basketball

Original Article is Published at jpost.com

Disclaimer: Howard Blas CONTRIBUTED to the article but only wrote the latter part about tennis player Ons Jabeur.

Many players, leagues help and support Israel • Tunisian tennis star Jabeur in hot water over war stance

Israeli teams are beginning to make plans to get back into the swing of things as best as they can during the war, as both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball teams will be in action beginning on Tuesday.

The Reds will be playing Tuesday against Reyer Venice in Italy as they look to pick up where they left off in EuroCup action after defeating Cedevita Olimija 100-73 in their continental opener two weeks ago.

Danny Franco’s import players had left for Athens earlier last week while the Israelis joined the foreigners in Italy over the weekend as they prepare as best as they can despite the trying circumstances.

Venice features a familiar face in head coach Neven Spahija, who led Maccabi Tel Aviv on a pair of occasions over the past two decades. The Croatian bench boss has many ties to the Holy Land and contacted The Jerusalem Post at the onset of the war last Saturday night to share his feelings and emotions during this challenging time.

“I’m so sorry about this attack… disaster. Please stay strong and positive. Everything is going to be OK. Big hug for all of you.”

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has condemned acts of violence on social media, but also included the hashtag #FreePalestine in her post. (credit: REUTERS)

Maccabi Tel Aviv will also return to action as it heads to Valencia for a Euroleague date on Wednesday night and then will fly to Athens to play Panathinaikos on Friday evening in a tough double week.

The yellow-and-blue’s foreign players departed for Cyprus as war broke out and the Israelis will now meet up with the rest of the squad. With a 96-81 win over Partizan Belgrade in the season opener, Maccabi will look to continue the positive momentum in Spain and Greece. In addition, the club’s former general manager Nikola Vujcic, who just left his post this summer, has volunteered to accompany Maccabi as it restarts its European campaign.

Israel’s basketball scene adapts and acts amid war

Meanwhile, over the past week Israel’s first NBA player Omri Casspi – along with Maccabi captain John DiBartolomeo, Rafi Menco, Roman Sorkin, Jake Cohen and head coach Oded Katash – all made visits to various locations in the country to raise the spirits of the many families that have been displaced due to the war.

“We’re trying to give the children a moment of joy and getting them to smile while we play with them. We are trying to do something and anything that we can will be a help to all of them,” Sorkin said.

Casspi spoke about what he has been doing over the past week to contribute as best as he can.

“Over the last few days I have been visiting many hospitals and here we are strengthening the families, but we are the ones who come out strengthened. We see the amazing power of the people of Israel as everyone is together with one goal. It is really heart warming.”

Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon are making plans to begin their respective Basketball Champions League campaigns and will be trying to switch their home games with their opponents in order to be able to host fans at a later date.

The Purples are slated to host Spanish side Rio Breogan next week, while the Reds are supposed to welcome Galatasaray from Turkey on November 1.

Bnei Herzliya, Ness Ziona, and Hapoel Galil Elyon are also in the same boat, with FIBA Europe Cup action set to begin.

Over on the soccer field, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa are going to gear up to play in their respective UEFA competitions – Conference League and Europa League – next week.

The yellow-and-blue are slated to host Zorya Luhansk, although management is trying to switch dates and visit the Ukrainian club at it temporary home in Lublin, Poland, on October 26.

The Greens are heading to Spain to play Villarreal on the same day as both Israel sides will need to get their full teams together after most foreigners opted to go home.

After a number of messages of support last week, Israeli star goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who plays for Bayern Munich, came out with a strong statement that has been shared all over social media platforms.

“I know how it is to be an athlete, there is so much pressure and everyone’s eyes are on us. Every second, every minute, every hour. Sometimes it’s good because we can influence with just a few words to millions. I promise you, it’s not about politics, over 1,300 innocent civilians murdered, over 2,700 injured and more than 150 hostages in Gaza including babies and elderly. We’ve seen in the past in history 9/11 and the 2015 terror attack in Paris. We know how much terrorism hurts and how important it is to fight against it.

