NFL, champion Ravens dismiss season opener on Rosh Hashanah

Published on March 19, 2013

The Baltimore Ravens and the NFL have agreed that the Super Bowl champions will not open their season -- or the league's season -- on the first night of Rosh Hashanah.

Beitar Jerusalem fans walk out on Muslim player’s goal

Published on March 4, 2013

Hundreds of fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team walked out of the stadium in the wake of the first goal scored by a Muslim player.

Israeli soccer player on U.K. team barred from entering Dubai

Published on February 14, 2013

An Israeli soccer player for a British team is sitting out a team visit to Dubai because of tensions between the emirate and Israel.

Beitar arson attack linked to racial incitement

Published on February 8, 2013

A suspected arson attack damaged the main club house of Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem on Friday, a day after four fans were charged in court in connection with racist incitement against the team's recruitment of Muslim players, police said.

Survey: 27 percent of Americans see God’s hand in sports

Published on January 29, 2013

Fewer than three in 10 Americans believe that God plays a role in determining sports outcomes, according to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute.

This week from Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on January 28, 2013

Chelsea Football vs. 49ers Football

By Ilana Angel
Published on January 23, 2013

Bears bring in Jewish head coach, Marc Trestman

Published on January 16, 2013

The Chicago Bears hired a Jewish head coach, Marc Trestman.

Former Israel national soccer coach Emanuel Sheffer dies at 88

Published on December 28, 2012

Emanuel Sheffer - the coach who led Israel to their only World Cup finals in Mexico in 1970 - died on Friday aged 88, the Israel Football Association said.

Teshuvah and Penn State

Published on September 12, 2012

In our busy lives, there are lots of decisions to make. Although we know that quick judgments made without all the facts may be faulty, we do not have the time to dwell on each decision, and we learn to live with a kind of necessary impatience. Whether it is a route across town, what we want for lunch or the selection of a shirt to wear, we need to make our choices quickly and then get on with the day.

Art Modell, ex-owner of NFL’s Browns and Ravens, dies

Published on September 6, 2012

Art Modell, former owner of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, has died.

Cleveland Browns sale ends 51-year Jewish ownership

Published on August 3, 2012

The sale of the Cleveland Browns ends 51 years of Jewish ownership of the National Football League team.

Penn State’s Jewish community weighs how to move forward

Published on July 24, 2012

One unlikely venue for fallout from the Penn State University sex abuse scandal is the campus Hillel, for which now ousted university president Graham Spanier -- the school’s first Jewish leader -- was a fundraiser and vocal supporter.

Football, Prayers & Faking it for Love

By Ilana Angel
Published on June 24, 2012

Is Sex Without Emotion a Deal Breaker?

By Ilana Angel
Published on June 21, 2012

Jewish leader ‘shocked’ French soccer team skipped Auschwitz

Published on June 13, 2012

The president of the umbrella organization of France’s Jewish communities said it was “shocking” that France’s soccer team did not visit Auschwitz.

Netanyahu injures leg playing soccer with Jewish, Arab youth

Published on June 11, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu injured his leg during a soccer match with Jewish and Arab youth.

German Jewish leader criticizes national soccer coach over Holocaust commemoration

Published on June 4, 2012

Germany's top Jewish leader lashed out at the country's national soccer team manager for failing to properly commemorate the Holocaust ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Improving Germany beat Israel in final Euro warm-up

Published on May 31, 2012

Germany worked hard for a 2-0 win over Israel in a Euro 2012 warm-up match on Thursday with Mario Gomez and Andre Schuerrle on target in their final test before next month's tournament.

Israeli football team takes on Americans

Published on May 18, 2012

Israel’s national American football team took the field this week for the first time against an American opponent -- falling 49-6 to the Maranatha Baptist Bible College Crusaders, an NCAA Division III team from Watertown, Wis., reported the Associated Press.

Browns sign Jewish offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz

Published on May 15, 2012

Offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz, a second-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, signed a four-year, $5.17 million contract with the team.

Browns pick Schwartz in NFL draft

Published on May 2, 2012

The second round of the NFL draft was not 30 minutes old when the phone rang in the Schwartz home on the afternoon of April 27.

Roman Abramovich & Roberto Di Matteo & Chelsea FC

By Ilana Angel
Published on April 26, 2012

Nothing trivial about these Jews on the gridiron

By Lee Barnathan
Published on April 25, 2012

Trivia question: What family soon will represent 20 percent of the Jews in the National Football League? Answer: The one with Geoff and Mitchell Schwartz. Older son Geoff has played two seasons with the Carolina Panthers and now is under contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Younger brother Mitchell, who will almost surely be drafted this week, will join him.

