Menschin with the Boys
Welcome to Menschin’ with the Boys — the podcast where Jewish pride meets the playing field. You thought Jews were bad at sports? Well, we’re here to prove you wrong! From Koufax to modern stars, from the Maccabees to the majors, and yes — even a little betting on the side — we’ve got stories, insights, and laughs that’ll keep you in the game.
Menschin with the Boys
Episode 12: Bats, Brackets & Jewish Stats
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This week on Menschin’ with the Boys, we’re covering a packed slate of Jewish sports stories, starting with Team Israel at the 2026 World Baseball Classic The boys break down the highs, the tough losses (yes, that grand slam), and what it all means heading into the next WBC.
Then, it’s all about March Madness. We spotlight the Israeli and Jewish players dancing in the tournament, including a Cinderella run from Queens University and intriguing storylines across the bracket. We also give you a potential bracket busting pick in Round One!
In our historical segment, we go back to 1957 and revisit one of the greatest championship games ever played, as Lennie Rosenbluth leads UNC to a legendary triple-overtime title over Wilt Chamberlain.
We wrap things up with The Minyan Spread and a meaningful Dvar Torah on Parashat Vayikra, drawing a powerful connection between spiritual growth and the unseen work that leads to greatness in sports.
Follow us @menschinwiththeboys on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and much more Jewish sports news.
Intro
SPEAKER_01Live from Studio 5, powered by Federation CJ and the coming center in Montreal. Welcome to Mention with the Boys, podcast where Jewish pride is the playing field. I'm Yannis Harush.
SPEAKER_00And I'm Matthew Cutler. And I'm Jordan Soupler. On today's show, we're taking a look back at Israel's journey at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
SPEAKER_01March Madness is upon us, and so we're getting you set for the tournament with some Israelis you should be paying attention to.
SPEAKER_02And speaking of March Madness, we've got the story of a 1950s Jewish basketball star you may have never heard about.
SPEAKER_00Yala, let's get straight to mention.
SPEAKER_01Alright, so guys, World Baseball Classic. Been waiting for months for this event. In the end, Israel 2 and 2. So my bet from the end of the year of our bet that I'm lucky didn't really count in our standings of Israel making it to the Final Four is now out the window.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so neither did Japan.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. That's true. Um so so so look, um, start of the tournament, an 11 and 3 loss to Venezuela. Uh as we record this now on March 17th, happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone. We're dressed in our Jewish green. Exactly. Yeah, yes. A little bit. Yeah, so Jordan's the only one wearing a little bit of green. He has the alacost polo. Um so look, uh I guess losing 11-3 to Venezuela is not such a bad thing since they made it to the final. They're gonna be playing the US uh in uh in the final. Uh we and I remember last in last episode we were we were talking about how it was very important giving the lack of firepower on Israel's offense uh that the pitching keep every other team to keep the score as low as possible. They didn't listen to our advice clearly. Um they gave up a four four-run first inning to Venezuela. So that that didn't start it well.
SPEAKER_00And it was the Luis Ariz show. That's actually how Brad Osmus, the manager of Team Israel, kind of qualified it as, right? He had the RBI double in that first inning, then he homered in the bottom half of both the fifth and the sixth inning, four for five, two home runs, two doubles, five RBIs, four runs scored. So quite the game, quite the game for uh Luis Array's. And obviously, you know, I think I we we I kind of expected maybe um Kramer to start the first game, and he didn't. They went with uh Ben Simon. So you know he leaves with an ERA of 108 because of that first inning, and you know, um yeah, Israel we we yeah, the pitching we talked about and also the hitting. I mean Israel's first 14 batters were retired in the game before the fifth.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I I won't say that was the part to be expected, but it was the part to be expected that Israel's hitting would would be would be so far compared to the other teams in in the WBC. So so I mean of 14 retired in a row, um that that that was a disappointment. Uh look, I I think we said uh they needed to win one game to to be back at the next one baseball classic.
SPEAKER_02So if if we if we switch over to Well, I think that was the strategy, right? They figured Venezuela wasn't the winnable game of their four in the pool play, right? They had to win one to avoid relegation, and hence he started the next game.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and so uh you mentioned that next game, so he started against Nicaragua on March 8th. It was a 5-0 uh win for Team Israel. The first shutout, actually, in Israel's history at the WBC. Uh so Dean Kramer came through. We kind of exp, you know, we knew that he was gonna have to be the difference maker. He tossed four and a third scoreless innings, just two hits, one walk, uh struck out four on 63 pitches. Um, the bullpen, too, they didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way. So, like uh, you know, obviously we we we talked about the pitching rules for the WBC. He was limited on how many pitches he could throw. So you knew you couldn't ride him, you know, past uh all the way through the game. So the fact that the bullpen was able to uh come up big was uh was huge. I mean, uh wanted to give a shout out to uh Josh Malletz, it's a 24-year-old in the San Diego Padre system who hasn't pitched above double-A ball. Uh he had the bases loaded and was behind 3-0 uh to uh Freddie Zamora of the of Nicaragua, and he got the short step to ground into a double play to end the inning. So like beyond, beyond a great job. And obviously, yeah, the offense, you know, they scratched out a run in the second, four runs in the bottom of the fifth to really blow it open. Uh RBI single Harrison Bader, two runs single Zach Levinson, Cole Carrick, RBI single. So, you know, they did what they had to do in that game, and uh, you know, it was you know, it was the win that they absolutely needed to have to kind of you know avoid the relegation, and uh so they they came up uh they came up big.
SPEAKER_02Well, that was it was big in their second game because the third game, not to skip ahead, but yeah, they knew what their schedule was. The third game was not going to be winnable, so not to put the pressure on themselves to have to win that fourth game to avoid relegation, right? They they took care of business, so to speak, in game two, had a nice one-on-one record, and then you know, hey, went into game three.
SPEAKER_01I guess I mean against a team that a lot of people were were picking to win the to to win the the whole world baseball classic. Uh we know the Dominican Republic now they lost in the semis final. I still think they were the best team in the I I actually think that I don't think they played well that game. The call at the end, the final out, the final strike was atrocious. But in the end, they had the offense. They they should have been able to score more than one run. Uh I mean, which and one of the things the thing that they did against Israel transcending Team Israel on 10 to 1. Um look, it it started well, a 1-2-3 first inning for Ryan Prager, uh, and then it got ugly really, really fast. You know what? I was I I actually started when I saw a one-two-three first inning, especially given how we lost the game to Venezuela, that that it was at first inning, it was clear who was the better team, and then the pitcher gets a one-two-three for the first inning. Um I I started thinking, okay, will we be able to keep the score low? Maybe it's gonna be a 3-2 game, 3-1 game. Who knows what can happen? Maybe an error by by someone on the defense. We we can we can score some runs, but yeah, after that, uh after that it was pretty much over soon.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I mean, we're not gonna get into the all the runs, but I mean, yeah, in the second inning, four four walks to force in a run. And then obviously the bases were loaded for uh Fernando Tatsi Jr., who um did this. So we said, you know, was the Luisa Rice show in game one. This was the Fernando Tetis show, obviously that Grand Slam that you just heard. Team record six RBIs uh in the game. Uh I guess the one positive for Israel, which again Brad Osmus said uh post-game was that uh you know, we talked about the mercy rule being 10 runs. Israel got a run in the bottom of the fourth. Yeah. And uh so they the 10-1, it they played the the, you know, they didn't uh they weren't mercy ruled. So that was uh that was the positive.
