IFL Football Season Began With A Win For The "Lions"

I still don't believe I did it. I walked to the Kraft Family Sports Campus. No, I didn't walk from Shiloh; I'm not insane. I walked from the Shmuel Hanavi Junction, which is where Eshkol Boulevard becomes Bar Ilan Street. I could have taken a bus part way, to the Har Chotzvim Industrial Zone, but that wouldn't have saved me much time. It's less than half the way. I checked with Google Maps.

I had gotten rides to previous games, and this time there didn't seem to be one. Besides that, I had the time. Most of the way was flat, and I even stopped off at one of the commercial buildings in Har Chotzvim Industrial Zone to try out the public toilets, which I'll have to write about in my Pishers' Guide series. When you go to the Kraft Family Sports Campus, which is near Ramot Junction, by car it seems far away. The road is off of a highway, and you have to be on the correct side of the road, or you have a long detour.

Even with all my walking, I got to the football field with time to spare. The players were still warming up. Soon the stands filled and the game began.

The Lions were ahead the entire game, though they mostly scored in the first half, if I'm not mistaken. There are many changes in players from last year, so it'll take time to really show their potential. The next game should be tougher, but it was a good season starter. The score was 31:15.

Yaala "Big Blue!" Let's have a fourth championship season, Gd willing!!

I Bought Myself 3 Treats

I generally like beer when I have the opportunity to drink some. OK not all beers. I prefer darker with strong flavors. For the past few years, I've been mentored by Doug, the Beer Maivin, in the culture of Israeli craft beer. I'm even on his "tasters panel."

We almost never have beer in the house, because I want to patronize only the Israeli craft beers, and they aren't sold locally. The best place to buy it is in the shuq, Machane Yehuda, and since bottles are dangerous/difficult to carry, and I rarely go there on my way home... Buying Israeli craft beer is one of those things I think of doing but never do.

Power Coffeeworks

Yesterday, while walking down Agrippas Street on the way to get a new stock of coffee for my French Press* before going home, I was drawn to the beer. So, I gave in and bought myself those three bottles seen above. It was hard to choose. I was tempted to buy six, all different, but it was risky enough having three glass bottles in my bag. I asked the guy at the cash register to bag each separately, and then I tried to stabilize them with the blue and gold (to cheer for Jerusalem Big Blue Lions) pom poms for the Israel-Bowl XII. And then I went to Power Coffeeworks for the ground dark blend coffee. There wouldn't have been room in my bag for three more bottles of beer.

Will report/review the beers in a future post, Gd willing.

* #morningcoffeehaiku

Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions to The 2019 Finals!

Last night Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions, reigning champions for the past two years, showed its superior... everything... in the semifinal game against the Tel Aviv Pioneers. Big Blue won, 47:8. Just two years ago, Big Blue had met the Pioneers in the finals, a game that could make a great movie screenplay. In that legendary game, Big Blue was behind until they started inching forward in the final, fourth, quarter. Until then, it looked like we hadn't a chance. Then, only six, yes 6 seconds to the end of the game we tied them. The crowd went berserk and could hardly be held back. We beat them in overtime, yes, just like in the movies.

selfie of me watching the game

Last night's game was different. This season's Pioneers aren't the same team that we played against in 2017. They started pretty well, but couldn't keep it up for the full four quarters.

There was a nice supportive festive atmosphere in the stands watching the game. The fans are a real mix of Israeli society, as are the players. And there's a wonderful feeling of family, too, among players and fans.

The Jerusalem football games take place in the Kraft Family Sports Campus, under the Ramot Junction. BTW, the Kraft who donated money for the fields is Robert Kraft, owner of the NFL Patriots which just won the Super Bowl.  BTW#2 Head Coach of the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions is my son. I can brag, right?

Next week is the Finals of the 12th season IFL Tackle Football. Yaala, BIG BLUE!

Last year's finals against the Petach Tikva Troopers. There's a good chance that we'll be playing them again, next week.

Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions Undefeated in Season Play 2018-1019

The foggy night in the new Kraft Family Sports Campus didn't fog up two year reigning champions, Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions last night. In a very tough game against the Judean Rebels, the Lions showed their superior playing power.

53-12 Lions over Rebels

The next game is the semifinals in two weeks. Gd willing, we'll win that one, too, and then on to our third National Championship.

For more information about upcoming games and American Tackle (and flag) Football in Israel, click here IFL.

American Football in Israel, Lions in The Lead

After last Thursday night's nail-biter of a game, the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions defeated its only real competitor, Petach Tikva Troopers, 27:20 and is now the only undefeated team in IFL American Football in Israel.

I braved the cold, wearing woolen socks under my Timberland boots, plus my newly crocheted Lions' colors scarf, which I had only finally completed on the bus traveling to the game.

American football isn't an easy game. First of all, the players are encumbered by restricting shoulder pads, and their vision is restricted by the helmet. When it's windy, even the most perfectly tossed pass can be moved off target by the wind.

The past few seasons, watching the game has been a bit easier for me, since my son is head coach. Of course, I still worry about the players on the field, since the only way an offense player can be stopped from scoring a touchdown is when an opposing defense player tackles, meaning jumps on top of him. And frequently, there's a pileup of players on the player holding the ball. So, I used to be happy that my son was a defense player and more frequently on top, or in the middle, rather than underneath. Of course, the better the offense player is, the more chance he'll be tackled. And the more he's tackled, the more he can be injured. That's the truth, though it can hurt in more ways than one.

Gd willing fair games and refuah shleimah, complete recovery to the injured.

Yaala Big Blue! Let's have another championship season, Gd willing.

Jerusalem Lions Start Season With Big Win 46-0

Here's one of the touchdowns:

Last night was the first game of the IFL season, and the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions  totally overpowered the Tel Aviv Pioneers, their opponents in the championships a year and  a half ago. That was a legendary game, which belongs in the genre of sports movies. After trailing for the first three quarters, the Lions awoke with a roar and managed to tie Tel Aviv six 6 seconds before the end of the game. Then in overtime the Lions won their first championship in close to a decade.

The Lions we saw last night played like they did in that fourth quarter of the 2017 championship game. They didn't relax for a minute. Tel Aviv seemed to be missing their great star players from two seasons ago. The league doesn't give out programs that list the players, and the new Kraft Family Stadium's much larger playing field, makes it hard for my aging eyes to read all the names and numbers on the uniforms. So it was hard to know who was on the field.

Tel Aviv played much better than the score indicates. They had some bad luck, such as when halftime came just when they were on their line and close to scoring.

The Jerusalem Lions team consists of some of the most veteran players in the IFL, plus much younger ones. The future looks good, Gd willing.

Gd must love football, because He decreed no rain during and right before the game. The needed winter rain didn't resume until we got home.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Jerusalem Big Blue Lions Win Second Championship in a Row 2018

The reigning champs, the Jerusalem Big Blue Lions ran out on the field knowing that it was going to be a very difficult game.

Israel Bowl XI ישרא-בול 11

Last year's win was hard, but it meant this this year's games were even tougher than before, because each team who played us knew that they had to really fight, play their very best. The Lions entered the semi-finals without losing a single game. And we crushed the Tel Aviv Pioneers in the semi-finals, which was a very different different game from when we beat them in last year's finals. That game was like a movie script. We had been behind the entire game and only 2 minutes to the end we began closing in. With just six seconds to the final whistle we tied them. Then in overtime we capped the season with a truly championship win.

Last night's final game was a very low-scoring endurance match between two very different teams. The Petach Tikva Troopers have some of the best, most talented players ever seen in the IFL. They also have a veteran, very experienced coach who grew up with the game in America. He's old enough to be the father of the Lions' coach, an Israeli who knew nothing of American football until his post-IDF stay in the states. The Lions great strength not only comes from a few talented players, but its strong "bench," teamwork and family spirit. If you follow the Lions' games the past couple of years, you'll also see that they don't relax or buckle in the fourth quarter. They've had movie-like wins because of that.

