What a great Drop! Love the change in subject matter throughout the Drop year. I myself am a Jewish athlete revered and celebrated for my Pickleball achievements here in the village where I reside. My favorite line was about Moses also liking baskets - you are such a hoot!
I’ve read a similar analysis of baseball. To the immigrant generation it was a way of “Americanization”. When i was a young kid, we all followed Sandy Koufax and saw him as a role model. When the Dodgers came to Philadelphia, and they played at the old Connie Mack Stadium, everyone wanted to go see him.
Ah, yes. and reaching way back, I recall when Jewish stars played for the constgantly winning NYU and CCNY and an anti-semitic paper said of course Jews were good because basketball required guile, sneakiness, stealth and Jews excelled at that! Now the game dominsted by Black players!
and then there is this: Some of the most famous Jewish athletes include baseball legends Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, and Kevin Youkilis, basketball stars like Sue Bird, Olympic swimmers Mark Spitz and Dara Torres, gymnast Aly Raisman, NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman, and boxing champion Max Baer, showcasing dominant figures across many sports from baseball to swimming to football.
If you are from Connecticut, then Sue Bird is always in your life.
What a great Drop! Love the change in subject matter throughout the Drop year. I myself am a Jewish athlete revered and celebrated for my Pickleball achievements here in the village where I reside. My favorite line was about Moses also liking baskets - you are such a hoot!
Very good read - thank you!
I’ve read a similar analysis of baseball. To the immigrant generation it was a way of “Americanization”. When i was a young kid, we all followed Sandy Koufax and saw him as a role model. When the Dodgers came to Philadelphia, and they played at the old Connie Mack Stadium, everyone wanted to go see him.
Very interesting!!! Thanks for sharing!!
There are other pieces, as well. For example, the CCNY team of 1950, which had many Jewish players who helped them with the Championship!
Ah, yes. and reaching way back, I recall when Jewish stars played for the constgantly winning NYU and CCNY and an anti-semitic paper said of course Jews were good because basketball required guile, sneakiness, stealth and Jews excelled at that! Now the game dominsted by Black players!
and then there is this: Some of the most famous Jewish athletes include baseball legends Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, and Kevin Youkilis, basketball stars like Sue Bird, Olympic swimmers Mark Spitz and Dara Torres, gymnast Aly Raisman, NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman, and boxing champion Max Baer, showcasing dominant figures across many sports from baseball to swimming to football.
If you are from Connecticut, then Sue Bird is always in your life.