SPEAKER_01There was I don't remember which game, but there was a game in the quarterfinal mercy ruled, I think it was with the Dominican Republic won in the quarterfinals. So you know what? First round game for Israel, no mercy rule. Another team got mercy ruled in the uh um in the um in the quarters. Um look in the end, and we'll talk about the last game, but it was a very, very tough group for Team Israel. You have Dominican Republics who clear, I think a lot of people, and I I agree, still the best team. Venezuela who's in the Venezuela who's in the final, 50% chance, you know, they they win, they win the whole thing. Uh so that was two automatic losses, and to see them win against the Netherlands and win the other, so therefore win the other two games that were not against the top of the top competition. Uh, that that's I think that bodes well for the future of uh of baseball.
SPEAKER_02And now they have a program to sell, right? Exactly. It's three years between WBCs, right? So the next one will be in 2029.
SPEAKER_00And then well, I don't know how the Olympics works, I guess, based but in Los Angeles.
SPEAKER_01I don't know if uh they're gonna maybe take these standings or uh Yeah, I know I know for the Americas the WBC was important because the top three teams qualified automatically from the Americas. I don't know. I don't know if it had an impact on the rest of the world for the qualifying. Right.
SPEAKER_02But all to say that they have three years now, they know they can build up they're there. They don't have to qualify for it, they don't have to go through any qual they are in the next the 2029 WBC. They can start you know building, start having conversations, who knows? Maybe convince more of these major league baseball players to, you know, show some Jewish pride and Israeli pride and join the roster. Who knows what they can do? It's a lot, but they now have something to build towards, which is great. It's not an X factor, like, oh, let's try and get back in in six years from now, right? Like they have something, so it's great.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, um, I guess just quickly, I mean, it was a meaningless game in the sense we already knew Israel was not going to advance after the Dominican Republic lost, but uh they did beat the Netherlands six to two on March 10th. Uh Israel actually was down 2-0 after the first inning, demonstrated uh quite a bit of resilience that a lot of Israelis are known for. Um RBI double by Jake Geloff in the second. Uh in the sixth inning, Israel broke uh broke it open. Another uh two-run single for Geloff, Matt Mervis, a two-run double. Um so yeah, Israel finishes uh two and two, third in the group. As a result, they failed to advance to the quarterfinal round. But nevertheless, I think uh as Matthew was saying, and uh, you know, it's it can be it can be looked at as a success. I think uh we were expecting them maybe to win one game. The fact they won two finished at a 500 record, I think that that's uh it bodes well, as you said, for uh the future of Israeli baseball.
SPEAKER_01I'll I'll say this though, and I and I should have made, I wanted to make that point on the last episode before before before the WBC happens, but I I think with the number of teams that have four groups of five teams, which means 20 teams, they should find a way to get, I don't know, the first get a first round buy, and the second and third qualify for for like a play-in basically like but uh you know what it first of all, more games, more excitement, etc. But I understand that the MLB has also to manage the fact that the teams want them exactly want their player back as soon as possible.
SPEAKER_02And nobody hurt like uh what's his name on Japan, Suzuki got hurt. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_01So so so I understand that like this is something that the MLB has to manage when they organize the WPC. But if if you want to give a taste of like can you imagine like the the hype for for an elimination game for for Team Israel, what it would have been amazing or or or any of these third third ranked team in in the group, some of them, yes, finished 500, like Israel. There's a lot of leagues where you fit if you finish close to 500, you're you're usually in the playoffs, some of them not. I mean it's it's something that maybe they they should they should explore for the next W.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, look, I'm sure they'll look at ways to expand. And I have to say, as a best on best, or pretty much best on best. Uh while this is not typically the time of the year that I even come close to paying attention to baseball. I had no idea, by the way, that opening day was next week, really. Not no clue. No, no, honestly, no clue. Yeah. I caught myself not caught, I was watching the other night. Like I was watching Dominican and US like for most of the game. As soon as that even skipping, you know, going back and forth between the Habs game, which I normally wouldn't do. Habs were on, great entertaining game against Anaheim, and I was going back and forth because that game was so entertaining. It was watching Japan. Who doesn't want to see these stars? But this is you know, baseball certainly is a is a tough sport to watch during the regular season, there's no question. It becomes way more intense during the playoffs, but this is different. This was a they are playing for the pride of their country, yeah, and it like felt like playoff baseball, but like on at a different level. And so to see that in March was certainly a lot of fun. I mean, we just came through the Olympics watching best on best and watching them play for their country, and as good as the NHL game is, that's another level. So every time, anytime you can get that best on best, where there's a pride of playing for your country and not just your team that you're you know, you know, uh um playing for your contract, I think that adds a different element of of enjoyability for the players, and that comes through and you see it as a fan. There's no even as a casual fan, because I would certainly at this point in my life consider myself a casual baseball fan. I was glued. I was watching just it's compelling, it's compelling theater, as they say, you know. Like as long as the game's gonna be close, it'll be fun to watch.
SPEAKER_01Speaking of uh of hockey, yeah, yes, exactly. Special segue. Exactly. Speaking of hockey, I mean the Jack Hughes show continues.
SPEAKER_02Too bad it's not gonna translate to playoffs, but yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. So fourth career hat trick. He added an assist in uh in the devil six through three six three sorry win against the Rangers on uh March 7th. He's on the nine points, he has nine points over four games in the last week before we record this episode. Uh I mean the guy the guy's on fire. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And uh just that yeah, he also got uh his 400th career point against uh the Bruins on uh Monday, March 16. Uh the fastest devil ever to get to 400 points. He did it in just 414 games. I think it was Kirk Muller I saw who was the second most. Oh, we know that name. Yeah, exactly. So uh he's uh continuing to roll. And you know, even his brother, um his brother Luke, who wasn't at the Olympics, but uh he also got speaking of milestones, uh he got his 100th career assist also in that win against the Rangers, the fourth fewest games by a defenseman to reach the milestone with the franchise, just 209 games to get 100 assists. And the other names that he's uh um behind are not too shabby, Scott Stevens, Dougie Hamilton, Brian Orfalski. So um pretty good company for Luke Hughes, and he's also been producing uh rather well um since after the Olympic break.
SPEAKER_02Just to mention that Jack in that game last night, March 16th against the Bruins, definitely helped out all those Montreal Jewish Hab fans, you know. Because uh beat them in overtime. So that thank you for taking away that point from them. Exactly. Appreciate that.
SPEAKER_01And we can't, I guess, talk about Jack Luke without talking about Quinn Hughes, who's just wider this podcast is not sponsored by the news, just to clarify this.
SPEAKER_00But maybe you could get a sponsor, yeah. I mean, Quinn Hughes, I mean, it's pretty unbelievable. Seven game point streak since uh the start of March. He's held been held pointless just once in his last 19 games, and um also he got uh he got to 60 assists on the season, which was uh rather uh impressive just because it was his fifth consecutive time that he got to 60 assists, uh matching Ray Bork and Paul Coffee for the second longest run by a defenseman in NHL history. He's just won back of Bobby Ore. Uh so if he can do it next season, if he can get 60 assists that season, he'd tie uh Bobby Orr, which would be quite something.
SPEAKER_02Some good names to be mentioned with.
SPEAKER_00And even if you dig deeper, I mean, fourth most 60 assist seasons by a defenseman in NHL history with um, and the only guys with more Paul Coffey, Ray Bork, Bobby Orr.
SPEAKER_03So he's in uh quite good company, good company.
