April 8, 2013 | 8:17 am

Interview: Former Blue Ron Garber

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Follow me on

On the eve of another end to March Madness, TGR wanted to do something special. So we caught up with former Michigan basketball player Ron Garber. Ron is a great guy and plays in my Temple of Aaron Sunday night basketball game in St. Paul. Besides throwing down two massive dunks last night, he had several blocked shots including one on my buddy Dan which was for all intensive purposes a volleyball spike. We caught up with the former Blue to hear his story and take on tonight's big finals match-up.

1) Tell TGR a little bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Golden Valley, MN and am a dual American/Israeli citizen.  I was a late-grower and was cut from my high school basketball team (Hopkins, a powerhouse basketball school in Minnesota) as a senior, spent two years working out like mad and then accomplished my dream of walking on to the Michigan basketball team my junior and senior years.

2) What was your experience playing at Michigan like?

It was amazing and changed the trajectory of my life.  More than anything else, it made me such a better basketball player.  I used to play in a Minneapolis-area summer league that all of the local D-3 guys played in, and the summer before I walked on, I was one of the better bigs in the league, but fit in.  I came back next summer after a year of playing against Michigan-level competition and really dominated the league.  It was awesome.

It also gave me the opportunity to meet kids with totally different backgrounds than my own and kind of expand my horizons.  I became really tight with the guys I played with, and those relationships continue to mean a lot to me.

3) Who was the best player you ever played with and against? What were those experiences like?

Best player I played with - Bernard Robinson, Jr.  He was tenacious, strong and a total competitor.  Long arms and crazy quick feet.  Zig-zag drills against him were a nightmare.

Best player I played against - Bobby Jackson.  In the summers we used to play pick-up games with him, and it was usually my group of friends against his.  We couldn't take them because whenever we would get to 9 or whatever, he would just turn it on and take over, and he was unstoppable.  I played with and against a lot of good players between my college team and the Howard Pulley pro-am league in St. Paul, but no one could flip that switch like he could.

4) Did you continue playing ball after your Michigan days?

I played professionally in Israel for a year after graduating and then came back to the US and played - and continue to play - in leagues, pick-up ball, whatever.  I play less than I used to now that I'm getting a little older and am more into biking, yoga, etc. but I still play in a bunch of pick-up games and the Minneapolis lawyers league.  An old teammate at Michigan just moved to the Twin Cities so I'm sure I'll play even more now.

5) How close do you follow the college game today? Thoughts on this year's Michigan team?

I follow the NBA much more closely than I follow the college game, just because the overall talent level has really dropped off since it became the norm to leave after one year.  I like watching the best players, and the best players are in the League.  I still love the Tournament though.

This year's Michigan team is incredible, especially now that Mitch McGary has found his confidence and rhythm.  They are so athletic and so deep, and now have that threat inside as well.  I love watching Glenn Robinson play - he's so athletic and manages to affect games even though they really don't run any offense for him - and Trey Burke is obviously amazing.

6) What was your Jewish life like growing up? And today?

Because of the Israeli influence in my family, growing up, my Jewish identity was always more about Israel than about spirituality or religion.  I always went to Jewish summer camp though (Teko in the Twin Cities and then OSRUI in Wisconsin) and would visit family in Israel every year or two.  I was also pretty active in my synagogue youth group.  The best basketball game of my career was the championship game of my 'Jew-ball league' my senior year of high school, and it's the only game in my life that I remember my stat line from.  35 (on 9-11 shooting, 15-18 from the line) points, 18 rebounds, according to my dad's box score.  We had lost in the championship my junior and sophomore year and winning was a big deal to us.  Today my Judaism is still about Israel, and I am very active in organizations focused on the peace process.  I've been a counselor at Seeds of Peace the past two summers and am the chair of the Minnesota chapter of J Street, two organizations that are both focused on making peace, albeit in different ways (J Street is focused on the politics, Seeds of Peace is focused on the people).

7) What's your favorite ice cream stop in Minnesota?

My favorite ice cream stop is my kitchen!  I make some mean ice cream - passionfruit-habanero, apples and honey and maple-pecan (made with maple syrup tapped from trees on the Seeds of Peace camp) are probably my signature flavors.  Look for my ice cream truck/shop (gonna be called either FrozenChozen's -- my nickname at Michigan -- or Matok, which means 'sweet' in Hebrew) in the next 10-15 years!

8) What are you up to these days?

