Monday, January 21, 2013
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Jews in Football
This article is a bit old, but the story of the battle for the Kiddush Cuo in Miami is surely unique. So, too are the manner in which the quarterbacks of both teams communicate signals..
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Lieberman, a True Original and First Woman Coach in the D League
So, as Nelson was building his team he was also looking for ways to differentiate the Legends. What better way to do that than hire a woman as your coach? Who better to be that woman than a legend in the game and a woman who has never backed down from any basketball challenge, including playing with and against men, both in organized ball and, even more impressively, on the New York playgrounds? Enter Nancy Lieberman, Lieberman, a member of the Hall of Fame had a spectacular playing career, winning two national championships at Old Dominion, a silver medal at the Olympics and a professional championship. Playing with men? Throughout the 80s she played on the Lakers' and Jazz's summer league teams, played two years in the long defunct USBL and even toured with the Globetrotters for a time, playing on the Washington Generals and reliving in some ways her childhood at Harlem's Rucker Park.
When the WNBA rolled around, she played and coached in it. Then, she went to work for ESPN, but when Donnie Nelson offered her a job coaching the Legends the lure was too strong to resist. She took the job and by all accounts has been accepted for what she is - the coach of a team in the D League, albeit one who hugs her players and tells them that she loves them.
Here's an interview with Cheryl Miller where Nancy discusses coaching the Legends:
Cross-posted to SportsBiz.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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
Maccabiah Alums HelpLead US In FIFA Confederations Cup
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mazel Tov to the Hall of Fame Inductees
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.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Jake and the Iditarod
or what's a nice Jewish boy doing all the way up in here in the cold with a team of dogs going nowhere? What am I supposed to say, my son the musher? Jake Berkowitz, a 22 year old dog sled racer, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, just completed in his second Iditarod, placing 31st out of 67 and the only one who finished with all 18 of his dogs. How did he get here and what should we expect from him in the future?
It was a bit of a roundabout journey to Alaska as you might guess. It took Jake from Talmud Torah in St. Paul to Israel to white water canoeing in Colorado and then a winter job in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan guiding dog sled trips. The company he was working for in Michigan, Nature's Kennel, asked him to run in the Iditarod and after competing once he was hooked. So he moved to Alaska and the rest is history.
Look for Jake in next year's race as his dogs should all be back with an additional year of training and experience. As Jake has said, his goal is a top ten finish. I don't if that would be a record for a Jewish dog sled racer, but I was hazard a guess that it just might be.
Cross-posted to SportsBiz
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Major League Baseball Opening Day Rosters
- Brad Ausmus, C, Los Angeles, Dodgers
- Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
- Craig Breslow, P, Minnesota Twins
- Scott Feldman, P, Texas Rangers
- John Grabow, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Gabe Kapler, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
- Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers
- Jason Marquis, P, Colorado Rockies
- Scott Schoeneweis, P, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Boston Red Sox
HT to Kaplan's Korner (which has also been added to the blogroll, as have a couple of others)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Another Coach in the Tribe
With the relatively unexpeccted move of John Calipari to Kentucky, (unexpected by those of us who have watched Kentucky's boneheaded athletic director; Calipari had once said he would crawl to Lexington on his hands and knees for the job), the opening in Memphis was filled by a Calipari assistant, uber recruiter Josh Pastner. Pastner, only 31, is a protege of retired Arizona coach Lute Olson and is the latest MOT to join the college baskteball coaching ranks, joining such other BCS conference notables as Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and Seth Greenberg at Virginia Tech.
Friday, March 13, 2009
It's A Long Way From Israel to Toledo
Saturday, February 28, 2009
WTA Fines Dubai $300,000 For Pe'er Ban
The WTA felt justified in fining the tournament organizers in part due to their association with Dubai Duty Free, a company owned by the Dubai government. In addition, the tournament is: "Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai."
