jai alai deaths jai alai deaths

The Basque region is credited for the creation of Jai-alai. [15] Imagine crashing into a wall at 200 miles per hour in either a vehicle or motorcycle. "We've heard stories about it," Lopez says. He has jumped from iconic landmarks all over the world including the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia and the Troll Wall in Norway. It's also extremely dangerous, resulting in horrific injuries and deaths from head injuries. These include head, neck, and spine injuries, most commonly as the result of a failed stunt. Barrio was pronounced dead not long after the event, and it was a lose-lose situation because Lorenzo also died of injuries soon after - though there is something poetic about that. "The building is dilapidated. Bueno had a speaking part in a jai alai-themed episode of Miami Vice, which featured the sport as prominently as bikinis in its weekly opening credits. Joey Cornblit, but to longtime South Floridians, "Joey" suffices. You know a sport is dangerous when its nickname is 'the game of dodging death.' The Tampa Jai Alai fronton opened in 1952 and operated until 1998. Bridgeport Jai-Alai actually closed that year to change its product and operated a dog racing track for pari-mutuel wagering. jai alai, ball game of Basque origin played in a three-walled court with a hard rubber ball that is caught and thrown with a cesta, a long, curved wicker scoop strapped to one arm. Before the race, Crippen was reportedly feeling a bit off, but participated in the event anyway. The restaurants inside Dania and Miami are closed. With constant blows to the head, brain damage, eye damage, and other facial injuries are extremely common. The make catching the balls easier, the gloves had an elongated crescent form. Having just discussed the dangers of swimming, it's unsurprising to see surfing on this list as well. The International Jai-alai Players Association was formed (IJAPA) and on April 14, 1988, a majority of the Jai-alai players in Florida and Connecticut went on strike. They tried different court sizes and number of walls and how the game was played. The bull's body is then sent to a slaughterhouse, processed, and sold to local butcher shops. It is played in a court. In the 11th round, Dadashev's trainer Buddy McGirt took matters into his own hands and stopped the fight, noting afterwards that he 'pleaded' for multiple rounds for Dadashev to quit. Jordan Larmour has been ruled out of the remainder of our #GuinnessSixNations campaign after sustaining a hip injury playing for Leinster.Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jordo! Lopez, a Spaniard, is only 25. Now, a group of committed enthusiasts is doing all it can to save jai alai, a game that originated in the Basque . Many would later return when Bridgeport Jai-alai opened in 1976, Brevard (Melbourne) Jai Alai Fronton 1971. Kumaritashvili lost control on the final turn of the course and was thrown off his luge over the side of the track. The bill became law on August 6, 2003. Scott Savin has good news for the 40-and-up set who wax nostalgic over jai alai's glory days, as well as for the growing group of younger fans who have been bingeing his company's Magic City Jai Alai videos on social media in recent months: Jai alai will survive on American ground through at least the end of the 2023 season. "It was part of the fabric," says Benny Bueno, 45, a veteran player at Fort Pierce Jai Alai. However, after making contact with two other cars, Earnhardt slid into the wall and suffered a basilar skull fracture. A Basque priest named Alberto Alcorta Tellechea redesigned the basket to be worn like a glove instead of being held. Jai Alai and a millionaire's death. Jai Alai Dubbed "the fastest sport on the planet," jai alai (pronounced, "Hi-Lie") is that odd-looking competition found primarily in regions of Hispanic influence. Aussie Roland 'Slim' Simpson was one of the most experienced and accomplished BASE jumpers of all time, completing over 1,000 of them throughout his career. It's a mysterious piece of old Florida, built in 1962 during the heyday of the sport of jai alai in the United States, that has a strange appeal when viewed from the roadway. Jai Alai is a fast sport that is often involved with gambling. It's a Friday night at Miami Jai Alai and the place is dead. This event also introduced new foods to massive crowds for the first time such as the hamburger and hot dog to the world. Yes, you read that correctly--despite being a very common hobby for just about everyone, swimming does carry a lot of risks that can sometimes turn fatal. Between the players strike, the nationwide lottery and with the casinos explosion outside of Nevada and Atlantic City, the sport of Jai-alai began to demise. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. In 1987, someone won $97,345 at Fort Pierce and gave it to his church. Eric Schaltz is drinking a Jai Alai by Cigar City . The following information is unclear but we understand the fronton was rebuilt right after the hurricane in 1926. Aside from the obvious risk of drowning, scuba diving can kill you in many ways. MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) Jai alai, the world's fastest ball sport, originated in the Basque region of Spain and France but took root in Miami during the go-go days of the 1970s and '80s. He was murdered by members of organized crime who discovered that Wheeler had uncovered their embezzlement scheme at World Jai Alai. The game, whose name means "merry festival" in Basque, is called cesta-punta ("basket tip") in the Basque Country. The elaborate Frontn Palacio jai alai arena opened in downtown Tijuana to a capacity crowd of 3,000 spectators 75 years ago on Feb. 28, 1947. Instead of being opposite of each other, they had to stand side by side behind the line and hit the wall first before having an opportunity to return it. Only 46 seats are taken 47 if you include the center-court spot occupied by a garbage can cordoned off by yellow police tape. He left abruptly two years later as Connecticut authorities were investigating him for possible links to organized crime figures in Boston. The practice has not only angered animal rights activists, but has led to a number of unfortunate matador accidents as well. The fronton was relocated to its present site in Miami near Miami International Airport. A team scores a point if an opposing player: The team scoring a point remains in the court and the opposing team rotates off the court to the end of the list of opponents. Earnhardt's accident garnered significant attention and significant safety improvements were made in stock car racing as a result. In the United States, jai alai enjoyed some popularity as a gambling alternative to horse racing, greyhound racing, and harness racing, and was particularly popular in Florida and Connecticut, where the game was used as a basis for Parimutuel betting. Flagler Dog Track was closed, and a Jai-alai court was built in a former concert arena inside the facility. Magic City Casino opens July 1, 2018 with a glass front wall and back wall. A novelty that aged. Many sports bettors also place big sports bets at these events as we've seen at the popular USA sportsbook Bovada Casino as well as one of the most prominent bookmakers in the UK, William Hill Casino. Early life [ edit] If you sat in that seat, it meant you bought it for the entire season, then wedged your way through the masses for the right to use it. [1], The Basque government promotes jai alai as "the fastest sport in the world" because of the speed of the ball. You earn a point if the opposing team is unable to catch the pelota after two bounces, and lose a point if the pelota that you threw falls out of bounds. People also noted the unusually high temperature of the water (in the mid to high 80s Fahrenheit), which may have caused heat stroke. This version of Jai-alai was new and being played on handball courts throughout the Basque Country. The "nice Jewish boy" quickly transcended the game: When Miami's Larry King went national with his radio show, his first guests were Gleason, Shula and Joey. "Miami Jai Alai, Dania Jai Alai, used to be the place to be seen at," Joey says. Now, a group of committed enthusiasts is doing all it can to save jai alai, a game that originated in the Basque . The first fronton in North America Havana, Cuba (photo from 1904). You'll see slivers of Miami itself, and Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The first USA fronton opens on May 15, 1904 during the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis. Their fatality numbers have also improved over time, as the numbers of deaths from skidiving have dropped from 71 in 2004 to 37 in 2014, according to Dropzone.com . In '97, a Dania employee was rescued after trying to hang himself from the balcony during play. He was charged with murder after a Super Bowl party at an Atlanta nightclub led to two stabbing deaths in 2000. [citation needed], Dania Jai Alai has a "Hall of Fame" that documents the best front and back court players. In 2005, a small facility outside Gainesville became the first pro fronton to open in the United States in 27 years. While were at it, lets throw some spikes on the bottom of their feet. The very first Jai-alai cesta is patented. Now nearly extinct, jai-alai was once hugely popular up and down the Eastern Seaboard, especially in Miami, where the fronton was known as "the Yankee Stadium of Jai-Alai." In doubles, each team consists of a frontcourt player and a backcourt player. ), "It was like New Year's Eve," says Stan Schauer, 84, a 30-year diehard who comes to Dania to wager every Tuesday afternoon with a dozen fellow residents of Boynton Beach's Valencia Lakes. Miami Jai-Alai is at 3500 N.W. Two of the courts played with hard rubber balls ("pelota de goma") were shorter than a standard court (75 and 90 feet (23 and 27m), respectively) and used for training players and amateur leagues. 