I think the formula would be to get NBA guys to play backcourt,
your 6'6' to 6'10" guards and forwards that are mobile and
stronger than most any ordinary jai alai player. Michael Jordan,
Lebron James types in the back. Their height and athleticism would
make them legendary in this sport if they started as children.
Tons of NBA guys would be so great at "our" game. They
don't have to be too accurate, just catch the pelota and return
it deep and hard. If a slow fat average height guy like a Badiola
can be called a very good player, imagine what Lebron would do
to him ! How about Mark Tex from the NYY playing pelota, I bet
he could catch pretty good !
Now draw on baseball right handed pitchers that don't weigh
300 lbs and you have your frontcourt players. Lots of pitchers
are very tall also. tall never hurts as long as you have some
speed with it. A guy with a pitcher's arm would be awesome in
the front court. Lincecum trained as a frontcourt man would be
sick. Plenty of pitchers would be awesome with placement.
Jai alai is an elite game, court time is relatively expensive...say
a minimum of $10/hour on any proper court. Cestas are expensive.
It's tough to find any building to toss around a lacrosse ball,
or other against, for free...bad grammar but F-that !
It's almost like Prince William playing polo off of his pony,
or some shvt !
When I was 18, I was pretty good then, played regulary with
several guys that made pro out of AAJA circa 1980, like Ronny
Bucci, Weef Cruz and a few others. I date back to Charlie and
Rosie Hernandez at the Y in New Haven , when I was too young to
drive there.
My point is that jai alai was so great back in the late 70's
(BPT) with such a limited pool of players to draw upon as being
your pros, expand the amateur ranks by a factor of 100X and 99%
of current and past pros never even get a contract.
The game would be just sick with millions of amateurs to draft
from . Joey would be like....Who ?
NBA guys in the backcourt could reach balls Chimela climbed
for. MLB pitchers would place balls better than Ondarres. Those
6-9 NBA guys would change the game, no more 5-6 runts in the front,like
an Asti or Tomas... you'd need to be like 6-1 to play frontcourt.
That's the way baseball is, not very many players under about
6-1.
A smart player like a Churruca or Badiola can last a long time...but
a guy that is 6-8 and can catch and just return hard will wear
down an ordinary man.
Sorry to ramble for so long !
