember
it taking 3-6/1-4. I explained the game to them while rooting
for that first half of the double. Luckily we got it. No need
to bet game 2. I remember it was a singles game and in post one
was Sabino. He took the first 4 points and I remember telling
my friends not to get excited cause they never run it out from
post one. Then he got another point, and another. Then he took
the game and we jumped out of our seats. It paid $135 again. We
broke even the rest of the night, and were each $40 richer when
we left. We walked silently to the car, feeling like we had just
robbed the place when no one was looking. We stopped at a convenience
store nearby for a six pack (for about $2) and began the long
drive home. At some point on the highway, we couldn't hold our
excitement any more and busted out cheering. Years later, one
of the guys told me that $40 meant that his parents, who were
not rich, didn't have to send him money that month, and that was
one of his happiest memories from college. Its funny how you can
remember certain moments including players and game winning shots.
Moments so cool that they're etched in your memory forever. Maybe
you have similar memories?