37th Avenue, Miami, Florida and is located just 10 minutes from the Miami International Airport. Chicago Jai-alai opens at the Rainbo Fronton at Fred Manns Rainbo Gardens on December 21, 1927. MGM Casino Fronton opens in Las Vegas in the original MGM Grand (now Ballys). The fronton had trouble with prohibition issues in 1928 and later with alleged illegal pari-mutuels betting on Jai-alai games. Maybe. one veteran says. [5] However, jai alai returned to the country in March 2010. [3], Wheeler worked for Gulf Oil and Standard Oil in Texas, and in 1946 relocated to Tulsa to work for a company that produced anodes for use in the petroleum industry. While the injuries can be pretty severe, they are rare because of serious efforts for safety precautions like full leather outfits and motorcycle helmets. He would dump out the flowers and tie the basket to his hand with a string and go play with it. Between games, an orchestra satisfied those who wanted to rumba. [3], In the mid-1960s, Wheeler and a group of investors purchased Telex Corp., a maker of hearing aids, speakers, and other sound equipment. [17], Wheeler's case was covered in the first-ever episode of long-running investigative show Unsolved Mysteries in January 1987. The cesta is shaped such that a good throw can accelerate the pelota to speeds up to 300 km/h (186.4 mph). [10][11], After the 1968 season, players returned home and threatened not to come back unless the owners improved their work conditions. However, only 1 fronton remains open. Fronton Palacio in Tijuana is completely destroyed by fire on March 21, 1957. However, when a tow team offered him a ride out to the waves, Davi denied and decided to use his arms to paddle himself out. Cable and satellite TV. In luge, the athlete lays head-up and feet-first onto a sled, and races down a track as quickly as they can. Flemmi has said that FBI agent John J. Connolly Jr. told him and Bulger that Callahan would be a "weak link'' and implicate them in Wheeler's murder. Overall, 100 people die in motorsports annually around the world, according to Top Gear Auto Guide. 4 4. Many under 30 haven't even heard of it. It took a lot of effort to throw the ball to the front wall and off a sidewall. [6] Subsequent investigation revealed that Wheeler was killed after uncovering an embezzlement scheme at one of his other business ventures, World Jai Alai in Miami, Florida. They were straighter and shorter than todays cestas. Enjoy reliable live game coverage and additional video content like player profiles, game tutorials, and player interviews for a better understanding of the game and its players! They require us to push the limits of our bodies and reach new heights of physical existence. Many of those injuries result from slipping on a rock or falling. He crashed into a nearby building, fracturing his skull and sending him into a coma. Nothing like large, muscular men slamming into each other with no padding whatsoever. Despite urgent medical help and multiple efforts at CPR, she was not able to make it. The strike would last 3 years, the longest strike in sports history. Nascar is also a popular theme with many online casinos in the USA, and it's with good reason considering the priminence of drivers like Dale Ernhardt Jr. You would expect this sport to be at the head of the pack. All rights reserved. 2,208 Jai Alai Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 2,208 Jai_alai Premium High Res Photos Browse 2,208 jai_alai stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Fronton Palacio closed its doors in Tijuana Mexico. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ?#TeamOfUs | #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/WdTWNrgmtl. In 2010, then 26 year old Crippen was on the final race of FINA's 10K series in Abu Dhabi. In fact, many rugby leagues prohibit the use of any hardened protective gear as they might injure an opponent. Hartford Jai-alai opens in Connecticut on May 20, 1976. It is typically played at certain European countries. Free shipping for many products! "I don't want to say it's a dying sport," says Pembroke Pines' Kenny Krinsky, a Dania regular. "It just saddens me to see.". There was something romantic about this centuries-old Spanish sport that resembles a distant cousin of racquetball played on a three-walled court some 175 feet long and 50 feet wide. Jai alai, which was introduced to the Philippines by Spaniards in 1899, was one of the Filipinos' favorite pastimes in the 1970s and 1980s. The Basques elaborated their handball specialties with the hardness of the solid vulcanized ball. [14] Bulger fled to avoid prosecution and was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list from August 19, 1999 until his