Chelsea Football: A Sea of Sexy Men

By Ilana Angel
Published on April 17, 2012

Palestinian soccer player injured in Israeli post-game brawl

Published on April 1, 2012

A Palestinian member of an Israeli soccer team was knocked out during a brawl at the end of a game.

Messi the Greatest Ever? Sorry, wrong Argentine

By Mark Paredes
Published on March 26, 2012

How a Jewish doctor turned a Santa Monica pub into New York Giants territory

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 2, 2012

Bob Kraft: New England Patriots’ Jewish owner

Published on January 23, 2012

When the National Football League lockout ended this past August, Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday praised Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots stating, "Without him, this deal does not get done, he is a man who helped us save football." Now just six short months later, it is Kraft’s New England Patriots who are at the top of the very game he saved and set to take on the New York Giants February 5th in Super Bowl XLVI (46).

Opinion: Tim Tebow Is Jewish

By Marty Kaplan
Published on January 16, 2012

“Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante?” That was the headline last week on a blog posted by New York Times public editor Arthur Brisbane.

Alabama’s secret Jewish weapon celebrates grid title

Published on January 10, 2012

After the University of Alabama won the Bowl Championship Series football crown by dominating top-ranked Louisiana State University, much of the attention and credit has gone to Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. But what about Robert Levin?

Tim Tebow Infiltrates the Secular Cathedral of Sport

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Published on January 10, 2012

QB’s signature pose has Jews and gentiles ‘Tebowing’

Published on December 13, 2011

The biggest story in the NFL this season is Tim Tebow, a devout Christian quarterback who doesn’t throw very well but has helped the Denver Broncos pull off a string of last-second victories.

Faltering Maccabi Tel Aviv sack coach Iwanir

Published on December 5, 2011

Maccabi Tel Aviv sacked coach Motti Iwanir on Monday after he failed to improve the fortunes of Israel's biggest club having been in the job for almost a year.

FIFA says non-Israeli can play for Israel

Published on December 1, 2011

FIFA has given a Druze Arab from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights permission to play for Israel even though he is not a citizen of the country, the Israel FA said.

Jews reeling in wake of Penn State scandal

Published on November 16, 2011

Rabbi David Ostrich, who leads the lone congregation in State College, Pa., couldn’t bring himself to sermonize last Shabbat on the scandal that’s on everyone’s mind.

Penn State: Where Football Trumps Rape - UPDATED

By Ilana Angel
Published on November 11, 2011

Youth Football and the big dilemma

By Julia Bendis
Published on October 10, 2011

Al Davis, maverick owner of Oakland Raiders, dies

Published on October 9, 2011

Al Davis, the maverick owner of the Oakland Raiders, has died.

ESPN pulls Hank Williams Jr. MNF intro over Hitler remark

Published on October 4, 2011

ESPN pulled its "Monday Night Football" introduction by Hank Williams Jr. after the singer compared President Obama to Hitler.

Israel soccer team playing in Turkey, despite tensions

Published on September 15, 2011

An Israeli soccer team arrived in Istanbul to play a Turkish team, despite tensions between the two countries.

The laws according to a Super Model, Gisele Bündchen!

By Julia Bendis
Published on June 9, 2011

Thoughts on basketball and Israel

Published on May 27, 2011

Early Sunday morning on Mothers Day, as my brother and I prepared breakfast for our mom, I also prepared myself for the special day ahead. In addition to celebrating my mom, my family would also gather in our den to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv play Greece’s Panathinaikos for the Euroleague’s Basketball Championship. Proudly wearing my Maccabi t-shirt, I thought how strange it felt that on the day we are watching Maccabi compete for the European basketball championship, that night, we would attend the Israeli Consulate’s Yom Hazikaron ceremony.

Dutch soccer player rues anti-Semitic chants

Published on March 22, 2011

A Dutch soccer player apologized for chanting anti-Semitic slogans caught on camera following a victory over a team with traditional Jewish support. Lex Immers of the Dutch ADO Den Haag team apologized Monday in a statement on the team's website for the remarks made in a bar with team fans.

Boycott marring Peace Team visit to Sydney

Published on March 17, 2011

A joint Israeli-Palestinian Australian Rules football team due to visit Sydney is embroiled in a row over a local government council’s boycott of Israel. Marrickville Council, in inner Sydney, voted last December to support a Green Party-led ban on all commercial, academic, governmental, cultural and sporting exchanges with Israel. But the same council voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow the Peace Team -- co-sponsored by the Peres Center for Peace and the Al-Quds Association for Democracy and Dialogue -- to appear at a welcome function at the Marrickville Town Hall on Aug. 18.

