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The Great Rabbino

June 14, 2012 | 5:48 am RSS

Interview: Nationals Draft Pick Max Ungar

Posted by Jeremy Fine

He is young, humble, and most importantly good. While the Jewish world was sparked by the Padres 7th pick in the draft Max Fried, it is Max Ungar who might be the most important Jewish pick in the entire draft. Ungar went in the 36th round (not quite the 7th pick) to his hometown Washington Nationals. But this kid is from an all Jewish high school, Charles E. Smith in Rockville Maryland. When asked how he wanted to be promoted, Ungar said to mention his coaches, family, and friends. So he can play ball and is a mensch. Below is the exciting story of Max Ungar, a kid with a bright future and someone TGR is rooting for.

1) Tell TGR a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up, family life, other interests besides baseball.

I grew up in Bethesda,Md with two sisters, one older (a professional ballerina) and one younger (an awesome soccer and guitar player). My family has always been the most important thing in my life and they have always supported me through my academics as well as athletics and I really want to thank them for everything they have done. Some of my other interests besides baseball include; writing a blog about dieting in college (cavemancollege.com), doing “crossfit” style of working out, hiking, and being in nature.

2) When did you start playing baseball?

I’ve been playing baseball since I can remember so probably around 3 or 4 years old. I have a great picture of me in the backyard with a wiffle ball bat and ball on a tee. When I started playing, I was always at an age where I could either be the youngest on the team or I could be the oldest, and that translated over to school as well. I was one of the younger kids in my class and I usually ended having to play on summer and fall teams where I was either the youngest or the oldest. This put me at somewhat of a disadvantage because when I was the oldest on the team, I wasn’t playing the best competition that I could be playing, and I would go to showcases and the kids there would all be bigger and older than I am used to.

 

3)  Congrats on being drafted by the Washington Nationals. When did you realize getting drafted was a possibility? What was that like?

I really never thought that I would get drafted.  Being from such a small school that really hasn’t produced the greatest athletes in its history, I was not really expecting this to happen. When I first got a call from Bobby Myrick, who scouted me, I felt like it was a possibility but I really did not think it would happen because, again of the small school. Getting that call was probably one of the coolest things that ever happened to me. My dad was actually the only one home and he picked up the phone and talked to him. When my dad told me the news, I was ecstatic. First off, it was really cool that my Dad told me because he has always been the one who goes out and tosses BP for me or throws with me. However, I still did not think it would happen, I knew then that it was a possibility and I kept it in the back of my mind since that happened, until I went to Israel.

4) What was draft day like and how did you find out?

Draft day was crazy. I had everyone in the neighborhood over and family over, all dressed up, and we had a huge feast and huddled around the T.V. waiting for my name to be called and then… No, just kidding not at all like that. I had actually kind of forgot that it was the last day of the draft and if it was going to happen, it would happen that day. I was more focused on my Orientation at Denison. So, it was pretty normal, I went to the gym, packed and left for Granville, Oh. My friend Jordan Tuwiner had texted me a few days before saying that if I was going to get drafted that he would tell me first (Jordan runs a baseball recruiting website http://orioles-nation.

com/).  So, I started driving to orientation with my mom (about a 6 hour drive)  and my phone started to ring. I noticed that it was a (301) number so I thought I would pick it up (that was when I remembered that it was draft day). I picked it up and heard someone say “Hello this is the Washington Nationals, we just wanted to let you know that we will be drafting you in about 10 minutes so, you should turn on the broadcast on MLB.com and listen in, congratulations.” When I heard that, I was at a loss for words, I think all I could come up with was “awesome, awesome, thank you.” I started shaking a bit I think, and probably swerved a little bit on the road. I remember people passing me because I was all the way in the left lane and I started to slow down out of pure excitement. So, we frantically started calling everyone trying to tell them to tune in to the broadcast. Then, Jordan called and said they just drafted me. About a minute later we heard it over my moms iPhone on the car’s stereo system. It was just a crazy moment. We pulled over and my phone, email, and Facebook just started to blow up. Every other second I was getting a phone call, text or Facebook notification. It was really awesome. All of my friends and family were really nice about congratulating and supporting me. 

 

5) Were you excited it was the Nationals, your home team, who drafted you?

It is awesome that the Nationals, my hometown team, drafted me. I have been to a bunch of Nats games and know some people who have worked for the nationals in the past. I even remember when the Nats came to town and it was a big thing to be a nationals fan. Now, they are doing so well, that there are a lot of Nats fans out there and people are impressed when they here the Washington Nationals. However, I am a Red Sox fan, first and foremost. A bunch of my family grew up in Boston and Red Sox nation has been instilled in me from the beginning by my uncle, aunt, cousins,  grandmother, and mom. 

6) What is next for you? Do you plan on going to the minors or college? If you go to college do you loose your draft status?