capture on June 22, 2011. Initially, it appeared he picked a perfect day, as he was greeted with incredible 70' wave faces, every experienced big surfer's dream. But most of the Basque population were working-class people farmers, cattlemen, fisherman and shipbuilders and they continued to play their game with bare hands and never got interested in the way the upper-elite Basques played. Hopefully, athletes in any sport who have sustained head injuries will receive more regular brain scans, and that will help prevent such cases from happening again. DANIA BEACH, Fla. Players and others who make a living from the once-popular sport of jai alai hope the closing of the last fronton, or court, at The Casino at Dania Beach is not the end of. He wore a heavy and expensive leather glove on his right hand that was reinforced with iron. During the jump, his parachute did not open properly and threw off his landing trajectory. When Italian explorer Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his second voyage to the Americas, he presented a gift to the Spanish royal court: a rubber ball used in the Mesoamerican ball games of the Aztec and Maya in Mexico. Orbea's also sold equipment such as cestas and helmets. Bettors had faster and more lucrative options to gamble at. It is also considered one of the most dangerous high schoolsportsin America, as Huff Post reports. News Sports Entertainment Lifestyle Opinion USA TODAY Obituaries eNewspaper Legals. I have no idea why Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville wanted to do this, but I'm glad they did. Few people care about jai alai anymore. For 35 years, luge was actually fatality-free. [8] Upon discovering the theft, Wheeler investigated; this created major problems for Bulger's gang, and led to between four and six murders, two of which remain unsolved. Every year, motorsports fans from all around the world pour into the stadiums for events such as the Daytona 500, Formula One races, and Isle of Mann TT. xckxgoaleprcaun. Roger Milton Wheeler Sr. (February 27, 1926 May 27, 1981) was an American businessman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the former chairman of Telex Corporation, and former owner of World Jai Alai. Two days after that, Tampa Jai-alai temporarily closes after operating for 1 weeks with replacement players. The public did not notice the change. Mysteriously, due to the number of people at the event, nobody noticed Crippen's absence at the finish line until after the race was over. It was patent number 642,6238 and was issued by the United States Patent Office. As a result, while fatal injuries are rare, unexpected tackles or head-first collisions have caused some of the most gnarliest sports injuries.In the amateur and professional scenes, there have been around 15 instances of sports fatalities as a result of playing rugby. There would be a moment of panic, then you remember you have a reserve chute. 4 min read DANIA BEACH, Fla. Players and others who make a living from the once-popular sport of jai alai hope the closing of the last fronton, or court, at The. The ensuing scandal drove . This turned out to be a lethal mistake as his body was later found floating in a kelp patch. Now, a group of committed enthusiasts is doing all it can to save jai alai, a game that originated in the. A new fronton was built just a few miles away and called the Biscayne Fronton at the site of the current Miami Jai-alai/casino building. Chest injuries are also extremely common. In 2019, Maxim Dadashev and Subriel Matias were up against each other in a light-welterweight title match. Previous post Next post About the Author Juan Ignacio Zulaika Juan Ignacio Zulaika was "Jai-Alai" player. Infamous mob hitman John Martorano also cut a deal and pleaded guilty. Big Wave Surfing Milford Jai-alai closed its doors on December 12, 2001. "It's not. Despite multiple severe injuries including a punctured lung and broken vertebrae, he always returned to BASE jumping after recovery. The ball was not very durable and did not bounce well. Losers go to the end of the line to await another turn on the court. Night Falls (1952) Marcos is an arrogant jai-alai player who seduces and discards women until he himself becomes the object of a cunning revenge. It is believed that around this time the upper-class Basque families became familiar with the game. If it does not, it is an under or over serve and the other team will receive the point. An influx of pro teams. "Everybody came here.". It was one of the two gambling sports from Europe, the other being horse racing, in the semi-colonial Chinese cities of Shanghai and Tianjin, and was shut down after the communist victory there. Bull riding used to be way more dangerous. Later, it was found that both her lungs were swollen from a condition known as bilateral pneumothoraces, hampering her ability to breathe. Some of its top players are