Leibowitz, Alzado make Int'l Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

At 63‚ and 245 pounds, Alzado was a fearsome presence on the gridiron.

By TOM TUGEND
Lyle Alzado 88 (photo credit: )
Lyle Alzado 88
(photo credit: )
Former LA Raiders defensive end Lyle Alzado, boxing champ Bob Olin, and Israeli swimmer Keren Leibowitz were among seven athletes and sports personalities elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame last week. At 63‚ and 245 pounds, Alzado was a fearsome presence on the gridiron. He starred for 15 seasons, from 1971-1985, at defensive end and tackle for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Raiders, registering 97 sacks in 196 games. He was named All-Pro three times and All-AFC defensive lineman six times. Olin defeated reigning champion Maxie Rosenbloom in a 15-round decision to win the world light-heavyweight boxing crown in 1934. He lost the title a year later to John Henry Lewis. As Israel's most celebrated Paralympic athlete, Leibowitz won three gold medals in the freestyle and backstroke at the 2000 Sidney Paralympics, following up four years later at Athens with one gold, two silver and one bronze. The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is located on the campus of Israel's Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports in Netanya. Except for Leibowitz, all the honorees are deceased. A total of 328 athletes and sports personalities from 24 countries have been elected to the Hall of Fame since 1979. Joe Reichler, the ranking Associated Press baseball writer from 1943-1966, was also named. The author of over a dozen baseball books, he was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. Al Schacht was forced by injuries to retire as pitcher for the Washington Senators and transformed himself into ‚The Clown Prince of Baseball,‚ performing at major and minor league ballparks for nearly 50 years. Earl Strom officiated as basketball referee in 2,400 regular NBA season games, earning the title of The greatest referee.‚ He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1955.