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Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Upset By Knicks As Israel YouTube Videos Shine
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Francine Nadav Maccabi Tel Aviv, which initially lead throughout the first and part of the second quarter, succumbed to the New York Knicks by 112 to 85. In the first quarter Maccabi took a demanding lead with a strong offense and lethal shooting. Loud chants throughout the distinguished stadium of "Maccabi, Maccabi" were non stop. Both Tel Aviv Maccabi and New York Knick fans were sitting on their edges of their seats in this historic first match between the Israel and New York superpowers of basketball. But before the game even began a few lucky Knicks and Maccabi fans who are patrons of Migdal Ohr enjoyed a fun-filled, family oriented feast of Middle-Eastern foods, the screening of Israel tourism YouTube videos and colorful clowns at a private reception sponsored by American Friends of Migdal Or. The American Friends of Migdal Ohr, representing Israel’s largest, respected youth village sponsored the Israel US game with proceeds going from the Hoops and Dreams Week directly to the orphaned and disadvantaged children of Migdal Ohr. The money will enable Rabbi Grossman and his dedicated staff to continue to provide a nurturing home and outstanding education for over 6,500 orphaned, abused, underprivileged and new immigrant children.
“Hoops and Dreams Week” began on Wednesday night, October 10 as Migdal Ohr hosted a gala reception honoring the players, coaches and management of Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv, who will all be available for photos and autographs during the evening. The gala, at the New York Hilton, brought together the Israel business community in New York and New York companies who are an integral part of Israel’s economy. Over
hundreds of hot dogs and root beer, the New York Knicks Maccabi
game this evening united two of the world’s most respected
basketball teams at the world famous Madison Square Garden to
benefit the Israel children of Migdal Ohr. Eddy Curry and Renaldo Balkman were missing for the Knicks, leaving the New York team slightly handicapped before coming face to face with graduates of the Israel Defense Forces. The Maccabi Tel Aviv team included several from Israel, such as Yotam Halperin and David Bluthenthal, as well as Americans like Marcus Fizer, Will Bynum, and Vonteego Cummings.
The halftime show featured a special on-court ceremony celebrating the memory of former Knicks coach and New York Jewish basketball icon, Red Holzman. Israel basketball hero Tal Brody and a member of the Knicks organization will join Red Holzman’s family. Holzman, who grew up in Cedarhust, Long Island, was a Hall of Fame coach who led the Knicks to two NBA Championships. The
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel Ministry of Tourism
had sponsored the first Israel YouTube contest, with videos
portraying positive images of Israel seducing both increased
tourism and Aliya.
When asked by the Israel News Agency if the Israel YouTube contest was successful, Israel Consul for Media and Public Affairs David Saranga smiled. "Yes, one just has to see the abundant amount of interest people placed into creating these videos and how glued they are in watching them to know that it was a success. Every video placed on YouTube which portrays positive images of Israel is a success for us," Saranga said. "We chose YouTube as a platform because by doing it we increase the amount of positive videos about Israel," the creative project initiator stated. "Today, a search on Google for the keyword Israel yields many inciting clips. Recently we have placed a concentration on Web 2.0, social networking, new media and engaging the youth. Israel now has several Internet blogs dedicated to Israel's many different and varied faces. Our official blog - www.isrealli.org has more than 400 stories to illustrate that Israel is a normal, peaceful country. We also have established a channel on YouTube and Facebook." When asked by the INA how it feels to witness Israel sports history, Israel New York Consul General Asaf Shariv responded: "Every year there will be a game between a leading Israel team and a US team. Hopefully next year we will witness Hapoel Jerusalem honor Israel's 60th anniversary." Shariv added: "It's very important to Israel that people are able to see reality, that Israel is not just about the Palestinian conflict but rather to view Israel beyond the conflict." Since 1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv has been sponsored by Elite, Israel's largest food company and it also carries its name. And from 1963 the club’s home court has been the Nokia Arena in the Yad Eliyahu area in Tel Aviv. It started as an open air court for 5,000 spectators. Today it is a modern arena with a capacity of 11,000. Most of Maccabi head coaches, were ex-players at the club. The late Yehoshua Rozin was involved with the club for 40 years, Ralph Klein started as an 18 year old player and later had several spells as a coach and led the club to its first European title in 1977. Zvi Sherf played for Maccabi's second team and coached the