Misspelling To Get My Attention? Posted on September 3, 2025 at 02:04:42 AM by Stu Neiman
lol - it’s spelled “Neiman.” And yes, the original Magic City experience is unique as are many of the guys who started in 2018.
Ironically, when I first started hearing & reading comments my first feeling was and has remained one of “protections;” of Scott’s investment & enthusiasm and of those players, none of who deserved any of the baggage American Jai-Alai came with. This is a tough crowd.
So yes, Dennis (“El Barba”), from West Virginia picked up a cesta at 38 or 39 and he was a management headache. But heart and grit and a desire, at least at one point, to try an understand why there was so much anger and bitterness within this ever so small Jai-Alai community. We talked for hours in the early years. I assured him that it had nothing to do with him. That Goiko “took too many steps,” “this one holds,” “that’s not Jai-Alai,” etc. lol even the great Orbea I was booed for having an off day and them came out to run the next game “with contempt,” someone said.
Owners don’t know how to own and no one knows how to market. Lol - so when I came back to Jai-Alai in 2018, reluctantly, there was very little anyone from within the Jai-Alai community could say that had any impact on my thinking.
Barba doesn’t belong on that list but I will say this with absolute certainty - I worked with many wonderful people who played Jai-Alai professionally and a few great people who also happened to be great Jai-Alai players. I signed contracts for some people who had no business playing professional Jai-Alai and a few who desperately wanted to but just could not play. Amateur, another beast entirely. “Barba” is not on any of those lists - those lists are in document storage boxes in a closet or garage.
I admire these players who happen to be good people - yes, even “El Barba.” The Jai-Alai world can blame us for that, not him. But no one from the outside is listening to that.
Great Jai-Alai expected this weekend, on the short, glass court at Magic City. Expenses and prize money come out to about $90k. I’m looking forward to it :-). Replies:
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