A couple of readers tipped us off on a listing on eBay of perhaps the most unusual jai-alai helmet ever made. It was a combo package consisting of an old jai-alai cesta and a helmet. It’s not the old jai-alai cesta that really mattered. It was the helmet. It’s certainly one-of-a-kind.
It appears to be made from the same materials that a jai-alai cesta is. And believe it or not, it’s very durable, too. I believe it could hold up against a Belota fast ball off the skull without too much damage being done.
Inside the helmet is a liner and straps to put on and play with. But it won’t be used for playing. It will go into the J Laca Jai-alai Museum, perhaps next to the most photographed item in there – the Sea Cow Leo 2.0 cesta. Juice and Rastock will need to get back in there and retake their photos!
As I made the drive from Venice Beach to Tampa, the words of Bennett Collett, Sr. echoed in my head. “We want you to be the General Manager of Tampa Jai-Alai. You’re the man for the job.”
My mind drifted back to 1971, when I sat across the desk from Tampa’s GM, ex-Naval Commander, and hippie-hating Ernie Larsen. I was a young, long-haired recent UF grad with a passion for my new love, Jai-Alai. Ernie, though he loathed my look, filled me with hope that I could one day take the reigns of Tampa Jai-Alai.
Then, I thought about my ex-boss and friend Dick Gerrity, who took over for Larsen, and suffered a premature death at the hands of cancer. I was sure my turn had come to return to Tampa and fulfill my dream. But, Gerald Coakley, our Ft. Pierce GM, was somehow chosen to go to Tampa. Befuddled by that decision, still I was patient.
In less than two years, Coakley was removed from the Tampa post and to my amazement, I was passed over again! This time, Giles Ellis, many years Gerrity’s assistant who had just relocated to Miami to be VP Administration, had gotten the nod.
Astounded by the decision, I went directly to Donovan to request an explanation. Donovan told me I was scheduled to go, that I had his and Rico’s support. But he said he had made a pledge to Ellis that if he wanted to return to Tampa from Miami, he would honor that request. At the last minute, Ellis made the request.
As I crossed the Sunshine Skyway in awe of the beauty of Tampa Bay, I realized my chance had finally come. But it had taken almost 30 years! And, it came from a new CEO that hardly knew me. Someone that I could barely trust. Remember Collett offering me Florida Gaming stock options? I was still waiting. Remember doubling the advertising budget? That never happened.
Tampa Jai-Alai was now but a shell of a business. It was bleeding cash. Since the strike of 1988, Jai-Alai attendance and betting had dropped almost 90%. The excitement of poker had waned as the $10 pot limit restriction by the state pushed the poker players away.
There were strong rumors that the Collett’s were shopping the property to developers and even had a possible deal. Yet, I was still leaning toward accepting the offer, thinking I really had no choice.
As I pulled into the vast empty parking lot of Tampa Jai-Alai, my mind flashed back to the lines of people at the box office. I entered the same door that I used as a teenager sneaking in with a fake ID just to get a glimpse of the world’s fastest game. I walked across the lobby to the conference room immediately adjacent to my old PR office that I inhabited in my early years. And they’re sat CEO Bennett Collett, his son Benny to his side. My future resting in their hands.
They both got up and greeted me warmly. Bennett thanked me for making the drive and repeated his offer or should I say directive. “You’re the man for the job, we want you here running things for us,” he said smoothly. Benny was silent. This was Bennett’s “show.”
I told him how long I had waited for this opportunity and thanked him for being the one to finally give it to me. But I had concerns. My biggest was the difficulty of uprooting my kids, Shawna being in high school, and Jason in middle school. Bennett suggested I commute from Miami while they finished the school year. I could stay Monday through Thursday in Tampa and return to Miami each weekend.
I processed that as he spoke, knowing that the weekends were the most important times to be at the fronton. Yet, I would be absent. I, also, dreaded flying back and forth every weekend. But I didn’t reveal those thoughts to him. I just nodded.
Then, I hit him with the big question. “Bennett, I heard that Florida Gaming had a possible deal on selling Tampa Jai-Alai to a developer. Is that true?” He looked at me as if I was a member of the media and carefully chose his words. “Marty, we’re looking at all our options. There’s no signed deal… yet.”