The highlight of my recent winters has been attending the Lions home games and cheering the team. This year each time we played one of the stronger teams in the league, I was afraid that one of them will do what we did during the 2016-17 season. We can never take anything for granted. A small mistake, or Gd forbid an injury to a key player, can suddenly change the flow of a game.

I have a couple of things to admit to you. One is that even after about a decade of dedicatedly watching these football games, I still don't know the rules very well. And two, the Jerusalem Big Blue Lions Head Coach is my son, my youngest child. Obviously I'm very proud of him and his wonderful hardworking, fair-playing team.

I pray to Gd that they should all have a restful, healthy summer break to prepare for, Gd willing, another winning season and the Israel Bowl XII ישרא-בול 12.

Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions Into The Finals, 2018, 5778

The Tel Aviv Pioneers quickly ran out of steam last night at the new Kraft Family Stadium, as the reigning champions, Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions outplayed/crushed them in the first of the two semi-finals. Final Score 54:12!






Gd willing, we will complete the season this coming Thursday, undefeated.

Ya'ala BIG BLUE!

Pishers' Guide to Jerusalem #26, New Kraft Stadium, Complaining May have Helped

This is a continuation in my ongoing series about public toilets in Jerusalem. See #25,  #24,  #23, #22, #21,#20, #19, #18, #17, #16,  #15a, #15,  #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9,  #8, #7,  #6,  #5, Saved by The First Station aka #4a, #4, #3, #2 and #1

These open urinals make it MEN ONLY.

It sure pays to complain. Or am I taking too much credit? As regular readers know, I attend football games in the new Kraft Stadium near Ramot to cheer for the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions.  The first time I needed to use the WC, 00 aka Public Toilet, there I discovered that there was just one open, for the men. Now I don't mind going to "mixed facilities," like in the First Station, but when there are urinals, they are obviously MEN ONLY.

After a sympathetic ref made sure it was clear of men, a few women took over guarding it, so we could all have a turn. The men who needed graciously volunteered to "use the wall" in the back. I sent a message of complaint about the lack of a "ladies room" to IFL officials, and asked others to do the same. Besides the female spectators, there are female referees, physiotherapists and photographers at the games on official business.

So, at the next game, with great trepidation I approached the little WC building and discovered that they had unlocked the door to the room on far left, also. The lights were on, and it looked large and impressive. OK, there wasn't any toilet paper, nor did I notice soap, but the locks seemed to work as did the water faucets. As I've said before, it is important to always come prepared.

There also weren't any signs on the door indicating male, female...

But I did discover that if you find the official with the key, there's a handicapped toilet there, too, for those in need.

One-Sided Jerusalem Big Blue Lions Win Over Beersheva

Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions entering the field, Kraft Family Stadium, last night before the game.

We knew that the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions, reigning National IFL Champions had an excellent chance to beat the Beersheva Black Swarm, but we didn't think Beersheva would end up scoreless.

קבוצה Team נצ' הפ' תיקו % נקודות ספיגהאריות ירושלים   
Jerusalem Lions 4 0 100% 160 52
מורדי יהודה Judean Rebels 3 1 75% 116 110
פתח תקוה טרופרס Petah Tikva Troopers 2 2 50% 144 149
חיפה אנדרדוגס Haifa Underdogs 2 2 50% 37 63
כסופי הגב מזכרת בתיה Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks 1 3 25% 42 56
הנחיל השחור באר שבע Beersheva Black Swarm 1 3 25% 84 141
חלוצי תל אביב Tel Aviv Pioneers 1 3 25% 110 122

I've been watching the games for about ten years, and there has been great improvement in the Lions, especially their offense and what I'll call endurance or motivation. They play hard all four quarters, even when losing. The problem is when confronted with too many weak teams. And it looks like there are few teams which can really challenge Big Blue.

Here are a few short videos I took last night at the game:












Join us cheering the best American Football Team in Israel, Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions!

Chanukah Bowl Win for the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions!