In announcing the fine, WTA CEO Larry Scott told the AP: "I think what we hope with this decision is that we're sending a very clear message that we're not going to tolerate discrimination of any kind. We wanted to send a clear signal that this is the most egregious action the world of tennis has seen in recent history. And we felt that it should be at least double what the previous highest penalty was."
The WTA is taking all the right steps so far. With the granting of a visa to Andy Ram for next week's ATP tournament, it is clear that Dubai is getting the message. Hopefully, there will not be a repeat of this affair next year and there will be no need to remove this tournament from Dubai permanently. However, it cannot stop with tennis. Israel is systematically excluded from competition in Arab states. It is forced to compete in European competitions instead of Asian because Arab states refused to allow it to compete in their groups. These boycotts must end. The Olympic movement must end its tacit acceptance of this discrimination and stand up for what is right and fair and just. It's long past time to end anti-Semitism in world sport.
Cross-posted with SportsBiz - The Business of Sports Illuminated
WTA Fines Dubai $300,000 For Pe'er Ban
The WTA felt justified in fining the tournament organizers in part due to their association with Dubai Duty Free, a company owned by the Dubai government. In addition, the tournament is: "Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai."
In announcing the fine, WTA CEO Larry Scott told the AP: "I think what we hope with this decision is that we're sending a very clear message that we're not going to tolerate discrimination of any kind. We wanted to send a clear signal that this is the most egregious action the world of tennis has seen in recent history. And we felt that it should be at least double what the previous highest penalty was."
The WTA is taking all the right steps so far. With the granting of a visa to Andy Ram for next week's ATP tournament, it is clear that Dubai is getting the message. Hopefully, there will not be a repeat of this affair next year and there will be no need to remove this tournament from Dubai permanently. However, it cannot stop with tennis. Israel is systematically excluded from competition in Arab states. It is forced to compete in European competitions instead of Asian because Arab states refused to allow it to compete in their groups. These boycotts must end. The Olympic movement must end its tacit acceptance of this discrimination and stand up for what is right and fair and just. It's long past time to end anti-Semitism in world sport.
Dubai Will Grant Israeli Men's Tennis Player a Visa
In related news, the Sweden-Israel Davis Cup match to be played March6-8, in Malmo, Sweden, will be played before an empty stadium. The Malmo recreational committee, citing security concerns, decided to ban spectators from the stadium. The International Tennis Federation, in a typically feckless statement, reacted to the ban: "“very unfortunate” and “not in the long-term interests of the Davis Cup," but took no action. The ITF deferred to the local authhority. Again, imagine the outcry, if this had been done in Israel.
Cross-posted with SportsBiz - The Business of Sports Illuminated
Tennis Channel Won't Televise Dubai Open
"This is an easy decision to come by, based on what is right and wrong. Sports are about merit, absent of background, class, race, creed, color or religion. They are simply about talent. This is a classic case, not about what country did what to another country. If the state of Israel were barring a citizen of an Arab nation, we would have made the same."
It's good to see the Tennis Channel stand up for Pe'er. You can bet that had the roles been reversed and it was Israel that had refused a visa to an Arab tennis player for participation in a tournament in Israel, it would have been front page news around the world. There would have been denunciations coming from world capitals around the world and calls for immediate sessions of the UN Security Council to enforce an economic boycott on Israel for the injustice against humanity. The outcries would have been led by America's staunchest European allies, well, maybe not the UK. What is most interesting here is the deafening silence which with this affair has been greeted outside the sporting world.
Cross-posted with SportsBiz - The Business of Sports Illuminated
Dubai Tarnishes Golden Sports Hopes; Denies Israeli Tennis Star Visa
The WTA was apparently taken by surprise as well, since it had included Pe'er in the draw. To its credit, WTA Chairman and CEO Larry Scott released a statement that was strongly supportive of Pe'er and called into question the future of the Dubai tournament:
"We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the UAE denying Shahar Pe'er a visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships. Ms. Pe'er has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right.
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking,
The Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Pe'er and also will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament."
“All the players support Shahar,” American tennis champion Venus Williams told the New York Times. “We are all athletes, and we stand for tennis.”