That was the worst denial I had ever heard. Now, I was sure the rumors were true. So, I had one question left: “If you do sell it, do I still have my job back in Miami?” I knew this was going to be difficult because they would have to fill my position with someone if I left for Tampa. But, moving or even commuting to Tampa for a short time only to lose my job with a sale… his response was going to weigh heavily on my decision.
“Marty there just are no guarantees in life,” Bennett told me. “Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee your job will be waiting for you back in Miami. But, we need you here in Tampa,” he reiterated. Now I knew my true value to them. We sell and you’re gone. Loyalty certainly didn’t seem to be in the vocabulary of the Collett’s.
I told him I needed to talk it over with my family. He agreed we would finalize everything back in Miami after Christmas. He got up signaling the meeting was over. I shook hands and Benny, Jr. escorted me out.
As the two of us walked across the lobby, he could see the look of worry on my face. I told Benny, “I’m screwed!” He calmly said to relax and “don’t worry about Senior.” I said, “Benny if you sell this place in 6 months, I’m out of a job. If I tell your father ‘No,’ I’m sure he will fire me. Your father doesn’t look like a man that takes ‘no’ for an answer.”
Benny acted like a friend to me. He tried to reassure me that I shouldn’t worry about it. I should talk it over with my family and have a nice Christmas. He would do his best to calm his father down if I refused. I shook hands and left.
After returning to Venice and discussing the meeting with Sue, I came to the painful decision that I was going to decline Bennett’s offer. I told Sue to prepare to move back to Tampa as I was sure Bennett would fire me. I would have no job. At least my prospects were better in Tampa.
One week after Christmas, Bennett returned to Miami. I knocked on his office door (he used the downstairs office which was Buddy Berenson’s, then Paul Rico’s) and I slowly went in. He was working on some papers and briefly looked up, waved me in.
“Bennett, you don’t know how much I appreciate you showing such confidence in me to offer me the head job in Tampa. It has been my dream,” I told him. He barely looked up. “After giving it a lot of thought, I really think I’m more valuable to you and the company here in the corporate office. I know you are probably going to fire me for saying this, but I have to refuse your offer.”
There was complete silence. He paused and finally looked up. “I wish you’d change your mind,” he said with little emotion. Then, he looked down again. “And you’re not fired.” He didn’t utter another word. I quickly got up, thanked him, and made my escape.
Six months later, on July 4th, 1998, the players of Tampa Jai-Alai raised their cestas as the final salute to the fans. At the end of that game, the pelota would never again be heard striking the granite wall in Tampa.
The next day, a handwritten sign for the employees was hastily taped to the glass door at the main entrance saying Tampa Jai-Alai was closed indefinitely.
The Golden Cesta Award is an honorary award for the Jai-alai player with the most singles game wins for a week. The award was conceived by Pauly, a well-known Jai-alai announcer and promoter at Magic City Jai-alai who also had a big following when working at Dania Jai-alai. Pauly is the originator of the reference to Machu Picchu when a player’s shot hits high out-of-bounds, such as the overhead netting and the phrase “The Pad is Bad.” Golden Cesta Award winners are shown beginning with week 11 of the inaugural 2018 season at Magic City.
Douglas won the Golden Cesta Award for 14 of the 18 weeks he played during the 2019 meet and even won 10-consecutive weeks from Week #7 through #16. Douglas also holds the record with 19 singles game wins in a week during Week #8 in 2019. Carballo’s 18 singles wins in Week #3 of 2019 was for 27 games played which calculates to an astonishing 66.7% wins. RonRon broke previous records during the 2021 10-week short meet with 7 singles wins in 9 games during Week #10 for a new record of 77.8% wins!
Note: Tie-breaker rules change starting 2021: when there is a tie for most wins, the Golden Cesta Award goes to the tied player with the highest singles win % for that week. Prior to 2021, when there was a tie for most wins, the Golden Cesta Award went to the tied player with the highest % ITM for the week.
Last Modified: June 14, 2022, 4:35 pm
Number of Golden Cesta Award Wins
The number of Golden Cesta Award Wins at Magic City Jai-Alai since week 11 of 2018. This is an honorary weekly award for the highest number of wins for the week.
