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Archive for month: May, 2025

Renegades seize their third championship title at 2025 Winter Season Finals

Renegades seize their third championship title at 2025 Winter Season Finals

MIAMI, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Renegades cemented their place in the World Jai-Alai League record books Friday night, claiming their third championship title with a hard-fought win over the upstart Fireballs at the Magic City Fronton. Owned by three-time NBA champion Udonis Haslem, the Renegades are now the only team to capture three titles since the league’s Battle Court format started in 2022. The Renegades’ powerhouse team (known by their courtside names) includes team captain Goixerri, Urbieta, Goenaga, Ben, Stan and Flores.

Renegades team wins Battle Court Jai-Alai Winter 2025 season title

The night also spotlighted the league’s community outreach programming. A check presentation at center court capped off the event, with the Renegades earning a $40,000 donation for their charity partner, the UD Foundation. The Fireballs’ selected nonprofit, the SLAM Foundation, received $10,000, part of the World Jai-Alai League’s ongoing initiative to support local organizations. Since 2022, the league has contributed more than $350,000 to South Florida-based charities.

“This was a championship worthy of the world’s fastest ball sport,” said Scott Savin, chief operating officer of the World Jai-Alai League. “The Renegades showed why they’re in a class of their own—relentless, fearless, and thrilling to watch. And full credit to the Fireballs for proving they’re a team to watch in the seasons ahead.”

The championship win was a worthy conclusion for one of the league’s veteran athletes, Urbieta, who is retiring after this season. With the win, the Renegades solidify their legacy as the league’s most successful team since the Battle Court format was introduced in 2022. The 14-week season delivered on its promise of intense matchups, elite talent, and community connection—all packaged for modern audiences.

The Battle Court format continues to modernize jai-alai for today’s fans with team-based play, ownership by high-profile figures, and broad accessibility. Matches are streamed on ESPN3 and are available for legal wagering in Florida via the Hard Rock Bet app, as well as nationally through DraftKings, FanDuel and ESPN Bet.

As jai-alai celebrates more than 100 years of play in South Florida, the World Jai-Alai League continues to lead its evolution—fast, fierce, and more accessible than ever. The Fall Battle Court season kicks off Sept. 2025.

About World Jai-Alai League
The World Jai-Alai League (WJAL) is dedicated to revitalizing the world’s fastest ball sport by modernizing gameplay, capitalizing on the international sports wagering market, and delivering the sport through social media to a new generation of fans across the globe. The WJAL plays at the Magic City Fronton in Miami, located at 450 N.W. 37th Ave.

SOURCE World Jai-Alai League  /   Official Press Release

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April Fool’s Joke Becomes True (Sort of)

April Fool’s Joke Becomes True (Sort of)

May 12, 2025:  Last April 1st, I posted news on Tigers jai-alai site about that the Puryear Park Jai-alai court was getting shut down by the City of St. Petersburg, so they could build some more much needed parking spots.  Tiger himself was fooled along with several members that play on our court.  Some were practically crying.  But then a couple of people caught on – one on Tigers site and one in the text group, reminding people that it was April Fools Day.   I purposely waited until the late evening to post it, hoping people would forget that date and the fact that my posting had mentioned a city council meeting vote that was taken that evening. 

The story was a total bluff, but I did confirm that the city had thought about tearing the court down multiple times in the past.  Tom “Corky” DeMint (who worked with Paul Kubala in getting the court approved by the city)  had told me people were lobbying to get more parking for the overcrowded park and wanted to jai-alai and racquetball courts demolished to make room for it.   

The huge park features two lighted soccer fields, 3 lighted multipurpose fields , 6 lighted tennis courts, several racquetball courts, a multipurpose training facility, restrooms, a concession stand, covered bleachers, a playground and of course the jai-alai cancha.   Parking can be a bitch as anyone who has showed up there on Saturday’s or during any soccer tournament where hundreds of people show up. 

Well, the problem has been solved.  The house directly adjacent behind the cancha has been bought out by the city.  The owners had turned down offers in the past to sell, but now with devalued properties from the hurricanes in the area last Fall that resulted in massive flooding, they accepted an offer that was much lower than before.  Properties that were flooded lost considerable value and that included most of the houses in the area.  In fact, any house that sustained more than 50% of its value. must raise it a full story high, or tear down and rebuild completely – one story above the ground – while making the ground level a parking garage.         

After all the proper zoning and land testing is completed, the house will be torn down and the lot will become a parking lot for an undetermined number of cars, easing the parking issues that have plagued the park for the past two decades.

Oh, Tiger, I’m still waiting for my disciplinary action!  You can issue it to me while I’m participating in the Magic City Tournament this September – if they approve a 70-year-old to play in it.   

Laca

A Happy Matt Ball at Puryear Park

A Happy Matt Ball at Puryear Park

In last nights “Chopped Liver League” performance at Puryear Park in St. Petersburg, one of our players noticed the formation of a “Smiley Face” on the Matt Ball being used. 

Seminole King was about to serve the ball just before game 5 of the Tuesday evening group when he noticed a face-like appearance on the pelota. 

Sure enough, the white electrical tape that is wrapped around the ball for aerodynamic purposes, had come off in exact areas forming a “smiley face-like” look.  The balls usually need recovering after about 5-6 games of outside playing.  The white tape around the ball also allows the ball to be more visible coming off the green walls of the cancha.  Matt’s court and Puryear Park are the only two cancha’s that use that ball.      

The ball has been used at the St. Pete cancha for the past 13 years and the entire 15 years at Matt’s in Berlin, Connecticut.  Various formulations of the ball have been used, some lighter and some heavier than others.  Density of the balls is another factor in the various types that have been used.  Right now, Puryear Park uses a sample of new 151-gram ball, by far the faster ball ever produced in the 10 revisions or so that have been made over the years.  Usually. several hundred balls are made per batch. 

Matt himself won’t use this ball at his court because it is too fast.  The smaller Puryear Park does not have the smooth walls and flooring that Matt has due to the nature of the St. Pete court being outdoors.   

Laca
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