THE GAME OF JAI-ALAI WORLD'S FASTEST GAME

e once upon a time there were four Mexican Bankers with nothing more than a lot of time on their hands and that my friends is probably how it started even in those days there occasionally was a fresh guy in the crowd so the game is called off somebody told Pancho to keep his eye on the ball Pano took them seriously and as a result we have the beginnings of an early Mexican Riot so let you and I follow the Flight of the ball while Pancho tracks down a hot talur Shina [Music] we've skipped about six or seven generations and we find the crude beginning of a game that is destined to become one of the most fascinating sports in the world as we see it here it's called pilota note the paddles beginning to take the shape that lends itself to the application of speed the long thin stems allowing for greater reach well swish of all people they must have had them in those days too the Beginning No Doubt of the era when men wore Lily White hand I wonder if he smells as Heavenly as he looks what form what po [Music] goodness gracious pH Berto is wounded and he's burning up now now dear remember your an hour's work all must [Music] up and now we take another swipe at the pages of time let's make it about 10 Generations this trip you'll notice that the paddle handle or callus if I'm not getting too technical are becoming longer with each step in the progress of the game the ball too has been greatly improved in place of the soft gum-like sphere we find it solid and therefore much faster to handle it with these paddles now takes a certain amount of skill teamwork another fundamental is being emphasized as you can see in the maneuvering of the four players on the court and as the game is speeded up so it becomes necessary to conserve energy for the long rallies note the graceful technique of these players the balance and coordination it was along about this time that the sport began to Branch out into many forms of the p time of stick and ball the prevailing idea seemed to hit the ball with whatever happened to be in Style and what a vast difference between this game and the game of those poor ancient Mexicans it was no longer called pilota it has now become pilly the spelling J AI hyphen Al AI strangely enough did not pertain to the game but rather to the festif occasion during in which it was played and as the idea progresses we find it expressed in countless ways but always the same fundamental hit the ball with stick paddle bat or racket even the bare hand game has weathered the year for after all the popular game of handball as it it played today might very logically be traced straight back to the slow plotting game of generations ago footwork and other fundamental in the development of a skillful player is a requisite in all Court games note the ease with which these fellows reach and the ball slow motion accentuates another important phase of the sport the all important factor of timing with eyes glued to the Flight of the ball these fellows anticipate the rebound and are usually in position to hit the ball with body swing and follow through we see here the close resemblance through the ancient Pastime as the camera reveals an instructor showing how he gauges his service controlling the Flight of the ball with precise Direction the first lesson in spin and angle [Music] play in Mexico the birthplace of the game we also find an amazing change what made the ancient game of highi has become a major sport in a thriving business the game itself has speeded up tremendously by the use of the long narrow wicker basket called the sesta which the player straps to his wrist and needless to say straps it very carefully for it must be fastened tight enough to prevent it slipping and yet allow the free play of the wrist as he snares the ball and hurls it to the wall of the Court ball boys are as jealous of their jobs as mascots of Major League Baseball clubs the balls which are slightly smaller in size than the regulation baseball are closely examined by the players before the start of each match highi players usually break into the profession as youngsters receiving only food and shelter during their period of training when finally ready to appear before the public they may earn anywhere from $300 to $1,500 per month with these fellows high liers of career which unfortunately last but a few years owing to The Strain on the player due to the pace of the [Applause] game the game as it is played today requires a three-wall court front wall on either side in the rear a protects the spectators from injury by the whizzing ball that travels with the speed of a [Music] [Applause] bullet it's often called the fastest game in the world and a close study in slow motion will reveal the amazing technique that the game has acquired [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] in Spain Mexico and Kuba men keep Stables of highl players in the same way that boxing managers handle Fighters and racing men own strings of thorough it's a game that calls for everything in the makeup of a well-rounded athlete and affords an excellent portrayal of the skill speed and stamina which after all are the three vital fundamentals of every popular sport [Applause] [Music] oh [Music]