I will be attending Denison University in the fall and playing for the Big Red in the spring. While it is really cool to have been drafted, my teachers and counselors as well as Baseball factory (a recruiting organization) have all taught me that my college education is more important for my future. Unless the Nats offer me a lot of money, I do not plan on accepting. After that, I will go to Denison and play baseball for them while nationals scouts and possibly other scouts follow me. After my Junior year of college, I can be drafted again by any team. 

 

7) What are your long term goals?

My long term goals are similar to most peoples long term goals. I want to be a family man first and foremost. If, to get there, the paths of life take me through professional baseball, then that would be really cool. If not,  then that’s okay also. I am interested in a number of things aside from baseball, and when it comes down to it, I have to make the best decisions for my family. One scenario that I especially want to avoid however, is getting drafted, signing, and then getting stuck in the minor leagues for a long time, where I can’t really do much with my life except get better at baseball, where I have little money, and am away form home most of the year.

 

8) Which baseball player do you try to model your game after? Who is your favorite player?

I would say I try and model my game, and work ethic after Jason Varitek. I think Varitek is the epitome of a professional  baseball player. He really knows the game, can predict situations,and is prepared for them. He was one of the hardest working guys in the game of baseball, even if he wasn’t the most gifted, or talented athlete, he always used his intelligence and work ethic to make him an all star and long tenured major leaguer.

 

9) If you had to start a baseball team which Jewish player would you start it with; Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler, Kevin Youkilis, or Jason Marquis?

Jason Marquis. Pitching is the key to success.  But, I think Braun is a really great player and is going to surpass Shawn Green as the modern day Hank Greenberg

Good luck to Max in school (or scoring that huge lucrative deal). We will be following your story.

And Let Us Say…Amen.

- Jeremy Fine

 

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June 8, 2012 | 5:54 am

Baseball Draft News

Posted by Jeremy Fine

In yesterday’s Major League baseball draft with the 7th pick the San Diego Padres selected Max Fried out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City, California. A highly touted 6’4 pitcher, who will undoubtedly spend time in the minors but has major league ability. 

We will no doubt keep an eye on his progress but he has serious potential to be the next great Jewish athlete. To read more on the Padres draft click HERE. The LA Times ran a story about Fried’s admiration for Sandy Koufax two years back. Click HERE to read more.
Good luck kid, we will be watching.
Another kid drafted out of High School is Charles E. Smith’s Max Unger.

TGR is happy to announce the Max Unger of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School was drafted in the 36th round by the Washington Nationals. Congrats to Unger. To read more click HERE.

Visit TheGreatRabbino.com for more on Jewish sports.

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June 5, 2012 | 8:00 am

Get Excited for Max Fried

Posted by Jeremy Fine

In yesterday’s Major League baseball draft with the 7th pick the San Diego Padres selected Max Fried out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City, California. A highly touted 6’4 pitcher, who will undoubtedly spend time in the minors but has major league ability. 

We will no doubt keep an eye on his progress but he has serious potential to be the next great Jewish athlete. To read more on the Padres draft click HERE. The LA Times ran a story about Fried’s admiration for Sandy Koufax two years back. Click HERE to read more.Good luck kid, we will be watching.

And Let Us Say…Amen.

- Jeremy Fine

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June 1, 2012 | 1:10 pm

Youkilis on the Block

Posted by Jeremy Fine

With the Red Sox in last place of the AL East they are looking to make some changes. They might start with Kevin Youkilis. The Youk is a fan favorite (of TGR and Red Sox Nation). Click HERE to read more. HERE is more from the rumor mill.

Where might Youk land you ask? The White Sox, Rangers, and Dodgers have all come out to scout him. A move to the White Sox would fill their gap at 3B and add another veteran bat to their already hot lineup. Its obviously the TGR choice.

We will keep you posted on this situation.

Shabbat Shalom.

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June 1, 2012 | 8:00 am

TGR Update

Posted by Jeremy Fine

First, we would like to wish TGR WISE Intern Elan Kane a Yasher Koach on his presentation yesterday. Elan has done a great job writing and reporting for us and he has a bright future in whatever he decides to do. He is always welcome to write for TGR.

Second, TGR is MOVING!!! Well, the blog will still be here but I will be moving from NYC to the great state of Minnesota to be the new Assistant Rabbi at Temple of Aaron in St. Paul MN. In honor of the move we will have a few Minnesota Jewish sports stories.

Third, we would like to announce our new relationship with TCJewFolk.com which is a hip Jewish young professional blog based in Minnesota. Similar to OyChicago.com, TCJewFolk tries to understand and engage the young Jewish world. They have already ran a story about me (Click HERE) and soon will be carrying stories from TGR. They will also be launching another feature called Pop Parsha where I discuss various movies through a Jewish perspective.

