Israel Matzav

Oh my! Kareem Abdul Jabbar to come to Israel in July ... to meet Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau! UPDATE UNFORTUNATELY NOT TRUE

One of the best stories I have heard in a LONG time....

UPDATE 2:59 PM

Unfortunately, the story is apparently not true.

Labels: Holocaust, NBA, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau

Obama State Department prevents Israeli from playing in the NBA

The Dallas Mavericks thought they had waived Israeli Gal Mekel to the Indiana Pacers. But then the US State Department stepped in. At a time when the Obama administration is trying to legalize millions of illegal aliens, and has doubled the number of student visas from China the State Department refused to extend Mekel's visa to allow him to continue to play in the NBA. Mekel is returning to Israel, the Pacers didn't get the player they wanted, and the Obama administration has managed to hurt another Israeli.

The NBA granted the injury-depleted Pacers a hardship exemption that allowed them to sign a 16th player through last ‎Thursday. When the State Department refused to move up the expiration date on Mekel’s visa even by one day, the Pacers, who had only 9 players on their active roster, backed out of the deal to sign another player before their waiver lapsed.

The Pacers were desperate to sign the Israeli star because only one of their five guards was able to play. Four of the five are injured.

Normally, visas for foreign-born players in the NBA are automatically transferable with the players to whom they are issued. More than 100 foreign-born players are currently in the NBA. This is the first instance many basketball analysts can recall where a foreign-born player was prevented from signing with a new NBA team because a visa could not be transferred.

Indiana wanted the 26-year-old Israeli shooting guard after his impressive start in Dallas, which included 19 points and 9 assists against the Pacers in Indianapolis on October 18.

Mekel was one of two Israelis in the NBA; the other is Omri Caspi of the Sacramento Kings.

But then you're not surprised, are you?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, NBA, Omri Caspi, State Department obsession with Israel, travel visas, US passports

Cleveland Jewish Federation to counter protest against Cavs-Maccabi game

The Cleveland Jewish Federation is coming to out to counter a protest by 'Palestinian' supporters of an exhibition game between the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers - now coached by Israeli David Blatt (pictured with an Iranian player at the Olympics) - and Blatt's former team, Maccabi Tel Aviv.

"Once again, this Palestinian group refuses to protest in the right place," said federation president Steve Hoffman in an emailed statement. "They should be protesting the terrorist leadership of Hamas that started the war this summer, prolonged the war this summer, and, in doing so, caused the death of its own innocent civilians.

"The Palestinian people have a partner in peace in the Israeli people, but they need to convince their leadership that they need to be partners in peace as well."

Protest organizer Abbas Falasteen Hamideh called the match-up -- and a Sunday morning reception in which Blatt is set to honor Israeli soldiers injured in the Gaza war -- shameful.

"For Blatt to honor a brutal occupation army as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers is irresponsible to say the least and mind blowing to Palestinians who are die-hard fans of the team," Hamideh said Wednesday.

Blatt has been an outspoken supporter of Israel during the recent flare-ups in Gaza.

I have to wonder how many 'die hard' 'Palestinian' Cavaliers' fans there are, especially since the Cavaliers have been - ahem - not very good for the last few years (yes, I know, LeBron James re-signed with them, but he's older now than when he left). I'd bet there are many more 'die hard' 'Palestinian' Detroit Pistons' fans....

Labels: BDS, NBA