All in a Day’s Work: 17-Year-Old Jai A’lai Announcer

Fri, Feb 6, 2009

All in a Day's Work, Episode 1: Premiere

by Trina Sargalski

: Ryan Esdale practices at Dania Jai A’lai, where he is an announcer. /Trina Sargalski

In our recurring segment, we explore the ways people in South Florida make a living. Meet Ryan Esdale, a 17-year-old announcer at Dania Jai A’lai. He dreams of going pro. Trina Sargalski produced this story.

Ryan aspires to be like Joey Cornblit, the most well known American jai a’lai player of all time. Joey’s career peaked in the 1970’s and 80’s when jai a’lai was in its prime. Joey, a Miami native, began playing professionally in high school.

AUDIENCE CALL-OUT

Know someone with an interesting job unique to South Florida? Do you have a job that’s out of the ordinary? Or do you do an ordinary job in an extraordinary way? Email trina@wlrnunderthesun.org with your ideas for our All in a Day’s Work feature.

MUSIC

We used local artist Sam Friend’s song, “Great Useless Things” in this piece. Listen to it here.