After a busy Thursday cooking and cleaning at home, then lighting the Chanukiyah, Chanukah Menorah, for the third "day" of Chanukah, I went to Jerusalem to watch, and cheer the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions, at the Chanukah Bowl.

It's an IFL tradition that those two strong Jerusalem teams, reigning national champions, the Lions, and former champs, the Rebels, play each other on Chanukah. There is a powerful rivalry between the two teams, especially because the players come from the same neighborhoods in many cases. In the decade of American Tackle Football in Israel, these two teams are both considered among the "best" in the league.

That was clear throughout the game, which was a nail-biter almost to the end. In the fourth quarter, again, the Lions showed its superior staying power and pulled well ahead to win  32-44. The Lions, bli eyin haraa, have been thriving under its young coach who's in his third year now. The team consists of some of the league's most veteran players, such as Binyamin Schultz, plus much newer ones. One of the new ones, Moshe Shear, had davka previously played for the Rebels, which lent a special energy to his playing and explained the strange green sleeves sticking out from his borrowed Lions uniform top.

As fans and Jerusalemites are getting used to the new Kraft Stadium, near the Ramot Junction, more people are showing up both to cheer and out of curiosity. There still isn't the great "carnival" atmosphere, which we enjoyed at the old Kraft Stadium, but more on that in another post.



Shabbat Shalom and enjoy the rest of Chanukah. The next game is 23/12/17, 8pm.

A Second Win for Jerusalem Big Blue Lions

It was cold at the new Kraft Stadium outside of Ramot, Jerusalem, so I took almost no pictures last night.

From the very minutes of the game, Jerusalem Big Blue Lions were ahead, and as hard as Haifa Underdogs tried, they just couldn't score. That is except for when their player, stubbornly still holding the ball, was pushed over the Lions' line and the touchdown went to Jerusalem.

The final score was 37-0, but the game was closer than the score shows.

Gd willing this season will continue well for the Lions, and there will be another championship!

The Jerusalem BB Lions Warmup for 2017-18 Season

Last night was the preseason game between the defending champs, the Jerusalem Big Blue Lions and their perennial rival, the Judean Rebels. It was a nailbiter of a game during most of it. In the fourth quarter, it looked like the Rebels had it nailed, but then the Lions clawed back to tie just seconds before official time was over.

Since it was a preseason game, the tie remained, and they didn't go into overtime.

The game took place in the new Kraft Stadium, which is part of a large sports complex, multiple fields, that Robert Kraft has donated to the Jerusalem Municipality. More on that in a later post, Gd willing.

Here are a few pictures. Click here for the schedule of the 2017-18 season, so you can join us to cheer. Yaala BIG BLUE!

More Photos From ISRAEL BOWL X, Movie-Finish Game

Israel isn't one of the Tackle Football powerhouses, and the truth is that most Israelis haven't a clue about the game. Soccer and basketball get the crowds, headlines and professional budgets. But for the past few decades various versions of American football have slowly gained a following here in Israel from north to south.

If I'm not mistaken, a few decades ago Steve Liebowitz (of IBA fame) got the ball rolling with Touch Football using his persuasive powers to convince old football-loving friends here and abroad to sponsor teams. As we know some of those pioneering sponsors, we'd get a real kick out of reading the results which at times almost sounded like a loving couple was having problems, and good friends were in serious competition.

After a while, there were youth/high school teams, women's teams and instead of touch football they played something called Flag Football. Then, finally ten years ago, the genuine article, Tackle Football came to Israel.

Barry Liben of New York, who has probably sponsored a team in everyone of Steve's football leagues, proudly supported "אריות ירושלים" Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions which won the very first ISRAEL BOWL championships. And then it took until this year, after a nail-biting season, for another victory.

Here are some photos I took at that championship game:

There was a wonderful "carnival" atmosphere at the game, held in Petach Tikvah, which had been missing, since official games could no longer be at the old Kraft Stadium. We're all looking forward to the new Kraft Stadium. And Gd willing the Lions will be victorious next year, too.