The Jewish Sport Report: A Jewish guide to Super Bowl Sunday

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Happy Friday, readers of the Jewish Sport Report! And it’s a lucky Friday indeed because baseball season is upon us.

Pitchers and catchers are reporting for spring training next week, games begin Feb. 24, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic is less than a month away.

If you close your eyes, you can almost smell the freshly mown grass and hear the bats crackling.

The WBC begins March 8 and the official rosters for all 20 teams were announced Thursday night.

Here’s the full roster from Team Israel — featuring an unprecedented 15 Jewish players with MLB experience.

And this weekend, a new documentary about the team, Israel Swings for Gold, premieres at an Atlanta film festival. I spoke to the director about the film.

A Jewish Guide to Super Bowl Sunday

Of course, before we jump into the full baseball season, this weekend is all about the Super Bowl.

While there will be no Jewish players on the field when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Phoenix on Sunday, there are still many Jewish aspects of the game.

First there is the general manager of Eagles Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurieboth of whom are Jewish.

A native of New Jersey, Roseman has worked for the Eagles since 2000. Lurie, a Boston film producer, bought the Eagles in 1994.

During the 2020 DeSean Jackson anti-Semitism controversy, in which the then-Eagles star posted (and then deleted) anti-Semitic quotes online, Jackson personally apologized to Roseman and Lurie.

For fans of the Jewish Eagles, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philly sells Eagles (and Chiefs) Mezuzah.

But some Jewish fans are feeling conflicted over the big game – with longstanding concerns renewed after Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after being hit on the field last month.

“Although Hamlin’s medical crisis was a rare event on the field, the trauma surrounding his collapse has raised age-old questions for me and many of us about the effects of football on the bodies of its players,” writes Rabba Yaffa Epstein in a JTA essay . “What are we allowing these young men to do in the name of sportsmanship, entertainment and national identity? If the Super Bowl airs on Sunday, what are our responsibilities as viewers?”

Epstein, a scholar and educator at the Jewish Education Project, examines what Jewish tradition has to say about this dilemma — and offers a way forward for Jewish fans who still want to enjoy the game. You can read her contribution here.

And if you’re planning on watching the game, our friends at The Nosher suggest some Jewish inspiration for your Super Bowl snacks.

mid-term report

GOLDEN. Israeli judoka Gili Sharir won a gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam judo tournament last weekend and Gefen Primo won bronze. Israel has long been a judo powerhouse.

THE AMAZINE. New York Mets owners Steve Cohen does things its own way – including spending more money than anyone else. Cohen offered ESPN a rare interview Jeff Passan this week a glimpse into his plan to transform baseball in New York and beyond. Listen.

KINSLER RETURNS TO TEXAS. Former All-Star second baseman Jan Kinsler is in high demand. The 2018 world champion will lead Team Israel at next month’s WBC and is now also working for his old team, the Texas Rangers, as special assistant general manager.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN. Mat Ischbiathe Jewish billionaire who bought the Phoenix Suns and Mercury from a suspended Jewish owner Robert Sarver, has officially taken the reins of his new NBA franchise. According to ESPN, he immediately made it clear that he would prioritize improving the team’s workplace culture.

Does Kyrie Irving have a Jewish family?

NBA star Kyrie Irving is now a Dallas Maverick, but he hasn’t moved on from the drama of his anti-Semitism scandal in New York.

Irving was sold to Dallas, a team owned by Mark Cuban, who is Jewish and spoke out during Irving’s controversy last year. The Cuban said the eight-time All-Star was “not educated on the impact” of his online platform.

At a news conference with his new team on Tuesday, Irving was asked why he deleted his apology post – which was seen at the time as a crucial step in his return from his suspension.

“I delete things all the time and it’s not disrespectful to anyone in the community,” Irving said.

Irving said he stands by his apology. But he also shared some new information about his family.

“I stand by who I am and why I apologized. I did it because I care about my family and I have Jewish family members who care deeply about me,” Irving said. “Did the media know that before they called me that word – anti-Semite? No. Did you know anything about my family? No. Everything was accepted.”

It is unclear which members of Irving’s family are Jewish or if he is expressing the Black Hebrew Israelite ideology espoused in the film he shared, which includes claims that African Americans are the genealogical descendants of ancient Israelites.

See Jews in sports this weekend

🏒 IN HOCKEY…

Jacob Chychrun and the Arizona Coyotes play the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. Chychrun has been the subject of frequent rumors as the March 3 NHL trade deadline nears. Saturday is an action-packed day in the NHL – QuinnHughes, Zach Hyman, Adam Fox, chychrun, Jack Hughes And Jason Sugar play all.

🏀 IN BASKETBALL…

Deni Avdija and the Washington Wizards host the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. Ryan Turell and the Motor City Cruise meets the Oklahoma City Blue tonight and tomorrow, both at 7:00 p.m. ET.

⛳ IN THE GOLF…

Max Homa will try to keep the momentum going at the Phoenix Open this weekend. Homa announced this week that he will be joining Tiger Woods’ TGL League in 2024, a partnership with the PGA Tour. David Lipskywho grew up just a few kilometers from Homa will also be on the green in Phoenix.

Hut, Hut, Hora

The New England Patriots don’t play in the Super Bowl, but they own it Robert Kraft had a lot to celebrate this week. Here he is at a Chabad wedding event in Boston for couples from the former Soviet Union who couldn’t have Jewish ceremonies there.