It's likely now that Dubai has limited not only its ability to host WTA events but future events in other sports as well. While Israel does not have nearly as many friends in other international governing bodies, perhaps the precedent has been set, and no barring of athletes merely on the ground of their Israeli passport will be permitted if events are awarded to Dubai in the future. It is also likely that in the continuing contest between rivals Qatar and Dubai, Qatar has just won a major international sporting victory.
Cross-posted from SportsBiz-The Business of Sports Illuminated
Ralph Kaplowitz, Played in NBA's First Game, Dies
In an interesting sidelight, that first Knick team was broken up - not because of huge salaries and lousy performance like the Knicks teams of recent vintage but because of anti-Semitism. As Kaplowitz's daughter recalls: "“My father often told us that the first Knicks team, which had other Jewish players on it, was broken up because fans, especially on the road, would often chant nasty things,” Barbara Kaplowitz said. “But my father was too self-confident a man to ever let stuff like that bother him."
Cross-posted from SportsBiz- The Business of Sports Illuminated
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lezak Brings Home Relay Gold
As they made the turn for the last 50 meters, Lezak trailed Alain Bernard, the trash talking world record holder of France by a body length and things looked dim for the Americans and Phelps dreams of eight gold medals. Lezak, hugging the lane rope and drafting off Bernard's wake began running him down and stunningly out-touched Bernard at the wall. Lezak had swum the split in 46.06 seconds, a full three-quarters of a second faster than any split in history as the team shattered the fifteen hour old world record by nearly four seconds. Lezak had swum his split by nearly two-thirds of a second faster than Bernard and well ahead of Bernard's world record of 47.50, although it won't count as a new world record for the 100.
Lezak, the old man on this team, like his teammate, Dara Torres, his elder by 9 years, may well turn out to upstage the face of these Games in Michael Phelps. At the very least, in the event that Phelps does go on to break Spitz's record and gets the eight gold records and the $1 million bonus put up by Speedo, he will owe a big chunk of it to Lezak.
UPDATE: You have to love this headline from Haaretz: Two Jews and a Black Man Help Phelps Fulfill Dream.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Jacobson Nabs Silver In US Sweep
Sada Jacobson (on the right against Zagunis) lost the final in women's saber to teammate Mariel Zagunis, winning the silver medal as part of a US sweep of the event and becoming the first Jewish athlete to medal In Beijing.
Jacobson is a veteran fencer, having won the bronze medal at Athens in 2004. Zagunis also won this event in Athens, where she became the first American in a century to win a fencing gold medal. The American women's team, consisting of the medal winners, are now the favorite to take the gold medal in the team saber event later this week.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
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.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Russia Tops Israel; Makes Fed Cup Semis
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Israel, Russia 1-1 in Fed Cup Play
Israel and Russia split opening day singles matches in Fed Cup quarterfinal play today at the Ramat Hasharon Tennis Center. Maria Sharapova, playing in her first ever Fed Cup match, overwhelmed Tzipi Obziler 6-0, 6-4, while Shahar Pe'er rallied to defeat Dinara Safina 0-6, 6-2, 6-2. Reverse singles will be played on Sunday followed by the doubles match.
The sellout Israeli crowd was not your typical tennis crowd. At one point in Sharapova's match, the crowd began imitating Sharapova's grunts each time the Aussie Open champ hit the ball. It didn't seem to faze Sharapova however:
"I don't mind it," Sharapova said. "It brings out the best in me. I love the atmosphere, the crowd and their craziness. It is what we live for. I got really anxious and excited as I was close to finishing my first Fed Cup match.
An Historic Weekend in Israeli Sports
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.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Haveil Havalim #118
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Israeli Hoops Ambassador to the WNBA
Flash forward two years and Doron enrolls at Maryland, a program rebuilding. Before she leaves, Doron leads the Terps to the national championship. Last month, at the WNBA draft, she waits, watches as the first round goes by and her name is not called. The second round comes and as the New York Liberty's, her "hometown" team, turn rolls around, the team's Vice President of Player Personnel is staring at her as she makes picks Doron. Shay's childhood dream comes true; she is the only Israeli in the WNBA.
