SubscribeFriedman was then, Olshansky is now
In addition to the article on the new Benny Friedman bio, Nextboo also published this profile on Igor Olshansky, a 6″6″, 309 pound defensive end for the San Diego Chargers.
The Ukraine-born Olshansky admits,
“I know Jewish people take pride in me, and I’m comfortable with that. But I don’t consider myself religious…. I play for myself and my teammates and my family. And I’m relentless.” Yet he’s also conscientious about paying visits to kids at synagogues and Jewish schools (they like to ask him how much he benches, which is reportedly as much as 505 pounds), perks up while pondering a visit to Israel, and points out that he found it “important to marry a Jewish woman and Russian-speaking, too.” (He wed Liya Rubinshteyn in 2005.)
Olshansky at Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy in 2004
As editor of the KC Jewish Chronicle, I really wanted the Chiefs to draft Igor when he came out of Oregon. Instead, they passed and drafted his shlubby D-line mate, Junior Siavii, who is now out of football. Sigh …
And as a Chargers fan, Chargers blogger, and Jewish American Princess, I’m glad Igor went to San Diego (I also love David Binn as well!)
I wonder if his parents were as angry with his tattoos as mine were with mine?