SPEAKER_02But again, that team, Minnesota, has been playing great since the break. They were playing well before it as well. But that division is insane. It's if you look and it's funny, I wasn't really paying attention so much to the Western Conference playoffs until this weekend. I remember looking and seeing that every team in the central would be ahead of every team in the Pacific. Pacific, yeah. Which is crazy. I mean, the playoff teams, nothing. Even East versus West, you look at the case. But it's it's crazy to think that central division, those top three. There's one that's gonna be gone. Only what's wrong. Yeah, but only one of them is gonna get to move on, also, which again, they all loaded up. Two of them are gonna be knocked out by the conference final.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Which is crazy to think.
SPEAKER_01No, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I mean, two two against three. Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Two of them are gonna be out by the conference final.
SPEAKER_02Somebody from the Pacific Division is going to be in the conference final, which again, I get why we moved to this format. I'm not trying to start the debate of one versus eight again, but I think it's time to go back to that one versus eight. There have been too many instances over the last few years that they were there's always one division out of the four that tends to be weaker, and they keep getting rewarded by uh one of them at least getting almost a buy into the conference finals, and that's not necessarily the two you're not ending up with the four best teams at a certain point. And that's and that's really what we should be trying to do. You want the best of the best playing each other. I mean, you saw it last year, Dallas and Colorado went at each other, and then the winner got to play Winnipeg, right? And move on. And again, that you had a team that, yes, I know Dallas moved on and they lost to Edmonton, but they had to go through a much tougher road than Edmonton did to get out of that division. Look, we'll see, we'll see as we go along, but I think there's been a lot of. Because I think they brought it up again at the GM uh meetings this week.
SPEAKER_01And I do think they're looking at it's what every 10 to 20 years that the NHL changes. It's been there since 2014, 2026. Maybe it's time. It's true.
SPEAKER_02Um not to get too far off topic, sorry. We'll come back. Another put potential playoff team is Washington Capitals.
SPEAKER_00Yes, and another defenseman, uh Jacob Chikrin.
SPEAKER_02Um Jews are really good defenders, it's what it is. Yes, offensive production. Offensive defenders, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Scored the game-winning goal in Washington's 2-1 win over the Red Hots Buffalo Sabres. Um Chikrin's seventh game-winning goal of the season, most among defensemen. Uh 13 game winners across his two seasons since joining Washington. And if you break it down even further, Chicron's seventh game winner of the season. Uh, it broke the Capitals record for defensemen he shared with uh the recently traded John Carlson and uh Kevin Hatcher. They each had six, and it's one away from the NHL record for a defenseman, which is held by Oliver Ekman Larson. He had eight in 2015 while playing with the Arizona Coyotes at the time. So uh Jacob Chickren, you know, he's established himself as one of the underrated in a sense offensive defensemen. He doesn't get named necessarily all of the accolades, obviously wasn't on the Olympic team, which uh could have been debated. But uh, you know, the fact that uh, you know, and John Carlson, as you mentioned, just was traded recently to the Anaheim Ducks. So he's really now the go-to offensive catalyst on that back end uh power play specialist. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02That was the decision they made in Washington, right? They went, they they the UFA in John Carlson, who, I mean, it's potential that he comes back. He spent 17 years in Washington, but he's pretend pending UFA. They decided they didn't think they were gonna sign him or the need to sign him because they've essentially replaced him with Chicken and they're going younger, you know? And that's that's the decision they made on the back end there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so shifting a bit to the forward group a little bit. Zach Hyman, he had a pair of goals against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 6th. He's up to 28 goals in just 49 games this season. Jan was mentioning how uh his Israel baseball long prediction uh was uh was bad. Maybe the one prediction that I've had that's gonna hit is that picture exactly is the one that doesn't count. I said that he would score 30 goals, and I think at the time he had like 11 or 12 or something. Well, he's up to 28. I think he's gonna get those two goals.
SPEAKER_01I think I remember both of us making a face at that moment of is he crazy? Um we we certainly wish you were right on this one.
SPEAKER_00So I should futures bet uh I should maybe that's the way you should go. Yes. Uh going to Vegas in a few days. So maybe uh I should make some of those on like the baseball season or something. There you go. Um also he got a seven uh content on the Dodgers. Never uh 700th career NHL game on March 12th against Dallas for um Zach Hyman. So uh after an injury plagued um off season into the regular season, he's definitely picked it up and uh probably gonna have to pick it up even more because we found out uh minutes ago before we recorded that Leon Dreisidel is out for the rest of the regular season for the Edmonton Oilers. And there's always a Jew connection. It came it came from the hit. Okay, that's what it is. Our good old Jewish point. Um knocked him out for uh the rest of the regular season, at least. So uh Zach Hyman, I guess. And also I I I was reading too that Ozzy Weisbots from Calgary. So people were saying Calgary, Edmonton, you know, all this conspiracy theories. But again, another big story up front, especially of late, has been our Temi Panarin. We talked about him obviously being traded.
SPEAKER_02Same division as Edmonton.
SPEAKER_00Being traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings. He's been red hot for the the Kings, uh, 12 points in his first 10 games and uh returned to MSG to play the Rangers on March 16th. He got a pretty nice ovation from the crowd during warm-ups. Uh the you know, the first TV timeout when they show the uh tribute video. Uh he had one assist in the game. Uh Kings uh won that game. So Kings, too, as we mentioned, fighting for that. And you know, Artemis Panarin, you know, with the loss of um uh with the loss of uh no, sorry, uh Fiala. Oh, Fiala, sorry. And Kempe also didn't play in that game, and they I think he was seen on crutches. So there's a lot of injuries up front for the the Kings, and him and Kopitar too of late have been really driving the bus for the Kings.
SPEAKER_02Kopitar passed Dion the other night uh for all-time lead in King's. In his last season, yeah. Yeah. Panarin's been hot, but again, they're struggling. They're barely in a playoff position. You have Anaheim, who, as a young team, has been you know climbing up the standings. San Jose certainly just came east and we saw them and they've been climbing up the standings and they're really catching up. The celebrity show. Yeah, but that a young team, and I wonder, you see, the Kings are a little bit older, Edmonton's a little bit older. Is there an effect of Olympics? Vegas a little bit older, also struggling a little bit. Edmonton might have missed the win.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think Connor McDavid kind of sensed that when we his last contract. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, look, it'll be interesting how it all plays out. Certainly that again, I think this is going to be one of those. You know how we had a weird football season and the you know, it ended up being San uh San Jose, Seattle and and New England. I think you're in line here for a weird Stanley Cup. You know, everybody's anointing Colorado, but Colorado for a number one as dominant a president's trophy team as they are have been throughout the year, they're gonna have one of the toughest roads to get out of their own division to even get to the finals. And by then, who knows what they're doing.
SPEAKER_01If they finish first in their division, they're gonna get the wild card team. So like the first round might be. That could be a San Jose right now. That's true. That's true. With nothing to lose. Exactly. But let's let's assume it's it's a bit easier. But their second round matchup is going to be against a team that might make it to the Stanley Cup final.
SPEAKER_02Right. But as a as opposed to other roads, like Carolina might have a very easy road. What, Pittsburgh, New York Islanders in their division? That's not a tough division. That's not you know, so it could be a very interesting and a weird like something weird is gonna come out of this that you didn't expect, I think. And and I think we should all be prepared for that. Buffalo, Buffalo's in first place, and I still can't believe that one. But so and and it here we are March 17th.
SPEAKER_01Do you remember like four days into the HL season? You had already graphics of like Buffalo Seabres coming out.
SPEAKER_00And I think the Sharks, like, they lost their first four, they started like 0 and 5.
SPEAKER_02So you have to wonder if the you know, this because it's an Olympic year and these veterans and and all the wear and tear. Look, we'll see. It's we'll see. But it's gonna be interesting down the stretch. We have a month left in the regular season, it's gonna be very interesting.
