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A Settlement of Basques in New England by Leonard Bloom, University of Bridgeport The development of jai-alai in Connecticut can be traced back to early 1971, when the General Assembly in Hartford enacted a public law (no.865) calling for the creation of a Commission on Special Revenue. Its primary responsibility was the implementation of regulations governing pari-mutuel wagering as a means of obtaining funds for the support of state government. In anticipation of this news, jai-alai promoters in Florida, cognizant that the per capita income in Connecticut was higher than in either Florida or Nevada, decided to expand the game to the northeast by investing considerable sums of money into the construction of new facilities. During three and one-half years of planning and building in Bridgeport, a major scandal deferred the projected opening of the fronton. Finally, new owners assumed full control of the operations, and with final licensure granted by the State Gaming Commission, the multimillion dollar structure opened its doors to the public on June 1, 1976. Ten days prior to this date, World Jai-Alai, Inc., of Miami began its Hartford facility. The Bridgeport fronton, which is independently owned, is reportedly the largest and most expensive facility of its kind in the world, and its roster of forty-one players, thirty-seven of whom are Basque, reads like a “Who’s Who” of jai-alai superstars. Many of these pelotaris have been absent from competition in the United States since 1968, at which time their efforts to strike against their Miami employers failed. They were subsequently released from their contracts and blacklisted from play in Florida. As a result, may players returned to Spain or went to far off locations like Manila and Djakarta to pursue their national sport. Nonetheless, these same players were reunited upon signing new contracts with Bridgeport officials earlier this year. Since the first week of the season, owners of the Bridgeport, Hartford, and Newport facilities have expressed continuous satisfaction with their extremely large attendance figures. Their statistics have been extraordinarily higher than at first anticipated or even projected by each management. Equally delighted over new tax revenues are local and state representatives. Apart from the gaming aspects of jai-alai, people have voiced steady enthusiasm for the sport because of its novelty and fast-moving pace. Jai-alai represents a new form of excitement whereby the spectators can watch the strenuous competition while dining leisurely in the auditorium’s restaurant, situated above and to the left of the court. Today in New England, with the existence of three operating frontons, approximately two hundred and fifty Basques live in and around each facility. The majority hail from the provinces of Biscay and Guipúzcoa, representing towns such as Marquina, Guenica, Bermeo, Durango, Ondarroa, Motrico, Eibar, Hernani, and others. Only a few of the Basques come from Navarre, and the remainder were born in Mexico, Chile, Mallorca, or the United States. Their ages vary considerably, as the youngest player, Muñoz (Newport), is sixteen, while the celebrated Churruca (Bridgeport) lists his age as forty. Many of the Bridgeport players have kin playing in the other two frontons, and several have known each other for long periods of time. The pelotaris give the impression of one large family, whose members are dispersed throughout the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Because the game of jai-alai has provided the latest passion for fans and gamblers in the northeast, as well as for those of nearby New Jersey and New York, published reports in newspapers and magazines, together with radio and television programs highlighting various aspects of the sport have all underlined public approval and zeal for jai-alai. In fact, the game is so popular nowadays in Connecticut that a third fronton is presently under construction in nearby Milford (located only fifteen miles north of Bridgeport) by the Dania Corporation of Hollywood, Florida. Originally the Bridgeport facility was licensed to operate from June 1 to December 31, 1976, but in light of its outstanding success, its owners have filed a petition with the State Gaming Commission in hopes of extending the period until April 30, 1977, one day before the Milford fronton inaugurates its season. If such permission is granted, jai-alai fans could observe and wager on a year-round basis. For those Basques who have previously resided in Florida, there has not been any serious difficulty in matters of oral communication in English. However, for many others, especially the wives, who have never before lived in the United States, such a problem certainly exists. Consequently, during the summer, this writer, in cooperation with the Director of Adult Education Programs in Bridgeport, set up a course to teach English to Basques and others in one of the city’s high schools. The class convenes regularly twice a week for two hours, at which time emphasis is placed on English pronunciation drills, conversational patterns, and reading exercises. Progress has been noted since the beginning of the class, and many Basques are today communicating better than ever before in the new language. It is hoped that they will acquire further skills as time passes. In seeking some reactions to their New England surroundings, several