“Ron, the ‘Korner’ is celebrating its one-year anniversary! What are you going to do now?”

I’m goin’ to Disney World!

Actually, I’m going to Yankees Fantasy Camp in Tampa, specifically the Kosher component. While there as an “embed,” I will be blogging, taking photos and videos, and generally reporting on this unique experience. (Once I realized I wouldn’t be like Mickey Mantle, I wanted to be like George Plimpton.)

As far as I know, the Yankees are the only team that offers a fantasy camp that has this type of arrangement. The concept is the brainchild of Prof. Ira Jaskoll, associate dean for Administration and adjunct associate professor of statistics for business at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University in New York.

The camp features three Glatt kosher meals a day and traditional Friday and Saturday Shabbat services, and “special Shabbat speakers and programming.” Look for a Q&A with Jaskoll over the next couple of days.

I must admit, this is pretty exciting. Although I’ve played league softball for more than 30 years, I haven’t picked up a baseball “in anger” since my days as manager of the Brooklyn College team back in the late 70s.

Evidently these fellows take this stuff very seriously, more than I would have imagined. I received an information packet yesterday which includes a “preparation program.” The staff there strongly encourages participants to f0llow their 12-week schedule of throwing, fielding grounders, sprinting, and swinging a bat to get ready for a schedule of nine games over five days. Very similar to programs you would see in a runners’ magazine on how to train for a race.

Since the camp runs from Nov. 16-22 (there’s another being held Jan. 11-17, 2010), I obviously don’t have those 12 weeks, but I feel confident that my recent softball season and other exercise will be sufficient to allow me to just pick it up at week 10, which suggests 17 throws at distances of 60′, 75′, and 90′; 35 swings; 36 ground balls — 12 each moving to the left, right, and straight in; and seven 30-yard and 60-yard sprints.

Of course, all this makes perfect sense. You don’t want to go down there and pull up lame your first day.

Ron Blomberg and Elliott Maddox are scheduled to be among the former Yankees at camp. I’m sure the Jewish contingent will be following them around like puppy dogs.

Anyway, look for frequent updates on the Yankees Kosher Fantasy Camp in the days and weeks ahead.

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Addendum:

Ran the sprints, adding a few. Swung a five-pound weight to simulate a bat. Didn’t have the room to simulate fielding grounders in the gym. Amazingly, there just happens to be not one, but two baseball fields on the premises, so, weather permitting, I’ll try it there tomorrow.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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