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Player
# of GC Award Wins
Douglas
35
RonRon
17
Carballo
10
El Barba
6
Anderluck
6
Ben
6
Bueno
6
Jeden
5
Ikeda
5
Juice
3
Diaz
2
Bradley
2
Benny
2
CRB
2
Goixerri
2
Vuelo
1
Tennessee
1
Kubala
1
Asier
1
Julen
1
Robin
1
Manu
1
Aratz
1
Cool Fitness
0
Spinner
0
Inaki
0
Nicolas
0
Golden Cesta Award Winners
Golden Cesta Award winners at Magic City Jai-Alai since September 12 of 2018. The Golden Cesta Award goes to the winner of the most singles games each week. SayHiLi did not include the early part of 2018 in the database as it was the first season of this development Jai-Alai program and players were still on the low end of learning curve on their Jai-Alai training and abilities (2018 Week 1 began July 1).
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Year
Week
Player
# of Wins
% ITM
% Wins
Tiebreaker Info, etc
2018
11
Anderluck
12
70.7
27.9
2018
12
Bradley
12
55.3
31.6
2018
13
Carballo
11
50.0
34.4
2018
14
Ben
8
56.8
21.6
Ben – wins tied with Asier and went to % ITM tiebreaker
2018
15
Juice
11
50.0
30.6
2018
16
Juice
10
61.1
27.8
2018
17
Asier
10
48.8
23.3
2018
18
Ben
9
48.8
20.0
2018
19
Carballo
10
47.8
21.7
2018
20
Bradley
9
45.9
24.3
2018
21
Juice
7
55.2
24.1
2018
22
Diaz
5
50.0
25.0
2019
1
Jeden
10
70.4
37.0
Jeden – wins tied with Kubala and went to % ITM tiebreaker
2019
2
Kubala
11
71.0
35.5
2019
3
Carballo
18
85.2
66.7
2019
4
Douglas
11
75.0
30.6
Douglas wins 1st week of his professional career
2019
5
Douglas
13
72.2
36.1
2019
6
Carballo
13
55.6
36.1
2019
7
Douglas
18
77.8
50.0
2019
8
Douglas
19
75.0
52.8
2019
9
Douglas
9
57.1
32.1
2019
10
Douglas
10
48.3
34.5
2019
11
Douglas
10
67.9
35.7
2019
12
Douglas
13
50.0
46.4
2019
13
Douglas
13
69.0
44.8
2019
14
Douglas
13
62.1
44.8
2019
15
Douglas
9
83.3
50.0
2019
16
Douglas
10
66.7
55.6
2019
17
RonRon
7
66.7
38.9
2019
18
Douglas
6
61.1
33.3
Douglas – wins tied with Ikeda and went to % ITM tiebreaker
2019
19
RonRon
7
61.1
38.9
2019
20
Douglas
7
50.0
38.9
Douglas – wins tied with Anderluck and went to % ITM tiebreaker
2019
21
Anderluck
7
59.1
31.8
2020
1
Ikeda
10
68.2
47.6
2020
2
Diaz
5
43.5
21.7
2020
3
Bueno
6
45.5
27.3
2020
4
Ikeda
5
61.1
27.8
2020
5
Anderluck
5
41.7
20.8
2020
6
El Barba
4
38.9
22.2
2020
7
Tennessee
7
50.0
31.8
2020
8
RonRon
5
66.7
27.8
2020
9
Carballo
5
91.7
41.7
2020
10
Bueno
6
47.8
26.1
2020
11
RonRon
13
75.0
46.5
2020
12
RonRon
15
75.0
53.6
2020
13
Douglas
14
64.3
50.0
2020
14
Douglas
18
82.1
64.3
2020
15
Douglas
13
60.7
46.4
2020
16
RonRon
10
58.3
41.7
2020
17
Douglas
12
65.4
46.2
2020
18
Ben
13
44.9
26.5
2020
19
Douglas
11
78.6
39.3
2020
20
RonRon
12
72.2
66.7
2020
21
Douglas
11
84.2
57.9
2020
22
Douglas
10
66.7
41.7
Douglas – wins tied with El Barba and went to % ITM tiebreaker
2020
23
RonRon
9
79.2
37.5
2020
24
El Barba
6
58.3
25.0
2020
25
El Barba
9
58.3
37.5
2020
26
El Barba
7
58.3
29.2
2020
27
Douglas
9
77.8
50.0
2020
28
Bueno
8
34.5
27.6
2020
29
Jeden
9
59.1
40.9
2020
30
Douglas
6
75.0
50.0
2021
1
Vuelo
3
66.7
33.3
Vuelo – wins as tied on % Wins but had higher % ITM
2021
2
Douglas
4
55.6
44.4
2021
3
Ikeda
3
75.0
75.0
2021
4
CRB
3
50.0