Today I'm a corporate/M&A lawyer at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis and try to do what I can - mostly through J Street and Seeds of Peace - to affect the peace process from where I live in Minneapolis.  I also hopelessly follow the Minnesota Timberwolves (next year is our year; I said that last year too).

9) Anything else you'd like to share?

Michigan 81 - Louisville 74.

Thank you to Ron for his time. I am sure tonight will be crazy for Blue fans everywhere. And yes, Trey Burke is unreal. Wonder if he is Jewish? Doubtful.

And Let Us Say...Amen.

- Jeremy Fine

March 4, 2013 | 2:40 pm

Interview: NFL Prospect Sam Schwartzstein

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Over the last few years the NFL draft has brought us some great stories. Starting with Taylor Mays and Gabe Carimi. Last year Mitchell Schwartz got all the press, while Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Alex Gottlieb drew some attention as well. This year we have Sam Schwartzstein out of Standford. Below is a little bit about the determined Offensive Lineman.

1) Sam, welcome to TGR. Can you tell people a little bit about yourself?

I'm a interior lineman prospect at for the 2013 NFL draft and played at Stanford for the past 5 years. I'm from Texas originally where I went to school at Carroll high school in southlake

2) What was your experience at Stanford like?

It was great had a lot of amazing experiences of going through a rebuilding process of a team going from the bottom of the Pac10 to the top of the PAC 12.

3) Which Harbaugh did you root for in the Super Bowl?

I was mostly an objective observer but parts of me wanted coach to win. He is a main reason why I chose Stanford and I thank him immensely for that.

4) What are your future career plans?

Hopefully a long NFL career but after that I want to work in a startup and create a new product or service.

5) Will you be attending the combine or tryouts? Are you excited for the opportunity?

I will not be attending the combine but I will be participating in Stanford's pro day on March 21st. I'm extremely excited for the opportunity and that's all I want, is an opportunity to prove myself.

6) Where do you see yourself lining up in the NFL?

At one of the 3 inside positions. I played center the past two years but was a recruited guard. I have experience at all three spots.

7) Over the last few years Jewish NFL Offensive Linemen have been drafted high (Gabe Carimi and Mitchell Schwartz). Have you spoken to either of them about their experience? Who is guiding you on your journey?

I haven't spoken to them but it is awesome to see their success. I spoke to Mitchell after we played Cal two years ago and it's one of those things where it's cool to catch and meet guys from a similar heritage. The guys who have helped guide me were David DeCastro and Jonathon Martin. They are exceptional players who understand the work it takes to be a true professional.

8) What was your Jewish upbringing like? Do you have a favorite holiday?

I come from a split Jewish and Christian house where we practiced both holidays. My dad was Jewish and we often would look for the Jewish athletes out there. It was a prideful thing where a lot of people wouldn't give me the respect in sports because of the last name but it was a driving force to make me work harder to prove the doubters wrong. Favorite holiday would be Passover because my dad makes the best brisket.

Good luck to Sam. We will be watching out for you.

And Let Us Say...Amen.

- Jeremy Fine

0 Comments — Leave your comment

January 31, 2013 | 12:50 pm

Interview: JewishHoopsAmerica.com

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Had this website been around while I was in High School I would have been obsessed with it. As anyone who has played in the Red Sarachek Tournament or an intense rivalry game with Jewish pride on the line, JewishHoopsAmerica.com adds a little more fuel to the fire. TGR loves the site and the idea, so much so we reached out to Elliot Steinmetz, the creator to find out more. Turns out he was a pretty good player himself. Below is the interview:

1) Tell TGR a little bit about yourself?
I am currently the head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team at the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School (NSHA) in Great Neck, New York. In my first season at NSHA, Elliot led the school to its best record ever (23-8 overall, 12-2 league), as well as a division title and the school’s first ever semifinal appearance. From 2003-2008, I developed and ran the JV Elite basketball program before ultimately selling the program and maintaining and running the JewishHoopsAmerica.com website. I live in Woodmere with my wife, Sima and our three children, Jacob, Noah and Lea. During the day I am an attorney licensed in both New York and Connecticut and currently working as an Associate General Counsel at Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. in Uniondale, New York.

2) What made you want to start JewishHoopsAmerica.com?
My brother and I used to run a basketball camp at the end of each summer for Jewish HS kids from around the country called JV Elite. We felt it was great how the players had those 5 days to see and compete with players they do not see or know of during the year. The site evolved from that lack of connection that we felt existed for Jewish schools across the country. We decided to put together the website and rankings so that players from across the country could have a place to follow and gauge each other's progress throughout the season.