Ten-hut! Milken takes on tackle football

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on March 1, 2011

Call it the Milken Community High School of Hard Knocks. Thanks to an organizing effort started by two very committed mothers, along with support from school administration and student enthusiasm, Milken is set to become the first local Jewish day school to field a tackle football team — and only the fourth Jewish day school in the country to do so.

Chai Lifeline to send 12-year-old to the Super Bowl

By Ryan Torok
Published on February 4, 2011

Adam Wolf, a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy, was stunned when Randi Grossman, West Coast director of the Chai Lifeline, called to tell him that the organization would pay for him to go to the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh Steelers on the ‘fringe’ of dynasty as fans embrace the ‘Terrible Tallis’

Published on February 4, 2011

If you’ve left your house or turned on the television in the last two weeks, you know: Pittsburgh’s going to the Super Bowl. But while huge portions of Pittsburghers — and, surely, much of the country — will be cheering for a Steeler victory, some members of the city’s Jewish community are celebrating in creative, and even educational ways.

Redskins’ owner suing paper for defamation, claims anti-Semitism

Published on February 3, 2011

Washington Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder has filed a defamation lawsuit against an alternative D.C. newspaper, claiming in part that the paper’s depiction of him was anti-Semitic. Snyder, who has owned the National Football League's Redskins since 1999 and also owns the Six Flags amusement park chain, filed a $2 million lawsuit Wednesday against Atalaya Capital Management, which owns the Washington City Paper.

Ohio sports and my Marriage vows

By Julia Bendis
Published on January 6, 2011

Max Forer holds the line for Oregon in BCS title game

Published on January 5, 2011

The offensive line doesn’t deflect potentially game-winning passes or snag interceptions, throw precision passes to receivers who race into the end zone or take handoffs and run through defenses for the score.

Gabe Carimi: Star in shul and on the football field [ROSEBOWL FEATURE]

Published on December 28, 2010

Gabe Carimi already knows that Yom Kippur won't fall on a Sunday for at least the next 20 years.

Israelis, Palestinians huddle, as football finds fans in the Holy Land

Published on December 10, 2010

On a warm November Thanksgiving night in Jerusalem’s Kraft Stadium, the Judean Rebels are demolishing the Herzliya Hammers in a rowdy American-style football game in Israel.

The IFL, or Israel Football League, is in its fourth season and gaining popularity, with eight teams from across the country.

Artifact-rich Sports Museum opens downtown

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on December 25, 2008

Cypres' vast sports collection, which fills 30 well-lighted galleries, is extraordinary and reflects its owner's deep love of sports history.

Palos Verdes teen on the ball with mitzvah project

By Julie M. Brown
Published on July 12, 2007

Giant baskets overflowed with volleyballs, playground balls, baseballs, basketballs and soccer balls. The fabulous decorations were the beginning of a mitzvah project that would live on long after the bar mitzvah boy had read his haftorah, celebrated his milestone, opened his gifts and written all those thank-you notes.

Ghanaian Kicks It Up for Israel Fans

By Lisa Hirschmann
Published on June 22, 2006

World Cup viewers were confronted with more than one big surprise on Saturday when Ghana defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 in what was perhaps the greatest upset of the tournament so far. The second shocker came when Ghanaian defender John Pantsil pulled an Israeli flag out of his sock during Ghana's celebrations of its two goals.

My World Cup Runneth Over

By Roberto Loiederman
Published on June 15, 2006

Soccer's World Cup, played every four years, is being contested in Germany by 32 national teams from all parts of the world. One week of competition has gone by, three weeks to go before the championship game on July 9. The world is riveted. But not the American sports public, which has reacted with its usual collective yawn.

Two Bruins Get Big Kick Out of Sun Bowl

By Carin Davis
Published on February 9, 2006

Jimmy Rotstein and Brian Rubinstein had never played in a college football game, but the 72nd annual Vitalis Sun Bowl on Dec. 30 proved to be a tale of two walk-ons for these UCLA Bruins. The second-string players not only came off the bench, they collaborated on an extra point play. UCLA beat Northwestern and, in their own way, these two athletes made a larger point about hard work and good sportsmanship.

And the Shul Goes Wild!

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 11, 2003

Six Jewish sportsmen from the United States, Britain and Canada have been elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Birthright Continues Despite Setbacks

By Rachel Brand
Published on April 3, 2003

For much of his life, Lawrence Mudgett didn't need Judaism. He had football. But when the 6-foot-6, 250-pound sophomore was declared ineligible for the NCAA at the beginning of the school year, he began searching for another niche.

As a participant on Birthright Israel's 2002-2003 winter programs, Mudgett found what he was looking for.

"Going to Israel changed me. It's opened up so many doors," said the UCSB sophomore. "Just being part of the Jewish community and being involved in Hillel helps fill the void of not being on a team and not having that camaraderie."