37.5
CRB – wins as had highest Win %
2021
5
RonRon
4
66.7
44.4
2021
6
RonRon
4
44.4
44.4
2021
7
RonRon
4
66.7
44.4
2021
8
RonRon
5
66.7
55.6
2021
9
RonRon
3
66.7
33.3
RonRon won on 2nd tiebreaker of % ITM over Ikeda
2021
10
RonRon
7
88.9
77.8
2021
11
Anderluck
5
53.6
17.9
Week 1 Regular Season
2021
12
RonRon
7
66.7
58.3
2021
13
Ben
8
33.3
22.2
2021
14
Douglas
4
70.0
40.0
won on tiebreaker against 3-others, missed 1-perf
2021
15
Ikeda
7
50.0
38.9
2021
16
Anderluck
6
46.2
23.1
2021
17
Kubala
5
50.0
22.7
2021
18
El Barba
7
66.7
38.9
2021
19
Douglas
2
75.0
50.0
short week – only 2-performances
2021
20
Douglas
4
62.5
50.0
2021
21
RonRon
3
50.0
37.5
2021
22
El Barba
6
58.3
50.0
2021
23
Douglas
4
88.9
44.4
2021
24
Benny
6
83.3
50.0
2021
25
Ben
4
50.0
33.3
2021
26
Bueno
4
57.1
28.6
2021
27
Carballo
3
71.4
42.9
short week – only 3-performances
2021
28
Douglas
2
57.1
28.6
won tie-breaker
2021
29
Julen
4
70.0
40.0
Julen’s 1st GC
2021
30
Douglas
3
66.7
50.0
Douglas nosed out Cool Fitness on ITM tiebreaker by winning final game of week
2021
31
Jeden
4
83.3
66.7
2021
32
Douglas
3
100.0
50.0
2021
33
Anderluck
3
66.7
50.0
only played 2 of 3 perf
2021
34
Ben
4
85.7
57.1
2021
35
Jeden
3
66.7
50.0
2021
36
Douglas
3
83.3
50.0
won on ITM tiebreaker
2021
37
Benny
4
77.8
44.4
2021
38
Douglas
3
66.7
50.0
2022
1-2
Douglas
5
70.0
50.0
wks 1-2 combined as wk 1 a short week
2022
3
Bueno
4
66.7
44.4
2022
4
Bueno
3
37.5
37.5
2022
5
Jeden Robin
2
50.0
33.3
3-way tie (%wins & highest %ITM) had Goixerri in the running but he’s out as Jeden & Robin had higher place %
As the limousine pulled up to the gates of the Miami MetroZoo, I realized that this might have been the first time I had ever actually ridden in a limo. Sue and I had been invited by CEO, and now owner of the World Jai-Alai frontons, Bennett Collett to attend the annual “Feast with the Beasts.” Also, in the limo… Bennett’s “consultant” (girlfriend) Linda.
Over the past few months, I had been completing the marketing and advertising plan for the launch of our new Crystal Card Room at Miami Jai-Alai. We were about to unveil the first poker room television commercial. Prior to actual running it in the media, we had arranged for it to be shown on a large viewing screen. All the prominent guests attending would see for the first time. The primary viewer would be Bennett, who had never seen it.
I was nervous. We had been told it was to be shown at approximately 7:45 pm. The four of us departed Miami Jai-Alai about fifteen minutes later than I had hoped. Bennett had been on some last-minute calls. Of course, I was flattered that he had invited us to be his personal guests in the limo. For some reason, he seemed to like me. Or, maybe Linda did. But, for whatever reason, Sue and I were certainly enjoying the luxury of a limo.
Dan Licciardi, now Benny Jr.’s confidante, had a close relationship with the Miami zoo. He had made sure Miami Jai-Alai was always a major supporter. Dan was able to arrange for the showing of our commercial at the prestigious event. This was great exposure for our upcoming planned grand opening. But Bennett HAD to like it.
