NFT: Whatever happened to Jai-Alai?

Organized crime organized the sport, made the investments and infiltrated from the beginning ( siphoning from gamblers via fixing was the organizing principle or the sport)

Even if you knew the matches were all fixed.

That delicate satin draped frame.

Did you see her In Live action ?

you are on the internet...

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In comment 14445741 Bill2 said:

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Organized crime organized the sport, made the investments and infiltrated from the beginning ( siphoning from gamblers via fixing was the organizing principle or the sport)

Thanks Bill. I figured so much ... it seemed like a small niche sport(?) and there was gambling involved, and it's proximity to NY. Must have been corrupt? As I was thinking about it - I seem to remember the Feds getting involved?

I don't know .... I remember going a few times. Seemed like betting on Jai-alai was like playing the lottery with a horse race type feel?

In comment 14445748 Milton said:

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That delicate satin draped frame.

lol ... you made me laugh Milton. Jai-Alai was in color ... The ole FW in Black and White.

Everybody knew Fay ... I knew Fay when she Rocked 'n Rolled.
Not many on this page can say that and mean it.

In comment 14445758 cjac said:

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you are on the internet...

To tired to spell Google. It is 4:00am out here and I just got home from work.

She went ape shit

In comment 14445761 GiantsUA said:

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Ahhh ... the High Button shoes. I still have a pair. For special occasions only .. these days. I don't get around like I used to.

but the beer is great. cigar city ipa.

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To tired to spell...

Obviously...

In comment 14445768 short lease said:

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In comment 14445748 Milton said: Quote: That delicate satin draped frame. lol ... you made me laugh Milton. Jai-Alai was in color ... The ole FW in Black and White.

Don't dream it, be it - ( New Window )

A man named Roger Wheeler bought World Jai Alai in 1978. What he didn't know was that Bulger had associates in the company who were skimming a lot of money. Once Wheeler began to figure it out, Bulger had him killed.
Link - ( New Window )

And a damn good one too.

is still around, I bet it at Mohegan Sun every time I'm there.

It's mostly in Florida.

I was betting Magic City, and thought I hit a trifecta, turns out I was watching a different fronton on the little TV.

one of the f-ing problems with drinking and gambling.

ever since Cigar City started drastically increasing their brewing capacity to distribute nationally. Much better beers available on the shelf at that price point.

I used to sometimes skip school and go to Milford Jai alai (much nicer than Bridgeport which was not far from Father Panic village) and Hartford, and we'd bet the matinees.

Also they never checked ID so we'd get the $2 beers.


good times.

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Link - ( New Window )

In comment 14445881 pjcas18 said:

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is still around, I bet it at Mohegan Sun every time I'm there. It's mostly in Florida. I was betting Magic City, and thought I hit a trifecta, turns out I was watching a different fronton on the little TV. one of the f-ing problems with drinking and gambling.

Fronton - that's it. I was calling it an arena ... : ). I forgot all about the Milford one PJ. Still alive and well in Florida ....

Drinking with anything always ends up bad ... Always made me stronger than I was, Braver than I thought, Richer than my account statements would indicate .... and smarter than Einstein. ; )

Thanks pjcas18

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One word … casinos. My brother plays every week with some of the former pros at the Hartford fronton, and he knew Buddy Brerenson, the owner. I don't know about some of the other stuff mentioned, but a simple look at the timeline shows clearly that the decline of the sport coincided with the opening of the casinos. Berenson petitioned the state to allow slot machines in the fronton but was declined. He closed not long after.

In comment 14445878 Greg from LI said:

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A man named Roger Wheeler bought World Jai Alai in 1978. What he didn't know was that Bulger had associates in the company who were skimming a lot of money. Once Wheeler began to figure it out, Bulger had him killed. Link - ( New Window )

Thanks Greg -

“Shame on you Mr. Bulger,” he said. “For all your notoriety, you are a punk.”

How is that for click bait? .... : )

In comment 14445881 pjcas18 said:

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is still around, I bet it at Mohegan Sun every time I'm there. It's mostly in Florida. I was betting Magic City, and thought I hit a trifecta, turns out I was watching a different fronton on the little TV. one of the f-ing problems with drinking and gambling.

My brother also bets it at Mohegan Sun … but he doesn't drink :)

In comment 14445918 River Mike said:

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One word … casinos. My brother plays every week with some of the former pros at the Hartford fronton, and he knew Buddy Brerenson, the owner. I don't know about some of the other stuff mentioned, but a simple look at the timeline shows clearly that the decline of the sport coincided with the opening of the casinos. Berenson petitioned the state to allow slot machines in the fronton but was declined. He closed not long after.

Actually that makes sense Mike. All of the biggest gamblers I knew growing up (including some family members) were the ones who always discussed and raved about it.

I am not sure the timeline is that precise but, why go to Jai-Alai (which was kinda like going to "the track" imo) when the casino would offer you multiple ways to "double" your money?

Where does your brother play? Are there still places to play .... besides Miami?