3) What are some of the cool features on JHA?
I think the twitter feed is a terrific feature. We see every year how more and more people get involved with social media and this allows our visitors to interact with the site and help get information out there. The rankings are obviously a big hit because there is no other measure for Jewish HS teams nationally to compare. I think the rankings has also helped fuel a lot of the out of town tournaments and turned them into real competitive contests with legitimate repercussions in the rankings. I also have started to try and bring out more feature and interest articles. The last few articles have gotten a lot of feedback and sparked a lot of conversation in the Jewish and mainstream basketball world. I think features like that make it more than just an informational site and start to become thought provoking as well.

4) How do you accumulate all the information for scoring and scores for the site?
Jon Bandler. Many know Jon from the Sarachek tournament at Yeshiva University. Jon is the reason we are able to pull together the national information. Jon is behind the scenes but the site doesn't run without his hard work. He is in touch nationally with coaches and athletic directors and compiles all the information for us to post.  Obviously a lot depends on the cooperation of the schools. I would love to see more students get involved as well. Perhaps get credit for a club or put on their résumé their work as a reporter for the site. I think it's been great in the past when we have student-written articles about their teams' success.

5) Who is on the panel for rankings? Is there a New York bias?
Since I am a coach in the Yeshiva league I am actually not told who is on the panel. Again, Jon Bandler takes responsibility for the rankings panel which consists of knowledgeable basketball personalities from around the country. There is not a NY bias by any means. I think often the stronger base of teams are going to be in NY and CA. You have to remember, with schools like Frisch, Ramaz, North Shore, Magen David and others, along with YULA and Valley Torah, the sheer volume of kids in the schools lends to a stronger talent pool year by year. This generally plays out in the tournaments as well. Any of the big tournaments, be it preseason in Memphis or Sarachek in the post-season will often see their final four dominated by NY and NJ schools along with CA and occasionally Chicago. Often, though not always, it is the larger schools too.

6) Out of all the players you have covered who is your starting 5 all-time?
Fun question.  I would have to go with (in no order):
1. Jordan Marcus of Solomon Schechter (now Golda Och Academy).
2. Eitan Chemerinkski of JDS Maryland.
3. Benjy Ritholtz who played for me at HANC.
4. Yisrael Feld who played for MTA and played for me on the gold medal winning USA team in the Maccabi Games in Australia.

I have to say to round this out I'm going to take a left turn. And by the way, there are so many great players I am leaving out here. But many of them I didn't have the chance to see in person, and truth be told, I had the good fortune to sit on the bench and watch two of the above players win championships for me so those are my guys. But to throw out just a couple of other names, Eric Avdee, Aaron Liberman, Solomon Schoonover, Shlomo Weisberg, Dovie Hoffman were all terrific players. Most of the above players are playing college basketball.

Now for my 5th, I'm going with a young woman who played for Ramaz. Charlene Lerner. Charlene was a terrific player for Ramaz and a great three point shooter. Why does she make this list? Because she did all that with only one arm. Charlene was born without one arm from the elbow down. I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker with her at the preseason Cooper Tournament in Memphis last year. She is an extremely inspirational person with a great story and lesson. She would be my fifth starter along with the others.

7) What is the future of JHA? What is the next step?
We are actually working on a site update now that will hopefully take place in the very near future. This will help make the site more user friendly and social media capable. It will enhance the coverage and modernize many of the features. My hope is to continue to make the site as interactive as possible and continue to get as much school and student involvement as possible. I also want to continue to regularly put out opinion articles and interviews and other op-Ed type pieces which I think fosters discussion and brings people of many different ages and backgrounds to the site.

8) Can Chicagoland Jewish High School finish #1 even without going to YU this year?
Absolutely. My North Shore team played them in the championship at the Memphis tournament early this season. They were missing a top player and even so, were as good as anyone. They are a well-coached and fundamentally sound team. And the kicker, they play harder than everyone. Those kids are committed to a way of playing that requires major conditioning and major heart. They are a terrific team.  I think there are a few teams that can compete with them. Shalhevet in CA is excellent and deep and has size. Frisch, north shore, MTA and Magen David from the Yeshiva League are all very strong as well.

9)Anything else you would like the TGR readers to know?
Sure. For those of you who have involvement in schools or athletic programs, I think it's extremely important that while everything must be kept in balance, especially with student athletes, I think it's important not to lose site of the tremendous value that comes with competing as a student athlete. The social and yes, academic value, that comes from being part of a team and representing your school is not only a real honor and privilege for those who have the opportunity, but a real and genuine way to help shape your future.