As the driver opened the door for us, we exited the limo and made the long walk to the party area. I could see the screen in the distance and told Bennett and Linda that at any moment our new commercial would be featured there. They were currently running beautiful videos of animals and other short features.
Dan walked up and started introducing Bennett to some of the guests. Meanwhile, Bennett was drinking and talking, with his back to the screen. Suddenly I noticed the television spot was being shown. I quickly interrupted him and told him to look up. He only saw the last 20 seconds. I waited for his response. “Marty, that looked pretty good. Now, let’s get the heck outta here and go eat.”
I realized all the stress and worry was for nothing. He was ready to leave this magnificent setting, serving great food, for a visit to their favorite restaurant in Coral Gables. I’m not sure how much he even cared about the commercial.
I was getting more insight into our new CEO. Over the months, I had found that Bennett Collett was all about trying to raise the Florida Gaming stock price and continuing to please his minority investors. Roland Howell was one of them.
This guy was a character. His name always reminded me of Thurston B. Howell, the millionaire from Gilligan’s Island. Roland was an elderly man in his late 80s that made his money owning some small hotels on Miami Beach. Somehow, he became a major investor in Bennett’s enterprises, which was now basically Jai-Alai. I got to see close up how Bennett would continue to charm Howell and try to suck more money out of him.
The construction of Tampa Jai-Alai’s Poker Room finished first. My brother, the architect for the project, had turned a small area on the north side of the entrance into a jewel. We flew to Tampa for the grand opening.
The Tampa Poker Room was classy, but cozy. It was not like the stodgy, ballroom feel very comfortable for the poker players.
Tampa Jai-Alai would be our first poker room to open. Sue and I attended the opening party as did Bennett, Linda, and the Howells. After an hour of two of festivities, Bennett was ready to leave. He invited us to Donatello’s Restaurant with the Roland Howell and his wife. That’s where I saw the romance of a shareholder.
Bennett turned on the charm and opened his wallet. Of course, it was not his money, it was all charged to the company. Expensive bottles of wine, the best items on the menu, anything Roland wanted. Sue and I had no problem with that, we just smiled, drank, and ate. But I would hear Bennett tell Roland how much money he was going to make, how successful poker would be, expansion to new areas. But Florida Gaming might float some preferred stock that he could get in on the ground floor. Bennett was like “Wolf of Wabash,” pump and dump. I heard that Roland, later, made another substantial investment with Florida Gaming.
Now it’s December of 1997. We always took our kids, Shawna and Jason, to visit Sue’s parents in Venice, Florida, for the Christmas holidays. Two days before Christmas, the phone rings. Sue’s father tells me it’s for me. On the other end is Bennett Collett. I was very surprised hearing his voice, wondering how he got my in-laws home phone number.
“Marty, you know we’re having problems in Tampa,” he told me. “You’re from there, know everyone in town,” he went on. My heart begins to race. What is he leading up to? “Marty, you’re the man for the job… we want you to be the new Tampa Jai-Alai General Manager.”
I could hardly speak. These are the words I’d been hoping to hear since that day I had sat across the desk from Tampa’s GM Ernie Larsen in 1971. Ernie said I could be general manager there some day. That day never came. It was my hope, it was my dream. Now, Bennett was offering me the job. But why did I feel so hollow, so confused?
“Bennett, I appreciate all the wonderful things you are saying,” I told him. “But I have a family, two kids in school. Also, what about the rumors we are about to close and sell Tampa Jai-Alai,” I said.
“Can you meet Benny and me in Tampa tomorrow?” he asked me. “We’ll talk about it then. You’re the man for the job, don’t let me down, Marty,” he said and hung up.
Then… I still get tears in my eyes as I remember this. I slowly walked out of the room and into the living room. Sue could see I was somewhat stunned. I asked her and the kids to come out to the screened in porch, I needed to talk to them.
As they all stared at me, I said, “How would you like to move back to Tampa, they offered me the job as General Manager.” Shawna burst out crying, my younger son Jason soon followed her lead.
“What about my friends, don’t make me leave Miami,” Shawna pleaded between sobs. She was in high school, Jason in middle school. Can a father rip his beloved children away from their friends, uproot them while they are in the middle of the most important years of their lives? Of course, Sue calmed them down and told them we would all do “whatever Dad needs us to do.”