“We are still processing everything that is happening. The horror, the kidnaps, the terrorism. The stories we thought we would never hear again. I call on all athletes and sport organizations all over the world to stand together. Speak out against terror, make a donation and stay strong. Let’s honor the victims with a moment of silence and unite as we fight against evil.”

Prior to the United States and Germany International friendly in Hartford over the weekend, a moment of silence was held for the Israeli victims of the war with Hamas, while the NFL did the same at Thursday night’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos and continued to do so for the upcoming weekend of games across America.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon finalist and current world No. 7 women’s tennis player Ons Jabeur, is finding herself in hot water over social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.  

The 29-year-old Tunisian Muslim, who withdrew from the quarterfinals of this week’s Bank of Communications Zhengzhou Open due to a knee injury, condemned acts of violence in Israel and called for peace. But her lengthy post, which ended with the #FreePalestine hashtag, expressed her support for the Palestinians.  

In a lengthy Instagram post, Jabeur, who was born in the small town of Ksar Hellal and grew up in the larger nearby coastal town of Sousse on the Gulf of Hammamet, wrote:  “What Palestinians have been going through during the last 75 years is indescribable.  What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable; no matter what their religion is, or what their origin is. Violence will never bring peace; I cannot stand with violence but I also cannot stand with people having their lands taken.

“So understanding context is important, looking at what’s happening today and deciding to ignore recent history is irresponsible and won’t bring peace. And peace is all we care about. Peace is what everyone needs and deserves. Stop the violence and #FreePalestine.”

Jabeur’s stance elicited a response from the Israel Tennis Association.

“This tennis player fights, incites and supports a murderous terrorist organization,” said ITA Chairman Avi Peretz in a statement. “We’re glad she’s in the minority… We trust our security and rescue forces to do their job and we pray they return safely.”

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Original Article published On the Jewish Times

Tamir Goodman, who started his illustrious basketball career at Talmudical Academy (TA) in Baltimore, returned to the city of his youth earlier this month to share his love of basketball and his dedication to bringing together people of different backgrounds. The Unity Clinic at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC provided an opportunity for local Black and Jewish basketball players, in addition to several sports world celebrities, to come together to learn and play basketball and to begin forming meaningful relationships.

“It was so magical to be back,” reports Goodman, 40, who spent his high school years in Baltimore before transferring to Takoma Academy Preparatory School (TA Prep), a Seventh-Day Adventist School in Takoma Park, Md., so he could remain Sabbath-observant and still play competitive basketball. “It was a slam dunk! They established positive relationships,” says Goodman, who was pleased with every aspect of the day.

“It was a great workout; leading coaches led their favorite drills; and they had doughnuts and drinks together at a meet and greet afterwards,” he describes. “At the end, they exchanged game schedules, and coaches and players will come out to games and support each other.”

Goodman does not take their forming relationships for granted: “They arrived not knowing each other and possibly never knowing each other, meeting each other. and they left as friends. That is how we better the world through basketball. I am just so thankful that it went so well.”

Participants in the clinic play at what Goodman describes as “two basketball powerhouses — Mervo and Baltimore City College (high school).” They joined players from Yeshivat Mekor Chaim, a local yeshivah coached by Goodman’s former coach and lifelong friend, Coach Haim Katz. “I met Coach Katz at age 7 or 8,” Goodman says affectionately. “I am 40 now. We talk one or two times every day!”

Katz reports that Goodman has “worked his whole adult life to bring peace to people. He does not see colors or religions, he just sees people — creations of God — and it bothers him. He thinks that each person is created in God’s image and is holy.”

He notes that “basketball is his life, and he sees the great things that can come out of it — it can be used as a metaphor and vehicle to bring peace, joy and understanding to people.”
Goodman playfully adds, “I was a Jewish kid who went to a Catholic school for high school and roomed with a Muslim player in college.”

