My favorite Jewish sports figures

Al Rosen, the legendary third baseman for the Cleveland Indians in the 1940s and 1950s, once said, "When I was up in the majors, I always knew how I wanted it to be about me. … Here comes one Jewish kid that every Jew in the world can be proud of.''

Well, with Rosh Hashana beginning today at sundown, it's time to honor a list that all sports fans can be proud of. Here is my list of my favorite Jewish sports figures:

Amy Alcott: Won 29 times on LPGA Tour, including five majors.
Lyle Alzado: Two-time All-Pro, 1977 NFL defensive player of the year.
Red Auerbach: Perhaps greatest basketball coach/executive in NBA history.
Brad Ausmus: Three-time Gold Glove catcher with the Astros.
Max Baer: Former heavyweight champ and father of Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies.
Gary Bettman: NHL commissioner since 1993.
Lou Boudreau: Seven-time baseball All-Star, 1948 American League MVP, Hall of Famer.
Ron Blomberg: Claim to fame? Major-league baseball's first designated hitter.
Larry Brown: Only coach to win NCAA and NBA title.
Sasha Cohen: Figure skater won silver at the 2006 Olympics.
Mark Cuban: Mavs owner gets our vote for most outrageous owner in sports.
Ben Davidson: Raiders great might be scariest football player of all time.
Bill Davidson: As owner, won Stanley Cup with Lightning and NBA titles with Pistons.
Al Davis: Raiders owner gets our vote for most controversial owner in history of sports.
Theo Epstein: Youngest GM in baseball helped Red Sox break World Series curse.
Mitch Gaylord: First U.S. gymnast to score a perfect 10.00 in the Olympics and won four medals at 1984 Games.
Sid Gillman: Longtime football coach a pioneer in the modern NFL passing game.
The Glazers: Bucs owners since 1995. Also own Manchester United soccer club.
Marty Glickman: Olympic sprinter and All-America football player. Also, noted broadcaster.
Robbie Gould: Bears kicker hit 24 straight field goals last season on way to All-Pro team.
Shawn Green: On the list of Jewish players, only Hank Greenberg has more homers.
Hank Greenberg: Five-time All-Star. Two-time MVP. Four-time homer champ. Hall of Famer.
Bud Greenspan: Master documentary filmmaker of the Olympics.
Ken Holtzman: Southpaw was a two-time All-Star and member of the A's dynasty in the early 1970s.
Red Holzman: Legendary NBA coach led Knicks to titles in 1970 and 1973.
Sarah Hughes: The 2002 Olympic figure skating champ. Older sister of skater Emily.
Zab Judah: Former welterweight champ was among best pound-for-pound boxers a few years ago.
Sandy Koufax: Three-time Cy Young winner and seven-time All-Star. Perhaps greatest Jewish athlete ever.
Jerry Krause: GM of one the NBA's best-ever teams: the Bulls of the 1990s.
Nancy Lieberman: On the short list of the greatest female basketball players of all time.
Marv Levy: Coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.
Sid Luckman: Old-time quarterback in Hall of Fame, both college and pro football.
Shep Messing: Most famous goalkeeper of the old North American Soccer League.
Josh Miller: Hey, got to have a punter on the list.
Ron Mix: Hall of Famer, one of NFL's best offensive linemen ever.
Art Modell: Legendary owner of the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens.
Bobby Nystrom: Mr. Islander scored Cup-winning goal in 1980.
Gabe Paul: Baseball exec who served as Yankees GM during the glory days of the 1970s.
Corey Pavin: Golfer won the 1995 U.S. Open; member of three Ryder Cup teams.
Morgan Pressel: Only 19 and has already won a golf major.
Jerry Reinsdorf: Owner of White Sox and the Bulls. Greatest glory: the Michael Jordan era.
Al Rosen: The 1953 American League MVP was a four-time All-Star .
Bud Selig: Major League Baseball commissioner since 1992.
Mark Spitz: Arguably greatest swimmer ever. Won seven golds at 1972 Olympics.
David Stern: NBA boss generally considered one of sports greatest commissioners ever.
Steve Stone: Former Cubs announcer won 1980 AL Cy Young.
Kerri Strug: Best remembered for her vault on a severely sprained ankle in 1996 Olympics.
Stu Sternberg: Devil Rays owner the past two years and in danger of falling off our list if he doesn’t get some bullpen help!
Steve Yeager: Co-MVP of the 1981 World Series while catching for the Dodgers.