But I was shaken, torn. I had to give serious thought to the entire situation. This WAS my dream. But Tampa Jai-Alai was nothing like it was. Business was awful. The fronton was losing a significant amount of money since the strike in 1988. Not me, no one could change the course of decline. Plus, there were strong rumors that the Collett’s already had a deal to sell the land to a developer. If that happens, what becomes of my job? Do we, then, return to Miami?
Sue and I talked it over. We talked for hours. She said that they would support me no matter my decision. She assured me the kids would get over it. Would they?
Tomorrow, I will drive to Tampa. I will listen to Bennett’s proposal. During the drive, all I could think about was having to say, “Merry Christmas, kids, we’re moving back to Tampa.”
Dania Jai-alai is officially going to reopen this year – starting December 1st for a two-month season. The State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation – Division of the Pari-Mutual Wagering, has issued the license to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on the game of jai-alai in Dania, Florida.
The season starts with an evening performance on Thursday, December 1st and concludes Sunday, January 29, 2023.
Performances will run Wednesday thru Sundays with action in the evenings Wednesday thru Saturday and matinees on Saturday and Sunday, meaning the good old-fashioned twin-bill on Saturday’s – just like before. Hooray! Prime time jai-alai – and you can bet on it!
Management is working on getting a roster of around 24 players and nothing as been finalized yet. Neither has the possibility of high-definition broadcast video that would replace the “1980s” version still being used today. But who’s complaining? Dania Jai-alai may get to see its 70th anniversary after all.
Like Magic City, we all need to support Dania jai-alai to keep it going. There are a couple good things going here – Magic City will be closed the two months that Dania is open, so there will be no overlap of the two remaining frontons in the United States. Dania will also be open during the holidays with a matinee performance on Christmas Eve, but no performance that evening or Sunday – Christmas day. On New Year’s Eve – Saturday – there will be a matinee performance only. There will be a New Year’s Day matinee on Sunday. For the past ten years or so, Dania had been closed completely during the last couple of weeks in December. Traditionally, Florida pari-mutuels all did very well during those two weeks with lots of tourists from up north in town.
The Florida “fiscal” year for parimutuel’s runs July 1st 2022 thru June 30, 2023, so this will be on the only time Dania jai-alai can be open and excepting bets thru the next 13 months.
The Pelota Press will keep you updated on full details as they develop.
Week 6 was yet again, another amazing week of Jai-Alai H2H action.
Sunday’s doubles matches started with Jeden-Nicolas improving to 4-0 by taking a straight set win over Jairo-Ben (6-5, 6-4). Next up was CRB-Douglas winning in 3 sets against Joseph-Manu (6-3, 4-6, 6-3). Bueno-Benny lost 3 points in a straight set victory over Flores-Aratz (6-2, 6-1). Robin-Julen earned their 4th win to be tied with Jeden-Nicolas in 1st place with a straight set win over Diaz-Goixerri (6-4, 6-5). Robin-Julen have won all 8 sets they have played to earn their 4-0 record. It took 3 sets for Carballo-Kubala to earn a win over Joseph-Manu (6-4, 4-6, 6-3). Inaki-Roque subbed for Ikeda-Bradley, earning a win in straight sets win against Jairo-Ben (6-1, 6-4). The day ended with Correa-Manny beating Diaz-Goixerri (6-2, 6-4).
In Group I singles on Monday, it took Aratz 3 sets to earn his 1st win of the season by beating Manny (6-3, 3-6, 6-4). Benny took Julen in 2 sets (6-3, 6-4). Goixerri improved to 9-0 with a 3 set win over Inaki (6-3, 3-6, 6-3), which may be the best doubles match we have seen. Goixerri went on to another win by beating Manu (6-1, 6-5). Douglas picked up his 5th win, beating Jairo (6-4, 6-3). Nicolas earned a win over Julen (3-6, 6-4, 6-5). In the 3rd set, Nicolas jumped out to a 5-1 lead with Julen pushing it to 5-5. Nicolas won the well-played final point to earn the victory.
