A Jewish Grandmother: Original, unedited daily musings, and host to the monthly Kosher Cooking Carnival. **Copyright(C)BatyaMedad ** For permission to use these in publications of any sort, please contact me directly. Private accredited distribution encouraged. Thank you.
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.
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.
Jerusalem Big Blue Lion played the Petach Tikva team and won. The game was close. Both are among the top teams of the league. The field was the special American Football field in the new Kraft Family Sports Campus that Robert Kraft funded for the Jerusalem Municipality.
Photo by Ruti Eastman
JBB Lions were the home team and decided to go to the far side leaving the visitors the very narrow sidelines where the fans tried to watch. It was disappointing for us fans not being close to the players, but the Lions coach made the right decision. It's just too crowded where we were. We were all tripping over the equipment, bags and players from the visiting team. And of course they were also blocking our view. It was OK for the fans sitting on the top row, but I like to walk, watch and cheer simultaneously. I'm not an expert in artificial turf, the fake grass which is now used in most sports fields, but as a walker, I loved it. Even after a long day, it was easy on the feet and made walking very enjoyable.
I'm not an expert in football and barely know the rules, but my guess, also from the results in last night's game, is that the top four teams of last year will give each other real competition. None seem to be far superior to the others.
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!
Last night was a "simple" victory for the Lions which didn't need a movie-like miracle finish. We were simply the better team all around.
Besides having the very best young Israeli-born coach in the business, our defense barely let them move forward, and our offense has been improving, B"H, bli eyin haraa. 52:9 against the Ramat Hasharon Hammers is as one-sided a score as you can get besides a shutout.
Very slowly more and more fans have been starting to come to the Mishor Adumim field, where games are played now instead of Kraft Stadium. It will never have the homey festival feel we remember so fondly from the days when all of the Jerusalem area games were in Kraft, but mid-way through the second season here, we are starting to adjust. Instead of sizzling meat, soda and beer on sale by the sidelines, hungry fans have to hike to the nearby Super Sol for nosherei and drinks or bring their own. The worst thing about the Mishor Adumim field is that there is no easy way to come and go by public transportation, and it's even too far to walk from Maale Adumim.
Tom Brady (right) with Robert Kraft (center) and
IFL/AFI founder Steve Liebowitz (left) in
Jerusalem (Photo: David Tuttle) ynetnews
We're looking forward to that, and I personally hope there will be decent public transportation. Recently, I've been getting to the Mishor field with a Lions player who comes from Ariel and picks me up at the Shiloh gate. And then my son drops me off at the "cityline" where I catch tremps, rides home.
Let it be a healthy injury free season for all, and those injured should have a refuah shleimah, speedy and complete recovery for those in need.
