Comments (0)Chai Choops
November 6, 2009Neil Rubin
Editor
To paraphrase Associated Press reporter Stephen Chernin, “Stop me if you’ve heard this one…”
The Israeli coach is ejected from the game in Madison Square Garden, but refuses to leave, which brings out a security official, a Haredi rabbi, a confused NBA star trying to navigate the English, Yiddish and Hebrew, and the other players, starting an impromptu half-court shooting contest to pass the time.
Happen it did, at the recent New York Knicks vs. Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv charity game.
In short, Knicks’ player Al Harrington was whistled for a charge. He complained. Maccabi Coach Pini Gershon started yelling at the ref, too. (He is Israeli after all.).The ref tossed Mr. Gershon from the court.
Ah, but Mr. Gershon would not leave. So NBA security official Scott Jaffer tried to persuade him to exit. Then Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman — long white beard, black hat and black coat accompanying him — strolled across the court to pursue shalom bayit.
Mr. Gershon tried to apologize. “This is not a regular game,” Rabbi Grossman said the Israeli told the officials. “In a game for friendship, you forgive.”
Except, of course, in New York City.
Mr. Gershon ultimately left, storming down the tunnel and thrilling Maccabi’s very loud fans. A motivational Earl Weaver he ain’t — the Israelis lost 106-91.