SPEAKER_00And just lastly, on the hockey front, we gave some love to the forwards, we gave some love to the defenseman, we gotta show some love to the goalie.
SPEAKER_02Yes, uh uh our Jewish.
SPEAKER_00But you know, he also did achieve quite the accomplishment personally. Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. Uh, he picked up his 26th win of the year on March 14th against the Capitals, which is a new single season high. He had 25 wins in 2023-24. Um, that game against the Capitals was uh pretty wild. Um I think he there was it was like a nine-round shootout. Yeah. So uh um, you know, Soybin's been playing really well. He gave up just five goals in his first four games after return from the Olympics. Uh Boston, you know, they they're coming off a loss. I know as we record this, they're playing Montreal um at the ball center tonight. But uh Boston obviously battling too for that final playoff spot in the East. They're kind of holding down. I know Columbus is just on the outside looking in.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but they're just as close to second place in the Atlantic as they are to being out of the playoffs. Yeah, that's that's the crazy. It's so tight in the East right now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely. So obviously, we're gonna be keeping tabs on uh uh the stretch run towards uh the Stanley Cup playoffs and uh hopefully have some nice Jewish representation uh in the uh Stanley Cup uh playoffs come April. To tie a bow around the Olympics. I know we talked about uh the Olympics last time. We also mentioned last time about Israel's lone Paralympian uh Shane Vaspi. She did not finish, I guess, in her first uh event, March 9th, in the Para Alpine Skiing Super G event, uh 11th of 15 in the Alpine Combined Super G event, 12th in the slalom race. Uh, as we mentioned last time, did not compete in the events that were held uh on the on Shabbat because she has a umer Shabiz. So she uh held up her uh religious.
SPEAKER_02Don't roll on Shabiz. Exactly. Shomer Shabiz. Um to all you big Lebowski fans out there. Sorry.
SPEAKER_00And uh yeah, just really I think uh I was reading an article in the I think it was the Associated Press about her and uh you know, obviously the ongoing war with Iran, and so she was particularly happy to kind of represent Israel on the sports largest stage. You know, she's also lost cousins in um in uh in the war, early on in the war. Um so I just wanted to read like this quick quote that she gave in the interview with the Associated Press, I think it resonated. Um, there's a feeling that we should hide the Israel flag because it's not safe right now to show it, not safe to show you are Jewish around the world. So I'm really happy I had the chance, like at least to have it big on the helmet and to show up because I'm really, really proud of where I come from. I'm really proud of my people and of what they've been through in the last two years. I'm so happy I had the chance to represent that. So obviously it goes beyond the um the scores or the the finish uh the finishes. It's uh much more um has a bigger resonance than that uh for Shane and for the entire, I guess, Jewish people and Israelis uh watching around the world.
SPEAKER_02Um we look forward to the next Olympic cycle and the summer coming up in 28, exactly where Israel can once again hopefully meddle as they have been in the summer Olympics, and who knows, build towards the uh winter Olympics. We'd love to see Shul runnings back.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. But now we're I guess we're we're in the mood to shift to kind of a bit of summer other sports. Yes, exactly. Yes. This this was the summer segue brought to you by Matthew Koch. Yes, exactly. Um had to give a shout-out, I guess, on the the the tennis front, because we talked about her too. Alina Svitolina, who's the token Jew, right, who has the Jewish grandmother. She reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters. And uh if you're not uh too much into tennis, Indian Wells, it's that uh it's considered kind of like the fifth major. You know, it's such a huge, huge tournament. Uh Masters 1000 uh held over two weeks uh in uh you know in the desert in like Palm Springs. So um she reached the semifinals for the first time in seven years at the event. Uh she did it by uh winning in three sets over Iga Schwiantek, who has been uh you know one of the top uh women's players for years, especially on hard courts. You know, she's had a really good season, Svitalina. She won in Auckland as a tune-up to Australian Open, where she made the semis, made the final in Dubai, which I think is a 500 or maybe even a thousand level tournament for the women, and now the uh semifinals at Indian Wells, Miami tournament follows it, so it's another big event. So uh she's uh you know up there in the conversation, I guess, in terms of uh contenders for the trophy. Although Arena Sabalenko won Indian Wells, just seems uh unstoppable.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but look, at least we'll see as she builds up now. We're in March, French Open is in two and a half in about two months. So let's see how she works her way into the clay court uh season, how she can uh continue to compete and and keep going. And let's see. Let's see where she ends up uh as we head into French Roland Garros.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Jan uh visited there, right? Yeah, I did.
SPEAKER_01I was there, I was there in January. Beautiful setting, honestly.
SPEAKER_00Um another summer sport, at least North American summer sport for now.
SPEAKER_01For now, for now, they're switching next year or in two years. No, no, it's still last season.
SPEAKER_00They're gonna have a transition year where they're gonna play, I think, like a mini schedule, not a full schedule, so where they they kind of you know do a like a shift between the seasons.
SPEAKER_02I just want to see the April game or the November game scheduled in Montreal where they Oh whoops, we didn't expect the snow.
SPEAKER_00Although this year, because of the World Cup, the MLS is gonna be shutting down for like six weeks, obviously with all their stadiums being used. So the season is gonna run, the regular season's running till mid-November, and I just saw they announced the uh format and schedule for the MLS Cup playoffs, and it's like the latest, it's December 18 is gonna be the MLS Cup final.
SPEAKER_02Well, last year was the first weekend of December.
SPEAKER_00Well, it's normally that, but December 18 is uh really pushing it, especially if you're if it's uh hosting it in like a Eastern City uh they're gonna have to go to a uh what's it called?
SPEAKER_02Like a like a Super Bowl uh, you know.
SPEAKER_00Well, speaking of that, you mentioned like a big uh big crowd. Big stadium, exactly.
SPEAKER_01So Thai Barabo in front of a crowd of 72,000. Crazy soccer is alive and well in North America for anyone who doubts it. Uh the largest crowd I think they were there for Thai, no?
SPEAKER_02Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_01They were all there for Thai. There's this guy came named Lionel something, you know, that was also played. I can't even read the last name. No, exactly. Uh but look, I've Messiah Messi. Messiah. I mean, look, I I I heard I read a different type of crowd. Oh no, exactly. Lionel Messi, to speak uh uh about him just for a second. I read somewhere, and you know what? If I'm wrong, please go in the reach out to us on Instagram and and tell me that I'm wrong. But he was born on Calle de Israel Calle del Estado de Israel in uh when he was born in Argentina. So there's there's some connection here.
SPEAKER_00Um yeah, so you mentioned 72 or just over 72,000 people. They um, you know, um uh they relocated the game, I guess, to MNT Bank Stadium, the home of the Baltimore Ravens, because they they knew there was a big big draw and it was the largest crowd in DC United's history, and it's a top 10 crowd all time in major league soccer history, which has been around for uh 25 plus years. So uh quite uh quite uh the the crowd out in the DC to watch I bar go score against intern Miami. Yeah, in the loss.