I am an attorney at a real estate investment trust. I still remember what my current general counsel said to me during the interview process - he told me he could never put enough value on the level of competency at work that comes with having competed in high school or collegiate sports.  I hope that as parents, students and administrators, that we support our schools athletic programs and recognize their importance to the student athletes both for the present and the future.

Thank you to Elliot for the great interview and keeping an awesome site running. JewishHoopsAmerica.com just ran a story on TGR and we want to thank JHA for giving us time and space as well.

Can't wait for Sarachek!
And Let Us Say...Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

0 Comments — Leave your comment

January 17, 2013 | 8:21 am

A Look at the History of NFL Coaches

Posted by Jeremy Fine

With the announcement of Marc Trestman as newest head coach of the Chicago Bears, TGR decided to look into former Jewish NFL coaches. We were able to identify 3 others (apparently only wikipedia has tackled this topic).

From 1961 to 1969 the New York (FOOTBALL) Giants were led by Allie Sherman. Sherman was NFL Coach of the Year in '61 and '62 finishing his NFL coaching career with a 63-59-4 record.

Sid Gillman, a legendary player in his own right, held two head coaching jobs. In 1970 and 1971 Gillman coached the San Diego Chargers and in 1973 and 1974 he ran the Houston Oilers.

Finally, the most famous coach was Marv Levy who coached the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978 to 1982 and most notably the Buffalo Bills from 1986 to 1997 losing four consecutive Super Bowls.

Trestman joins a short list but a well accomplished list. Here is hoping to success and a Bears Super Bowl!

And Let Us Say...Amen.

- Rabbi Jeremy Fine

0 Comments — Leave your comment

January 17, 2013 | 8:18 am

Interview: Meet Columbia’s Alex Rosenberg

Posted by Jeremy Fine

As league play begins we caught up with Columbia's new rising star Alex Rosenberg. Only a sophomore, Rosenberg is providing his worth and this Lions team as a real shot at an Ivy League title and finished the preseason 8-6. Here is what Rosenberg has to say about his future, his team, and Crumbs cupcakes.

1) Tell TGR about yourself?

I am currently a sophomore at Columbia University. I am from Short Hills, New Jersey where I attended Millburn High school for four years and then went to prep school at Peddie for one year because I felt that I needed another year to improve my strength and get ready for college life. I am a very hard-working person who has high aspirations of being successful both on and off the court. Lastly, I am very close with my family, I am the second oldest of 4 siblings, whether it is my parents, sister and brothers, or cousins and I feed off of their support to drive myself to work hard. Going to school in New York City, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by my family.

2) When did you know you were ready for the NCAAs?

When I began high school, I dreamed of playing basketball on television and for a Division I program. I continued to work hard and after attending several AAU tournaments, I gained confidence, especially playing with and against many high-level players. I attended a tournament in Indiana going into my senior year where we played at Assembly Hall against Indiana Elite. I played against Cody Zeller and Marshall Plumlee and scored 15 points. After that game I felt that I belonged there and was beginning to prove myself.

3) What's it like having such a rigorous school schedule (Ivy League) and basketball schedule? Is it hard to balance?

Attending an Ivy League school is tough because no students, in particular athletes, receive special treatment from professors. Everyone is equal so I have to work as hard as any other student to receive good grades. Yet, basketball is extremely demanding and takes up a lot of my time. It is tough at first to manage both but Columbia teaches us about time management. I chose this school because I wanted to be challenged and I think that both our team and program are continuing to improve.

4) 8-6 record going into league play. Do the Lions have a shot at going to the tournament this year?

I definitely feel that the Lions have a shot at going into the tournament this year. We lost a few close games early on but I feel we have been improving and have been working diligently. We have a great mix of veterans and freshman that are talented and understand the magnitude of what it will take to win the Ivy League. We feel very confident going into every game and expect to win the Ivy League this year and prove where we are as a program.

5) You are only a sophomore and already third in team scoring, second in assists and rebounds. Where do you see yourself in regards to the team and its future?

I feel as if I am an essential part of this team that can help us be more versatile offensively and defensively. I have been trying to play within myself and do what this team needs me to do to succeed. As long as I am getting my teammates involved, then I will find opportunities to score and be a threat against opposing teams. Going forward, I am looking to take a major jump in my overall game and be a player who this team counts on to lead us to wins night in and night out. I want to become one of the leaders of this team and a role model for our younger players to strive to be great.