Finally, the blog itself has been going through some maintenance and will continue over the next few months. We hope this makes the blog easier to navigate and has more accurate/interesting information.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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May 23, 2012 | 10:18 am

TGR at the Trop

Posted by Jeremy Fine

This summer I will go to at least4 stadiums and two of them new. The first on the list was Tropicana Field in Tampa Florida. So people make fun of the Trop. Its slanted, the roof is weird, and no one goes to games. It is true the Trop has a bizarre look, but I think it gave it unique character which is the number one most important thing for a stadium. It is also true that there were only a few people there. That was bothersome because most everything was closed.

But I will say this about the stadium, it was very fan friendly. There were tons of kid activities…which I did NOT partake in. At the end of the evening, as I scoured for the Super Sam Fuld cape, I eventually was given one which was great. And free parking! There was also this cool Ted Williams museum, as he was a resident of Fort Petersburg Florida and helped get the Rays (Devils Rays Z’L) started.

Although I did not find kosher food, the Jewish part of the Trop was in the Williams Museum. There was a nice wall dedicated to Jewish Baseball Players. There were also stands presenting Hank Greenberg and owner Stu Sternberg. Lastly, there we many mentions of Sam Fuld and that made for a nice Jewish experience.

Park number #20 down. Target Field will be #21.
And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

 

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May 15, 2012 | 8:48 am

10 Best Jewish Owners in Sports

Posted by Jeremy Fine


Dan Snyder

More than Jewish players have been making news (at least good news) the Jewish owners have emerged. TGR thought it would look at the top Jewish owners in Sports (the 3 majors sports…would’ve included the NHL but we do not have confirmation on Jeremy Jacobs or Stu Siegel).  We might be missing some so feel free to help us out.

1. Dan Snyder - Washington Redskins - Snyder has tried to make moves over the years but most have bombed. But now he has RGIII, this could be the right move has has coveted for so long.

2. Jeffrey Laurie - Philadelphia Eagles - Well the Dream Team never lived up to the hype (at least in year one). The Eagles still have a solid team led by Michael Vick. During Laurie’s tenure the team has competed and been looked at as a team willing to make moves to win.

3. Stuart Sternberg - Tampa Bay Rays - Sternberg is the principal shareholder in the team. More importantly he has created not only a team, but a culture of winning in a division with the big boys. For the last five years he has given the Yankees and Red Sox all the can handle and often coming out on top.

4. Dan Gilbert - Cleveland Cavilers -  Gilbert makes the list because of how much pride he has in his team. He hated, not just for himself but for his city, when Lebron abandoned the city. Gilbert has made it his personal mission to overcome that loss. Great start by drafting Kyrie Irving, a star in the making.

5. Lerner Family - Washington Nationals - It has taken some time but the Nationals are a force to reckon with. Jayson Werth’s will hurt them, but how can you not be psyched about Bryce Harper. Kid’s got game.

6. Zygi Wilf - Minnesota Vikings - Sure the Vikings were not so great this past year, but anyone else read about Wilf’s desire and will to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. I would want to play for an owner like that.


Robert Kraft

7. Jerry Reinsdorf - Chicago Bulls/White Sox - Reinsdrof owns two major sports teams. He has 7 championships (6 with the Bulls and 1 with the White Sox). The Sox have made major moves almost every offseason over the last 10 years, not always panning out. The Bulls should have been title contenders this year but…well…that whole Derrick Rose injury you might have heard about.

8. Micky Arison - Miami Heat - I hate that he is on this list. But we need to give credit where credit is due. Last year he inked Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James. They are still playing and winning.

9. Mark Cuban - Dallas Mavericks - No owner in sports care about their team more. Cuban would do anything to win. He will go after Deron Williams this offseason and he will go after him hard. Cuban is a fans owner, that’s why we love him.

10. Robert Kraft - New England Patriots - If no owner cares more about their team than Cuban, well no team cares more about their owner than the Pats do for Robert Kraft. Kraft has put the people in place for the Pats to always be contenders. Oh yeah, and he has Tom Brady.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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May 11, 2012 | 2:32 pm

Welcome to the NFL

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Mazel Tov to the newest Jew in the NFL, Mitchell Schwartz. Schwartz was drafted early in the second round with pick #37 by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns believe Schwartz can play opposite Joe Thomas and block for both first round picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden. Click HERE to read more.

In more good news immediately after the draft the St. Louis Rams picked up, former TGR interviewee, Alex Hoffman-Ellis who could make the team as a special teams player. HERE is our interview with Hoffman-Ellis. HERE is a small piece on Hoffman-Ellis as well.

Also, the Detroit Lions signed William & Mary TE Alex Gottlieb who announced it on his Twitter page. Click HERE to read more.

As of now these are the only Jewish players we can confirm but there were many players drafted or signed with Jewish last names. If anyone knows anything about Patrick Schiller (NIU), Michael Cosgrove (Idaho), Brad Herman (Iowa), Josh Norman (Coastal), Ryan Miller (Colorado), Scott Solomon (Rice), Jeremy Ebert (Northwestern), and David Mok (Michigan).

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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