April 16, 2012 | 12:12 pm

Jewish Stories From Around the Sports World

Posted by Jeremy Fine

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Coach Bobby Valentine had some not so inspiring words for Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis disagrees. Read more HERE.

Big Mazel Tov to the NWA Champion Colt Cabana. This is Colt’s second title reign in NWA. With Colt as NWA champ and CM Punk as the WWE Champ it looks like Chicago truly has the Best Wrestlers in the World. Click HERE to read more.

Rumor has it Ian Kinsler and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a monster contract. Read more HERE.

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April 6, 2012 | 4:21 am

Rough Way to Start the Season

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Two tough breaks for the Jewish baseball world.

First the Dodgers demoted John Grabow who then opted out of his deal. Click HERE to read more. Grabow was beaten out for the last spot in the bullpen by Jamey Wright, despite not allowing a run during spring training.

 Secondly, Sam Fuld will begin the season the DL due to wrist surgery. He should miss 4-5 months. Click HERE to learn more. Looks like no Super Sam highlights this season.

Lets hope for better results and news soon.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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April 6, 2012 | 4:21 am

Frisch Wrestler Becomes Michigan Quarterback

Posted by Jeremy Fine

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April 6, 2012 | 4:20 am

Jewish HS Wrap-up 2011/12

Posted by Jeremy Fine

The YULA Panthers finish the 2011-2012 season as the #1 team in the Jewish Hoops America National Top 25.

Dave Winik’s squad, led by seniors Jack Gindi, Yisroel Solomon, Matt Reich and Gavriel Stark, defeated SAR, 45-35, Monday in the final of the Sarachek Tournament, avenging an overtime loss to the Sting last month and a loss in last year’s Sarachek final.

Frisch had spent one week in the top spot after its victory over previous #1 SAR in the Yeshiva League championship game. Both YULA (27-7) and SAR (29-5) overtook Frisch at the top of the poll after the Cougars (24-7) fell to Shalhevet in the Sarachek quarterfinals and to North Shore in the 5th Place game.

YULA’s season included a 10-1 record against other Jewish high schools and titles at all four tournaments they played in: the Cooper Invitational in Memphis, where they beat MTA in the semifinals and Ida Crown in the final; the Milken Classic, the Hillcrest Christian Holiday Tournament and Sarachek.

The Panthers held the top spot in the rankings for most of the season until their loss to SAR in Los Angeles last month. MTA’s 3rd place finish at Sarachek gave the Lions the #4 ranking in the poll. Shalhevet, which lost to YULA in overtime in the semifinals,  jumped three spots to #7.

Jewish Hoops America tracks 80 boys high school teams around the United States and Canada and the rankings are determined by a panel of voters across North America. 

Previous #1 Ranked Teams

2011 - Flatbush Falcons
2010 - Tarbut vTorah Lions
2009 - HANC Hurricanes
2008 - Ida Crown Aces
2007 - YULA Panthers

1.YULA/Los Angeles,CA (11)............27-7

2.SAR/Bronx,NY. ..............................29-5

3.Frisch/Paramus,NJ….........................24-7

4.MTA/New York,NY….....................21-7

5.North Shore HA/Great Neck,NY…...23-8

6.Magen David/Brooklyn,NY…............17-7

7.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA…..............18-11

8.DRS/Lawrence,NY….........................17-7

9.Ida Crown/Chicago,IL….....................17-13

10.Ramaz/New York,NY…...................21-6

11.Beren Academy/Houston,TX….........28-9

12.Milken/Los Angeles,CA….................16-8

13.Yavneh Academy/Dallas,TX…..........25-11

14.Cooper Yeshiva/Memphis,TN…........27-5

15.JEC/Elizabeth,NJ…...........................16-9

16.New Community Jewish/LA ,CA…....17-11

17.Weinbaum Yeshiva/Boca,FL…...........14-10

18.Fasman Yeshiva/Skokie,IL…..............14-11

19.HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY…..................11-12

20.Chicagoland Jewish/Chicago,IL….......11-15

21.Donna Klein JA/Boca ,FL*................15-4

22.Denver JDS/Denver,CO….................15-7

23.San Diego JA/San Diego,CA…..........14-11

24.Hillel/Deal,NJ….................................9-11

25.Shaare Torah/Brooklyn,NY…...........10-13

Others receiving votes: TABC, 11; Herzliah, 10; Jewish Day School-MD, 7;  Maimonides, 5; Valley Torah, 5; Beth Tfiloh, 3; Or Chaim Toronto, 3;  Hyman Brand HA-Kansas, 2; JCHS-San Francisco, 2.

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March 25, 2012 | 8:57 am

Fantasy Baseball Picks

Posted by Jeremy Fine

TGR wants to help you draft Jews this year. Where are they on the list? Below are overall Yahoo projections for your 2012 Jewish MLBers (note: some players may be sent down to the minors).

Also check out JewsinBaseball’s Bill James projections HERE.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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March 20, 2012 | 1:33 pm

Interview: Haverford’s Senior PG Ian Goldberg

Posted by Jeremy Fine

So its college basketball season. So TGR is bringing you a college basketball player. Meet Ian Goldberg. Senior at Haverford. Had a stellar career, nice final season, and happens to be a big TGR fan.

1) Please tell TGR a little bit about yourself.
I’m a Senior at Haverford College from New York City. I’m an Economics major and Anthropology minor. I finished my college career about a month ago and am in the midst of figuring out what I’m going to do next year. In the meantime, I’m focusing on my senior thesis and playing ball for fun.

