Omri Casspi Makes History

Cross-posted to SportsBiz

Ian Kinsler - The Next Shawn Green?

Is Ian Kinsler, the Texas Rangers slugging second baseman the second coming, so to speak, of Shawn Green? Maybe not in baseball terms, but perhaps in the minds and hearts of Jewish baseball fans around the country. That at least is the proposition put forth by Sports Illustrated Jeff Pearlman in today's must read article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jeff_pearlman/06/12/kinsler-jews/?eref=sircrc

Mazel Tov to the Hall of Fame Inductees

The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame held an induction ceremony over the weekend, inducting seven new honorees, whose exploits ranged from the broadcast desk at SportsCenter to Olympic gold and even to the courtroom. Yes, it was a mighty diverse lot. The seven honorees for this year consisted of 2 women and 5 men. Before we get to the honorees, go ahead, admit it - you didn't think there was such a thing as a Jewish Sports Hall of Fame now did you? It's not only real, but has a very impressive list of inductees compiled over the course of seventeen years.

The two women, both still active and inspirational, are Linda Cohn of SportsCenter fame and the "Grandma" of the Beijing US Olympic swim team, the incomparable Dara Torres. The five men were sportswriter Dick Schaap (posthumously), former New England Patriot linebacker Andre Tippett, former Baltimore Colts trainer Ed Block, Olympic weightlifter Gary Gubner and trailblazing executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Marvin Miller.

All Stars, We Have All Stars

First, let me apologize for the interminable length between posts.  I wasn't sure that I was going to be keeping this blog at all, so I was neglectful while trying to make up my mind.  Since I still haven't made up my mind, I decided to go ahead and post this and post for a bit and see what happens.

Major League Baseball is having its All Star Game next week at Yankee Stadium since this is the last season for the House that Ruth Built before it's torn down for the House that Steinbrenner Built across the street.  The teams were announced earlier this week and three Jews, well, one full and two half-Jews, were named to the squads.  Kevin Youkilis, the Boston Red Sox first baseman will start for the American League, much to the chagrin of the Yankee faithful.  Youkilis, the "Greek God of Walks", openly identifies as Jewish.

The two half-Jews are the Milwaukee Brewers sensational outfielder Ryan Braun who will be starting for the National League.  Texas Ranger second baseman Ian Kinsler made the American League team as a reserve.  Both Braun and Kinsler have Jewish fathers, and while they may identify themselves as half-Jewish, at least in the case of Braun, don't consider themselves to be practicing Jews.