Celebrities at the Unity Clinic included former Baltimore Ravens running-back Matthew Lawrence; former professional basketball player and NBA coach Corsley Edward; former Portland Trailblazers player Ronnie Murphy; and Joanne Pasternack, who formerly headed the philanthropy, and community relations and outreach functions at the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.

The players in action, taking tips from the teachers. (Photo courtesy of Tamir Goodman: Israel Orange)

‘A storied place in my heart’
While in town, Goodman also addressed an Israel Bonds business networking event and the Weiner Family Basketball Tournament at the Beth Tfiloh Dagan Community School. The tournament has been bringing Jewish teens from around the United States, Canada and Israel together for basketball, Shabbat observance and comraderie since 1988.

Goodman’s illustrious and evolving basketball career started during his own high school career where he averaged 35 points per game in the 11th grade at TA and was ranked 25th best high school player in the country. He remained committed to Orthodox religious practice even as he pursued his basketball dreams. Playing at a Seventh-Day Adventist school, where Saturdays are observed as the day of rest, afforded an opportunity to play high-level basketball for the remainder of his high school career.

Goodman initially received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Maryland, but he ultimately declined the offer given difficulties accommodating his Sabbath observance. He then accepted a scholarship from Baltimore’s Towson University in 2000. He averaged 6 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in his first year, and was awarded the coach’s award for his performance on the court and in the classroom. He continued at Towson for his sophomore year, ultimately leaving when the basketball program underwent significant changes.

His very public high school and college career were covered extensively by such publications and media outlets as Sports Illustrated, “60 Minutes,” ESPN, CNN, Fox, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld even performed a skit about “The Jewish Jordan.”

Goodman went on to play professional basketball in Israel. He signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2002 and played with several teams in Israel over the course of his career. In 2004, he served in the Israel Defense Forces, where he was awarded “Most Outstanding Soldier” and also suffered a knee injury. After a seven-year career playing basketball in Israel — and several other serious injuries — Goodman retired from professional basketball in 2009.

Goodman has continued to be actively involved in all aspects of the basketball world. He runs a summer overnight basketball camp in Jerusalem for players from around the world. His clinics also brings Arab and Jewish children together. “My culture diversity camps unite people and they form relationships through basketball,” he says.

Slam dunk; lesson learned. (Photo courtesy of Tamir Goodman: Israel Orange)

In 2013, Goodman shared his story in the book “The Jewish Jordan’s Triple Threat.” He is also an accomplished entrepreneur and business consultant. He founded Zone190, a training device being used in the NBA; as well as Sport Strings Tzitzit, compression-fit, moisture-wicking ritual fringes; and Aviv Net, a basketball net that dries and sanitizes basketballs as they pass through the basketball net. Goodman works in business development with the Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Club and is working to develop a system for “on net advertising,” which he reports is “soon to premier in its first indoor pro game and will hopefully get to all leagues around the world.”

In addition, the tireless Goodman is working with Fabric, an Israeli sport tech and sports engagement firm that brings people together through an innovative technology platform. Fabric served as a sponsor for the Unity Clinic.

Goodman lives in Jerusalem with his wife and five kids, and brought one of his daughters with him on his recent Baltimore trip. “I’ve been in Israel for 20 years,” he says. “But Baltimore always has a storied place in my heart. It will always be extra-special to me.”

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Original article published in the JNS

“The aim of the organization is not just to reach a Jewish audience. Our larger goal is to reach an audience of the hundreds of millions of people who haven’t made up their mind about Israel,” says group founder Daniel Posner.

Since its launch at the end of 2018, Athletes for Israel has regularly brought high-profile athletes and sports teams to the country to compete in athletic events and get to know the Jewish state.

After their trips, the group’s founder, Daniel Posner, says many of the athletes play an important role in telling the story of Israel’s people, history, food, technology and culture.

The Division 1 Auburn Tigers basketball team, which won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship last season, recently participated in a preseason tour, affectionately referred to as “Birthright for College Basketball.” The tour was arranged in large part by the team’s Jewish coach Bruce Pearl, one of the more pro-Israel coaches in the NCAA.

