Some random jai alai notes……………………..

Santiso has looked much better since his return. A lot better movement and an improved right side.

I’ve always thought Cavier has been overlooked and you can usually get good value on him from a wagering perspective. Doesn’t do anything that stands out but has a nice overall game.

How good can Aritz (who plays as Erkiaga in the Basque land) become? He has a silky smooth style and is fearless. Good catching from both sides as well.

When is Dania going to but their ties with Carlvauho? He plays a very lazy style and constantly runs around the forehand. His right side is nonexistent and makes little effort to get to balls out of his immediate area. A shadow of his former self, that’s for sure.

Its obvious Anndy doesn’t have what it takes. I imagine he’ll be off the roster after this season. Could be a nice addition to the Ocala/Orlando roster perhaps.

Medrano is just the man, playing great the past couple of seasons.

Miguel is still an exciting player to watch. Formally one of Newport’s best the backcourter has seen a lot of injuries throughout his career, including a bad accident. He still climbs the wall with the best of them and gives great effort.

I like Alejandro’s swagger lately. He is playing free and confident and is much improved over the last year. His rebote is a nice weapon in singles.

Gorrono has always played a very sound “textbook” style game, and he does it well. He is putting together another solid season.

I like Jairo’s game. He has great numbers across the board and is one of the class players in the Dania early group.

If Laruent could play consistent jai alai he would be dangerous. Just to many ill timed remate attempts and shots into the pad.

Chasio and Ulises, who are probably early/middle game players on a solid roster, but they are doing a great job in this feature game group. They don’t embarrass themselves, they catch and return solidly.

I think both Garita and Aizpitarde are two nice, young backcourters. They should be around the game a long time and both have late game potential if they continue to develop. Aizpitarde is growing up against a tough group of players and you see it accelerating his development. Just to many drops for Garita but he is getting better and the effort is there.

Echeva is solid. Good catcher from both sides. Not a lot of power but effective for the earlies. That’s all from HOV. Bye bye from Jai Alai!

PELOTA IN THE STATES, THE US OPEN, AND VARIOUS OTHER THOUGHTS

Thinking of all that’s going on in the world of pelota brings a smile to my face. The efforts of Dania jai alai and Benny Bueno, the great action in the Basque country – including Goiko/Enbil defeating Egi/Lopez as the best from both brands (Master Jai and Jai Alive) came together to bring us a wonderful, action packed match, the news that Miami will soon return to the 13/14 game format. As well as many of the former pros returning to the game to help Benny with his efforts. Also, the step of having the president of the Pelota Federation of the United States visit Florida to view the progress that Benny is making with the amateur program – all wonderful steps to keep this sport alive, all great to see.

Hamilton Jai Alai opens its season on the evening of September 15^th and the format will be six post quinella’s featuring all singles matches. The roster will consist of the following pelotari’s: Chaz ( a jai alai veteran who posted 54 wins in 600 games at Hamilton last year, also competed in the past Orlando season, backcourter), Mateo (fiery, young American backcourter, debuted in Orlando, played better than expected in his rookie campaign), Ivan (Cuban journeyman, backcourter), Sierra (Mexican frontcourt, flashy player, still hasn’t reached his ceiling, brother of Dania feature game backcourter Sierra II), Churruca (steady, consistent player), Odriozola (Basque, decent left side, zero right side, journeyman backcourter), and finally Juan Leon and Arta – both Orlando/Ocala players who hope to continue to develop their game through their time at Hamilton. It should be noted that these players play to zero fans; the fronton is placed in a very nondevolped area of Florida and is basically a “front” for the poker operations. The jai alai has never been promoted and there has been very little to no effort put forth to introduce the sport to people of that region. Carlos Pita, a former pelotari, is the Players Manager of this fronton and does little to help the situation. He supports this bastardised version of the sport, or at least stands by while he watches it happen. It’s shameful, these guys are pro athletes playing one of the most dangerous games in the world and they are being paid the bare minimum, they are only being covered by 5000.00 in medical expenses if they are injured (laughable), and they play to zero fans. It’s a shame that these players don’t have better representation, Hamilton what you are doing is deplorable. However, I wish the players luck, and hope they find the fire inside to have a great season of competition against each other.

The Miami Fronton returns to its regular schedule on October 1.

Erkiaga returned to action at Miami.

Haven’t been able to confirm if Luis’ move to the backcourt is permanent, he looks very comfortable back there.

Cisneros is playing wonderful, wonderful jai alai. I had seen someone say elsewhere that his recent play is not all that remarkable due to the depleted roster. LOL. This Miami roster is still awesome and he is playing at a very high level.

Leo returned to Dania, helping their backcourt situation.

Just a little off topic here, but as usual the US Open Tennis tournament was great again this year and I couldn’t be happier for Kim Clijsters. To come back and win this event again, after becoming a mother, is a great story. I was also very happy for the beautiful and very well rounded Caroline Wozinacki. She has very few weaknesses and this was the first time she has advanced beyond the quarterfinal of a major. The Dane is a very classy woman and very well spoken and I hope she goes on to have a brilliant career. As far as the American Woman go, the Melanie Oudin story was very nice and she has the making of being a solid player. I’m not ready to label her a future star, but it seems she has a good deal of talent but needs to improve her composure throughout the match. Speaking of composure, Serena Williams completely lost hers with her verbal assault on the line judge. Inappropriate yes, but sometimes those types of things happen in the heat of battle, and it is not commonplace with her so I chalk it up to emotion. On the men’s side, the great Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic in the semis, bring Federer’s record to 13-0 against Djokovic in his career.

That’s all for now, this is HOV signing off for New World Jai Alai!