"Paula Morton provides a fun, concise introduction to jai alai, a fast-paced ball game with ancient roots on several continents that is admired by fans for the sport's power and spectacle. Cesta punta, as the game is known in its Basque homeland, became a phenomenon during the twentieth century as organized jai alai spread from Spain into the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, and Asia. Today, while the game's impact has diminished in the United States, it continues to be a vibrant cultural touchstone. Jai Alai explores the multi-faceted history of the sport, from its beginnings in Basque country to its North American "unveiling" at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition and World's Fair to its rise and fall in popularity in the United States. Complete with guest essays by people who have been involved in the game and historic photographs that provide details of the game is played and a look at players and venues, this carefully crafted and thoroughly researched book is a must for lovers of sports and cultural history"--