Pearl, affectionately known to Jewish fans as “Mordechai,” is the founder of the Jewish Coaches Association which hosts an annual breakfast for Jewish NCAA basketball coaches at March Madness. Pearl has been to Israel many times. He served as a coach for the USA Team in the 2009 Maccabiah Games. His Tigers basketball team made it to the NCAA Final Four in 2019.

The mostly non-Jewish team from Alabama played three games in Israel—against Israel’s Under 20 National Team on Aug. 2 in Jerusalem, Israel’s All-Star Select Team in Tel Aviv on Aug. 7, and Israel’s National Team on Aug. 8 in Tel Aviv. The Tigers won their first two games with a 119-56 win over the Israeli U-20 team, and a 107-71 win over the Israeli Select All-Star team. The Israeli National team was joined by Israeli Deni Avdija, the Washington Wizards small forward who was drafted No. 9 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Avdija scored 25 points as the Israel team defeated Auburn 95-86.

Athletes for Israel founder Daniel Posner (left), a longtime hedge-fund and private-equity manager in Manhattan, and Auburn Tigers coach Bruce Pearl at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, August 2022. Credit: Courtesy of Auburn Athletics/Basketball.

Pearl and Posner of Athletes for Israel agree that the outcome of the three games was only one small way to measure the success of the 10-day trip. Pearl reports, “We’re here to see this country, get closer to God, and by the way, we have three games—that’s how we look at it.”

The team visited Yad Vashem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Mount of Olives, and some players elected to be baptized in the Jordan River. “The guys were just soaking it in, walking where Jesus walked,” said Pearl. The team also took part in a high-tech seminar in Tel Aviv.

Posner, a longtime hedge-fund and private-equity manager in Manhattan, initially started the organization to help share Israel’s vibrant food scene, high-tech landscape and overall positive Israel vibes with friends and colleagues. “I go to Israel often, and each time when I’d return, colleagues would say, ‘I want to go to Israel. Take me!”

He recognized that they had heard many of the negative buzzwords associated with Israel, including “the separation wall” and “the Occupied Territories.” “It was nerve-wracking—so much in the press is about the political side of Israel. It is all we hear about. I said, ‘We have to change the narrative.” He then offers an analogy from closer to home: “If people only heard about politics in the United States, they would never come to the Rocky Mountains or to the National Parks. We need to talk about the wonderful things about Israel!”

Posner decided to start changing perceptions by bringing athletes to Israel, explaining that “we wanted to bring superstar athletes, across different sports. We had eight trips scheduled, including a trip including three MLB All-Stars, basketball and football players. Some high-profile athletes who have come to Israel already include Mariano Rivera, Ray Allen, Eddy Curry and Rick Barry.

Posner is particularly proud of the recent Auburn trip, saying “it was very special. ‘ESPN’ covered the games and did a wonderful job producing them.”

“We have also gotten a lot of interest from major college powerhouses,” he adds.

Posner notes that 20 to 30 boosters (supporters) came with the Auburn teams and can only imagine the potential if other major college teams come to Israel: “We will have hundreds of fans coming with them!”

The idea of sharing Israel with a diverse audience is very appealing to Posner. As he explains, “the aim of the organization is not just to reach a Jewish audience. Our larger goal is to reach an audience of the hundreds of millions of people who haven’t made up their mind about Israel.” And he is clear about the goals of the program, noting that “we don’t want to debate Israel; we just want to bring a positive message about Israel’s culture, food, people, the tech scene and more!”

Auburn Tigers basketball teammates Carter Sobera and Lior Berman, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Credit: Courtesy of Auburn Athletics/Basketball.

‘Dispelling myths and fake news’

In addition to the Auburn visit arranged with the help of Athletes for Israel, a number of high-profile athletes and teams have also played in and toured Israel recently. Enes Kanter Freedom, who played for the NBA for 11 seasons, traveled all over Israel, praying at the Al-Aqsa mosque, visiting the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and touring the Machane Yehuda open-air market. He is opening a basketball camp for Muslims, Jews, Christian and Druze kids in the capital.