Jai Alai was a Patricia Family ( Providence and North Boston/Lynn/etc) enterprise. Along with their frenemies, the Whitey Bulger led Winter Hill Gang ( Until the FBI closed in whereupon Whitey famously ratted the North Boston and Providence families out).

Wheelers demise at the hands of Bulger and Steve Flemmi has been covered in several shows/films

Greg covered it

In comment 14445936 Bill2 said:

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Jai Alai was a Patricia Family ( Providence and North Boston/Lynn/etc) enterprise. Along with their frenemies, the Whitey Bulger led Winter Hill Gang ( Until the FBI closed in whereupon Whitey famously ratted the North Boston and Providence families out). Wheelers demise at the hands of Bulger and Steve Flemmi has been covered in several shows/films

I believe you meant Patriarca .... not Patricia? Patricia is to feminine to call a mafia crime family ; ). Maybe it is just me ... but, I would have went with another name besidies Patricia.

In comment 14445934 short lease said:

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In comment 14445918 River Mike said: Quote: One word … casinos. My brother plays every week with some of the former pros at the Hartford fronton, and he knew Buddy Brerenson, the owner. I don't know about some of the other stuff mentioned, but a simple look at the timeline shows clearly that the decline of the sport coincided with the opening of the casinos. Berenson petitioned the state to allow slot machines in the fronton but was declined. He closed not long after. Actually that makes sense Mike. All of the biggest gamblers I knew growing up (including some family members) were the ones who always discussed and raved about it. I am not sure the timeline is that precise but, why go to Jai-Alai (which was kinda like going to "the track" imo) when the casino would offer you multiple ways to "double" your money? Where does your brother play? Are there still places to play .... besides Miami?

Sorry - saw that you said Hartford Fronton ... during my 2nd reading ... didn't realize that building was still there and available.

sorry for the typo

In comment 14445993 Bill2 said:

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sorry for the typo

I'll bet autocorrect got ya

Newsday used to publish the daily results from Milford and Hartford in their micro-print Sports Results section. Somewhere between harness racing at Aqueduct and high school lacrosse scores.

gambling allure, Milford Jai-alai was a pretty fun place to hang out for a night.

back then if you were in high school or just out of it (technically had to be 18, but I was there regularly from about 15 on) and didn't have a ton of money you could bet $2 quinella's drink the $2 beers, have a couple hot dogs for $30 of entertainment.

and if you won, that was huge, sometimes we'd get three or four of us and pool our money and get a trifecta box or an exact box and every once in a while we'd hit for a few hundred.

It was a fun place to go though and much more value for your money (which you usually lost) than the casino.

the game, when played well, was also very fun to watch. they called it the fastest sport or something like that.

Many of my friends and I tried it out a few times - next door to Milford jai-alai was amateur jai-alai and it was pretty hard to master, but also fun to play.

I'd love to see a jai-alai comeback.

In comment 14445993 Bill2 said:

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sorry for the typo

No need to apologise Bill. I knew who you meant ... I was just messin'.

: )

Agree pjcas. I was a fun sport to watch. but even at 12 years old I could tell some tank jobs when I saw it.

Few of us in the NYC/Philly area realize just how strong the NE crime gangs got in the 70's and 80's.

Especially in Rhode Island. Amazing level of corruption in the state legislature and judiciary. There was a time when 4 straight acting Supreme Court Justice of RI got taken out by the Feds for corruption. Several Mayors and legislators as well.

Hartford, Springfield, Somerville, Lynn, parts of Boston, Bristol, Bridgeport...in the 70's the organized crime as a percent of penetration into businesses and LE and legislature seemed to exceed our beloved NYC

In comment 14446043 Bill2 said:

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Agree pjcas. I was a fun sport to watch. but even at 12 years old I could tell some tank jobs when I saw it. Few of us in the NYC/Philly area realize just how strong the NE crime gangs got in the 70's and 80's. Especially in Rhode Island. Amazing level of corruption in the state legislature and judiciary. There was a time when 4 straight acting Supreme Court Justice of RI got taken out by the Feds for corruption. Several Mayors and legislators as well. Hartford, Springfield, Somerville, Lynn, parts of Boston, Bristol, Bridgeport...in the 70's the organized crime as a percent of penetration into businesses and LE and legislature seemed to exceed our beloved NYC

Oh yeah, it was fixed. We knew all the players then too and who were the better players (in Milford). Cruz, Badiola, Fo, and when they "dumped it" as the favorite the crowd responded.

Some crazy good athletes among them.

but we mostly bet numbers anyway.

In comment 14446026 pjcas18 said:

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gambling allure, Milford Jai-alai was a pretty fun place to hang out for a night. back then if you were in high school or just out of it (technically had to be 18, but I was there regularly from about 15 on) and didn't have a ton of money you could bet $2 quinella's drink the $2 beers, have a couple hot dogs for $30 of entertainment. and if you won, that was huge, sometimes we'd get three or four of us and pool our money and get a trifecta box or an exact box and every once in a while we'd hit for a few hundred. It was a fun place to go though and much more value for your money (which you usually lost) than the casino. the game, when played well, was also very fun to watch. they called it the fastest sport or something like that. Many of my friends and I tried it out a few times - next door to Milford jai-alai was amateur jai-alai and it was pretty hard to master, but also fun to play. I'd love to see a jai-alai comeback.

