By Mark D. Zimmerman
MELVILLE, New York — Generally speaking, Jews have not dominated professional sports competition, though there were a number of successful Jewish boxers in the early 1900’s (including Benny Leonard, “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom, and Barney Ross). Also, Jewish baseball players Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax are in the Hall of Fame. What unusual event occurred in sports recently featuring one or more Jewish athletes?
A. On June 8, five different Jewish baseball players–Ryan Braun, Kevin Pillar, Ian Kinsler, Joc Pederson, and Alex Bregman–all hit home runs.
B. In the 2018 French Open tennis tournament, two Jewish players won preliminary matches. Israeli player Dudi Sela won his first round match before losing to Elias Ymer of Sweden in the second round, and Diego Schwartzman of Argentina made it to the quarterfinals before being ousted by eventual winner Rafael Nadal.
C. In the soccer FIFA World Cup games currently taking place in Russia, three different Jewish players scored a goal in first round play–Joshua Kimmich of Germany, Allison Becker of Brazil, and Harry Kane of England.
D. Frenchman Alexander Lévy became the first Jewish golfer to score a hole-in-one in any of the four major golf tournaments. Lévy accomplished this feat in the first round of the U. S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club during last week’s first round competition, when his tee shot on the 189-yard 7th hole bounced on the green and rolled directly into the cup.
E. For the second time ever, horse racing’s Triple Crown was won by a Jewish horse, as Justify led the field at this year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Justify, like many celebrity Jews, changed his name, which was originally Justin Fein. Among Justify’s famous Jewish ancestors is the first Jewish Triple Crown winner, Seattle Jew, as well as the Lone Ranger’s horse Silver (née Silverstein), television’s Mr. Ed (née Mr. Eddie Cohen), and Stewball (née Stuart Ball, who never drank water, he always drank Manischewitz wine).
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Zimmerman is the author of the Rashi, Rambam and Ramalamadingdong series of Jewish trivia e-books. Learn more at http://www.rrrjewishtrivia.com