Parents of (mostly) high school-aged students know that these offers come in the mail occasionally, playing to the emotions of those who want to give their children every opportunity to succeed (hidden motto: If you don’t spend oodles of money on these programs, you don’t love your kids and they will get into inferior colleges).

As the author of this piece in The Jerusalem Post notes, not every Jewish parent can afford to send their sons and daughters to these programs or, in this case, to the Maccabiah/Maccabi events. And that’s a shame. I’m sure there are lots of talented kids to would do well at the games, perhaps even those who have the benefits of private lessons and top-of-the-line gear, but can’t participate because they can’t cobble together the two or three grand necessary to attend. Some synagogues/JCCs/communities will hold a fundraiser here or there, but I think that’s the exception rather than the rule.

(Sorry for the JP format, it’s a bit hard to read through).

I must admit, I have never been one for such publications, siding with the veteran baseball writer Murray Chass, who has famously feuded with “sabermetricians,” and has been labeled a “dinosaur” for his stance. But I have become a convert, you should pardon the expression, because of the insightful commentary and well-written articles that accompany the dizzying array of figures.

BP is the “progeny” of the Bill James Abstracts of the mid1980s. Who knew at the time the influence James would have in the decades to come?

Goldman, author of the 2005 biography Forging Genius: The Making of Casey Stengel (Potomac), also hosts the “Pinstriped Bible” Yankees blog on the Yes Network’s site.

He spent a few minutes discussing the significance his organization has had on how fans — and baseball executives — have come to use BP as an important tool (as well as a little back story about the BP-Chass set-to.)

You can hear it here:

Goldman

Goldman will appear with fellow BP colleagues Kevin Goldstein, Jay Jaffe, and Christina Kahrl at the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls (on the campus of Montclair State University) on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the museum’s site or call 973-655-2378.

I think it’s time for it to make a comeback.

In today’s Chicago Sun-Times column, sportswriter Rick Telander discusses Tim Tebow, the Christian college football hero who will supposedly be featured (with his mother) in an anti-abortion commercial show during the Super Bowl.

Aside from the free speech issues (the writer suggests just flipping the channel when it comes on rather than censor it), Telander has some more basic issues with the incursion of sports and religion.

Some excerpts:

Studies have shown that we transform our God, whatever religion we espouse, into a deity with philosophical and moral teachings much like the ones we already hold.

God’s like me, in other words.

* * *

But what if Tebow’s procession of biblical verse numbers on his eye patches — guaranteed instant and massive Google hits, by the way — were verses from the Koran instead?

What if they said, ”Believe in Morman”? ”Scientology Saves”? ”There Is No God”?

Or think of this: ”Death to Infidels.”

That is certainly not what people who love Tebow’s endless God-praising had in mind. Yet this is an open and multifaith society, and if one religion is allowed, others will be, must always be.

* * *

How did Tebow’s college slogans get out there anyway? The NCAA rule book states that nothing but ”a player’s number; a player’s name; NCAA Football logo; memorial recognition; the American flag; or institution, conference or game identification … are permitted on a player’s person or tape.”

Is it possible Tebow was cut some slack because people like him and nobody wanted to offend the Christian right? Or that the ”powers that be” agreed with him?

A quarter of the world’s population is Muslim, and if our global terrorism battle against zealots is seen solely as Christians vs. Islam, we would do well to remember that there are Jews, atheists, Buddhists, Hindus and yes, Muslims in the American armed forces, and that as All-American a town as Dearborn, Mich., has 10 mosques, and its public schools close for Muslim holidays.

Somehow we’ve gotten to the point where big-time sport is overwhelmed by Baseball Chapel, Athletes in Action, Christian ministries, God squads and Bible-thumpers everywhere.

I wonder if that bothers Tebow at all. No, of course it doesn’t.

But I wonder how he’d feel if he scored a touchdown before a huge crowd, under the beckoning arms of ”Touchdown Muhammad”?

Think of that when you watch his ad.

You can read Telander’s column here.

From National Public radio:

No gelt, no glory

This (and the late game times) is a major bone of contention to those who think such conditions are major detractions from Fall Classic enjoyment.

The first two games of the AL Championship Series were played in Yankee Stadium under dreadful circumstances: frigid temperatures contributed to eight errors and begged the question: this is championship-caliber baseball?

Tyler Kepner addresses the problem in this piece from today’s Times, in which he offers several reasons — with no real solutions — as to why the season has been extended and guess what, most of it has to do with money. The owners don’t want to reduce the 162-game scheudle because they would lose money. The networks don’t want to have games on Fridays and Saturdays, when viewership is lower. Baseball would have a scheduling nightmare if the began the season with all teams playing in warm weather cities.

