So:

For all of you considering Ike Davis for a spot on the big club when the Mets head north, let me be a wet blanket.

Sure, Davis is hitting very well in spring training; it’s great to see that he’s bangin’ the ball out of the yard. But what kind of pitching is he facing? Other rookies? Members of the opponents’ ML roster who haven’t pitched since October? Not that I wouldn’t be happy to see it, but let’s have a little perspective people.

Here’s a list, courtesy of Bob Wechsler (Day by Day in Jewish Sports History) via the Jewish Sports Collectors Yahoo group, of MOT in ST:

• Oakland — Craig Breslow
• Texas — Scott Feldman, Ian Kinsler
• Tampa Bay — Gabe Kapler
• Boston — Kevin Youkilis
• NY Yankees — RHP Jeremy Bleich (non-roster invitee), Jason Hirsh (non-roster invitee; previously played with the Astros and Rockies.
• Milwaukee — Ryan Braun, Scott Schoeneweis (non-roster), Adam Stern (non-roster; previously played with the Red Sox and Orioles)
• Chicago Cubs — Sam Fuld, John Grabow
• LA Dodgers — Brad Ausmus
• NY Mets — Davis (non-roster invitee)
• Washington — Jason Marquis, Josh Whitesell (non-roster invitee)
• San Diego — Adam Poreda

Wechsler’s “progress report”:

Hirsh has pitched 2 2/3 innings over three games and has yet to allow a hit. He has three strikeouts and no walks.
Bleich came in to pitch the final out in a Yankees loss.
Poreda appeared in one game for the Padres, walking one and striking out three in two innings.
Stern had a pinch-hit single in one game and went 0-for-2 in another.
Whitesell went 2-for-2 in Washington’s opener and 0-for-1 in its last game.
Davis is 10-for-15 with two doubles, a grand slam and eight RBIs. He has hit safely in all six games. He also has made four errors at first base.

* * *

In hockey news, Matthieu Schneider — aka, the league’s oldest player — seems poised to rejoin the NHL with his new team, the Phoenix Coyotes (Thanks, again, Ari).

* * *

In basketball, Ron Artest has converted once more, joining the bald brotherhood after his defensive plans went awry.

Carl Costas/Sacramento Bee

Omri Casspi played just four minutes (zero points) in the Kings’ 88-81 loss to the Portland Trailblazers last night.

Seems that fatigue is finally catching up with the Israeli import, according to this story in the Sacramento Bee:

“Omri the competitor wants to play 48 minutes a game for 82 games, but sometimes it’s just impossible for my body,” Casspi said. “Sometimes it’s good to rest, take a day off and come back with energy. Hopefully it will work for me.”

Meanwhile Jordan Farmar scored four points in 15 minutes as the Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 win over the Toronto Raptors.

See that, Canada? That’s what you get for beating our hockey team in the Olympics!

Anyway, I’m off. See you next week.

The Los Angeles Kings picked up center Jeff Halpern from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Halpern, 33, has appeared in 55 games this season, with nine goals and eight assists. The Kings are 38-20-4 in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.

Returning to the NHL is 40-year-old Matthieu Schneider, whom the Vancouver Canucks had demoted to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL late last year. He’ll now be skating for the Phoenix Coyotes (32-27-5, third place in the Western Conference/Pacific Division).

Schnieder had been battling injuries and the Canucks coaching staff. He had two goals and three assists in just 17 games, the last coming on Dec. 16.

The Coyotes are the tenth NHL team for Schnedier in 21 seasons. He spent the first half of his career with Montreal.

Thanks again to Ari for the NHL nod.

Omri Casspi, who was named runner-up as best shooter among all rookies by an ESPN columnist, helped the Rookies beat the Sophomores 148-120 on Feb 12.

The Israeli scored 13 points in 23 minutes, pulling down five rebounds, making two assists and a steal.

Meanwhile, the NHL is taking off a couple of weeks while some of its players join  up with their respective countrymen to participate in the Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, Casspi was selected for the annual rookie-sophomore on Feb. 12 in Dallas ahead of the NBA All-Star game. As of this writing, he ranks in the top 10 among rookies player efficiency rating, a complex statistic akin to quarterback ratings in football.

Jordan Farmar scored five points in 20 minutes in the Lakers’ 95-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Teammate Kobe Bryant set a record for most points in franchise history during the game.

* * *

Michael Cammalleri had an assist in the Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 30.

In a comment to the Korner, Bob Wechsler, author of Day by Day in Jewish Sports History, suggested that the Kings are showcasing some of their other forwards as trade material, which is why Casspi has seen his minutes reduced of late.

