Israel Matzav

Monday, May 07, 2012

Another reason to vote for Mitt Romney

This is from Sunday's playoff game at TD North Garden. The Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 101-79 to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Labels: Boston Celtics, Mitt Romney

Monday, November 07, 2011

Four NBA players playing in Israel, a fifth on the way

With the NBA lockout keeping the league from playing, there are four NBA players playing in Israel under short-term contracts, and a fifth who hopes to be playing as soon as he recovers from injury. One of those playing is Avery Bradley of my Boston Celtics, who is playing for HaPoel Jerusalem.

Jordan Farmar (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Avery Bradley (Hapoel Jerusalem), J.J. Hickson (Bnei Hasharon Herzliya) and Craig Brackins (Maccabi Ashdod) are the four locked-out players currently appearing in the local league, while Trevor Booker, also of Ashdod, is waiting to recover from a pre-season injury.

All of these players have chosen to keep playing rather than sit out the lock-out like their colleagues, and each has his own reason. For example, Farmar, who is Jewish, has strong ties to Israel because he was raised by an Israeli stepfather. Bradley, who played only one college season at Texas before turning pro, and then lost most of his rookie season with the Boston Celtics due to injury, is playing to get added experience.

While none of these players are of superstar “instant impact” caliber, all are expected to make a significant contribution to their new teams. Though none of the players or coaches interviewed by Haaretz claimed to be overly concerned by the lock-out, the specter of the labor dispute, and just when it will end, still hovers in the background.

Hickson had 20 points in his debut with Bnei Hasharon on Sunday, but his team was still blown out by host Hapoel Holon. Farmar, whose adjustment has been slowed by injuries, fouled out with just six points against Barak Netanya last night (see story). Bradley and Brackins are all still getting acclimated. According to Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt, “Any player who hasn’t played in Europe, even an NBA player, has to be expected to go through an adjustment period to European basketball, and the pace of adjusting is usually connected to the player’s attitude.”

The difference between style of play and rules has often been cited.

International basketball allows a lot more contact than the NBA, and the style of play is basically team oriented rather than based on stars and individual talent. Foreign players cite the Israeli league as very, very up-tempo, which makes it a fun place to play, and the rabid fans and small intimate arenas are reminiscent for them of high-school basketball in America.

Twenty years ago, a client took me to a game between HaPoel Galil Elyon (then a power) and an Austrian team (in Vienna). I couldn't adjust to it. It was much slower than the NBA - the players seemed to plod up and down the floor. Thanks to the internet, I continue to keep up with American sports, including the NBA. Go Celtics!

Labels: Boston Celtics

Thursday, November 18, 2010

2010 Medal of Freedom recipients

Here's a list of the 2010 Medal of Freedom recipients. Unlike last year, there don't seem to be any really controversial figures (last year, we had Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu).

President George H. W. Bush

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany

Congressman John Lewis – civil rights activist

John H. Adams – environmentalist

Maya Angelou¬¬ - poet

Warren Buffett – billionair & philanthropist

Gerda Weissmann Klein – Holocaust survivor

Dr. Tom Little (Posthumous) – optometrist murdered by Taliban

Yo-Yo Ma – world renowned cellist

Sylvia Mendez – civil rights activist

Stan Musial – Hall of Fame 1st baseman

Bill Russell – former Boston Celtics capt

Jean Kennedy Smith – sister of JFK; founder of VSA

John J. Sweeney – former AFL-CIO Pres.

For those who didn't know already, yes, I'm a Celtics fan. I saw Russell play in the 1960's. He was a great player (and he was player-coach for his last couple years - you'd never see that today).

But he left the team on terms that were not great. He announced his retirement during the off-season without any warning, leaving the team without a center. He wouldn't allow the team to make a Bill Russell day to retire his number as they had done for his teammates Sam and KC Jones (I was at both of those days), so the team retired his number on a day when he was at the Gahden as a broadcaster and raised the banner at halftime. He wouldn't even acknowledge the crowd. I have a good friend who is the world's expert at getting his picture taken with celebrities and he managed to walk right up to Russell and stand next to him while I snapped his picture (that would never happen today either), but Russell just pretended he wasn't there. I don't know why he was so angry at anyone connected with the Celtics.

In recent years, he has re-established a connection with the team, which I think is wonderful. Russell was probably the best defensive center who ever played the game (you can't even discuss that with me intelligently if you're under 50). He was an awesome shot blocker and a dominating force on the court.

I know far more about him than I do about any of the other recipients (obviously). So please forgive me for waxing nostalgic.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Russell, Boston Celtics, George H. W. Bush, Medal of Freedom

Saturday, November 13, 2010

El Al commercial featuring Omri Caspi

Sorry it's Hebrew only, but here's an El Al commercial that's being played here in Israel that features Sacramento Kings star Omri Caspi (Hat Tip: Israellycool).

Let's go to the videotape.