mjcca news - The Jewish Georgian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 48 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2012 Schwartz on Sports BY Jerry Schwartz BASKETBALL BUNCH AT LUNCH. The third get-together of the Basketball Bunch at Lunch was held May 24, at Taco Mac, at The Prado. We had 21 guys attend; all played in the AJCC Men’s Basketball League in the late ‘60s, ‘70s, and early ‘80s, covering a 20-year period. It was great seeing everyone again and hearing old stories that get more and more embellished over the years. First-timers included Stan Lansky, Larry Lipman, Sid Stein, Ray Blasé, Randy Feinberg, and Larry Brown. Stan Lansky reminded me that I didn’t include him and Pete Rosen, the JCC basketball version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, in an earlier column about the Men’s League. Sorry, Stan, I have no excuse. You and Pete came in under the radar for the first year in the league, and there were other twosomes that got by the captains, were drafted in late rounds, and excelled in the league. Larry Lipman/Mark Jacobsen and David Plummer/Tom Fox come to mind. I hadn’t seen Larry Lipman in 25 years, and he looked great. He could probably lace up the sneakers and play some ball. Larry was one of the wittiest guys out there and was easygoing. I never saw him lose his temper, although he needed to “drive for the bucket and score” more often. Stan told me that one of the things he remembered most was when Hal Krafchick opened the side door of the gym and invited guys to play basketball Thanksgiving morning. It was by invitation only, and you knew you’d arrived when you got to play in that game. We missed seeing Moose Miller, who was in the hospital with pneumonia at that time. Everybody wished for him a speedy recovery. It was also interesting to note that we had three guys, Ray Taratoot, Martin Cohen, and Randy Feinberg, who had played in the league and then refereed there at a later time. About halfway through the lunch, a waiter came to our table and said, “There is a gentleman at the front door who says there have been more kvetching, technical fouls given to, and more illegal screens set by the people at this table than there have been in the history of the NBA.” Yes, Gene Benator, of Alta Cocker fame, made an appearance and left us with this message. Once again, we had a great turnout and great fellowship, embellished stories and all. Stan Sobel, Steve Gruenhut, and Howie Frushtick did a great job in organizing the get-together, and we elected them to do it again. Our goal is to contact other ex-players who may want to attend future lunches. I’m already looking forward to our fourth get-together. TOBY BASNER DEBUTS AS MAJOR LEAGUE UMPIRE. In the January- February 2006 edition of “Schwartz on Sports,” I wrote about Jewish Georgian Toby Basner, who was on the fast track to become a major-league baseball umpire. At the time, Toby, then 21, was umpiring in the South Atlantic League. I heard about Toby from his grandparents, Richard and Judy Bracker, who are good friends of ours. They were able to set up an interview with Toby and his father and mentor, Alan. I ended the column with this line, “So remember Jewish Georgians, if you hear that Toby Basner is umpiring a major-league baseball game sometime in the future, you heard his name here first.” Now, for the rest of the story. Toby had his major-league debut after the June 22 Rays-Phillies series opener was postponed due to rain; the make-up double header was scheduled for June 24, necessitating an additional umpire to provide base services. Toby got the call and made his majorleague baseball debut at second base during game one. Congratulations, Toby. We hope to see you as a regular umpire in the major leagues for many years to come. FRAN AND PICKLEBALL. I’ve written about Pickleball a number of times in previous columns. The sport kicked off at the MJCCA a little over a year ago and has grown from 5-6 guys to 15-20 showing up to play on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Sid Cojac is credited with bringing the sport to the attention of Mature Adult Program Director Shanna Levy. Under the leadership of Ed Feldstein and Ken Lester, the sport has become very popular. You’ll read about the August 19 doubles tournament in my next column. I’ve been a regular player and introduced Pickleball to my daughter, Mindy, and grandsons Jared and