Meanwhile Jordan Farmar scored seven points in the Lakers 115-103 win over the Washington Wizards.

Michael Cammelleri assisted on Montreal’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Florid Panthers.

The Feb. 1 issue of Sports Illustrated carries this story about Sasha Cohen’s slip-up at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last week.

Meanwhile, Jordan Farmar scored 17 points — his second highest total of the season — is a losing Laker effort to the Toronto Raptors, 106-105, on Sunday.

* * *

The highlight of the MOT NHL: The Canadiens’ Michael Cammelleri enjoyed a four point game (two goals, two assist) against the Rangers on Jan. 23, helping his team to a 6-0 victory.

Jordan Farmar and the Lakers had the night off. By the way, that Phil Jackson “mitzvah” comment made the big time as the featured “They Said It” item in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.

* * *

Hoping for a repeat...

Over on the rink, The New York Times ran a feature on Sasha Cohen’s attempt to make the U.S. Omlympic team. First she’ll have to get through the Inited States Figure Skating Champsionships competition in Spokane, Wash. The short program takes place today with the long program scheduled for Staurday.

Nothing much to speak of in NFL MOT action last night. Mike Brown (Anaheim) made his seventh assist of the season in a 5-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and Mike Cammalleri scored his 23rd goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues last night.

Jordan Farmar scored five points to go along with two rebounds and three assists in the Lakers’ 126-86 win over their cross-town rivals, the Clippers on Friday. Yesterday he dropped in 11 in a 98-92 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Meanwhile Omri Casspi’s Sacramento Kings dropped three straight over the weekend. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday and repeated those numbers against the Washington Wizards the next night. Casspi scored 13 against the Charlotte Hornets yesterday, but the end result was the same.

JICE:

Mike Cammelleri scored a goal against the Rangers on Sunday, but it was nowhere near enough as the Blueshirts took a 6-2 win.

Jeff Halper had assists in back-to-back games: a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday, and a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricane on Sunday.

Speaking of ice, The New York Times ran this article today about the Israeli athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, including downhill skier Mikail Renzhin, a downhill skier who has already made the 2010 Israeli team, has been training in the United States for the last couple of years. And unless something unexpected happens at the European Figure Skating Championships, which start Tuesday in Tallinn, Estonia, Roman and Alexandra Zaretsky, a brother-sister ice-dancing pair, should also make the squad. They live in Garfield, N.J., and train at the Ice House, in Hackensack.

According to the article, “A third Israeli, Tamar Katz, a figure skater who lives and trains in nearby Rockland County, N.Y., is on the bubble. She has qualified for the Olympics, but the Israeli Olympic Committee is reluctant to send her to Vancouver unless she finishes in the top 10 at Tallinn.”

JEWPS:

Jordan Farmar scored a dozen points in 24 minutes as the Lakers returned to their winning ways with a 100-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks. (By the way, and a little off topic, but here’s a cool graphic presentation on baseball team names from FlipFlopFly.com.) Farmar also had five rebounds a steal, and an assist.

Omri Casspi and the Kings had the night off.

* * *

JICE:

Mike Brown, Ducks: Played, did not score in 4-3 win over the Bruins.

Michael  Cammelleri, Canadiens: No games scheduled since Jan. 9.

Jeff Halpern, Lightning: No game since Jan. 12.

Eric Nystrom, Flames: Played, did not score in 3-1 loss to the Penguins.

None of the other Jewish NHLers scored in their most recent game.

Eizenman was born in Canada, but grew up in Tel Aviv.

Sorry, but “jockey” was already taken.

Anyway, catching up with the boys in blue (because ice is so cold, get it? Ahh, never mind.)

• As reported yesterday, Mathieu Schneider was sent to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
• Mike Brown (defenseman, Anaheim Ducks) has six points (five goals, one assist — ranking him 605th in that category) in 42 games.
• Michael Cammalleri (left wing, Montreal Canadiens) has 20 goals (ninth in the league) and 17 assists for 37 points in 44 games (tied for first). Of his 20 goals, four have been game-winners.
• Jeff Halpern (center, Tampa Bay Lightning) has seven goals and five assists in 36 games.
• Eric Nystrom (Left wing, Calgary Flames) has five goals and four assists in 41 games.

From Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun:

Schneider was unhappy with his limited role and the Canucks were unhappy with his attitude. General manager Mike Gillis, Schneider’s former agent, met with his ex-client after the walkout and the sides agreed it would be best for the player to go elsewhere.