+1 ... You are right PJ. It was a fun night out and cheap. Why am I thinking 1.00 hot dogs? Does that ring a bell?

Somebody once told me that - the ball was as hard a a pool cue, will do a lot of damage if you got hit by it, and ... if you were down there in the cage and saw it coming at you (for the first time) - your first instinct would be to duck and not try to catch it. It moves so fast.

In comment 14445803 Milton said:

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In comment 14445768 short lease said: Quote: In comment 14445748 Milton said: Quote: That delicate satin draped frame. lol ... you made me laugh Milton. Jai-Alai was in color ... The ole FW in Black and White. Don't dream it, be it - ( New Window )

I got it immediately. Was surprised others answered literally, but they're probably normals and didn't spend every freaking Saturday midnight in line to buy tickets and throw toast.

In comment 14445748 Milton said:

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That delicate satin draped frame.

You confused me. I immediately thought of Flash Gordon in silver underwear and started throwing toast.

In comment 14446060 Bill L said:

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In comment 14445803 Milton said: Quote: In comment 14445768 short lease said: Quote: In comment 14445748 Milton said: Quote: That delicate satin draped frame. lol ... you made me laugh Milton. Jai-Alai was in color ... The ole FW in Black and White. Don't dream it, be it - ( New Window ) I got it immediately. Was surprised others answered literally, but they're probably normals and didn't spend every freaking Saturday midnight in line to buy tickets and throw toast.

I'll be honest - it went right over my head. It made me laugh because I thought he was busting my balls for bringing something up that was around so long ago (Jai-Alai) ... and Milton was exaggerating that point with a film star from the 40's or the 30's? I am not even sure when Fay Wray had her powers?

In comment 14445934 short lease said:

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In comment 14445918 River Mike said: Quote: One word … casinos. My brother plays every week with some of the former pros at the Hartford fronton, and he knew Buddy Brerenson, the owner. I don't know about some of the other stuff mentioned, but a simple look at the timeline shows clearly that the decline of the sport coincided with the opening of the casinos. Berenson petitioned the state to allow slot machines in the fronton but was declined. He closed not long after. Actually that makes sense Mike. All of the biggest gamblers I knew growing up (including some family members) were the ones who always discussed and raved about it. I am not sure the timeline is that precise but, why go to Jai-Alai (which was kinda like going to "the track" imo) when the casino would offer you multiple ways to "double" your money? Where does your brother play? Are there still places to play .... besides Miami?

Yes, he plays at an amateur fronton. Don't know exactly where, but it is here in central CT

in Bridgeport and Milford...only 15 minutes apart from each other. The Milford fronton was massive. Grandparents use to tell me the entire place would be full in the 70's and 80's. Going myself in the 90's, the place was completely empty.

Casinos have pretty much killed Parimutuel betting. The two CT casinos led to the closing of Jai-Alai and both dog tracks in CT.

I see by my original post that it could be read that he plays at the Hartford fronton. What I meant was that some of the guys he plays with were pros at the Hartford fronton.

In comment 14446172 River Mike said:

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I see by my original post that it could be read that he plays at the Hartford fronton. What I meant was that some of the guys he plays with were pros at the Hartford fronton.

ok ... I read it again and thought they were playing at the old Hartford Fronton. I was surprised to hear it was still around.

in Tijuana. There is a huge arena on Ave de la Revolución.

In comment 14446043 Bill2 said:

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Agree pjcas. I was a fun sport to watch. but even at 12 years old I could tell some tank jobs when I saw it. Few of us in the NYC/Philly area realize just how strong the NE crime gangs got in the 70's and 80's. Especially in Rhode Island. Amazing level of corruption in the state legislature and judiciary. There was a time when 4 straight acting Supreme Court Justice of RI got taken out by the Feds for corruption. Several Mayors and legislators as well. Hartford, Springfield, Somerville, Lynn, parts of Boston, Bristol, Bridgeport...in the 70's the organized crime as a percent of penetration into businesses and LE and legislature seemed to exceed our beloved NYC

It's still old school on Atwells Street (Federal Hill) in Providence.

Every point of every game fixed. And they were allowing gambling on it! Yikes!

In comment 14446214 GruningsOnTheHill said:

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in Tijuana. There is a huge arena on Ave de la Revolución.

I wouldn't plan a trip around that.

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Jai Lai is no longer played in Tijuana, however the Jai Alai building is a Tijuana landmark. Today its used for concerts, Luche Libre (Mexican pro wrestling) and other events.

mexbound - ( New Window )

I used to own a sneaker business in Bridgeport and go to the Jai-Alai fairly often. I chuckled when you mentioned Father Panic Village in Bridgeport. I used to play basketball in the projects there and though it was extremely dangerous, no one ever bothered me there because I owned the neighborhood's favorite sneaker store. I believe Father Panic Village was torn down years ago. Some of the local players who played there were John Bagley, Wes Matthews,and Charles Smith.