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Sept. 5, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: What does 'doing the right thing' entail?

Caroline B. Glick: The master strategist

Sept. 4, 2008

Ron Kampeas: Biden, Palin take lead in clash on Mideast issues

Bruce Dancis: With humor as their weapon, the Three Stooges took on Hitler

Sept. 3, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: Productive school years don't just happen

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Quick lamb stew serves up flavors of India

Sept. 2, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Costly Advice

Caroline B. Glick: Calling Israel's bluff

JWisdom: Wandering in Wonder by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

August 29, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: 20/20 sightlessness

Caroline B. Glick: When history is not repeated

JWisdom: Blessed or Cursed: It's Really Up to You by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 28, 2008

Steve Lipman: A Comeback for the 'Jewish Jordan'

Jeffrey Weiss: Researcher reports 'intriguing' diabetes breakthrough

August 27, 2008

Rabbi Zecharya Greenwald: Removing the perfectionist's mask

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Nunn: Summer harvest linguine

JWisdom:: The Missing Link in Spiritual Life by Rabbi David Aaron

August 26, 2008

Yaffa Ganz: Grandma gets lessons in staying cool

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: The Dems' 'soft' jihadist

JWisdom:: Today: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Plague of indifference

August 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: A friend is bearing a silly grudge from a supposed wrong. What recourse do I have?

Daniel Pipes: Barack Obama through Muslim Eyes

JWisdom:: The knowledge you need to overcome your insecurities by Malka Schulman

August 22, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: Life's essential ingredient

Caroline B. Glick: Dominos anyone?

JWisdom:: Actually, Do Sweat the Small Stuff! by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 21, 2008

Today in Biblical History by Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Popularization of Kabbalah: 20 Menachem-Av 1558 CE

Jonathan Rosenblum: Lessons from the Beyond

JWisdom: : The Olympian within is rooting for you -- yes, you! –- to go for the gold

August 20, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Misleading Platform Platitudes

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Chicken Salad with Asian Dressing

JWisdom: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: America's Defense of the Jews --- Until WWII by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

August 19, 2008

Dennis Prager: If the Almighty doesn't exist

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Obama's Islamist problem has nothing to do with his upbringing

JWisdom: Think your life is messed up? by Rabbi David Aaron

August 18, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Business with Friends

Diana West: Roars About Russia, Bare Whispers About Islam

JWisdom: Relationship agony: The real cause by Malka Schulman

August 15, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: To love the Divine

Caroline B. Glick: Georgia, Israel, and the nature of man

JWisdom: The Truly Righteous Don't Demand Entitlements by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 14, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Confessions of broken spirit

Libby Lazewnik: The Numbers Game

JWisdom: Six Questions You'll Be Asked in Heaven? - Uh - Let's Just Take One for Now! by Gavriel Aryeh Sanders

August 13, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Georgia should be on their minds

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Go Greek: Pair flavorful lamb kebabs with a hearty salad

JWisdom: Human hybrids aren't science fiction by Rabbi David Aaron

August 12, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bless us

Daniel Pipes: The West's Islamist Infiltrators

JWisdom: From Sadness to Gladness: The Route from Tisha b'Av to Rosh Hashana by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

August 11, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: A Jewish view on fair pricing

Caroline B. Glick: Ignoring failure in Gaza

JWisdom: 'Communication' Is Not The Answer! by Malka Schulman

August 7, 2008

Rabbi David Gutterman: A Continuing Story With a Sustaining Goal

Rabbi Berel Wein: Mourning and morning

JWisdom: Yes, we are still in exile by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 6, 2008

David Ashenfelter: Government made military engineer's life a living hell because of his faith, Defense Department report documents

Jonathan Tobin: Speak the Truth; Defeat the Lies

JWisdom: Jewish Spirituality: Fusion or Confusion? by Rabbi David Aaron

August 5, 2008

Chris Leppek: Church/state wall beginning to crumble?

