Time Filler

AFTER a four-year wait since its last installment, UEFA’s European tournament has kicked off into the early hours of the morning of June 9, 2012. The opening fixtures of the tournament featured the Greece/Poland match followed a few hours later by the Czech Republic/Russia match. In those hours between the two matches, some viewers either may have been too tired to channel surf or afraid to change the channel at all, fearing the possible risk of missing the next match. This became an opportunity to watch one of the least popular shows on Solar Sports: Jai-alai.

Labeled as “the fastest sport in the world” with its ball speed reaching up to 300kph, the agility displayed by the pelotari (jai-alai player) in receiving the opponent’s throw is a visual spectacle. The players utilize their quick feet and flying ability when rushing for the ball. Jai-alai has its moments for example when gravity is challenged by a wall jumping player for a lost ball. Catching and controlling the ball is not a walk in the park. Anticipating the ball’s trajectory and velocity makes baseball catchers’ jobs effortless. The energy and arm needed to return balls is a feat in itself when in a playing area twice as long as a basketball court, and as high and wide as a five-storey building.  When a sport requires helmets and padding as vital parts of the equipment, a certain degree of danger and excitement is suggested.  Watching two players risk their bodies to play tennis on turbo facing a solid wall using a curved basket or cesta takes nerves of steel.

The game can be fascinating, intriguing, or really uninteresting to watch. Despite the high speed and fast paced society we live in today in which “the fastest sport in the world” can be enjoyed, jai-alai with all the intensity and pace it has to offer, is treated as irrelevant and worthy only of odd time slots in what used to be the premier sports channel in the Philippines. It seems that the production crew is stuck in the 80s considering the televised games are in one of the lowest resolutions we’ve seen in recent memory. This is comparable to watching a YouTube clip on a 240p setting. With the dullness of the commentators in giving a play-by-play to the matches, one cannot help but look for the irritating color commentating of Jeff Van Gundy. Although there is indeed color to their tone when they mention the player’s numbers, names, and final score, it’s merely a consolation. Do not expect a crowd to cheer in-game as the playing hall seems isolated from society or a mere afterthought to whoever is residing within the vicinity of the court.

          For those who are into sports and are expected to follow popular sports like basketball, tennis, football and volleyball, why would one bother to watch a forgotten sport like jai-alai? Why in the world is this sport, which may not even be relevant today, still featured between two matches of one of the most popular sporting events in the world?

Believe it or not, despite what we see on television, jai-alai is not a dying sport. In fact, it has been 11 years since jai-alai in the Philippines had its resurrection that was 13 years in the making. Amidst the poor production value we may see in television, there is plenty of money to make in the world of jai-alai. It is a huge cash magnet that it was an essential point in its banning in the Philippines back in 1988 and its official resurgence in 2010. How much money are we talking about? A 2001 article on its initial return to legality gave an official estimate by PAGCOR of about an annual 1.5 billion Pesos in revenue.  That is just an official estimate given 11 years ago, a time when Manny Pacquiao was just on his 2^nd division title. Post global financial crisis, inflation/deflation, three Philippine presidents and six more Pacquiao division titles later, who knows how much money jai-alai is making nowadays. As the saying goes, “money makes the world go round.” In this case, it’s the world of jai-alai.

            It seems as if there is no reason to change things when you make that much money. With gambling as its main reason for existence and low mainstream viewership, bringing in a high-definition camera, hiring two very entertaining commentators and playing in a crowded arena is unnecessary. It doesn’t matter if viewers can see a dimple or an accurate, detailed and dramatic description of how the plays happened.  For the interested parties, place some bets, present the players, give the numbers, let them play then money is exchanged.

            The gambling is just as much a part of jai-alai as much as a cesta is always a part of the pelotari. It is what makes the sport alive and lucrative in the Philippines. It is also the same reason it was banned and shut down in the late 80s and went on a 13-year disappearing act due to game fixing. Even in the past year, illegal gambling issues such as game fixing with jai-alai as a front for jueteng continue to taint the reputation of what is otherwise another good sport to watch.

            The gambling is a dangerous part of sports as much as the injuries that players risk when competing. It is a reality in sports that threatens the purity and validity of any game. Deliberate flopping performances from a play and bad officiating have been cited as evidence of gambling’s influences on a game. Athletes and officials have been accused of negatively influencing outcomes of games due to different pressures put on them. Outside the playing area, spectators become risk takers who are susceptible to financial success or injury depending on the outcome of the games they bet on. One can be richer after 90 minutes of football or have a gaping hole in their pockets after being eliminated from the playoffs. There is potentially a lot of risk involved that some bettors will do everything in their power to make sure the results go in their favor.

How many times have we heard stories of high profile basketball games that were fixed or players and referees paid to influence the final score? Such stories only hurt the hardworking athletes, referees, coaches and staff who play their games simply because of their love for the game. They also disappoint the fans who want to enjoy a clean and honest match between two opposing forces fighting to one-up the other. It would be an insult to realize that the triumphs and victories supporters cheer for result from game fixing and bribed players. On the other hand, a defeat due to a paid party is infuriating knowing that a game is not being played and officiated by the best of the best.

Make no mistake about it - most spectators take on a certain amount of risk when they choose a side or pick a winning team. The difference is that they commit to a reasonable risk that may either involve dejection and humiliation in losing, or the joy and pride that comes with triumph. They let the game play as naturally as possible and hope for the best that they too may win the pot. Unless you really believe in absolute winning at all costs, there is pride in an honest defeat than a tainted victory.

For what all of us really want in sports, whether we are aware of it or not, is to witness the triumph of the human spirit. Be it in the success of the winning team, the fight of the underdog, or the comeback of a knocked-out, we want to see those moments wherein we witnessed that anything is possible despite facing an impossible task. A “pure” game delivers such a moment, a fixed one surely does not.

The next time we watch jai-alai, or any sport for that matter, do not take away from the athletes their share of the victory they have worked hard for by making the bet more important. Let them play. We are witnesses to all of these. A spectator’s betting is acceptable up to a certain degree. The athleticism, the triumph and the loss are amusing enough so the results must be accepted.

There is always a next match.