SPEAKER_01In the loss to one uh that that they that that they lost. Uh I think Lionel Messi scored the game winning goal against uh uh but Baribol's not the only Jew leaving an impression in MLS.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. So uh Idan Toklomadi, he scored for Charlotte in their 3-1 win over Austin on March 7th. He's a 21-year-old from Natanya. Uh he had 11 goals last season, and uh so he's been uh uh you know doing well, and uh you know Charlotte's good team. They also have Lee Alabada on Charlotte, who's another Israeli. So uh they've got uh two uh two Israelis on Charlotte. Another team that has two Israelis is New England Revolution. Uh Dor Torjman, he scored the game-winning goal in a decisive 6-1 win. Yes, that's a soccer score. 6-1 win. It happens extra point, yeah. Exactly. For uh um uh in a game against FC Cincinnati on March 15th. Uh, ironically enough, Dor Torjman's goal was assisted by the other Israeli who's a defender, Eli Feingold. Um Torjman also added an assist in the 89th minute goal that capped off the scoring. So uh, you know, we talked about how there's a lot of more than ever Israel representation in the MLS. So uh there's gonna be a lot of uh players to follow and kind of see um, you know, as the season is just kind of starting to get underway. I guess we'll we'll shift to basketball. Well, we have to shift to basketball, especially with the back. Exactly. Denny's back. Denny's back. Um back again. No longer suffering from the back injury. I see what you did then. Um so he returned uh on March 8th against Indiana at 18 points across 25 minutes, followed that up with a 22-point outing on March 10th against Charlotte, 17 points in the win over the Utah Jazz on March 13th. Um, and uh just uh well last night, March 16th, it was kind of a historic game, I guess.
SPEAKER_01I mean, no, not kind of. It was historic. Israel is on the same court in the NBA. Again, reach out to us if it ever happened and we missed it because it's in the next historical segment. Next year in 2027. That'll be the historical.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I mean, it was uh Portland playing the Brooklyn Nets um at Barclay Center. And uh, you know, and and we we talked about Denny, but I mean Ben Seraf and Danny Wolfe, you know, early on in the season, they were kind of making the the rounds back from Long Island to uh um to Brooklyn, and uh, you know, we were wondering if they were gonna be uh in Montreal or in Laval for those uh those games that the Long Island Nets were were playing here. Um and uh so but they've both been really you know making as the season is uh towards the end, and Brooklyn obviously is not getting to the playoffs, but I mean they've really been making a name for themselves. I think they both started on the game against March uh March 12th in Atlanta against the Hawks, which I think is the first time that they've both started the same game. Yeah. So quite impressive.
SPEAKER_02Look, it's what we had predicted earlier in the season, right? That come trade deadline after the trade deadline as they headed into the latter half of the year, they would start playing a lot more. Danny Wolfe had his first ever double-double March 14th against the 76ers, sorry, his second time this season. Yeah. But uh it's only you know twice, but he's showing he's putting up stats. Ben Seraf is also starting to put up some stats, 12 points against uh the same 76ers on March 14th. Back-to-back 30-plus minute games for the first time this season for him. They're really starting to play, they're starting to develop, they're starting to show. It'll be very interesting to see what they do now coming down the stretch and going into year two, and all that led to culminated with them, you know, Portland and Brooklyn matching up on the 16th last night for the first time ever, and Avdia had 18 points in the win. Saraf and Avdia exchanged jerseys. That was a cool one. It was pretty cool. I've seen that now a few times that video, that picture is a really cool moment, and uh it's beautiful to see, no question.
SPEAKER_00And okay, so just lastly, I was asked to kind of uh mention this. So I think to go to the super local, and since we're talking basketball, and we will be talking basketball, Bialik High School, which is located not too far from us here in Montreal, they they had their annual students versus staff game basketball.
SPEAKER_02Yes, okay. I've heard about it because otherwise the shout out doesn't work.
SPEAKER_00They were waiting, they they asked me last week, was it did we release an episode? Because they were they were curious.
SPEAKER_02Anyway, it's the only way the shout-out works properly.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so um uh it's a pretty uh, you know, there was a hearty crowd there, as you'll hear in the clip that we have, but we even have a clip of this clip, I love it. It's crazy. We have a clip, baby. So it was uh there's mere seconds on the clock, the students were trailing by three, and uh Ellie Lapinski was a secondary five student at Bialik, he hit a buzzer beater shot, three-pointer, to tie the game. Here you go. Uh putting the uh the teachers and the staff uh uh you know. Great job. Great, great job.
SPEAKER_02Exactly.
SPEAKER_00So maybe when uh we'll be talking uh about Ellie Lapinsky uh years from now, and we'll be able to say we talked about him when he was still a historical segment for 2035.
SPEAKER_01Exactly.
SPEAKER_00And speaking of players who are uh up and coming, I guess, in the basketball world, uh we're gonna shift gears and look ahead to I think what everyone is kind of looking at, especially the march madness.
SPEAKER_01Sorry, March Madness and first run of the NHL playoffs are the best time of the year when they overlap and yeah, this is the best time of the year.
SPEAKER_02It's awesome. We love this time of the year. I mean, you know, who will it be on downstairs, hopefully, Jordan? Can hopefully in the lunchroom, yeah. I hope.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, because there'll be games during the day, especially early on.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's always the best time of the year. How many games go to buzzer games?
SPEAKER_01I have to say, I have I won't go into details, and I have a professional thing that makes that I won't have access to computer, internet, nothing like that for the entire day tomorrow, which is Wednesday. And I was so afraid that that event was going to be on Thursday, and I was going to miss the entirety of the first day of March madness. But I'll be good, I'll be in front of my computer working hard, yes, watching the game a little bit.
SPEAKER_00So there's obviously uh yeah, there's quite a bit of Israeli Jewish representation as well at the tournament, which you again you don't necessarily expect, but uh I mean look look look, Bruce Pearl can I mean I understand he's sad that Auburn didn't make it.
SPEAKER_01Yes, he was quite upset. He was, yes.
SPEAKER_02I said sad. Can I just do quickly before we get there, only because I don't see it here, and and the the tournament's done, but the D3, the Yeshiva University guys, yeah, Matt's true made it all the way to the Sweet 16. Yeah, amazing run that they had. Big shout out to them, really. They had a great run. They were so close. They had they played a great tournament in the D3. So just quickly, a shout-out to them as we move to the D1 tournament. So sorry, back on to Bruce Pearl, but yes.
SPEAKER_01I mean, look, he's he's I know he's clearly upset, but in his son is still coaching the team. Yeah, I mean, there's that, but in he he he's big with that organization, athletes for Israel, etc. etc. Like, I mean, to see that many Israeli and Jewish representation in the tournament is gonna warm his heart. And I understand, Bruce, you're upset about O'Burn. I'm also I I I mean, I don't think they should have made it in. I'm upset that they played so bad during the year and they're they're not making it in. But look, there's there's good news. We can find other ones to cheer for. Exactly.
SPEAKER_00One of the stories that I was uncovering, which is kind of amazing, is that Queens University, and he says you might sing Queens, New York. It's not, it's Queens of Charlotte, North Carolina, the Queens Royals. Uh, they're a 15 seed in the tournament, but they earned their spot in their very first year of eligibility, yeah. Because they were a Division II program speaking, and they made the there's a three-year transition process to become a Division I school. So they've um you know met the transition period and they win the tournament. They beat Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime to capture the Atlantic Sun tournament title. Why are we talking to you about them? Because they have a guard, Yoav Berman, who actually scored 10 points in that game. He's a sophomore from Tel Aviv. He's appeared in every game for Queens this season. He's averaging just over 12 and a half points a game. Crazy too, because Queens, the that game that ended in overtime, they they were up by 11 points with 325 remaining, and they allowed the game to go to overtime, but uh all's uh all's uh end good that ends well, right?
SPEAKER_02But they but they made it, they're in the tournament, not in a play-in. So they got to play their spotlight. No, but that's it's a huge thing.
SPEAKER_00It's a school that has less than 2,000 students. Incredible.
SPEAKER_01So the fact that they're you know So what's 5% of the sc of the male body is basically on the team?
