It fit with the theme — which was prevalent at the time — of comparing up-and-coming standout 2 guards to Michael Jordan (i.e., “the next Jordan,” “poor man’s Michael Jordan,” “Baby Jordan,” etc.).

If it were just about alliteration and fluidity when rolling off the tongue, there would be a “Kosher Kobe” and a “Levite Lebron” by now. But in the post-Jordan era, the national sports media has, more or less, stopped making preposterously overreaching comparisons of young athletes to established superstars (thankfully).

Again, I think intellectual laziness by sports media folks was the primary reason for all the Jordan comparisons (both Jew & gentile) that were made circa 1987-1997/98.

Hilariously, some of the “Jewish Jordans” weren’t even Jews (exemplifying my contention that sports media people tend to be lazy). Former Minnesota Golden Gopher & Los Angeles Laker Sam Jacobson was hyped as the “Jewish Jordan” throughout Minnesota’s run to the 1997 Final Four, despite the fact that he was Catholic. But he had dark hair, his father was a surgeon & his name “sounded Jewish.”

Long story short: I Definitely won’t be bemoaning the end of the “Jewish Jordan” era.

The Jewish Gordie Howe doesn’t quite work…