Today is Day 16 of the Omer. Gevurah sheb’tif’eret. Power that flows from balance. For the second day in a row, during this week of tif’eret, we are honoring a European big man with an all-around game. There are a few players with more balanced games or more balanced interests than Pau Gasol. Lee Jenkins does an excellent job capturing Pau’s love of art, music, … Continue reading Day 16: Kung Pow
Today is 16 days, which is two weeks and two days of the omer: gevurah she’b’tiferet. For my money there’s really only one #16 who demonstrates true “strength through beauty,” and that is one of the greatest athletes of all time, Kansas City Royals outfielder Bo Jackson, a man who played both professional football and professional baseball simultaneously. Jackson ended up playing in nearly 700 … Continue reading day 16: bo (the player, not the parshah)
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 