Baseballs, Basketballs and Matzah Balls: What Sports Can Teach Us about the Jewish Holidays...and Vice Versa

Baseballs, Basketballs and Matzah Balls offers a sweeping exploration of sports: of contests and heroes, of triumph and adversity, and how they relate to the festivals that Jews have celebrated for thousands of years. Among the chapters: Remembering Simpler Times: What central message of Sukkot is enthusiastically espoused by winning college coaches? Kindling the Light of Confidence: What Hanukkah teaches us about the kind of confidence that builds champions? A Purim Perspective on Competitive Anger: Why so many athletes lose their cool, just like the villainous Haman did, becoming their own worst enemies? Coach K and the Meaning of Passover: How Mike Krzyzewski's success explains the Exodus? "A compelling, entertaining, illuminating work that will stir the hearts and intellect of Jews and non-Jews alike." - Seth Davis, Sports Illustrated/CBS Sports "Rabbi Mitch Smith has written a book that gives all sports fans occasion to think about the meaning of sacrifice, teamwork, leadership and other virtues in a different light. - Bud Selig, Commissioner, Major League Baseball "This book is a great read! It offers all of us a roadmap to becoming more fulfilled human beings - Lenny Krayzelburg, 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist "Informative, insightful, inspirational... Mitch Smith scores on every level with this tonic for the soul." - Tim Green, former defensive end, Atlanta Falcons, Fox Sports NFL analyst "A MUST-READ! Mitch Smith brings age-old texts to life, and conveys how concepts like team work, resilience, and refusing to succumb to defeat -- mainstays in sports -- not only allowed the Jewish people to weather history's storms, but to constantly engage in self-renewal. To paraphrase the old Levy's Rye Bread ad, you don't have to be Jewish to love this book." - Dr. Richard Lapchick, Director, Institute for Diversityand Ethics in Sport