SPEAKER_00Almost, almost. And uh, you know, we we were watching the draw unfold on on Sunday, and they drew they draw obviously as a 15th seed, they draw a high seed in number two, Purdue, who finished 27-8. Purdue who upset Michigan to capture the Big Ten championship, which uh, you know, Michigan obviously still a one seed in the tournament by virtue of their I think it's 31 and three they finished.
SPEAKER_01By the way, no spoiler, and I think we should all publish our brackets on Instagram. I'm gonna have Michigan taking the alternative.
SPEAKER_00Interesting. Yes. Um, and Purdue, we we mentioned Purdue. They also have uh an Israeli Omer Meyer, freshman from Tel Aviv. Obviously, a freshman, so been playing less than Joaf has been playing for um um for uh Queens, but uh you know I mean in the result we have an Israeli going through the back of the the fact that you just had that happen in the NBA this week and now coming up on the parallel on Thursday the game's Thursday, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah with this game. Amazing that they're now playing. Each other in college basketball. How incredible is that? What an accomplishment for Israeli basketball.
SPEAKER_00And if logic is respected, because Purdue and Queens, they'll play the winner of Miami, the Florida, Miami, and Missouri. Miami, the favorite in that one. And the Hurricanes, they have uh also an Israeli uh junior Noam Dovrat of Rishon Let Sion. Hurricanes actually actually also they lost their tournament to Virginia in the ACC semifinal game 84 to 62. So a pretty sizable loss. Eight points in 13 minutes for uh Dovrat in the loss. But uh so we could see a second uh consecutive Israel Israel in the same section, which is kind of cool. Um other uh Israeli sophomore Ethan Berg of the Tennessee Volunteers, he's from Mishmar Shiva. Um, they make March Madness also despite losing to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament. Tennessee was the team actually, right, that beat Auburn in front of uh an irate Bruce Pearl. So uh, you know, there's a Jew at least that's involved in that storyline and gets in. But uh so the Volunteers, they're seated sixth in the Midwest region, uh facing off against the winner of a first four match between SMU and the other Miami, Miami of Ohio, uh being played on March 20th. Berg, uh 18 minutes in the loss to Vanderbilt, one of the games he's been most utilized in all season. Again, still a sophomore, so still uh playing his way through. Also wanted to mention there's two Jewish players on Penn, AJ Levine and Ryan Altman, so we'll keep tabs on them.
SPEAKER_02You know, Penn representing the Ivy League.
SPEAKER_00The Ivy League, yeah. Um, I think right, the Ivy League is weird, right? Because there's like just four teams. Yeah. They're not a huge conference, so not a big conference. But maybe the best chance that uh an Israeli has to win is probably uh Houston Cougars in the Big 12. Emmanuel Sharp. Houston, you'll recall, uh, was runner-up last year in the loss to Florida. Uh so they have Emmanuel Sharp, um, who is uh red shirt senior for the team. So red shirt meaning I think it was his first season or second season. He uh he had a medical injury that kept him sidelined, so he was able to get an additional year added on. So it's his last chance at the at the dance.
SPEAKER_01I mean, look, they they led for what 98% of the game last year during the championship against Florida. So it it it it must be tough.
SPEAKER_00They're coming off also a loss in the Big 12 championship game to Arizona was the one seed 79 to 74. Um, so Houston is the number two seed in the bracket. They're facing uh against Idaho is a 15 seed in the South region in the first round. Idaho won the Big Sky Conference as the number seven seed. Ummanuel Sharp is really an great story because he's a you know, uh uh last year was the NCAA Midwest regional most outstanding player, also the Big 12 Championship most outstanding player. Uh this year he's actually won a five finalists for the Jerry West Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top shooting guard by the uh Basketball Hall of Fame. So pretty when you're in the top five, and uh, you know, in a conversation of all of the nation uh college players, pretty significant. Uh he started every game this season, of course. And you know, the story is kind of cool too when you dig deep because he's got the Israeli and he's got the Canadian connection.
SPEAKER_01Really, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Uh born in Tel Aviv, played his high school ball uh in Florida, so the American roots are there, but he's eligible to play for Canada as well because his mother is from Hamilton, Ontario, uh just Justine Ellison Sharp. She played professionally in Israel, which is why he was born in Israel and not in the US. Um, she actually met Emmanuel's father, Derek, while she was playing there. And Derek, too, basketball lineage that runs deep, uh, was part of the 2005 Maccabee Tel Aviv team. Uh and they noticed notably the upset the Toronto Raptors in an NBA preseason teams. I remember the story. There's basketball roots, there's Jewish roots, there's Canadian roots. So if we're gonna cheer for maybe someone, if you don't have a team in the dog in the fight, Houston might be a good one to uh uh to cheer for. Um and just quickly, I mean, uh NIT bracket also. There's so there's uh these are teams that didn't make the tournament. We're gonna have some Israelis there too. Utah Valley has Joel Karam, Kent State, Omer Hamama, and Daniel Gera, who plays for Oklahoma State. So uh that tournament too is kind of held concurrently. So Auburn as well, coached by Auburn, I guess, is the favorite in the NIT, uh the NIT bracket. And uh I guess just lastly, I had to throw this in because this is this has been my it's my this is this is the Jordan moment this is amazing for me. Them to win the tournament. Well, I mean, they might win the first round. I'll get to that in a second. But uh uh I went to uh grad school at Hofstra University on Long Island, and um Hofstra won the uh CAA, the Coastal Athletic Association tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 25 years. The story here is also amazing. I was actually a student at the school in 2020 when they won the CAA tournament, but then of course COVID happened and they were yeah, worst day in the history of sports. They had to cancel March Madness. So just as they were like, you know, they reached the pinnacle after at that time 20 years, you know, they they got it called off. So it was due course that they get back in. Also, an amazing story because they're coached by Speedy Claxton, who you may remember, he was played in the NBA for seven seasons, won um in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs. He was part of that team. He's been as a coach with the program since 2013, began as an assistant, took over in 2021 as the head coach. He's from Hempstead, New York, which is the town where Hofster is located in, so he's a local kid. And that last time 25 years ago, when Hofster made the tournament, he was playing for uh Hofster as a player. So he's gonna be in the tournament as a player and as a coach for the same team uh 26 or 25 years apart, which is kind of amazing. Like the story is crazy. And so, of course, they drew the number four seed, Alabama Crimson Tide. And you think they're gonna win. Well, did you see the story with this uh player who got caught for marijuana?
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER_00There's a player from Alabama who's their second leading scorer who uh this week uh got caught with two pounds of marijuana and uh now is very he's been suspended by the team, can't really travel, so he's out for that game. So and that was announced after the draw was made.
SPEAKER_02So there's uh it's unfortunate that all this information is coming to you after the game is going to be put in because otherwise it'd be good to be. Well, no, it's that afternoon. It's after the March 20th at three half.
SPEAKER_00So if you want an upset, Hostra maybe has a chance to defeat Alabama and advance.
SPEAKER_02No, no, that's not how upsets work. They it's I believe the 13-seed Hostra will upset the four-seed Alabama Friday, March 20th.
SPEAKER_00Yes, okay. Let's let's go with that.
SPEAKER_01Is it is it has a chance? Everybody's Germanion spread bet, uh Jordan.
SPEAKER_02Everybody maybe has a chance. We've seen a 16 B to one now. Everybody has a chance, and that 16 seed is in the tournament again. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And just lastly, also, they didn't make the tournament, but there were the women's team at Hofstra, they were the 10th seed in the tournament. They ended up in the final of their uh CAA tournament, the lowest seed in CAA history to play in the championship game. Last month they were 3-18, and they made the final of the tournament. They lost narrowly to Charleston. So could have had two Hofstra teams in March Madness, which would have been beyond beyond amazing. But uh we'll cheer for I'll be cheering for the the men's team. If that would have happened, yeah, we'll cheer.