The Italian soccer team AS Roma and the English Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, recently played a friendly pre-season exhibition game in Haifa. Before the game, Roma visited the Western Wall.

Two of the sports world’s biggest names—Lionel Messi and Neymar—were in Israel for a game between Paris Saint-Germain, or PSG. The game took place at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium. Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams has brought the high-profile French soccer season-opener, known as the Trophée des Champions, or the French Super Cup, to Israel for the second year in a row.

Prior to the match, PSG met with the Israeli nonprofit Save A Child’s Heart, a humanitarian group that performs cardiac operations on children worldwide. Messi and Neymar have each visited Israel previously. Messi visited Israel in 2019 with Argentina’s national team for an exhibition match against Uruguay, and he had visited Israel once before with his former club team, Barcelona.

“ESPN” basketball analyst Jay Bilas puts a note in Western Wall in Jerusalem, August 2022. Credit: Courtesy of Auburn Athletics/Basketball.

Posner is proud of his organization while also acknowledging the work of other entities in bringing athletes to Israel. “Athletes for Israel,” notes Posner, “wants to do it in a more systematic way across different sports.” He is open to bringing athletes to Israel from sports as diverse as tennis and pickleball.”

Auburn Tigers coach Bruce Pearl touring Ir David, the City of David, in Jerusalem, August 2022. Credit: Courtesy of Auburn Athletics/Basketball.

David Wiseman, a co-founder of the 36,000-member Facebook group “Follow Team Israel,” explains that “the work Athletes for Israel does is so important for two reasons. First of all, it allows people here in Israel, especially kids, to be inspired by seeing world-class athletes in the flesh. But then, when these athletes go back to their homes, they’re going to tell everyone as well as their social-media followers what a wonderful experience they had in Israel. This isn’t to say the athletes are being coerced into saying something that isn’t true, rather they’re shattering myths and fake news that have taken hold vis a vis Israel.”

He also notes that they are “dispelling myths and fake news.”

Wiseman and his team at Follow Team Israel are devoted to sharing Israeli/Jewish sports with the world. He says “given these, we love to share the incredible work Athletes for Israel does so people know about it. It would be the biggest shame if the athletes came to Israel and went without anyone knowing about it.”

Posner and Athletes for Israel are steadfast in pursuing a fairly straightforward and simple approach: “Through positive messaging and experiences, we can change the narrative—that’s our goal.”

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Original article published in the JNS

“Our kids also come from a perspective culturally and educationally that they will return to the U.S. as allies and friends of the State of Israel,” said head coach Bruce Pearl.

Busloads of American Jewish teenagers arrived at Jerusalem’s Malha Arena to watch Israel’s U20 National play against Auburn University Tigers Men’s basketball team on Aug. 2.

Instead of rooting for Israel, the large delegation of participants on an NCSY trip sponsored by the inclusive Israel experience Yad B’Yad came clad in blue and orange to cheer on Auburn, the reigning SEC regular-season champions. The Alabama team is in Israel to play three games as part of the inaugural “Birthright for College Basketball Tour.”

“We came to support Auburn for coming to Israel,” Emily Farbowitz of New Jersey told JNS.

Eytan Israel of Stamford, Conn., added that “when we heard Auburn was coming to Israel and that they were the first school to show support for Israel, we wanted to support them and make them feel welcome.”

The well-attended event included Israeli Jewish and Arab basketball fans. Photo by Howard Blas.

Ironically, Yad B’Yad head counselor Eytan Aryeh happened to pack his blue Auburn sun hat for his Israel trip before learning the team was coming to the Jewish state. “I like Auburn,” he said. “I was a big Cam Newton (NFL quarterback) fan when he attended Auburn, and I happened to bring the hat.”

Aryeh said he felt privileged to bring his entire group to the game, saying “what better activity than to bring our group to a basketball game, and to welcome Auburn and show that we support them. What a kiddush Hashem,” he said, using words meaning “a sanctification of God’s name.”

