\”I knew this could be a good story because so many different things had happened to people,\” said Dan Klores, sounding more like an introvert than a schmoozer. \”You have a group of guys, and one is homeless, one wins a $45 million lottery, two lose their children and one lives without electricity or running water in Woodstock, N.Y.\”
Two standout Jewish hoop stars headlining the Pac-10 basketball tournament? It\’s all part of March Madness. David Bluthenthal, USC\’s 22-year-old small forward, and Amit Tamir, UC Berkeley\’s 22-year-old forward/center, each look to lead their team to the conference title at the March 7-9 tournament at Staples Center.
The red-hot Philly basketball team has a pint-sized but flashy star shooter and an old-school coach who\’s more teacher than tough disciplinarian. The media constantly compares the teams to the biblical David. Sound like America\’s new favorite team, the Philadelphia 76ers, who took on the LA Lakers in this year\’s NBA finals?
In a Chicago Tribune interview last October, shortly before pro basketball was shut down by a bruising lockout, players\’ union chief Billy Hunter waxed sentimental about his lifelong passion for defending the underdog.
I love basketball. Not as in, I love Neil Diamond,I hum along when he\’s on the radio. No.
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