Today is Day 15 of the Omer. Hesed sheb’tif’eret. Generousity that flows from balance. Today begins weeks 3 of the Omer, the week of tif’eret, which connotes beauty, harmony, balance, and compassion and the different ways they manifest in the world. There are few players in the NBA with a more balanced offensive game than the 25 year old, center, Nikola Jokić. The 7ft, 250 … Continue reading Day 15: Big Honey
Today is 15 days, which is two weeks and one day of the omer: hesed she’b’tiferet. I swear, “Sandy Koufax didn’t play on Yom Kippur” is the baseball equivalent of “Abraham Joshua Heschel marched with King”: that is, a event that absolutely happened, was extremely significant at the time, and unnecessarily overshadows the commitment of many others. (You can experience my soapbox on the Heschel-King relationship here.) … Continue reading day 15: another jewish ballplayer
When the WNBA launched in 1997, I knew all the best American players. They were the members of the 1996 Olympic Team that had just won the gold medal. At least that is who the WNBA marketed, players like Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Rebecca Lobo. And then here comes #14, Cynthia Cooper, scoring 22 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals/game to win the MVP … Continue reading Day 14: Cynthia Cooper
Today is 14 days, which is two weeks of the omer: malchut she’big’vurah. My preferences in ballplayers come together today in an athlete who is both a native Texan and a career-long member of one team: Chicago Cubs infielder Ernie Banks grew up in Dallas and came to baseball in the last days of the Negro Leagues, where he was discovered by the Kansas City Monarchs, … Continue reading day 14: mr. sunshine
In the National Hockey League, one player is given the honour of having the “C” placed on his sweater. This is one of the main reasons the captain of a hockey team is more important than the captain, or captains, of teams in other major sports. In other organized sports, the team captain is quite often the superstar of the group, or the best player … Continue reading What Does it Take to be a Captain in the NHL?
Today is Day 13. Yesod sheb’gevurah. Laying a foundation through power. Heading into the 1988 Seoul Olympics, US Men’s Basketball Team had lost only once in its history, to the Soviet Union at the 1972 Olympics in an extremely controversial ending. But there was no debate over their second loss, again to the U.S.S.R., this time in the 1988 Olympic Semifinals. The group of talented US … Continue reading Day 13: The Godfather of the Euro step
Today is 13 days, which is one week and six days of the omer: yesod she’big’vurah. I know you didn’t think I was going to choose A-Rod today. I also know you didn’t think that I wasn’t going to start with Texas. As it turns out, today’s honoree, left fielder Carl Crawford grew up in Houston and suffered the indignity all too common for people of color in … Continue reading day 13: the perfect storm
Today is Day 12. Hod sheb’gevurah. Might that manifests in humility. There are few men in the NBA stronger than Steven Adams. If you don’t believe me, just ask Jimmy Butler (NSFW). The native New Zealander, is big and strong, and unafraid to throw his weight around. When I think of gevurah, I think of players like Adams. But not every big man, would be … Continue reading Day 12: The Big Kiwi
Today is 12 days, which is one week and five days of the omer: hod she’big’vurah. What’s that you say? A baseball legend in Canada? Yes, indeed, it’s not all hockey in the Great White North. I enjoyed my sojourn Sunday and again today in the 51st State. Today’s pick, a Puerto Rican turned Torontonian, owns the second most famous baseball moment in the Land of … Continue reading day 12: the canadian slugger
Today is Day 11 of the Omer. Netzach sheb’gevurah. From limits comes victory. When I began dreaming about counting the Omer through basketball, I figured that big men would dominate the week of gevurah. It’s a week all about strength and power, right?! However, as I’ve immersed myself further in each day’s combination of sefirot, I’ve understood that while gevurah is at the core, it … Continue reading Day 11: The Splash Brother
Omertime 