Seth. All three instantly took to it and liked it, asking about playing again at the “J” when they came in town. My sister, Fran Sevcik, was visiting from Miami, in June, and I was able to get her to participate at an afternoon session. Fran is an avid tennis player, outstanding athlete and, after about five or six practice hits and getting used to the bounce, was hitting forehands and backhands all over the court. We played as teammates for a number of games and did very well. She was made to feel welcome by the other players and enjoyed the friendly competition. So now Pickleball is on her list. Maybe she’ll start a club down in Miami. THE BOOKIE’S DAUGHTER. Sid Stein is one of my valuable contacts for “Schwartz on Sports” columns. I’ve known Sid for Basketball Bunch at Lunch: (back row, from left) Allan Carp, Jay Empel, Ray Blase, and Ed Hoopes; (middle row) Jerry Schwartz, Sid Stein, Stan Sobel, and Leonard Sherman; (front row) Sam Appel, Marty Berger, and Jerry Finklestein over 25 years. We played pickup basketball at the Peachtree JCC, and I often joined him at lunch, where we talked sports. He’s an active member of the Edgewise group at the MJCCA, and he and Eddie Ullman keep me informed about upcoming programs. He told me about Heather Abraham, who wrote The Bookie’s Daughter, a book about her father, who was a big-time bookie in Pittsburgh in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Sid read it and said it was very interesting, with some fascinating stories. Heather was speaking at the Edgewise meeting in June, and apparently the topic was of interest to many; it had the largest turnout, standing room only, that I’ve seen at any Edgewise presentation. I also never heard so many questions asked of a speaker. Sid introduced Heather by dressing up as a mobster, looking as if he had just come from a Mafia “sit-down”; Carlos, who you Thought From page 36 the children in their care safe. The nationally recognized, pediatriciandeveloped program includes childcare techniques, basic first aid, infant and child CPR, rescue techniques (like choking infant and child rescue), babysitting as a business, and online and cell phone safety. This program is September 23 and 30, 1:00-5:00 p.m., at Congregation Etz Chaim; the cost is $125. Contact Linda Citron at 678-812-3972 or linda.citron@atlantajcc.org. GRILLIN’. On October 5, the 11th Annual Taste of Atlanta festival will kick off with The Big Grill: Grills Gone Wild. At this block party, some of Atlanta’s favorite grill masters will be dishing out their most mouth-watering bites. Tickets for The Big Grill: Grills Gone Wild will Basketball Bunch at Lunch—the other half: (back row, from left) Randy Feinberg, Larry Brown, Jon Miller, Steve Gruenhut, Ray Taratoot, and Martin Cohen; (front row) Howie Frushtick, Larry Lipman, and Stan Lansky normally see at the entrance to the “J,” was dressed as Sid’s bodyguard. It was a very clever and creative introduction. Heather’s story was riveting. Her father was a bookie for the majority of his life. Her mother was addicted to alcohol and pills and was a very angry person who had guns all over the place. Heather and her sister led a crazy, chaotic life in this crime-ridden family. Heather left home at age 18, spent a lot of time in therapy, and just received her master’s degree in religion from Georgia State University. Both of her parents are deceased. Again we’ve covered a lot of territory in the column. I hope you’ve enjoyed the variety of stories. Until the next time, “drive for the bucket and score.” be sold exclusively through Scoutmob, at http://bit.ly/BigGrill. VIP Entry tickets (6:30 p.m. entry) are $75; regular tickets (7:30 p.m. entry) are $60; both options include a general admission Taste of Atlanta ticket for Sunday, October 7. For more information on Taste of Atlanta, visit www.tasteofatlanta.com. GO FOR GAUCHER. In conjunction with Gaucher Awareness Month, the National Gaucher Foundation will hold “Go For Gaucher,” its first 5K walk/run on October 14, at Decatur’s Mason Mill Park. Participate as an individual, team, and/or sponsor. Register by October 5 or at the event; fees are $20/NGF members, $25/general public, and $30/day of registration. Ads for the “Go for Gaucher” program book are due September 14. Visit www.gaucherdisease.org for ad sizes, registration, sponsorship, and more information, or contact the NGF at 770- 934-2910 or 800-504-3189.