2) When did you realize you wanted to and could play college basketball?
I knew I wanted to play college ball when I was a much shorter and skinnier version of myself in middle school at Poly Prep. I had played a lot of different sports growing up like most kids and I’d say around 7th grade I really starting focusing on basketball. I made the biggest strides in my game between my sophomore and junior year of high school and that’s when I started getting some division 3 looks.  I attribute a lot of my success to my high school coaches and teammates who taught me the game and inspired me to work my butt off to be successful at the next level.

3) What was your experience playing at Haverford?
Overall, I am very fortunate and thankful for my four years playing at Haverford. I wish we could have had some more success, but the relationships I have formed have been incredible. My main objectives looking for a college were to find a top-tier academic institution and to find a team that I could play for. Although I had to have sports hernia surgery right before my sophomore season, I only had to miss one game during my career. My coaches and teammates placed a lot of trust in me to run the team and I tried to return to the court every year a better player.

4) What was your biggest accomplishment on the court?
My biggest accomplishment on the court was making it to the conference semifinals my junior season. With a few games left in the regular season, we got some big wins and clinched a playoff spot. We ended up winning the first round game by one, before falling to ranked Franklin and Marshall in the semis. Even though we lost that game by a close margin, I was extremely proud of my guys for battling and coming within striking range.

5) Do you see basketball in your future?
I haven’t spent much time pursuing the opportunity to play, but it’s something I have seriously thought about. I would definitely love to play somewhere if the right situation arose. It would be great to continue playing competitively in a new and challenging environment.

6) Who is the best player you have ever had to guard? How did you fair?
The best player I ever had to guard would have to be 76ers guard Lou Williams. For the past two summers, Haverford has been the only Division 3 team in the Delco ProAm league in Philly. We had the chance to compete against top NBA and Division 1 talent. Lou definitely got the better of me, but I drew a couple charges on him and got some buckets too. He is lighting quick. It was an incredible opportunity to play against him.

7) Ever thought about playing in the Maccabi Games or in Israel?
Yes, I have thought about both and would love to try out and get an opportunity to play in Israel.

Thanks to Ian and the Goldbergs for reading. Good luck to Ian and I bet there is an Israeli roster with you jersey waiting.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine

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March 15, 2012 | 8:00 am

2012 Jewish NCAA Bracket

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Over the last 3 years TGR has been giving you the Jewish NCAA Bracket. In the first year we brought you a winner. Duke and Cornell helped produce those results. Last year we were in the middle of the pack. We used various methods from Jewish numbering, players, and Hillel sizes. But this year we tried a different method. We reached out to four rabbis, each one has a connection to the tournament regions. Each region was decided by the individual rabbi and then TGR picked the Final Four matchups and Champion. Below is a brief reason each rabbi was chosen and below that are the brackets. This is hoping that 5 rabbis can summon God and help you with your bracket.

Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz - Duke Hillel Rabbi. Duke is the #2 seed in the South Region.
Rabbi Efrem Reis - Last time MSU won it, it had a lot to do with Flint. Rabbi Reis was born in Flint.
Rabbi Erez Sherman - Rabbi Sherman was raised in Syracuse and they are the #1 seed.
Rabbi Ari Kaiman - Rabbi Kaiman is a rabbi in St. Louis that serves as host of the MidWest Region.

SOUTH REGION - Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz
Round 1 - Kentucky, Iowa State, VCU, Indiana, Baylor, UNLV, Xavier, Duke
Round 2 - Kentucky, VCU, Baylor, Duke
Sweet Sixteen - Kentucky, Duke
Elite Eight - Kentucky

WEST REGION - Rabbi Efrem Reis
Round 1 - Michigan State, Memphis, New Mexico, Louisville, Colorado State, Marquette, Virginia, Missouri
Round 2 - Michigan State, Louisville, Marquette, Missouri
Sweet Sixteen - Michigan State, Marquette
Elite Eight - Michigan State

EAST - Rabbi Erez Sherman
Round 1 - Syracuse, Kansas st, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida Statw, West Virginia, Ohio State
Round 2 - Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Florida State, West Virginia
Sweet Sixteen - Syracuse, Florida State
Elite Eight - Syracuse

MIDWEST - Rabbi Ari Kaiman
Round 1 - North Carolina, Creighton, Temple, Ohio, San Diego State, Belmont, Saint Marys, Kansas
Round 2 - North Carolina, Temple, San Diego State, Kansas, 
Sweet Sixteen - North Carolina, Kansas
Elite Eight - North Carolina

FINAL FOUR - Rabbi Jeremy Fine

Given all #1 seeds (Thanks Rabbis for being creative) here are the TGR Picks

Michigan State over Kentucky
North Carolina over Syracuse

North Carolina over Michigan State


And Let Us Say…Amen (and Good Luck).
- Jeremy Fine

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March 15, 2012 | 7:53 am

NCAA: Who is IN (and Already Out)

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Here are the Jewish Men in the various postseason tournaments:

NCCA
Josh Bartelstein - Michigan
Jake Cohen - Davidson
Josh Elbaum - Vermont
Nate Lubick - Georgetown
Brandon Reese - Syracuse
Scott Greenman - Georgetown Assistant Coach
Greg Gottlieb - California Assistant Coach
Jason Levy - Loyola Marymount Assistant Coach (unconfirmed)
Josh Pastner -Memphis Head Coach

NIT
Bryan Cohen - Bucknell
Ben Resner - Stoney Brook (Out)
Keith Dambrot - Akron Head Coach

CBI
Zach Gordon - Penn
Zach Rosen - Penn

CIT
Brian Katz - Yale

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