Basques have stated that life here is quiet, and that people are consistently warm and friendly. Others have expressed the opinion that they are adapting nicely to life in the northeast. This is especially true among the group of players with previous experience in this country. Although the women often go for long stretches of time without seeing their husbands who must work a six day schedule, many of them get together in their homes or apartments to chat or dine. All in all, players and their families have established cordial relationships with their neighbors and have taken part, when time permits, in community endeavors. For instance, when the Bridgeport contingent officially arrived in the city, the mayor honored them with a downtown motorcade parade. Afterwards public officials and reports were invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the fronton. Many local stories have appeared in our newspapers concerning a particular aspect of a player, or a personal event such as a wedding or the birth of a child. One recent account pictured Lopetegui, a baker in the off-season, creating a fifty pound wedding cake in celebration of a teammate’s nuptials. The Basques have also participated in recent University of Bridgeport Ballet Company benefit, attended the annual P.T. Barnum festivities in the city, and played host to American and British naval officers. One player, Goyo, together with a group of Basque children styled the “Basquettes,” presented musical programs to entertain elderly and infirm patients at Bridgeport’s Dinan Memorial Center. On other occasions, these children have given recitals of Basque music and dance at neighborhood schools, churches, and civic functions. Recently, fronton officials donated hundreds of small cestas and pelotas to area school children living in so-called priority community districts. Additional player interest in community relations was publicly noticed by the appearance of Basque players at a “Salute to the Southbury Training School,” an institution for the care of the mentally retarded. Some players have likewise volunteered their time in raising funds for a Puerto Rican Crippled Children’s drive. These and other charitable activities have integrated the Basques into Bridgeport community life. Since their one day of relaxation is Sunday, married players spend as much time as possible with their families and friends. Normally, after attending church, families may hold picnics if the weather is pleasant, or go bicycle riding or simply stroll along nearby beaches. On other occasions, players may opt to rest all day, or take car rides to areas of historical and cultural interest around the state, including the submarine base in Groton, Mystic Harbor, Indian Villages, Yale University, and other landmarks. A short while ago, the Bridgeport management sponsored a bus ride for the players and their families to New York City, where they toured Manhattan, saw the Broadway play “Grease,” took a Circle Line cruise up the Hudson River, and had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Moreover, it is not uncommon on a Sunday to find some players and their wives stopping by local clubs, such as Brideport’s Cuban Lyceum, to relax, converse informally with neighborhood residents, and offer each other convivial toasts while simultaneously participating in songs and dances of Cuban and Basque origin. One hundred and twenty miles northeast of Bridgeport, in historical Newport, a town which still retains the appearance of a colonial seaport, forty-one Basque players, some with families, have settled down to small community living along this portion of Rhode Island Sound. Special education programs have been established to help the newcomers learn English as efficiently as possible. The Basque women are particularly active in the language class. As one fronton official in Newport has been quoted as saying, “One wonders if the teaching process were not meant more for the ladies than anyone else”. Many Basques prefer Newport’s quaint size to one of the larger American cities where jai-alai is played. Since jai-alai operations were successfully launched six months ago, it is worthwhile repeating that owners of frontons have been elated over profits, players appear content with their earnings and new lifestyles, and taxable revenues derived from each fronton continue to please state and local officials as they aid the general economy. Since large crowds attend each program, the general public, too, is learning more and more about Basque athletes and is quick in identifying them. Prior to their arrival last spring, few New Englanders knew anything about the Basques, other than that they come from Spain. In time, however, as a result of considerable publicity written about jai-alai, people here have slowly become aware that Basques and Spaniards have separate languages and cultures. At the same time the players are acquiring knowledge about Americans, their language and basic way of life. The Basques have helped the local economy and have taken an active part in community affairs. They have therefore been welcomed by businessmen and all local residents alike. For the moment, at least, it appears that our new Basque neighbors have made a strong impact on the New England communities of Bridgeport, Hartford, and Newport, which virtually implies that they will be here for a long, long time. Ala Jainkoa! |
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