Unable to trade Schneider, the Canucks placed him on waivers Tuesday morning but no team was willing to pick up a 40-year-old making a base salary of $1.55 million US.

“I would assume he’ll be sent to Manitoba,” Vigneault said before the Canucks travelled to St. Louis for Thursday’s game against the Blues. “Kevin’s injury does not change a thing. This was a decision made by the team and Schneider in the interest of both parties and we’re going to leave it at that.

“We’ve given this a lot of consideration. Both parties have. This is the best for ourselves and for Mathieu Schneider. Mathieu’s had a real good career in the NHL, we wish him the best of luck and we’re going to leave it at that.”

And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Sure enough, the 40-year-old Schneider did sign with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey Association (kind of the AAA of the sport). He broke in with the Montreal Canadiens and has played for the NY Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, NY Rangers, LA Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal again, and, most recently, the Canucks. In 1,281 games, the Manhattan-born defenseman scored 223 goals and notched 516 assists.

Thanks, again, to Ari for the heads-up.

Part One

Part Two

Jewess with Attitude has suggested Nancy Lieberman for the decade’s best Jewish athlete. With all due respect, Lieberman — who was chosen as the first woman to coach an NBA team (albeit the Dallas Mavericks’ D-League affiliate) — is not quite what we’re looking for here, since she is no longer, technically, an athlete herself.

More traditional is Dan Breitman’s list of “The Top 10 Jews currently playing pro sports.”

Included in the list:

• Jerry Bodenheimer, president of ESPN/ABC Sports (No. 3)
• David Stern, commissioner, NBA (4)
• Bud Selig, commissioner, MLB (7)
• Gary Bettman, commissioner, NHL (12)
• Robert Kraft, owner, New England Patriots (13)
• David Levy, president of sales, distribution, and sports, Turner Broadcasting (21)
• Adam Silver, deputy commissioner, NBA (27)
• Steve Bornstein, executive vice president of Media, NFL; President and CEO, NFL Network (31)
• Casey Wasserman, chair and CEO, Wasserman media Group (32)
• Michael Levine, co-head, CAA Sports (37)
• Jeremy Jacobs, owner, Boston Bruins (41)
• Michael Weiner, executive director, Major League Baseball Players Association (49)

As Adam Sandler said in his famous Hanukka song, “Not too shabby.”

You can read the entire piece here.

The NBA got under way a couple of nights ago.

• Jordan Farmar (LA Lakers) scored four points in 15 minutes in the NBA Champions’ first game against the LA Clippers on Tuesday.
• Omri Caspi (Sacramento Kings) made his regular season debut last night in a 102-89 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Caspi scored 15 points off the bench — the second highest for his team — and pulled down three rebounds in just over 19 minutes.

In the NFL

• Tackle Ian Olshanky made one tackle in the Cowboys’ 37-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Guard Kyle Kosier also started the game.
• Sage Rosenfels has still not appeared in a regular season game for the Minnesota Vikings (I pretty much cut and paste this line every week), who lost their first game of the year to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17.
• Long snapper David Binn and the San Diego Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-7.
• Carolina Panthers’ tackle Geoff Schwartz played in the team’s 20-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
• Aaron Podlesh and his Jacksonville Jaguars teammates enjoyed their bye week.

In the NHL

• Mike Brown, Anaheim Ducks, right wing, has played in 10 games, with one assist.
• Mathieu Schneider, Vancouver Canucks, defenseman, made his first start on Oct. 25, returning from off-season surgery. He has one goal in two games.
• Jeff Halpern, Tampa Bay Lightning, center, has appeared in nine games.
• Mike Cammalleri, Montreal Canadiens, center, leads his team with five goals and 12 points (goals plus assists) in 12 games
• Eric Nystrom, Calgary Flame, left wing, has four goals and one assist in 11 games.

• Mike Brown, 24 years old, Anaheim Ducks, right wing
• Mathieu Schneider, 40, Vancouver Canucks, defenseman
• Jeff Halpern, 33, Tampa Bay Lightning, center
• Mike Cammalleri, 27, Montreal Canadiens, center
• Eric Nystrom, 26, Calgary Flame, left wing

Cammalleri started the season the right way: He had two assists to help the Canadiens beat host Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3 in overtime. Nystrom had an assist in a 5-4 home win against Vancouver, in tehri season opener.

Brown

Schneider

Halpern

Cammalleri

Nystrom

Thanks to the members of the Jewish Sports Collectors group on Yahoo for their assistance.

