To kick off our post-Passover show The Sports Rabbi welcomed on board Allon Sinai of The Jerusalem Post, JPost.com to discuss the happenings around the Israel Soccer League. Big stories were abound over the past couple of weeks and we touched on the all!
Jordi Cruyff-Courtsey Maccabi Tel Aviv Website
From Kiryat Shemona’s wrapping up the league championship to Beitar Jerusalem’s 6th straight victory under coach Eli Cohen, and when was the last time Beitar had won 6 in a row! We also examined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s bold hiring of Jordi Cruyff and what the naming of a sports director means to the club. As well, we debated the on and off field activities of Maccabi Petach Tikva, Hapoel Haifa and the IFA Chairman Avi Luzon’s influence on the day to day running of the league.
Ben Helfgott
And we looked at Yom HaShoah as Allon’s latest Sinai Says column entitled, “Tales of Jewish Athletic Perseverance” looks back at Alfred Nakache and Ben Helfgott in this excellent piece of journalism!
Matt Kemp
Dave Faris (26:14), The Sports Rabbi Network’s MLB West Coast correspondent came on board for the first time this season to discuss the latest news around the baseball world! We looked at one of the hottest clubs in baseball the LA Dodgers and their terrific start to the 2012 season as well as the LA Angels and Albert Pujols struggles as he begins his career in California.
Bobby Valentine
Dave & I also check out the Washington Nationals, the Boston Red Sox and Bobby Valentine’s rocky entry back to managing in MLB along with the SF Giants and Philadelphia Phillies!
Next on tap was Dan Raley (39:16), author of “Pitchers of Beer: The Story of the Seattle Rainiers” the great Pacific Coast League team that graced the Emerald City years ago!
Edo Vanni
Dan & I looked back at this proud franchise, The Seattle Rainiers and some of the greats that were associated with the club. From Emil Sick, Edo Vanni, Rogers Hornsby, Fred Hutchinson, Dick Barrett and even Babe Ruth this book brings you back to a time when baseball was king around the United States!
Dov (1:09:33)then joined me to talk about Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club’s disappointing Game 5 loss 86-85 against Panathinaikos in their Euroleague quarterfinal series as well as their upcoming matches in the Adriatic League Final Four which will take place at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv and the finals weeks of the Israeli League. We also look at some roster moves and potential acquisitions going into the off season.
Doc Ike (1:17:52)wrapped up the show with a great analysis of the NHL play-offs as we look at all the first round series. We also focused on the big stories, from all of the injuries, rough plays, dirty hits and suspensions to the lack of goaltending in the Flyers vs. Penguins series.
We also looked back 15 years to the Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils match up where Doc Ike & I witnessed an unfortunate event as Martin Brodeur scored into the Habs empty net! Thanks to listener and reader Judah Kunstler for reminding me of that wonderful milestone.