The well-attended event also included Israeli Jewish and Arab basketball fans. Moad of Ein Naqquba, an Arab village in central Israel, brought his children. “They are rooting for the U.S. team and I am rooting for the local team,” he said. “We came to watch good-quality professional basketball.”

Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl is familiar with Israel and Israeli basketball. In 2009, he served as head coach for the Maccabi USA men’s basketball team, which took the gold medal at the Maccabi Games in Tel Aviv. Pearl is one of five Jewish coaches in history to reach the Final Four in the NCAA Division I College basketball playoffs.

The 62-year-old noted that once every four years, the NCAA allows a college basketball team to have a foreign tour. In 2017, Pearl took his team on a similar trip to Italy in the summer.

Pearl and the Tigers arrived in Israel Sunday for a 10-day visit. “Auburn is going to allow us to go take my kids to Israel and experience something that could be a once-in-a lifetime thing for them,” said Pearl. “I’m just so grateful.”

He said that he sees great potential for U.S. teams holding sports and cultural experiences in Israel. “My hope is to put Israel on the map for U.S. college teams. Auburn is going to get it started, and hopefully, you’re going to see schools like Duke, Notre Dame or Ohio State—the best names in college basketball—come to Israel. This is my goal and dream, and we are going to try and make it a reality.”

He also said that he hopes the trip will influence his players to return home as allies of Israel.

“Our kids also come from a perspective culturally and educationally that they will return to the U.S. as allies and friends of the State of Israel, and certainly for some of my players, the dream would be for them to be able to come back and play professionally in Israel because it is such a great country to play professionally because of the supportive fans,” said their coach.

Photo by Howard Blas.

‘Try to play some competition’

The Tigers will travel to Hadar-Yosef Stadium in North Tel Aviv, part of the sports center of the same name, to play against Israel’s All-Star Select Team on Aug. 7. The team’s final game will take place against Israel’s National Team on Aug. 8 at Tel Aviv Yafo Sport Palaces. Games will feature four quarters, as opposed to two halves, with a 24-second shot clock.

“One of the things our guys are going to find out in a hurry is they love their basketball in Israel and they’re good,” said Pearl. “A lot of times, you go on these summer tours and you do the best you can to try to play some competition, and there just flat-out isn’t any competition over there. We’re going to get all we want.”

The Auburn team features players from this past season, including Wendell Green Jr.; Zep Jasper; K.D. Johnson; Allen Flanigan; Chris Moore; Jaylin Williams; Babatunde Akingbola; and Dylan Cardwell. New players include freshmen Tre Donaldson; Yohan Traore; and Chance Westry; as well as Johni Broome, a transfer from Morehead State University.

All games are televised live from Israel by the SEC Network at 12 p.m. U.S. Central Standard Time. “We couldn’t be more honored to be able to go with Auburn and Bruce Pearl and his staff for this once-in-a-lifetime trip,” said ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. “We’re thrilled beyond words.”

Bilas will call Auburn’s games on SEC Network alongside Roxy Bernstein, an American sportscaster for ESPN, the Pac-12 Network and the Oakland Athletics.

In Tuesday night’s game, Auburn never lost the lead. They led at the half 57-22 and went on to blow out the home team 117-56. Players and coaches seem more concerned with good feelings and the symbolism of the trip than the final outcome. Players huddled, embraced, posed for group pictures and then went to greet fans, pose for selfies and sign autographs. Pearl received a big welcome and put on a white yarmulke as the crowd chanted his Hebrew name, Mordechai.

“We’re going to share this trip together—see things for the first time that we’re never ever going to forget,” he said. “That’s what makes it so special, and that’s what will give us a chance to be able to come together and get to know each other better.”

“The greatest way to understand Israel and the amazing place it has become,” he affirmed, “is to see it for yourself.”

“We came to support Auburn for coming to Israel,” said Emily Farbowitz of New Jersey. Photo by Howard Blas.
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