Three Cheers For Yuri...

This is a blog entry about boxing.

But it's really about Jewish identity.

I wanted to give props to a wonderful performance put on Saturday night by Yuri Foreman (not pictured and I believe no relation).

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I was intrigued by the Foreman-Cotto fight because of the venue.

I would LOVE to see a boxing match at new Yankee Stadium, would've paid to have seen one at OLD Yankee Stadium.

So already, I thought it was cool.
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Then, just for the heck of it, I decided to look up Foreman for a bit.

I was really impressed to learn that he the Super Welterweight Champ, and was also studying to be a Rabbi.

I think back to my hebrew school days at Beth Shalom and Temple Sinai of Hollywood, don't remember seeing many fights and-or potential fighters.

The worst confrontation was when someone threw a fireball (the old candy) at another kid (and it stuck to his head)... now that was funny!

My high school was mostly Jewish, and it was my understanding that we didn't have a football team because of insurance purposes.
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Jewish culture hasn't traditionally emphasized sports.

We are taught to celebrate the fact that Sandy Koufax refused to pitch in the World Series because it was Yom Kippur, a lot more than we are taught to recognize that he's one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in baseball history.

Back in the day, I'm talking Ellis Island Days, there were great Jewish fighters. It's like Chris Rock said, your status on the socioeconomic ladder has a direct correlation to how many successful boxers you produce.

The sweet science wasn't emphasized. Regular science, sure. Becoming a doctor or lawyer was more of a priority.
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So, on the rare occassions when a Jewish sports star shines bright, there's a little extra pride that kicks in.

That guy had a bar mitzvah.

That guy went to Hebrew School.

That guy's mother probably calls him 12 times a day.

It's a shared cultural heritage, in an arena that's not familiar.
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Here's how rare it is: I'm writing this glowing blog, and Foreman was actually knocked out in the 9th round.

As my Bubby might say, What he should win every fight?