Maccabiah Alums HelpLead US In FIFA Confederations Cup

The United States Men's National Soccer Team is currently in South Africa playing in this year's preview of the 2010 World Cup. It is the FIFA Confederations Cup, an eight nation tournament featuring the winners of each of FIFA's six continental federations' cup competitions held last year, plus the host country and the defending World Cup champion. It was the US' great fortune to open play against that defending champion, Italy, yesterday which the Yanks unfortunately lost 3-1. The US played well at times, especially playing a man down for much of the match. On the pitch at the start for the US were Maccabiah Games alumni Benny Feilhaber and Jonathan Bornstein. Also starting was Jonathan Spector who, while not a Maccabiah Games alum, is a valued team member and member of the tribe. Let's hope for a better result when the Yanks take on Brazil Thursday.

An Historic Weekend in Israeli Sports

It was a week in Israeli sports that began like many others. Maccabi Tel Aviv won a EuroLeague game at Nokia Arena and looks to be on its way to a top seed in the round of 16. Half a world away, the pride of Israeli tennis, ShaharPe'er had crashed out of the Australian Open singles competition. But this was the calm before the proverbial storm as Saturday dawned bright around the globe.

The appetizer was a sparkling performance by multi-talented striker Yossi Benayoun in a game that reminded everyone exactly why the FA Cup is still a beloved tournament. In a game that saw a team of part-timers composed of bricklayers, taxi drivers and truant officers take twice take leads over Liverpool at Anfield, it took a hat trick by Benayoun to save the Premier League side's reputation, not to mention its place in the fifth round.

In a normal weekend, that would have been the highlight, however, more was to come from Down Under. The aforesaid Pe'er redeemed herself in doubles, making it to the finals, with her Belorussian partner Victoria Azarenka before falling to Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 1-6, 4-6.

The best was yet to come however. Israeli doubles team Andy Ram and Yoni Ehrlich met French doubles team Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement in the men's doubles final. The Israelis won 7-5, 7-6 completing a run through the doubles bracket in which they did not drop a set, and becoming the first Israeli team to win a Grand Slam event. The pair played before a raucous crowd of Israeli supporters, replete with, and I'm quoting here, "cries of war and shouts to attack the French from the start."

It will be tennis mania in Israel this week as the conquering Aussie Open heroes arrive home accompanied by Maria Sharapova, the Australian Open Women's Singles winner, who is coming to join her Russian Fed Cup teammates ahead of this weekend's match with Israel. Shahar Pe'er will open play with a singles match against Sharapova. I doubt that Israeli tennis has ever had a more eventful eight days.

Bornstein MLS Rookie of the Year Finalist

Chivas USA super rookie Jonathan Bornstein, an anchor of the Goats defense, has been named a finalist for Rookie of the Year, MLS announced this week. The Southern California native, and member of the US team in the most recent Maccabiah Games, started 32 games this season scoring 6 goals with 4 assists. He helped lead Chivas USA to the playoffs in its second season in the league. The winner of the award will be announced October 31. Good luck Jonathan.