SPEAKER_01We'll cheer for them, Jordan.
SPEAKER_02Especially if you don't put them in your opinion spread, then we can cheer for Jordan was gonna cancel his trip to Vegas if he's gonna go watch the Hofstra.
SPEAKER_00But there is there is a very large contingent of uh Long Island Jews, so you know there'll be a lot of support for for them. You know, I know there's St. John's is in the tournament. I think even Long Island University is there. So there's a lot of uh New York uh area teams that are gonna be in the running here.
SPEAKER_01So speaking of March Madness, we're gonna now for the historical segment gonna take you back to March 1957. That's a long time ago, and a final for the ages featuring a basketball start whose legacy blends athletic excellence with an important place in Jewish sports history. Lenny Rosenblough was born in 1933 in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in a Jewish family at a time where Jewish athletes were especially visible in American basketball. The game had deep roots in the Jewish urban communities, and Rosenblough became one of the sport's most successful Jewish starts of the 1950s, even competing competing in the Maccabi Games. After moving to North Carolina as a teenager, Rosenblough attended the University of North Carolina, where he quickly emerged as one of uh college basketball's most dominant players. Standing about six foot five, he was known for his scoring ability, rebounding, and relentless competitiveness. During the 56-57 season, Rosenblough led the nation in scoring, averaging nearly 29 points per game, which still stands as a school record. That season culminated in one of the most famous college games in basketball history. The 57 NCAA Championship. North Carolina faced the heavily favored Kansas Jayhawks, led by a touring young start, you might have heard about him at Wilts Chamberlain. What followed was an epic defensive battle. Regulation ended in a tide, then overtime passed, and another, and another. The game stretched into triple overtime, becoming the longest championship game in NCAA tournament history at the time. He delivered what it mattered when it mattered the most. He scored 20 points and anchored the Tar Hill's efforts as North Carolina defeated Kansas 54-53 in overtime. Chamberlain finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, but North Carolina team defense and Rosenbruth leadership carried the day. The victory capped a perfect 32-0 season for North Carolina and second Rosenbruth's place in college basketball lord. He was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and also won the Helms Foundation Player of the Year Award. After college, Rosenbruth was selected first overall in the 1957 NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. However, his professional career was brief. He only played two NBA seasons before stepping away from the game. An inspiration to the Jewish community, he's been enshrined into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Israel and the National Jewish Sports of Fame and Museum. His number 10 is one of only eight jerseys retired by UNC, along with Philford, Michael Jordan, Antoine Jameson, Tyler Hansbrough, Jacob, George Glamack, and James Worthy. Rosenblough died on June 18th, 2022, at age of 89. Still, his impact remains. For Jewish basketball fans and for college basketball history, Lenny Rosenblough stands as a symbol of a golden era when a Bronx-born Jewish kid led the Tar Heels to perfection and helped defend one of the greatest players the game would ever see. And more than half a century later, that triple overtime championship remains one of the most dramatic moments the NCA tournament has ever produced.
SPEAKER_02That's quite the story. I don't never heard of him.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for I mean, that's why we do the historical segment because a lot of people have never heard of the people that it's timely with March Madness, obviously. And also Wilt Chamberlain's been in the news a lot this week. Uh Bam at a bio, right? He had 83 points to almost the second most now behind Wilt's 100. And also Shea Gilgis Alexander also tied Wilt with 127 straight games, at least 20 now past it with 20 points. So Wilt's been in the news, and we're bringing him back uh in our historical setting. Great story that this is. Amazing, amazing story.
SPEAKER_01I mean, triple over time that finishes 54-53. Defense was big in the 50s. Exactly. Defense was big in the 50s. Yes.
SPEAKER_02They didn't have the fast break. They hadn't seen the Showtime Lakers yet.
SPEAKER_01That's true. Yeah. So uh Matthew, where are we in Dominion spread? Who's in the lead?
SPEAKER_02Who's in the lead? Oh, we're gonna go with the lead first. Okay.
SPEAKER_01Oh, or who's third? Who's second? What's the first one that's okay?
Minyan Spread
SPEAKER_02We'll go with the lead. We'll delete. I think we know who's in the lead. Yan. Yan is still in the lead. Uh Yan had a great, great uh two uh bets on uh WBC. He's getting ready for baseball season. This is a warm-up for him. So he's uh has 85-23. Great job. He won his two bets. Israel to beat Nicaragua on the money line. They were actually favored by just by a little bit. And then he went with USA over Mexico. Boy, were they favored. He barely made any money off that one. But whatever. He still won his two bets. I sit in second now. Slow and steady wins. Slow and steady. 5776, so almost three grand behind Yan. I had the Habs in LA on the money line. That one won. And then thank you, Jordan, who for having given me the excuse of why Caulfield won't score that Saturday night because it was not Saturday night on the West Coast. So technically I didn't win the bet because I bet him to score, but we won't remove the moniker of Mr. Saturday night because he came back and scored on Saturday night this past weekend. So there you go. I lost that one, but we we won't, we won't uh, you know, we won't give uh you know mark him down anything because it wasn't Saturday night technically in LA. And Jordan, unfortunately, now is after being in the positive for one episode. As he said, back to the losing streak is minus eight hundred and twenty-eight dollars. So he picked look, he goes out on a limb, though, guys, okay? He you know, picking uh you know LeClaire to win the Australian GP, not an easy bet. He finished third, but that you know it was at 12 to 1, would have paid off nicely. He's on the podium, on the podium, but with this is not uh horse racing with win placer show. That's not how we do it here, okay. He also had Dallas versus Colorado on the money line, which went to overtime, and Colorado came back. They were down late, but they came back and won. So again, unfortunately. Bad beats. That's Jordan is Mr. Badbeat. So Caulfield is Mr. Saturday night, and Jordan is Mr. Badbeat. Not bad bunny, bad beat. That brings us into our segment for this week. So so yeah, and to start.
SPEAKER_01So look, uh, I I know baseball season's coming up. Um I I mean, clearly my my warm-up went well here. Uh but I'm gonna I'm gonna try a little bit into basketball. Uh so I'm gonna take the the the lines are not out yet, so because uh so I'll have to update them. But Saturday night, the Celtics. I'm I'm picking them to win outright against the Timberwolves, and I am picking my Denver Nuggets to win outright against the Rail Blade. Sorry, on Sunday. That's uh that's my two bets for this week.
SPEAKER_02Did you grow up in Denver or something? Now you have the Broncos, the Nuggets.
SPEAKER_01So no, so I became I became a Broncos fan when I was a kid, living at that moment I was living in Edmonton. Okay, um uh and then I mean just following a lot of sports people from Denver on Twitter, obviously. Like as soon as football season's over, talk about the Nuggets. Uh I for a long time, just if I can't take 30 seconds, I really hated Avalanche for a long time because I was so pissed that Patrick Wall was gone to them. I know it was it was our fault and not their fault, but it's like even if you're to blame in a breakup, you don't want your ex to do well, basically. So that that was my that was my thinking when I was like 11 years old.
SPEAKER_02So you're not a Rockies fan.
SPEAKER_01You mean I like the Rockies.
SPEAKER_02You mean we didn't want Wad to win the cup immediately after getting traded that year?
SPEAKER_01I mean, look, the only thing is like I think the only people who wanted him less to win the cup were the Nordics fans.
