Day two of the Maccabiah Games has finished, I believe, though for some reason the opening ceremony starts in about 30 minutes. If you’re not familiar with Maccabiah, it’s the Jewish version of the Olympics, which is good because last year Israel didn’t fair too well in Beijing.
Maccabiah is open to Jews throughout the world, with MOTs from different countries competing against each other. And, this year, Dodgers team president and CEO Jamie McCourt, who like a few who have worn Dodger Blue is Jewish, will be throwing out the first pitch tomorrow.
More from Tom Tugend of The Jewish Journal:
The idea of throwing out the first ball is “beyond fantastic,” she said, but her involvement in the Maccabiah, which runs from July 12-23, isn’t limited to ceremonial pitches.
The Dodgers are underwriting the entire cost of the baseball tournament and donating a boatload of Dodger tote bags, caps, T-shirts, tattoos, pocket schedules and notepads to outfit the players, coaches, umpires and a thousand lucky fans.
McCourt, considered the most powerful woman in American sports, declined to give a dollar figure for this largesse, but she agreed that it was “substantial.”
She was recruited for the cause by Los Angeles real estate developer Steve Soboroff, who enlisted 30 top business and entertainment industry leaders to raise a total of $1.5 million, with additional revenues expected.
His committee also arranged for widespread television coverage of the games in the United States and 43 other countries through Jewish Life TV (JLTV.tv).
Much more, including a great quote from a Bel Air Hotel waiter, here.