September-October 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 49 Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors General Norton Schwartz Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, a national non-profit to help ensure a college education for military children who have lost a parent in combat or training, raised more than $350K at the second CFPF Atlanta event, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. The event, co-chaired by Barbara Roos and Sheree Boyd, included a local singer, 11-year-old Lily Anderson, performing patriotic songs, accompanied by Patriot Award Recipient General Norton Schwartz and Co-Chair Barbara Roos One of the outstanding U.S. fighter jets of the post World War II era was the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. Designed as a fighter-bomber for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and later used by the U.S. Air Force, it saw service all over the world, especially in Vietnam, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf. It was one of the most versatile fighters built, and with its crew of two—pilot and radar intercept officer—it could do most everything, from air-to-air combat to bombing North Vietnamese Army supply lines. There were 17 variations of the Phantom to carry out most any mission. By the time production ended, 5,195 Phantoms had been built. As they were replaced with even more advanced fighters, many Phantoms were turned over to U.S. allies to update their air forces. Israel was one of these allies. The Israeli air force had been equipped with French fighter aircraft. They could not match the Phantom, which could fly at twice the speed of sound and had superior armament configurations. Israeli fighter pilots were, however, considered some of the finest in the world. With the addition of the Phantom, they had the ability to outmatch another Atlanta rising star, musician Matt Kabus. Colonel Jack Jacobs was host for the evening, and General Norton Schwartz was honored with the CFPF Patriot Award. General Schwartz, the first Jewish chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, has served the nation in uniform for more than 40 years. As chief of staff, he is the Air Force’s most senior military officer and leads more than Rabbi Peter Berg (left) with event host and Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel Jack Jacobs Colonel Callahan (right) and his son, Drury, at a marker on their way to Masada any enemy fighter plane. Even though the Israeli pilots were excellent, a fighter plane like the Phantom required special and transitional training for its air crews. The United States set up a special training facility at George Air Force Base, in California, for both U.S. and foreign pilots. The Israelis sent over five two-man crews for the training. One of the officers assigned to the training unit was a veteran Air Force officer, Colonel Drury Callahan, who logged over 1,600 hours in the Phantom while serving in Vietnam. He was the operations officer at George AFB. Colonel Callahan had an illustrious career that spanned 28 years, and he flew many of the military’s aircraft. He retired to Plano, Texas, and stayed active in aviation by becoming a docent at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, which had an extensive collection of military aircraft, all in flying condition. As the 40th anniversary of the training 700,000 airmen and civilians. General Schwartz created the Air Force’s first new major command in 17 years—the Global Strike Command—overseeing increased combat air patrols by remotely piloted aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan. “General Schwartz has made it a commitment to care for families of wounded and fallen warriors,” said CFPF co-founder David Kim, “and we are so grateful for his leadership and service to our nation and her people.” Colonel Jack Jacobs is one of only 81 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration for valor in combat. He received this award for his actions during a fierce battle in Vietnam. Colonel Jacobs is also a military analyst for MSNBC and author of the award-winning memoir, If Not Now, When? “By providing college scholarships and long-term educational counseling to these children, we honor the lives of those who have sacrificed themselves for our country, ensuring the success of those they loved,” said Cynthia Kim, co-founder of CFPF, “and we are so thankful for the support of the Atlanta community.” The funds raised during the event will of the Israeli pilots neared, Colonel Callahan received a phone call from the wife of Yair David, one of the Israeli pilots who trained at George AFB. Mrs. David said that she had a son in school in Dallas, and her husband asked her to call Colonel Callahan and tell him that the Israeli air crews were marking the upcoming anniversary with a reunion in Israel and were inviting the American officers to join them. The colonel accepted the invitation and flew to Israel with his son, Drury, a professional photographer, for a reunion, from March 6-11, 2010. The Israelis were genial hosts. They had IDF members escort the Americans throughout Israel, with the emphasis on places of particular interest to non-Jews, such as the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. They also visited Jewish historical sites, like Masada, and toured a restricted area to the River Jordan, escorted by Israeli military vehicles and armed personnel. In Co-Founders David and Cynthia Kim with friend and supporter Duke Roos (center) help send 70 children to college for one year, while also letting them know that their country treasures them. These children may not otherwise have a successful future. Founded in 2002, CFPF is committed to bridging the gap between existing sources of grants and scholarships and the total cost of college. To date, CFPF has raised more than $5 million in funds, awarding more than $3.1 million in scholarships to over 250 children. For more information, visit www.fallenpatriots.org. Israeli fighter pilots trained in U.S. BY Leon Socol Colonel Callahan posing at an Israeli Air Base with a F-4E Phantom Jet more modern locales, they saw where rockets were frequently fired into Israel from the Gaza strip. The Americans were greeted and addressed by Israeli military officers at luncheons and government facilities. They were first welcomed to Israel by Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, who told them that the introduction of the F-4 Phantom into the Israeli Air Force was a generation leap forward. Previously, the IAF was a “French” air force, in which the personal capabilities of the pilots, as “airborne knights,” compensated for the deficiencies of the aircraft. The French fighters and bombers of that era were very much single-purpose platforms; the success of each mission was often determined by the skills of the individual pilot. With the introduction of the F-4 Phantom, the picture changed significantly, and the pilot became a part of a total war machine that included all the aircraft’s systems. The IAF had entered the modern era. I was privileged to meet Colonel Callahan through his acquaintance with my brother, Marvin, a former civilian pilot and current guide at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Colonel Callahan granted me an interview in his home and showed me pictures, many of which were taken by his son on their trip to Israel. While touring the Cavanaugh Museum, I was shown a Phantom F-4 fighter and a Sabre Jet figher, the planes Colonel Callahan flew in Vietnam and North Korea.
Page 1 and 2: Jewish THE Georgian Volume 24, Numb
Page 3 and 4: September-October 2012 THE JEWISH G
Page 47: September-October 2012 THE JEWISH G

mjcca news - The Jewish Georgian

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?