In Group II singles on Tuesday, Ikeda earned 2 wins to improve to 9-0. In Ikeda’s 1st match against Jeden (subbing for Bradley), he ran off a 6 point run and won (6-0, 6-3). It took Ikeda 3 sets and 32 points to remain undefeated with a well-played match against Bueno (6-4, 5-6, 6-5). Kubala earned 2 wins with a 3 set, 32 point win over Bueno (6-5, 4-6, 6-5). That was Bueno’s 2nd 3 set, 32 point match of the day. 8 of the 16 sets played on Tuesday went the maximum 11 points.
Championship Season Jai-Alai H2H begins at 5pm EST with Doubles on Sundays, Singles Group I on Mondays and Singles Group II on Tuesdays. And there is more – the World Super Court Qualifier III will be played Wednesday, June 8 at the Magic City Fronton. You can watch the WSC action at watchjaialai.com or on the free Jai Channel app.
Sunday’s Jai-Alai H2H matches are open to the public plus there is a new promotion “H2Hx20” for those in attendance. All you must do is pick the winner of each match and the number of sets (either 2 or 3). If you get both right, you win $20. This is open for all matches throughout the evening. Each match is individual, so if you pick incorrectly, you still have a chance in the remaining matches.
You can watch the action at 5pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at watchjaialai.com, laligasportstv.com, FTF Sports Network or download the free Jai Alai Channel app. Remember, you can visit the fronton on Sundays to see the great action in person and a chance to win some money in the new “H2Hx20” promotion. Be sure to catch the post-game show with Stu and Andrew for a recap of the action.
And don’t forget to watch “The King of Twitch” (aka El Barba) and Paulie at https://www.twitch.tv/watchjaialai for interactive livestreaming during the Jai Alai H2H sports betting games at Magic City. Tune in to hear El Barba and Paulie entertain viewers with their insight and answer questions from the live chat. It is entertaining for sure.
The tables below show the standings in a couple of different formats.
Puryear Park “alumni” Rocco was recently in the news for being the only former jai-alai player in history to become a jockey agent.
Rocco, who named himself after his grandfather’s name, learned to play jai-alai as a teenager off the walls of a movie theatre on Dale Mabry in Tampa and then playing a few years at Puryear Park. As mentioned in the story, a stranger one day gave him a cesta, and to this day Rocco has no idea who that person was.
It led to a jai-alai career that started over ten years ago on March 9, 2012, in Orlando under the name of “Roco”. Have no fear, former Tampa player “Corky” was on that roster under the name of “Korky”. Another former Puryear Park alumni “Sebio” was on that roster as well as a comeback by another former Tampa player, and current Puryear Court player – Scott King. Eric Pignataro later played on the Dania jai-alai roster as well as Ft. Pierce and Calder. In between jai-alai gigs, he became a dealer at the Hard Rock in Tampa before taking up an offer to head to Sacramento California for the opening of The Hard Rock Casino. However, Rocco and the State of California (politicians and the people in general) did not get along and he boogied out of there as soon as his lease expired and headed back to the Tampa Bay area.
The article takes over from there and you can view it by clicking this link.
One of the last times we would be together (l to r. Paul Rico, me, Dick Donovan)
I felt my heart pounding. I knew this was it. Bennett Collett, Sr., now the majority owner of World Jai-Alai, was taking over. No doubt he was going to put his own team in.
World Jai-Alai had become the dominant force in the sport of Jai-Alai in the 1970s and ’80s. Our company owned four frontons in Florida, one in Connecticut, and subsidized facilities in the Basque Country. Our training schools in Miami and France almost guaranteed us acquiring the top young talent in the world. Now, in 1997, that was all changing.
Having sold off the Ft. Pierce Fronton to Florida Gaming Corporation (owned almost entirely by Bennett and Benny Collett), World Jai-Alai was forced to surrender the remaining assets in order to survive. Florida Gaming Corporation now owned it all.
The corporate office, located inside Miami Jai-Alai, began to change. Richard P. Donovan, CEO, was basically out. He began spending most of his time in his side business, Creative Display, in Hialeah. Still on a consulting agreement, he was never consulted. The Colletts really had no use for Donovan once the deal was closed.
H. Paul Rico, who was titled Chief Operating Office and GM of Miami Jai-Alai, seemed to be next on the Collett’s list. But Paul being an ex-FBI agent, commanded a great deal of respect from Bennett and Benny. They were being very careful on handling his forced departure.