SPEAKER_02Probably. Good point. All right, my turn. I am going back to the same formula. This time I'm gonna hit on both. Habs are playing the Islanders this coming Saturday. I would pick them to win on the money line. I know they've been struggling. Hopefully they turn it around this week. They have three huge games this week, if I'm not mistaken, or even four between Boston, Detroit, Islanders, and I think they play Sunday. No. Or not this week, sorry, no back-to-back Saturday, Sunday this weekend, but three huge games, teams that are all close to them in the playoff race. So they've got a you know, these six points are huge. And I'm going back to Caulfield. Maybe uh look, we still have two games between now and Saturday as we're recording this Tuesday night. He's sitting on 39. I'm not betting that it will be his 40th. I'm betting it'll be his 41st or 42nds. Mr. Saturday night will deliver against the Islanders. He's uh been very good on Saturday nights. I'm going with him again.
SPEAKER_00Um, all right, so sticking to a tried and true uh wait, you have a tried and never mind. Well, uh so sticking to hockey for me, Senators uh and Maple Leafs are also playing uh on March 21st. Uh maybe doesn't have the same luster without Austin Matthews done for the season and the Maple Leafs who are um they're all struggling mightily, yes. Um so um um I like the Senators to defeat the Maple Leafs. I don't know if I'm really going out on a limb there, but I'll put$500 on that. They've split the two meetings this season. Um they also, of course, played each other in the first round of the playoffs last year, although that kind of feels like it's been eight eons ago. Um, you know, Senators obviously have a lot to play for. They're you know, also trying to, you know, get claw their way in won't be easy for them, but playing at home, you have to figure that in the emotional Saturday night matchup that they'll uh I have faith that the Senators will uh take care of business against the Matthewsless uh Maple Leafs.
SPEAKER_02Well, the Sens have been playing good hockey. They they had a great weekend this past weekend. They beat up on Anaheim and San Jose, right? Then they've been playing hard. That home crowd is rocking as long as it's not a Montreal crowd, they seem to get good crowd.
SPEAKER_00So um, and then yeah, I'll I'll go to baseball and uh, you know, go for with my team, the the New York Yankees. So uh the very first game in in this uh season is being played on uh Wednesday, March 25th. It's actually the only game that day, and it's gonna be shown on Netflix. So it's a pretty big deal that they're making of this game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants out uh on the West Coast. Um not gonna bet on the Yankees necessarily, but I'm gonna bet on Aaron Judge because I feel like you can't not bet on Aaron Judge. Um so I'm gonna you know put$500 that Judge is gonna hit a home run for the Yankees in the season opener. Judge is from the Bay Area, so uh, you know, he's got an incentive there. He's coming off uh an MVP season where he had 53 home runs. Uh, you know, he's been playing very, very well for Team USA at the WBC, um, leading them uh, you know, to the championship game.
SPEAKER_02Meanwhile, did you hear what he said about the W about the WBC?
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02I'm sure as a Yankees fan, you loved hearing that. That he's focused on uh No, he said he'd rather win a that winning a WBC championship would be bigger than winning a World Series.
SPEAKER_00Country over country over team.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm sure every Yankees fan loved to hear that. Also kind of interesting. He's deflecting. Moving on.
SPEAKER_00We'll move on. But I mean, uh I I did uh you know, I like to pull up these little research, these tidbits. So I I was going back because I remember that the Yankees and the Giants played each other on opening day in 2023. Odd pairing, obviously. That one was in in New York, so it was much bit colder. But uh so the last time uh three years ago when they played on opening day against the Giants, Judge Homered. Uh so you know there's a there's uh history, there's history there. He homered in the first inning of that game, um, five home runs in nine career games, too, against the Giants. So he's uh does well against his uh hometown team. He's I don't know if it'll be the first inning, but uh let's say that Aaron Judge.
SPEAKER_02Man, I'll give you extra points. I should.
D'Var Torah - Parashat Vayikra
SPEAKER_00If he gets a home run in the first inning, should double up. I could use it, I could use it. But uh yeah, that's where uh I'm going for my bets. All right. Um okay, so now it's time for the Dvar Torah section uh uh segment. Uh interestingly enough, as it falls, this is actually my bar mitzvah Torah portion, parsha dvaikra. So um I'm pretty familiar with uh the the Torah portion, but uh interesting to analyze it or take a look from the sports perspective on it.
SPEAKER_02Jordan will be giving us his speech from his bar mitzvah, which are from the uh parashat. Yes, it's been a while.
SPEAKER_00Um so the book of Vy'ikra opens quietly, unlike the dramatic scenes of Exodus with plagues, splitting seas, thunder at Sinai. This parsha begins with a simple idea korbanots, or in English, offerings. At first glance, it it feels distant. A few of us relate to animal sacrifices, but the key word here is korban, which comes from the root karov to draw close. Vyikra isn't about sacrifice as loss, it's about intentionally stepping forward to build a relationship. In sports, everyone loves game day, of course, the pack stadium, the scoreboard, the final buzzer. But championships, of course, aren't won on game day. They're won in early morning practices, conditioning drills, no one sees, film sessions, reviewing mistakes. Um the Corbonnote function like practice. Practice, not playoffs. They weren't reserved for moments of failure or crisis alone. Many offerings were brought voluntarily, not because someone messed up, but because they wanted to show up, refine themselves, and stay connected. Just like elite athletes don't wait until they're out of shape to train. Um, one of the striking elements in Vyikra is how seriously the Torah treats unintentional mistakes. Even accidental errors require acknowledgement. In sports, this is obvious. A false start, a travel in basketball, being slightly offside. They're not malicious, but they still affect the game. Great teams don't say it wasn't on purpose, so ignore it. They say let's correct it now before it costs us later. Vaikra's message, integrity is built out within the margins, in the small, unnoticed moments when no one is keeping score. There's a famous detail in the opening word, Vaikra, the letter Aleph is written smaller than usual. Uh tradition teaches that Moshe wanted to minimize his role, emphasizing humility even as God calls him directly. In sports terms, this is the captain who credits the team, not himself, takes responsibility after a loss, leads by example and practice, not just performance. The best leaders don't wait for the spotlight, they earn it quietly. Um so, in uh retrospect, in hindsight, and uh the big takeaway, I guess, if you will, Parshat Vaikra reminds us growth is intentional, excellence requires repetition, showing up regularly matters more than showing up dramatically. Um, and to go to a sports lingo, you don't build greatness in the final minutes, you build it in the drills, no one applauds. As we begin Vaikra, the Torah asks us where can we show up more consistently before the whistle blows. Alright, so thank you so much uh for joining us here on Mention with the Boys. Remember, please like, follow, and subscribe so you are kept in the loop on our episodes, which will drop every other Friday. Quick programming note we're gonna be off uh an extra week here with Passover uh starting um the week of April 1st.
SPEAKER_02No, that's the Wednesday. The Wednesday week of March 30th, so Friday, April 3rd, which is Passover, Good Friday. We're gonna be searching for Hametz. So we're sorry, we're on a mission. We're gonna be looking for some bread.
SPEAKER_00But we will be back on April 10th for a very special bonus episode. It'll be episode 13, our special bar mitzvah episode. So uh give a real Dvar Torah. Real Dvar Torah, and we have a very special guest joining us as we teased last time. Former professional tennis player Noah Rubin is gonna join us for the entire episode. So that shall be a really great conversation that we're gonna bring to you. Remember, as always, keep the conversation going with us on Instagram, follow us at mention with the boys until the next tip off for Torah portion. On behalf of my palziana Sarush and Matthew Cuddler, I'm Jordan Supler, Chad Pesach Sameach, and enjoy the hoops.
SPEAKER_02Enjoy the hoops, and I'm gonna do it.