 |
24 October 2013
|
The countdown to Hanukah has begun, and several of the Modern Maccabees of the sports playing fields have been enjoying success in their various venues.
Baseball--Left-handed relief pitcher Craig Breslow helped the Boston Red Sox win the American League Championship Series over the Detroit Tigers. They will be facing the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, which should prove to be an exciting series.
Preseason Basketball--The two Israeli NBA players' teams squared off on Oct. 21, and the Houston Rockets prevailed over the Dallas Mavericks, 100-95. Houston's 6'9" forward Omri Casspi scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, and Dallas Mavericks' 6'3" guard Gal Mekel scored 9 points and dished off 6 assists in 22 minutes off the bench. Mekel is earning an NBA minimum salary of $490,180, and with 6 assists per game the last 4 games, he is proving to be worth much more than that. This marks the first time in the history of the NBA that two Israeli players are in the league and played on opposing teams.
Ten Pin Bowling--Israeli ten pin bowler Yahav Rabin finished in 38th place out of 271 bowlers from all over the World. The 11th annual Columbia Vienna (Austria) Open featured several PBA stars. Yahav blasted the pins for a 1406 total (234.333 average) for his six games, which included a 258 in the third game.
Golf--Bruce Fleisher is continuing his comeback on the Champions Tour, and he was tied for 53rd place in the Greater Hickory Kia Classic, with scores of 72, 69 and 71. He has made the cut in 6 of 6 events this year, earning $22,571, and has a scoring average of 73.42. In addition, Fleisher earned $10,500 for the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. On the LPGA tour, Morgan Pressel was ranked in 43rd place in the World. She has made the cut in 16 of 22 events in 2013, with a scoring average of 71.75 and has amassed earnings of $475,041.
Ice Hockey (NHL)--Left winger Eric Nystrom has scored 3 points (2 goals and an assist) and has been assessed 16 penalty minutes in 9 games with the Nashville Predators.
Playing for the Neurmberg (Germany) Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the DEL, Evan Kaufmann who hails from Minnesota, has scored 12 points (6 goals and 6 assists), and has 10 penalty minutes in 12 games this season. Kaufmann has a
+/- rating of +9 thus far in the 2013-14 season.
Tennis (ATP)--Israeli Dudi Sela is currently ranked 68th in the World. He has YTD earnings of $205,607 through the third week of October.
May they, and all the Jewish Jocks, continue their success, much as the original Maccabees did all those years ago