6) Who is the best player you have ever played against? What was that like?

The best player I ever played against was Kyrie Irving. I actually played with him for four years in AAU and we became very close, but I was able to go up against him in practice and it was a great test every time to measure where I stood as a player going against a future professional.

7) You plan on playing in the Maccabi games this coming summer. Has Israel played a large role in your life? Are you excited for the opportunity?

I am very excited to play for a second time in Israel. My first experience, four years ago was eye-opening. I am honored to represent my country in the Maccabi games and look forward to spending time in Israel because it is a great and historic country. This is actually going to be my fourth visit to Israel. I was there twice as a child when my father played basketball in the Maccabiah games. I have always loved visiting Israel and I am very comfortable with the people and the culture there. It is somewhere I would consider playing professionally at some point in my career after college.

8) What are your future goals?

I set very high goals for myself that I feel are attainable and can be achieved with hard work. I hope to play professionally in the NBA or overseas after I graduate. I want to work to reach my full potential and see how successful I can become playing basketball for a number of years to come. After basketball, I hope to become even more successful working in business.

9) Knowing the Upper West Side well would you say you eat more Koronets Pizza, Crumbs Cupcakes, or at Toms Restaurant?

That’s a tough question. Tom’s is great for breakfast or any time of the day and Koronets is great for a late night slice of pizza, but those who know me well, know that I love cupcakes and so I may have to go with Crumbs on this one.

Thank you to Alex for his time. He has lots of potential and we are rooting for him.

And Let Us Say...Amen.

- Jeremy Fine

0 Comments — Leave your comment

January 17, 2013 | 8:16 am

Jewish Football Twitter Accounts You Can Trust

Posted by Jeremy Fine

You may have heard that their are some faulty Twitter accounts going around. So here are some real ones to follow. Also, you can always check us out at @TheGreatRabbino (just sports) or @RabbiJeremyFine (Judaism and more).

@SageRosenfels18 - Former NFL Quarterback

@GeoffSchwartz76 - Vikings Offensive Lineman

@CoachTonyLevine - Houston Head Coach

@AntonioGaray71 - Chargers Defensive Lineman

@Goldberg - Former NFL Linebacker

@AdamPodlesh08 - Bears Punter

@ErikLorig - Bucs Fullback

@JeremyBloom11 - Former NFL Kick Returner

0 Comments — Leave your comment

October 15, 2012 | 8:35 am

Coach Greenberg Takes the Pulpit

Posted by Jeremy Fine

On Saturday morning around 10:45AM congregants at the Temple of Aaron in St. Paul might have noticed something a little different about their pulpit. Their rabbis passed the sermon this week to Maccabi Haifa head basketball coach Brad Greenberg.

Maccabi Haifa is in town to play the Minnesota Timberwolves this Tuesday night, October 16th, at 7:00PM. They came from the West Coast having just lost an exhibition game to the Golden State Warriors 108-100. Leading up to the game Coach Greenberg and the Maccabi Haifa team will be participating in community wide events, promoting Israel and their charity Haifa Hoops for Kids (helping underprivileged children in Israel access basketball and athletics).

Greenberg’s sermon was a big success. He got everyone talking and excited about the upcoming game. Greenberg himself has an interesting story on both the professional and collegiate basketball levels. Most recently Coach Greenberg was leading the Radford University Highlanders. Before that he was the General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and was responsible for drafting Allen Iverson.

Greenberg shared a moving story about when he got let go by the 76ers and how it was a tough time in his life. As a member of Har Zion synagogue in Philadelphia, he deeply regretted not reaching out to then Rabbi Gerald Wolpe. He had fond memories of Rabbi Wolpe, specifically a sermon he gave about Kobe Bryant’s decision to forgo college and head to the NBA.

Greenberg also talked his time in Israel, and his decision to move there in the first place. He has been grateful for the opportunity and the eye opening experience. He spoke about Israel’s tremendous strength and resilience day-to-day, and how his American friends are learning, through him, the incredible pride and happiness Israelis display for their country.

Temple of Aaron thanked Coach Greenberg with some parting gifts and told the coach that they would be bringing a nice constituency to the game Tuesday night. Good luck to Maccabi Haifa and Coach Greenberg this week and throughout the Israeli League Season!

And Let Us Say…Amen.

Jeremy Fine

www.TheGreatRabbino.com

0 Comments — Leave your comment

August 29, 2012 | 8:11 am

Israel’s Greatest Team

Posted by Jeremy Fine

0 Comments — Leave your comment