=========
We're on a roll, Bandini. The thing started in Gernika with a tournament called `Winter Series´ and, look, a tremendous success that caught everyone off the hook, starting with me.
I went to three of the festivals and you don't know, people asking me about you. How is Bandini doing?... "Give my regards to Bandini"... "Give him my regards"... a curious thing happened to me. The stands bursting at the seams and dozens of young people: Bandini!... Bandini!... I got goosebumps until I realized that what they were shouting was: Barandi!... Barandi!... cheering on Xabi Barandika, an idol local. Things that only happen to me.
Gernika finished and the first Grand Slam arrived in Donostia. Another success, not as much as the one in Gernika, but the community is satisfied. And, immediately afterwards, the second Grand Slam, where and in Markina-Xemein. A region, that of Lea-Artibai, to give you an idea, around 40% of a total of 3,500 professionals who have given the basket-tip have left. It's not a joke, no. It deserves a sociological study.
And not only that, from that town emerged the one who in his time was considered the best, the most complete, of all the pelotaris: Erdoza Menor. The unanimity is complete. Pelotaris, chroniclers, fans and even Hemingway did not hesitate to describe Erdoza Menor as the best of all those he had seen play, which were quite a few.
At that time, I have already told you, they loved to give nicknames to the pelota players, well, they nicknamed Don Eusebio Gárate: `El Fenomeno´, `El Emperador´, `El Rey de las Canchas´, I have also read somewhere: `El Rata´ and `Veneno´. The truth is that those chroniclers did not spare nicknames for the pelotaris.
Why the most complete pelotari? Because he managed all the positions like no one else and gave advantages that no one has ever given in the history of baseball. With a modest partner facing the best trios on many occasions. He gave advantages in the serve and even on some occasion, they prohibited him from rebounding.
Last Sunday modernity arrived at the University of the basket-tip in the format of music, parades and commentator included and there was more than one who was pissed off. The same Erdoza Menor from his watchtower —a bust in his honor since 1962 placed above the scoreboard, to the right of the frontis— it was not known for sure if he was smiling or swearing in Hebrew. And watch out for don Eusebio if he gets angry. On a certain occasion in Havana, in 1928, the judge gave a decision contrary to the interests of the 'Phenomenon'. In a fit of rage he grabbed the judge's chair and threw it into the air. No matter how famous he was, it cost him his job. He did not play again in Cuba.
Sunday's was a turning point for Uni, leaving aside some charanga in Cármenes playing the anthem of the pelotaris: "Let's go to the fronton, let's go..." and the almond seller "paste-kete-kete... almonds from the almond tree, my brother steals them and I sell them”… to date no other kind of entertaining offer had been known. And it seems that it worked, also in matinee. 600 people is no small feat for a first day.
The public enjoyed as a witness informs me. Good matches and excitement in the stands. Animation by a spiker, Narbarte, who is becoming the jewel of the World Tour. Rumors are swirling that offers are falling for him from the Miami Heat and even Magic City management is considering hiring him. It's a guy, Bandini, who if you look at him looks like a Los Angeles Rams player. A block of marble from a neighboring quarry. A crack with the micro. I don't know if don Eusebio will think the same.
By the way Bandini. Can you imagine a ball player with a huge punch to the point where after a low serve of his, he was fouled by the front judge, thinking that he would not reach the foul box, and when he touched the ground it turned out that he had exceeded the Raisin. Buaaá!…
How I would like to hear the comment from the spiker, from Narbarte, after that move. He would not be wasted.
That Zabala is strong and that Del RÃo hits him like a man possessed?
The thing with Erdoza Menor must have been tremendous. A journalist commented: “The noise of the ball thrown by Erdoza hitting the wall is different from that produced by other players. It's dry, metallic."
His cuts were violent to such an extent that playing Guillermo against `The Colossus of Markina´, he launched a txapa-gain of his own. So low and violent that Ondárroa's, seeing that he did not arrive even by chance, he turned around to return to his position. With such bad luck that he hit the ball on the back of her foot and, as a consequence, her foot in plaster cost her a month and a half.
Imagine, Bandini, Erdoza Menor with a baseball bat in his hands. Babe Ruth would have outgrown him . They were people of a different paste. Neither crossfit nor milk. pure candle.
The important thing, Bandini, is that the fans had a great time. Just like Fito's supporters in San Mamés the night before. In Bilbo they had Fito & Fitipaldis; in the Uni to Narbarte.
Bad tongues say that after the success of the event (now they are called that) they saw the Atain, Etxeba and co., holding each other by the shoulder singing: "Sailor soldier"...
Well yes, it seems that after a hard winter spring has arrived, to the university too.
I don't know if Don Eusebio will agree, but I'm afraid he'll have to get used to it.
A hug, Bandini.
=========
2022 International Tournaments
Hegoalde (South Basque Country-AKA Spain)