Rekalde, Irastorza, Lopetegui, Elgueta, Mendieta, Ander, Mouhica and Jabi. The next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions, respectively. The fronton's land on S Dale . Miami seated about 6,500, but old-timers tell of Saturday nights when there were thousands more standing 10 deep along the outer aisles. Today, there are 501 Indian tribe casinos in 29 states. This is the first case of the known cesta in use. Players practicing before first game ever at Tampa Jai-alai, Tampa Jai-alai was packed during the 70s and 80s, Tampa Jai-alai opens on December 19, 1953, West Palm Beach Jai-alai opens on January 12, 1956. On top of that, the fuel could ignite, and then youll be burned to death. He dreamed of beating his neighbor on Sunday afternoons when everyone in the village came to see the men compete in games. [citation needed], In 19881991, the International Jai-Alai Players Association held the longest strike in American professional sport. There is not much documentation available on the fronton but that it was built on DeBaliviere Avenue in the Kingsbury section of St. Louis, and the fronton ended operations after two months and later became the Winter Garden Skating Rink. Two hours later, his body was discovered underwater and quickly sent to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Smith Cesta or Hand Ball Basket Bat. The first fronton in Florida opened at the site of Hialeah Race Course near Miami in 1924. Athletes typically race for a single pitch and clash with their opponents via one or two feet, which is a terrible action. Miami Vice Classic! Jai-alai was not the only pari-mutual game to suffer from the lottery and casino invasion. When most think of this sport, most real money casino bets would go to the 'All Blacks' as the sport's most illustrious and successful rugby team in the world. [11] He was given a 15-year sentence, but was released in 2007 after serving only six years. In the United States, Jai-alai is quite popular among gamblers in Florida where it is used as a basis for pari-mutuel gambling. Uploaded 03/30/2009. But he was complaining of a severe headache and dizziness and was later taken to a makeshift hospital after a doctor determined his skull was fractured. Since there is no wall on the right side, all jai alai players must play right-handed (wear the cesta on their right hand), as the spin of a left-handed hurl would send the ball toward the open right side. A ball thrown by a backcourter, 17-year old Louis Balard hit his frontcourter, an 18-year old named Paul Emonnot in the temple. Football injuries are a common occurrence. File Photo / File Photo Show More Show Less 5 of 20. The ball was very heavy and would start skidding before landing flat when it hit the ground. [6] After retiring from the FBI, H. Paul Rico took a job as head of security for the jai alai organization. Cheerleading injury rates lower than other high school sports, but may be more severe https://t.co/OyabdWBSvJ pic.twitter.com/XUfV5JLOwh. Brevard Jai-alai opens on November 1, 1971. One player in 1973, Rene Rocha, Andoni Echaniz, was hit in the face by a speeding pelota (Georgia East Staff). The number of animal attacks is high but could be higher because of the lack of reporting or people considered missing. The company World Jai Alai operated in Florida and Connecticut. An operation was performed but he died shortly afterwards. The games of pelota that would evolve into modern Jai-alai were simple games similar to tennis with two opponents hitting the ball at each other over the line. With time the gloves grew in length reaching 16 inches in length. Called pelota vasca in Spain, the Western Hemisphere name jai alai (Basque "merry festival") was given to the game when it was imported to Cuba in 1900. This was a full 4 years before Jai-alai was even seen in America. Dave Creek, the lead character designer for 'Bob's Burgers,' died this week from injuries sustained during a skydiving accident https://t.co/l9DKrt4sLi pic.twitter.com/1hLQjFDyPI. 2023 www.palmbeachpost.com. It's a Friday night at Miami Jai Alai and the place is dead. Jai Alai is is the fastest game in the world, similar racket ball, but players use a long, funnel-like scoop to catch and then release a ball into play. At one point, the bull named Lorenzo hurled him in the air after an attack. Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS Jai alai players compete in one of the last matches last. The sport once held the world record for ball speed with a 125140g ball covered with goatskin that traveled at 302km/h (188mph), performed by Jos Ramn Areitio at the Newport, Rhode Island Jai Alai, until it was broken by Canadian 5-time long drive champion Jason Zuback on a 2007 episode of Sport Science with a golf ball speed of 328km/h (204mph). It is the 3rd largest in the USA behind Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. He was stuck on a ledge before being rescued @9NewsMelb #NineNewsLocal pic.twitter.com/6eAWiNlyQx, George Foreman and Manny Pacquiao Dodge the Trend of Brain Damage Amongst Boxing Stars. This streak broke in the 2010 Winter Olympics when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally injured in his final training run. Callahan helped arrange the 1978 sale of World Jai Alai to Roger Wheeler, a Tulsa businessman and chairman of Telex Corp. After Wheeler was shot to death outside a Tulsa country club in May 1981, law enforcement renewed their focus on Callahan's alleged ties to the Winter Hill gang. King Henry VII of England would reward good players in matches between Spanish and French Basques. Subscribe. [3], While still in high school, Wheeler was involved in several business ventures, including owning and operating a neighborhood newspaper and a stamp collecting service. And by the way, the pelota is harder than a golf ball, and players wear nothing but a helmet for protection. Medics rushed to the scene and transported him to the hospital, but Kumaritashvili ultimately succumbed to his injuries. There was pelota a pala played with a pala a flat paddle of rounded wood. Players use a basket-style racket. Calder was a longtime horse track that was allowed to switch to Jai-alai. A Basque priest is credited with developing the cesta. Now, a group of committed enthusiasts is doing all it can to save jai alai, a game that originated in the. Most dangerous sports in the world ranked. Occasionally, those injuries can become fatal. Playoffs decide tied scores. Bridgeport Jai-alai closed its doors on April 30, 1995. The exact origin of Jai-alai is unclear. throwing the ball against the wall. The helmet is still optional, so theres that. In no time at all, you could go to tens of thousands of convenience and grocery stores to place bets on your favorite numbers besides the standard 1-8 offered at Jai-alai and dog tracks without the drive; parking, program and admission fees. A jai alai game is played in round robin format, usually between eight teams of two players each or eight single players. On average, 13 boxers die in the ring annually, according to CNN. In 2004, a robber made off with $7,000 from the Washington Mutual across the street from Dania and figured he'd play poker until the heat wore off. He added a strap to secure it to his hand. Hype, that was not, because long before a garbage can sat in that courtside seat, the game personified a slice of life in South Florida. There have been a handful of gruesome deaths as a direct result of jai alai injuries where players have been struck in the head, neck, spine, and legs. The lottery and casino gambling were the main contributors to the demise of Jai-alai. The players, 90% of them Basque, felt insecure submitted to the will of their employers. They use the cesta to hurl the pelota, the game ball, off a far-side wall. You wouldnt expect it, but mountaineering can be one of the most dangerous sports. In 2003, the fronton at Newport Jai Alai in Newport, Rhode Island, was converted into Newport Grand, a slot machine and video lottery terminal parlor, which closed permanently in August 2018. The strike ended with an agreement. "You have to focus on the game and not think there is nobody there.". Only 46 seats are taken 47 if you include the center-court spot occupied by a garbage can cordoned off by yellow police tape.. The introduction of Indian casinos. Every year, dozens of injuries occur in professional bullfighting, as the BBC reports. The ball bounced and played very well. Callahan was a married father of two who lived in Winchester and had an office on Commercial Wharf in Boston. [citation needed], Retired players visited and played as well as highly skilled amateurs, pros from Miami Jai-Alai and various other professional frontons operating at the time. The ball must be caught either on the fly or after bouncing once on the floor. Death won over life in the last minute of Gustavo Gandarias' game, 51 year-old former Jai Alai player, who passed away on Monday at Basurto's hospital in Bilbao, as a result of a brain hemorrhage. In addition, many tracks feature a total vertical drop of around 30 stories. Boyd Gaming, Dania's parent company, says several factors including the economy have caused it to drop renovation plans, including slots. For the Daytona 500, there has been at least one accident every year since 1980, with the worst year being 2019, when 51 cars were involved in crashes (40 cars raced in the event; some cars were involved in multiple crashes). MIAMI - The world's fastest ball sport has been dying a slow death for decades. The event was originally called the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition to celebrate the centennial of the purchase. The Jai-Alai App provides new and existing Jai-Alai fans with a more accessible way to enjoy the fastest sport in the world!