The Vanishing Jewish Basbeballer
The Jewish Press offers an interesting article which for once doesn’t cause me to cringe. Much.
Whatever happened to Jewish baseball players? Not that they`re an extinct species – several Jews are currently playing in the major leagues or working their way through the minors – but Jewish baseball fans will tell you the present-day crop is relatively unaccomplished and unknown.
Why is this generation different from other generations? Generations that boasted not just a slew of recognizably Jewish ballplayers, but at least one bona-fide Jewish star per decade? Where have you gone, latter-day versions of Harry Danning, Sid Gordon, Hank Greenberg, Al Rosen and Sandy Koufax?
and rod carew
Maybe good Jewish boys just don’t like playing on Shabbat? Is it possible for any religious athlete to progress by sitting out practices and games once a week? I think it’s really disgusting that only in Israel will secular athletes be worshipped for playing on Shabbat and if they decide to march into the stadium on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur, then that’s just fine and dandy for the Jewish people.
My turning point was in pee-wee hockey. When I was non-religious 12 year old, my team made the finals which fell on Saturday morning. (Not to toot my horn, but I was one of the best players on the team.) My observance at the time was limited to going to orthodox shul Sat mornings and for some reason, there was no conflict – I would go to shul instead. After services that day, we still drove to the arena to find out the outcome, but I also still remember after finding out we lost, that I had absolutely no regrets whatsoever. The next year, I didn’t even bother to register.
FOr good or ill, the reason probably has more to do with $ than Shabbos observance. Athletes in all sports tend to come from those economic backgrounds that have fewer opportunities. The “odds” of being a lawyer or teacher or md etc are better than the odds of making the pros for kids from midde and upper income families. Rich and poor kids may have the same dreams of being pro atheletes, but the poorer kids push themselves more. This is esp. true re: Jews and boxing. Years ago Jewish boxers were plentiful. Now, its a newsworthy event to have a Jew make a namefor himself in the ring. Why risk getting beaten up for $ if you have another choice?
JCHAT IS STUPID… ROD CAREW WAS A SHAME OF A JEW…WITH GOYS LIKE THAT GETTING CIRCUMSIZED, WERE ALL HEADING TO HELL!!!
and yes…..my father is
jesse jackson and my mother is bobo the clown
oh…and by the way…just kidding!
HAPPY ADAR!!!
ROD CAREW IS DA BOMB!!!!!!
lol
im kinda bored as u can see