Tracking Down The Jewish Jordan

Old basketball fans will remember Tamir Goodman, the so-called "Jewish Jordan," who excited many by winning a high school All-Star MVP Game award before ultimately leaving Maryland, partly because he wouldn't play on the Sabbath. Well, Gelf has tracked down Goodman, who's currently playing in a semipro league in Israel and clearly was more interested in being an observant Jew than carrying any sort of NBA torch.

I'd like to play as long as possible. I think God's given me a lot of talent in basketball. I'm averaging like 19 points a game. It's going well, I'm very happy. I want to work my way up the ladder. I don't like to say, "I want to play for this team." Do your best, and God will take you where you need to go. I'll just do what's in my hands, which is to play as best as I can.

He seems like a rather standup guy, actually, and, all told, more likable than Jordan Farmar. But victories are taken where they can be found.

From Jordan To Israel [Gelf Magazine] The Jewish Jordan [Jewcy]