I had spent almost every day with Paul since my relocation to Miami. Whether it being just at lunch or the late afternoon card game, Paul was like a father to me. He was my biggest benefactor and supported me when I got into trouble myself in 1979. I couldn’t bear the thought that Paul was going to leave.
Frank Duffin, another ex-agent, was Director of Player Personnel. He occupied the office between me and Donovan. Benny seemed to rely on Frank’s ability to get the required visas for our players. It seemed Frank was going to survive the changeover.
It was now apparent to me that Benny, Jr. was going to run the operation. “Senior” was the “big picture” guy. His main responsibility as President of Florida Gaming was to keep the shareholders happy and raise more money. Bennett would definitely make the final decisions on major issues. But somehow Benny could either convince him to change his mind or countermand a decision hoping he would forget about it.
I found out how that worked when doubling the advertising budget never became a reality. In fact, after Benny told me to forget what his father had ordered, Bennett seemed to forget he had ever ordered it. What a way to start with new ownership!
But Benny really seemed like a nice guy. He relied on Dan Licciardi, Asst. GM, to help him navigate the morass of running Miami Jai-Alai. Dan became his confidante, his right hand. Benny would call him multiple times a day and all hours of the night. Benny seemed to have complete trust in him.
One day, Dan came into my office to chat. He and I had not only a close working relationship over the years but had become great friends. We were both trying to figure out our futures with the new company. I figured with Dan spending so much time with the Colletts, he had the best insight.
As I asked him about what he thought was going to happen, he said he wasn’t sure. But then Dan cryptically told me that Benny liked working directly with people. He didn’t like working with outside agencies. I said, “Are you referring to me, Martin Fleischman Advertising?” He answered, “He doesn’t like any.”
I said, “You know, I still have another year on my signed contract with World Jai-Alai. Doesn’t the new company have to abide by all past contracts?” Dan answered that they do, but there’s always a way for them to somehow get around it.
I had been a little concerned that Benny might want to make a change in advertising. But, from Senior wanting me to double it to Benny wanting an in-house agency, I was now worried that I was on my way out. I thought at least I had the comfort of a signed contract for another year.
I quickly started searching online (not for the first time) about the Colletts and their past business history. I found that they had run into past problems with banking regulators. Then, there were some SEC violations. It seemed they were not afraid of litigation. That meant, they were definitely not afraid of breaking my contract.
A few days later, I got a call from Benny who was in Ft. Pierce. On his many trips to Miami, Benny always came to my office where we had some very friendly chats. Sometimes Dan was there, too. I found him to be so down to earth, personable, and I liked him. But I knew behind his “country boy” appearance was a very shrewd, intelligent businessman.
After some friendly banter, Benny said they had been using their own people in Ft. Pierce to place the advertising, taking advantage of the commissions which went back to the fronton. He wanted to do the same at the other frontons. I asked him if he was aware of the remaining year on my contract. He was but wanted me to come back inside as an employee, be on salary, and continue as an in-house agency.
But, when he told me what my salary would be, it was a major pay cut to what I was making. He told me that was it, no negotiation. He felt it was fair and that we could have a meeting with his father the next day in Miami to finalize the details.
I asked him what would happen if I declined and chose to just finish out the year of my contract as an outside agency. He said in his off the cuff way, “I don’t think you want to do that. It would be much better if you re-joined the team.”
The next day, I sat in a meeting upstairs in Donovan’s old office where Bennett and Benny repeated the offer. I mentioned to them both that it really was a major pay cut, that I did want to continue with them. Was there anything else they could do to help in the salary adjustment.
Bennett, the CEO, started telling me that he wanted me to be part of the “inner circle.” If I came into the company, he would guarantee me stock options in Florida Gaming. Maybe as much as 250,000 shares. Again, Bennett had my eyes rolling. Stock options! Inner circle. He hooked me…. again?
I agreed but asked if we could just continue through the completion of the television spots for poker and the preliminary launch. This was only a few more months. They both agreed. I shook hands with both of them and left the office.
I had mixed emotions. I, somehow, had developed a great rapport with the older Bennett. Benny, Dan, and I seemed to be the Triumvirate of sorts, consulting on many operational decisions. Could my future suddenly be even brighter with Florida Gaming?
I was just a few months from Bennett calling me, uttering the words I had wanted to hear for more than 25 years… “Marty, we want you to become General Manager of Tampa Jai-Alai!”