* * *

The State of Israel has managed to send national teams to Junior and Senior International Ice Hockey Federation Championships for the past decade, despite the fact that it has only one regulation rink in the entire country. The ice surface, built by Canadian patrons, is situated on the Lebanese frontier, and attracts competitive players from all over the country who make the long trek to Metula to play in Israel’s National League.

From July 5-15, 2009, the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation hosted the second World Jewish Ice Hockey Championships. Teams from Canada, the United States, France, Israel and Russia took part in full contact, senior and U18 junior tournaments.

While some might question the concept of holding a “Jewish” hockey tournament, the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation used this venue to show the hockey world that it was capable of hosting a world class event, in the hope that Metula’s Mercaz Canada may get some consideration from the IIHF to host qualifying matches and championships. The July competition also served as an important vehicle to provide Israel’s National Teams meaningful games outside of IIHF competition and gave Jews from abroad a chance to skate in their ancestral homeland. Between games, all teams had a chance to tour and experience the Holy Land’s cultural and religious sites. As several of Israel’s Arab neighbours compete for the annual Arab Cup of Ice Hockey in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, it is not unreasonable to believe that in the near future, we may see the game play an important role in Arab Israeli relations.

To further publicize the tournament and promote Israel’s hockey initiatives, a special postmark, souvenir stamp and envelope were commissioned. Designs were tendered and approved by Sidney Greenberg, Chairman of the Israeli Ice Hockey Association and its president Sergei Matin.

The commemorative envelopes were printed in Canada by Custom Printers of Renfew. As a passionate hockey fan, General Manager Kerry Thompson was happy to assist Israel’s hockey program. The cancellation, cover artwork and stamp were designed by Irving Osterer, a graphic design teacher at Merivale High School in Ottawa and a member of the Society for International Hockey Research. The postage stamp features defenceman Ron Soreanu, a veteran of Israel’s National team. Osterer received several suggestions to facilitate production from stamp dealer Isidore Baum, proprietor of Montreal’s Judaica Sales Limited. Yael Kostas and Vered Shilsel at Israel’s Philatelic Service supervised the production of the special stamps, the postmark die and the cancellation of the covers.

The hockey postmark will have an official catalogue number in the Israeli commemorative cancels catalogue, and will be listed on the Israel Philatelic Federation website. The finished covers are a wonderful souvenir of the event and are hand numbered from 1-500.

Generous support from the Arnon Corporation in Ottawa, made this endeavour possible. Arnon president Arnie Vered’s son and nephew played for Team Canada ‘Red’, the Gold medal winner in the U18 competition. He believes that beyond the spirited competition, all the youngsters and coaches gained a greater appreciation for Israel and its borders.

Covers can be purchased from the Israel Ice Hockey Federation via their website or by writing to:

Mike Brown (Anaheim Ducks); Mike Cammalleri and Eric Nystrom (Calgary Flames); Eric Fehr (Washington Capitals); and Mathie Schneider (Montreal Canadiens) have made it into the opening round of the (seemingly endless) playoffs.

Cammalleri (left) finished in the top twenty corers with 82 points (39 goals/43 assists). Weiss finished among the leaders in plus/minus rating with 18 (Plus-minus rating: A skater gets a plus-1 if he is on the ice when his team scores an even-strength or short-handed goal. He gets a minus-1 if he is on the ice when his team allows an even-strength or short-handed goal. This does not apply to goalies.).

Those who didn’t make the cut: Jeff Halpern (Tampa Bay Lightning), Josh Tordjman (Phoenix Coyotes), and Stephen Weiss (Florida Panthers).

Thanks to KK reader Dov Ivry for the list.

With one minute left to play in regulation and the BU Terriers trailing Miami University (Ohio) 3-1,  Zach Cohen, a junior forward, fired a shot to bring his team to within one. Forward Nick Bonino tied the score at 3-3 with just 18 seconds to go.

According to HockeyEastOnline.com, Colby Cohen,  a 6′3″, 230 pound  sophomore defenseman from Villanova, PA,

then capped off the rally and ended the first overtime game in the NCAA title contest since 2002 at the 11:47 mark of the extra session. The Terriers cycled the puck in their own offensive end and Cohen let go of a blast from the blue line. The puck was deflected by a sliding RedHawk defender into the net …, setting off a wild BU celebration.

Colby Cohen played in 43 games for the Terriers this season, scoring eight  goals with 24 assists. Zach  Cohen — a 6′3″, 215 pounder from Schaumburg, Ill.  — was good for 13 goals with five assists in 41 contests, helping BU enjoy its best season with a 35-6-4 record.

Thanks to loyal reader Jeff Flaum for the heads-up on this one.