Here’s a suggestion: Go back to playing doubleheaders. I’m old enough to remember a time when there was a twin-bill — single admission! — just about every Sunday. Now they only occur when there’s a rainout and patrons must pay for each game. Even if they continue that money-grubbing practice, the powers that be would be well-served to consider returning to this format.

I’m just sayin’…

And by the way, just wanted to remind that I picked both the Yankees and Phillies to advance to the World Series. Now I’m picking the Phillies to take it all.

Typical within the story were comments like this:

“It’s a joke to run a marathon by walking every other mile or by finishing in six, seven, eight hours,” said Adrienne Wald, 54, the women’s cross-country coach at the College of New Rochelle, who ran her first marathon in 1984. “It used to be that running a marathon was worth something — there used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon, but not anymore. Now it’s, ‘How low is the bar?’ ”

Sure, slow runners can cause problems, but it’s more a practical headache for the race organizers than one of aesthetics. How long must the streets be closed off? How long should there be police and health workers on the scene? Things of that nature.

I don’t think these complaints come from the elite runners; they’re back at their hotels while these guys aren’t even in sight of the halfway point. And it’s not like the joggers are getting in their way; they begin the race at the back of the pack. No, these knocks seem to come from the average marathoner.

Purists believe that running a marathon should be just that — running the entire course at a relatively fast clip. They point out that a six-hour marathoner is simply participating in the event, not racing in it. Slow runners have disrespected the distance, they say, and have ruined the marathon’s mystique.

They might have a point. If someone enters the race with no intention of running, but just to walk the course for the sake of saying the complete a marathon, they are technically correct, but not  within the spirit of the event. Maybe that’s the difference between “doing a marathon” and “running a marathon.”

See here for more comments from Times‘ readers on the article.

(Full disclosure: I “ran” the NYC race in 1985, finishing in about 5:25. I realized right away I did not train seriously enough, figuring I could get away with a couple of 20-mile runs and that the adrenaline and excitement would carry me the extra six-plus miles. I did not account for stepping in a camouflaged pothole at the four mile mark which ruined my footwear and caused a fair deal of discomfort. Bet yes, I was pleased with the accomplishment, regardless of my time. My intentions were pure. The mind was willing, but the foot was weak.)

In related NYC Marathon News:

For the 27th consecutive year, the NYC Marathon will feature an organized international “morning minyan.”

The service will take place at 8 a.m. in the Marathon staging area at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island.

Check in at information booths and site maps for the precise location. Minyan participants are request to being their own prayer books, tefillin and tatllesim.

For more information, contact Peter Berkowsky daytime at 212-340-0504; evenings, 973-992-5775, or at fud42@comcast.net.

The 2008 movie, part of the Y’s Reel Jewish Sports Film Series, was directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Judd Ehrlich.

Credited as the mastermind behind the New York City Marathon, this film chronicles how Lebow fled his orthodox home in war-torn Europe and found his calling when he brought together a group of runners for the first NYC Marathon in Central Park which led to his revolutionary creation of the New York City Marathon.

The film includes archival footage and interviews with elite runners Grete Waitz, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar, among others.

Ehrlich and Rodgers will be at the screening for a question and answer session, which also includes Allan Steinfeld, former president and CEO of the NY Road Runners Club and director of the NYC Marathon, and Bernie Cooper, former chair of the NYRRC.

Admission is $7.50, $5 for Suffolk Y JCC members. For more information, or to register, call 631-462-9800, ext. 125.

With the Knicks well on their way to a 106-91 blowout, Al Harrington was whistled for a charge and began complaining to the referee. Maccabi Coach Pini Gershon took issue with Harrington’s behavior, then proceeded to do the same thing. The referee did not care for Gershon’s comments and gave him the technical.

Gershon remained in front of his team’s bench, not far from where the former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert was sitting. It was as if Gershon were preparing to call the next play and put in a couple of substitutes. For a few moments, it seemed as if no one knew what to do with him, until a clutch of league representatives scurried over.

“He wouldn’t leave,” said Scott Jaffer, an N.B.A. security official who spoke with Gershon on the court. “I tried to talk him out of it. They wanted to stop the game.”

Then things got reaaly weird.

The game is played as a fundraiser for Migdal Ohr, a center for orphans and abused and underprivileged children in Israel. The founder and president of the organization is Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, described in this New York Times story as having “a long white beard, a black hat and a black coat.” Grossman tried to intervene on Gershon’s behalf:

Not knowing that two technical fouls result in an automatic ejection, he attempted to persuade the referee to change his call and allow Gershon to stay.

“But he says that this is the law, that he must leave,” Grossman said, referring to the referee in broken English.