team on three spells. Pini Gershon played in the Youth Section and as a coach led Maccabi to three European titles in 2001, 2004 and 2005. Maccabi Tel Aviv has always been proud to provide the national team with a large number of players. Five of Maccabi players, headed by the late Avraham Shneur, were on the team which represented Israel in its first European Championship in 1953 in Moscow. Tanhum Cohen-Mintz was one of Europe's top centers in the sixties and was selected for the first European All Star Team which played in Madrid in 1964. Mickey Berkowitz, Motty Aroesti, Lou Silver; Eric Minkin, played a major part in winning the silver medal in the European Championship in 1979 in Torino. Doron Jamchy played 16 years for the national team and holds the record for appearances and points scored. Maccabi Tel Aviv was the first Israel club to enter the European Cup for Champions in 1958. Since then they have played 602 games in European competitions and were the first and only Israel club to play in a Final (1967 Cup Winners Cup) and to win the Champions Cup on five occasions (1977, 1981, 2001, 2004, 2005). So far Maccabi has played in 12 Champions Cup Finals. In 1967 they were the losing finalists in the European Cup Winners Cup. In 1980 Maccabi won the Intercontinental Cup. In 1994 and 2004 Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club organized the European Final Four in Tel Aviv. In the 2002 - 2003 season, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv participated in the Adriatic League and reached the Final Four which was to be played in Tel Aviv. But because of the war in Iraq it was switched to Ljubljana. Maccabi reached the final but lost 88-91 to Croatian club KK Zadar. European All Star Selections played four times in Tel Aviv in honor of Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv players: Tani Cohen Mints, Tal Brody, Lou Silver and Mickey Berkowitz. Seven of Maccabi Tel Aviv players played for European All Star Selections including Cohen Mints, Brody, Silver, Berkowitz, Jamchy, Nadav Henefeld and Oded Katash. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv was first Israeli team to take part in the McDonald Championship, in London in 1995. In December 1997 the club organized the FIBA Eurostars in which top European players clashed in the game between East and West selections. Five of Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv players were selected to play in the Eurostars games: Nadav Henefeld, Oded Katash, Doron Sheffer, Randy White and Rashard Griffith. Captain Gur Shelef and Nikola Vujcic appeared In October 2002 in the Euroleague All Star team in an exhibition game in Madrid as part of Real Madrid Centenary celebrations. Maccabi Tel Aviv played in December 2002 in Madrid in the final event of those celebrations. The Miami Heat, who played in the NOKIA Arena in October 1999, was the fifth NBA team to play vs Maccabi in Tel Aviv. Maccabi played sic times in the USA vs NBA teams. In October 2005 Maccabi became the first non American team to beat an NBA team on North American soil, when they beat the Raptors in Toronto 105-103. The New York Knicks are coming off from a tough season, one in which their head coach made many headlines not related to the sport. As the Knicks faced Maccabi Elite of Tel Aviv tonight, Isiah Thomas was back on the bench for the first time since a jury found that he sexually harassed former Garden executive Anucha Browne Sanders. The three-week trial hurt the image of the Knicks and damaged Thomas' reputation. "I think I'll get a warm reception," Thomas said yesterday. "I don't think that the things that have gone on will affect the way people feel about me. Just from walking around New York and being in the city and even getting back I've received a lot of love so to speak, letters and support from different people." But whether it's a Chaim Ramon kiss or an Isiah Thomas hug, the Israel and New York fans were only focused on only one thing - the action in the court below. The passing, the running, the guarding and dunking. Former Chicago Bulls forward Marcus Fizer had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv. Vonteego Cummings, who played collegiately at Pittsburgh, scored 21 points. "I have never witnessed a New York Knicks game as exciting as this one," said Brian Katzman, a native New Yorker. "I love the Knicks but also have a passion for Israel. I am not sure whether to join those who are wearing yellow Maccabi shirts and waving Israel flags or those chanting for the Knicks. No matter who wins or loses here tonight, every player and spectator won. This is truly a celebration of sport, New York and Israel. It doesn't get any better than that." Migdal
Ohr, Hebrew for “Tower of Light,” operates Israel’s
largest youth village, providing much-needed support to more
than 6,500 orphaned, abused, underprivileged and new immigrant
children in Israel. The organization runs a network of schools,
providing academic and vocational studies while integrating
new immigrant children into Israeli society through specialized
curricula and after-school programs. For more information about Migdal Ohr please visit www.migdalohrusa.org.
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