Doron is not just any 5'9" guard, however. “She has the skills and mentality to play in this league, absolutely,” Liberty Coach Pat Coyle said. “Every day she competes. This is her life. This is her dream. She won’t be satisfied until she’s starting and is an impact player. I can’t ever see that kid not working.”
However, what really separates Doron is that she sees herself as an ambassador for Israel. She is not serving in the Israeli Defense Force since she has been living outside the country but sees herself as serving the country as a roving ambassador. She encourages everyone she meets to visit Israel and perhaps even move there. She anticipates using the "fame" associated with being a WNBA player as a platform to educate more people about the situation Israel finds itself in every day and the lives Israelis are living, as well as the good things that are going on inside the country. Playing in the world's media capital can only help, as this New York Times article proves.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Haveil Havalim #115
Saturday, May 05, 2007
An Athlete's Dilemma
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Shalom NASCAR
The world of stock car racing is not exactly the first place you would look to find a nice Jewish boy. After all, NASCAR grew out of a bunch of hillbillies running moonshine through the
Meet Jon Denning, the first Jewish NASCAR driver in at least 20 years, and surprisingly, Jon is not a Southerner. He is, however, from a family with roots in the auto business. His family owns and operates Dobbs Autobody in
It's also a good place to get used to the fact that "you're not in
“I’m not extremely religious, but I have a strong value for Jewish religion,” Denning said. “Antisemitism has made me want to defend those traditions.”
NASCAR's business plan for the 21st century involves conquering new markets and diversifying its audience. That included broadening the ranks of drivers by including minorities and women, as well as geographic expansion into areas not previously believed to be pockets of closed wheel racing fans such as
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Peer Sizzles Down Under
Peer went into Australia ranked 17th on the WTA circuit, but, due to her quarterfinal finish, at least, will almost certainly rise to at least 14th. That would surpass the ranking of 15 achieved by Anna Smashnova in 2003. Should Shahar beat Serena and move on to the semis, she could move up past 14th and begin to have designs on the top 10, rarefied air indeed for an Israeli tennis player. She would also make history as the first Israeli to make the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
Serena Williams entered the tournament ranked 81st in the world after being off for the better part of a year due to a knee injury but she has been her electrifying old self in her recent Australian matches and presents a formidable obstacle for Peer to overcome if she is to become the Cinderella of Oz.
UPDATE: Peer's dream crashed against Serena's comeback as Williams stormed back from a opening set defeat to snatch victory away in a third set tie break 3-6, 6-2, 8-6.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Bornstein MLS Rookie of the Year Finalist
Monday, September 04, 2006
Welcome
So who am I? I am sort of your stereotypical fifty-something (yes, even we 50 somethings blog), Jewish (although I suppose that's redudant given this blog) attorney who follows sports passionately. I played sports avidly, if not always well, while growing up and following sports has always been a part of my life and that of my most of my family. It is something I have shared with my wife and children and we find our social lives often revolve around home games of our favorite teams, during college football and baskteball season. You see, I don't live in a city large enough to support major league professional sports, so our local university is our professional sports franchise.
So, there you have it. The short hand synopsis of who I am. Now, as to why I decided to start this blog, well, I have always noticed that whenever a Jewish athlete accomplishes something, Jewish sports followers are quick to notice and tell other Jews. It quickly becomes a topic of discussion. Why? We are a proud group and are particularly proud of our athletes because it is one area that is traditionaly under-represented. As I looked around the blogosphere, I didn't notice any blogs devoted to this topic and thought I would fill the void.
However, I can't do this without your help. I will need your submissions to make this work. Please send me news about any Jewish athletes you find. Stories are greatly appreciated and will make this a better blog for all of us. Any contributions will be suitably acknowledged and gratefully appreciated. Let's have some fun with this. Send all tips, story ideas, and suggestions to sportsyids@gmail.com.