This Week in Jewish Sports – BAGELS & JOCKS Monday, December 26, 2011

Created by Matthew J. Goldberg, tipofthegoldberg.com

On the sixth day of Chanukah, the long-awaited NBA season is now under way, even if that means that league czar David Stern had to endure some catcalls in Dallas.

Today, Bagels and Jocks will examine some early NBA action, share a baseball and football tidbit or two, highlight some highly-ranked Jewish tennis players and golfers, and celebrate the upcoming birthdays of two of baseball’s all-time greats.

Better get right to it.

THE NBA TIPS OFF

NBA fans enjoyed the league’s long-awaited Opening Day yesterday with five games—only two of which were won by the home team. With the lockout-shortened 66-game regular season schedule, each game takes on a greater meaning, if only slightly so.

The New York Knicks opened action with a come-from-behind 106-104 win over the rival Boston Celtics. Rebounding from a terrible third quarter that saw the Celtics outscore them 35-17 to grab an eight-point lead, the Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 37 points, had a big fourth quarter to win the thriller.

Amar’e Stoudemire also came up big with 22 points, six boards, two steals and two blocked shots. There is some optimism in Gotham, based on Anthony and Stoudemire having the opportunity to play a full (well, by this year’s definition, anyway) season together. Center Tyson Chandler—who was just acquired from the defending champion Dallas Mavericks—made his defensive presence felt by swatting away six shots.

…Speaking of defending champions, the Mavs and charismatic owner Mark Cuban hosted the team that they upset in last year’s championship series. This time around, LeBron James (37 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists), Dwyane Wade (26-8-6) and the Miami Heat got the better of Dirk Nowitzki (21 points) and company, 105-94.  The game was not as close as that score would indicate; the Heat were up by a remarkable 97-65 score after three quarters.

In a pre-game ceremony that honored the Mav’s first world championship, Commissioner David Stern was booed by Dallas’ fans. You can read Jaime Aron’s (AP sports via Yahoo) account here.

In other games, reigning league MVP Derrick Rose elevated for the winning shot with less than five seconds remaining to lift his Chicago Bulls to an 88-87 victory over Kobe Bryant and the host Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Paul made his LA Clippers’ debut a winning one, scoring 20 and dishing out nine assists in a road win over the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Durant scored 30 to lead the host Oklahoma City Thunder over (a disinterested?) Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic squad.

Two Jewish hoopsters will be in action today. Israeli small forward Omri Casspi will debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they host the Toronto Raptors. Only in the NBA can a man listed as 6’9” tall and 225 pounds be considered a “small” anything. The Cavs expect the 23-year-old to start for them and perhaps improve upon the 9.5 points-per-game that he averaged in two seasons with Sacramento. Casspi was born in Holon, and was raised in Yavne.

Jordan Farmar, who teamed with Casspi briefly in Tel Aviv during the lockout, will start his season later today in the nation’s capital when his New Jersey Nets pay a visit to the Washington Wizards. Expect Farmar to play 15-20 minutes per game, primarily as a backup to star guard Deron Williams.

SPIRALING THROUGH THE NFL

In general NFL news, the Green Bay Packers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC by blasting the Chicago Bears; superstar running back Adrian Peterson was carried from the field during a rare Minnesota Vikings victory; Denver Broncos’ would-be savior Tim Tebow had his worst day as a pro, throwing four interceptions in a loss at Buffalo; and, the Giants got the better of the Jets in the battle of New York. Of course, those teams play in New Jersey.

Last things first, and briefly.

Despite the various pre-game boasts of head coach Rex Ryan (not Jewish), the Jets lost an ugly 29-14 affair to their rivals and now will need a lot of help to make the playoffs. The Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday; the winner will take the mediocre NFC East.

In Jewish pigskin news, Antonio Garay was credited with two tackles in a 38-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. The loss eliminated the San Diego Chargers from playoff contention, and put the Lions in the playoffs for the first time since Henry Ford was in high school. Well, seemingly so. Would you believe Gerald Ford?

Greg Camarillo caught one pass fro 14 yards in the Vikings’ costly win over the Redskins. The win could have worsened the Vikes’ draft position, and there is that not insignificant matter of all-world running back Adrian Peterson tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Oy!

Punter Adam Podlesh was only called into duty two times but booted for an impressive 49-yard average in the Bears’ 35-21 loss to the Packers. The Bears, crippled by injuries to both quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte, have now lost five straight contests to fall out of playoff contention. The Monsters of the Midway have also missed huge right tackle Gabe Carimi, their rookie first-round draft pick out of Wisconsin. Carimi, who only played in a few games (but was already a starter) faces his own knee surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Safety Taylor Mays registered just one assist in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 23-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Bengals will be a surprise playoff entrant if they can beat the tough Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

MARQUIS ON THE MARQUEE?

In baseball news that did not reverberate on the (Albert) Pujolsian scale, right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis was acquired by the Minnesota Twins. Although not a “marquee” name, if you will, Jason has won over 100 games (104-98) in his 11-year Major League Baseball career. With a career 4.55 earned-run average and a WHIP (sorry…that’s walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 1.43. Marquis’ numbers are about average for a big-league starter.

Marquis, if he can rebound from injuries that limited him to just three starts and 11 inings pitched for Arizona in 2011, should find a spot in Minnesota’s starting rotation.  The Twins will be his seventh MLB employer.

Good news? Marquis won at least 11 games every year from 2004 through 2009. More good? He is a very good hitter (for a pitcher), with a career .195 batting average and five homers. Not so good? He won’t get to hit in Minnesota, as American League teams utilize a designated hitter.

SOME YEAR-END RANKINGS OF JEWISH JOCKS

In its latest rankings, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has Israeli Shaher Peer as No. 37 in the world. The Jerusalem-born player had climbed all the way to No. 11 earlier this year, the highest ranking ever attained by an Israeli player, female or male. She is also listed as No. 50 in doubles.

Doubles specialists Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich are currently the 16^th-ranked men’s team by the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals). Ram and Erlich, who both hail from Israel, have won one major titles together, the 2008 Australian Open. Ram has also been part of two mixed doubles teams that have captured major titles.

Golfer Morgan Pressel did not win any LPGA tourneys in 2011, but played steadily enough to capture a No. 23 world ranking. Pressel, just 23, holds the distinction of being the youngest player to ever win a major golf title when she captured the 20067 Kraft Nabisco Championships prior to her 19th birthday.

One note: “Major” is not an arbitrary term. The professional golf and tennis tours (male and female alike) have four major tourneys apiece every calendar year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS, HANK AND SANDY

As we continue to celebrate the Festival of Lights and also look forward to ringing in 2012, it is interesting to note that the two gentlemen considered to be the greatest Jewish ballplayers have birthdays only two days apart.

So, Happy Birthday, Sandy Koufax, who will turn 76 on December 30.

And, Happy Birthday to the late Hank Greenberg, who was born on New Year’s Day, 1911. Yes, that is 1/1/11 for the No. 1 Jewish hitter in MLB history.

On this celebratory note, that is all for this week’s and this year’s edition of Bagels and Jocks. See you next Monday right here. Please feel free to share some dialogue below.  If you would like to bring another Jewish athlete or mover-and-shaker to my attention, please contact me via this site or by e-mail.

Matthew J. (call him Matt) Goldberg will be taking a look at “This Week in Jewish Sports”) every Monday on www.jewocity.com. Please send feedback or suggestions to Matt@tipofthegoldberg.com.

For information about Matt’s books, sports columns, speaking events and requests for appearances and custom writing, please visit www.tipofthegoldberg.com, or contact him via email.