2024-2025 Dania Season Summary Posted on February 25, 2025 at 05:30:04 PM by Jim
Overall, the season was good, and the presentation was VERY good. Thanks go Benny and to chief announcer Dave Lamont for their work and informative presentations.
I enjoyed the discussions in the booth with Benny and Dave, allowing us to sometimes gain some inside knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes for once in this sport. (Even though I am no longer inclined to watch or wager on Magic City, let's be clear, they ushered in the chat, banter, and allowing players to show emotion, and that has now transpired into Dania, THANK GOODNESS!) So, I would give a high 5 to MC on that and to Stu for bringing their presentation into the new 2020's era. It REALLY needed to be done.
I have always hated that jai alai players never show any emotion. That may have been instilled in them in them decades ago, but it does not work in today's game, unless the player is just naturally un-emotional, like Aritz is.
Speaking of Aritz, no offense, but when he won each partido, and eventually the championship, he looked completely devoid of any emotion at all and looked like he was ready to go. But he looks like that in all his overseas partidos as well, so be it; it's just his nature. Clearly, he's the number 1 front in the world, bar none.
The play at Dania, overall, was good, and other than the serving issues, especially from one player for 3 months straight, it was enjoyable to watch and wager on.
Regarding the wagering end, say what you want, but Dania needs to seriously reconsider deleting 50 cent tris and going with $1 tri minimums. The 50 cent base is killing the payoffs. The same people will still wager $42.00, but for half the combinations, forcing better payoffs. If you are unwilling to change to a $1 base for tris, then fine. But at least make the supers a 20 cent base. A superfecta in jai alai is a superfecta for a reason: it is SUPPOSED to be hard to hit, and it's supposed to pay nicely, 10 cents doesn't allow it to do that.
The Pik 3's were fun this season, and the Pik 4 as well. Those seem fine the way they are.
Benny mentioned they are going to return to Tuesday matinee and evening, but he did not say if Wednesday night will remain, meaning they are possibly considering adding 1 performance per week? Not sure what he meant by that.
Future star: Libois. He is looking like an Aritz at times, especially on left side rebotes and his one wall remate in singles from the back court to the front wall, and he scored a lot with that shot. Most improved player by far in the front, and he probably could go play overseas partidos right now...he is really going to be good. Replies:
Tiger's Jai-Alai Chalk Talk