“What can I do? I tried. I tried to make peace.”

This back-and-forth evidently took a considerable amount of time.

While Gershon argued on one side of the court, the Knicks seemed mostly confused on the other. They stood around their bench waiting. So Nate Robinson decided to find out if basketball was going to resume and worked his way into the argument.

“I was over there just trying to figure out what was up,” said Robinson, who added that the coach and the rabbi “started speaking a different language,” which was Hebrew.

“It threw me off,” Robinson said. “I needed a translator.”

Now I don’t know if I’m being overly sensitive here. Was Robinson trying to be funny? If not, it really strikes me as silly and/orjust plain ignorant. This isn’t the first time the Knicks played an Israeli team. You would think they would know that the “foreign language” was Hebrew, unless they’re just so insulated in their own little world that they can’t be bothered to learn anything about their opponents, as people or as athletes.

Here’s more on the event from the Associated Press.

Gleason’s Gym has seven very good tickets for Yuri Foreman vs Danny Santos.

The date is November 14, 2009, in Las Vegas at The MGM Grand.

It is on the same pay per view show as Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Angel Cotto.

The event is sold out. The Gleason’s tickets are going fast.

If you are interested please call Bruce at (718) 797-2872.

The writer cites the examples of Sandy Koufax (although mistakenly putting him on the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1965) and Shawn Green and wonders why the Israelis didn’t try to postpone the match.

Just as Israeli prime ministers always eat kosher food when they travel abroad on official visits, whether they are religious or not, so too the national sports teams have a responsibility to stand up for their Jewish heritage.

It was a grave mistake for captain Eyal Ran to not even attempt to get the date of the tie moved to prevent Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich from desecrating such an important day in such a public manner.

From yesterday’s “This Day in History” on History.com:

Jesse Levine looked as though he would pull off an upset against 16th-ranked Marin Cilic (CRO), but lost in second round round action, 6-4, 6-2, 0-6, 3-6, 06. Levine and his doubles partner, Ryan Sweeting, were eliminated by the third-ranked team of Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) and  Mark Knowles (BAH), 7-5, 6-2.

Shahar Peer (ISR) lost to sixth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova (RSU), 7-5, 6-1. She and her doubles partner, Gisela Dulko (ARG), fell to the third-seed Australian team of Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, 7-5, 6-3.

Dudi Sela (ISR) and his partner, Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE), were defeated by the third-seed team of Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) and Mark Knowles (BAH), 6-4, 6-4.

• Shahar Pe’er (ISR) beat  Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP), 6-2, 6-0.
• Dudi Sela (ISR)  and Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) beat the 13th-ranked men’s doubles team of Travis Parrott (USA) and  Filip Polasek (SVK), 3-6, 7-6, 6-2

His remarks:

Scott Lipsky and Jesse Levine are definitely Jewish.

Alekandra Wozniak no longer is listed by Jewish Sports Review, based  on new information they received.

Here’s some other recent Jewish tennis players who may or may not be competing in New York:

Sergio Roitman, Argentina
Gail Brodsky, US
Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, France (KK: No)
Wayne Odesnik, US
Sam Warburg, US (KK: No)
Nicholas Massu, Chile

Thanks, Bob!

From Israel:

• Jonatan Ehrlich, men’s doubles
• Andy Ram, men’s doubles
• Harel Levy, men’s qualifying singles
• Shahar Peer, women’s singles, women’s doubles

From Canada:

• Sharon Fichman, women’s qualifying singles
• Aleksandra Wozniak, women’s singles, women’s doubles

There are, at the risk of sounding politically incorrect, several players with Jewish-sounding surnames, although I don’t know for sure. Perhaps a reader who’s heavy into tennis can enlighten us on:

• Peter Polansky
• Zack Fleishman
• John Isner
• Liezel Huber
• Jesse Levine
• Ryan Lipman
• Scott Lipsky

I’m also sure there are players from other countries that I’m overlooking. Thanks for any input.

I often find it comical that the media writes about Jews and the national pastime as if it’s the oddest combination. Imagine! Jews like baseball!

This piece from the San Francisco JWeekly, explains the particulars of the games, which began Aug. 2.

More than 1,500 Jewish teens will descend upon San Francisco to participate in the 27th installment of the Games. Athletes from 40 U.S. communities as well as Great Britain, Guatemala, Israel and Mexico will compete in 14 different sports, ranging in everything from basketball to tennis and bowling to table tennis.

Games will also be held in San Antonio, Texas and Westchester County, NY.

The Cleveland Jewish News published this piece about their local athletes, as well as one from Lodi, CA. And here’s a piece from an unorthodox source: New Tang Dynasty Television.