Paul Greenberg: Exit Olmert (no encore, please)

JWisdom: Serenity: Make the commitment by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Read by Gavriel Sanders)

August 4, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Am I taking advantage of another's psychological quirk?

Andrew Silow-Carroll: A black and a Jew walk into the White House…

JWisdom: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Edward R. Morrow visits the ‘living dead’ by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review June 6, 2008 / 3 Sivan, 5768

The Boston Celtics ascend from the abyss

By Dave Weinbaum


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | As you read this, the Boston Celtics have completed the first game of the NBA Championship series against arch rival Los Angeles.

I'm in hoops heaven.

I'm a Celtic fan from way back.

As an impressionable seven year old, I remember watching basketball on the tube…no not You Tube, but the ole' black and white in our duplex on the South Side of Chicago. I've been a Boston Celtics nut for all of my 33 years. What? You're laughing? Hey, when you get YOUR column, you can lie your butt off about your age, too. Alright already! Now at the ripe old age of 35 (happy now?), I still hanker for the glory days of the Celtics.

I wasn't sure what I was watching but was fascinated by the fluidity of it all. I couldn't leave the tube while they were playing.

You'll never hear a Jew say, "I broke my hand on the rim when I dunked."

Later, I found out who was responsible for putting Boston on the hoop map. His name was Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach.

Auerbach, a Jew, grew up in the 20's in Brooklyn. He earned his nickname as a kid, playing basketball in Williamsburg with red hair and a temper. While playing college ball at Washington University, he learned the fast break.

It's pretty simple.

You gain the advantage through a quick outlet pass to three guys streaming up the floor against two or one defenders, passing the ball creatively, usually resulting in a wide open lay-up or in these days a slam dunk, the highest percentage shot in sports.

Small of stature Red decided to coach. He floated with smattering success from team to team for nine years until he found his lifelong home as head coach then president of the Boston Celtics, a relationship that lasted for the last 56 years of his life.

You don't have to have a title to be a leader.

Besides installing the fast break as a mantra to his Celtics, Red pioneered much of what you see as good in the NBA:

  • He drafted the first black into pro ball, Cecil Cooper, in 1950.

  • He invented the "sixth man" concept. His first sub came in about five minutes into the first quarter and was starter ability.

  • He made his players tough defensive and rebounding fiends as a prelude to start the fast break.

  • Red broke yet another barrier when his first move as a GM in 1966 was to replace himself as coach with Bill Russell, the first black coach in the NBA.

  • When the game was at hand, Auerbach lit his cigar, a practice that was copied by many fans, making the Boston Garden a modern day EPA disaster.

The most important lesson you can learn from winning is that you can

Combining all these initiatives, Red started collecting world championships. The Boston Celtics dominated, earning nine NBA titles from 1956 to 1966, a record eight in a row. All total the Celtics have earned 16 championships under Auerbach's leadership tenure.

Let's not ignore the heartbreak. The untimely deaths of Len Bias, all American out of Maryland and Reggie Lewis put Boston on long downturns, besides the great loss borne by their families.

Some fans abandoned the Celts.

I didn't. I'm loyal to a team that tries its best.

I even made a side trip to Boston in 1987 to see the parquet floor and watch the Bird led Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons in overtime.

Russell, Cousy, Havlicek, Sanders, Jones (KC and Sam), Johnson, Bird, Parrish, McHale, Ainge, Silas, Howell, Heinsohn, Archibald, Cowen, Walton, Chaney, Maxwell, Ford, Carr, Henderson, Silas, and Howell.

They gave it their all.

I especially thank Red Auerbach, who died in 2006. Red lives in Celtic legend as their "sixth man" for eternity.

Go Boston! Beat LA!!

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Dave Weinbaum, originally from Chicago, is a businessman, writer and part-time stand-up comic. He resides in a Midwest red state. Comment by clicking here.



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