Comments

Corey Pavin is a born-again Christian. Yeager, Ausmus, and Hughes have one Jewish parent and don't practice Judaism. Robbie Gould doesn't admit to being Jewish. Would rather see Ron Wolf and Mel Allen on the list than Gary Bettman and Bud Selig, two of the worst commissioners in the history of sports.

[Mathieu Schneider]

Don't forget me

Also Boudreau had one Jewish parent and was non-practicing. How could you not have Dolph Schayes?

If we're including non-practicing athletes with Jewish ancestry, throw in David Beckham. USA soccer players Jeff Agoos and Sarah Whalen are both fully Jewish. Alazado had one Jewish parent, his Mom, and also practiced the religion.

What about Olympic medal winners Lenny Krayzelberg and Dwight Stones? And Stu Sternberg?? Puh-leeze!!!

Ease up you people. After all, a goy made up the list.

[eam]

Yeager has NO Jewish parent. He's a convert
Robbie Gould is not Jewish nor is his brother Christopher.
Nancy Lieberman is a Jew for jesus

Mark Roth and Marshall Holman are in the Professional Bowlers Hall of Fame and probably two of the top five bowlers of all time.

Jimmy Jacobs was unbeatable in handball and is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

[October 7, 2007]

Hey, what about Bruce Fleisher, professonal golfer

[TeeBaller]

Sandy Koufax was no more a jew than Sammy Davis Jr. He was born to a German father named Braun and then his parents divorced with his mother re-marrying a jewish lawyer named Koufax. Technically to be a jew I believe the mother has to be one and he had neither. There has yet to be a jew associated with a Super Bowl championship team which is what I heard one commentator remark. David Eckstein is not a jew so correctly left off the list. What about footballer and wrestler Bill Goldberg? There are a ton of owners not listed.

[harris freedman]

what about Lennie Rosenbluth, Art Heyman, Alan Sieden, All American
Basketball Players. Ken Holtman,
Lou Limmer, Sid Gordon, Shawn Green.
baseball players
Benny Leonard, Lew Tendler. Barney
Ross, former boxing champions.
Marty Hughes racket ball

[Norm King]

Harry Barton is an Orthodox Jew who played Offensive tackle for three 49ers Super Bowl teams. He was also a first round draft pick. Randy Grossman was a tight end on thet Steelers' Super Bowl teams of the 1970's. His nickname was "Rabbi".

[GP]

Max Baer was not Jewish, but was deeply associated with the Jewish people in the boxing community. He beat Max Schmelling and beat him good while wearing a Magen David. This is factual and brave.

GP

[Yahwhous]

Also

-there were many Jewish boxers in the 1930s and 1940s. For example "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom was light heavyweight champ and later became and actor. Benny Leonard was lightweight champ in the 1920s.

-You left off Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers, who ironically has Koufax' birth name

-Beckham is one quarter Jewish (a grandfather) but calls himself half Jewish and has a hebrew prayer tattoo (among his many tattoos)

-If we are counting one grandparent, tennis champ Pete Sampras had a Jewish grandfather (his father's father--the other 3/4 are Greek).

-Also, it turned out Boris Becker's mother was part Jewish

[Yahwhous]

Finally, as long as we are talking brave, Max Schmeling's American manager Joe Jacobs was Jewish and Schmeling refused Nazi demands to fire him. He also hid several Jews in his apartment after Kristallnacht.