Need I remind you these Olympics were the first of its kind in the manner of how you could tune in..

There was the NHL Free Agent contracts carousel that bordered cruise line luxury package vacation on the insane. We closed the curtains on the NBA�s Dwightmare Drama with Orlando center, Dwight Howard , traded to Hollywood and the LA Lakers, in a four-team blockbuster trade worthy of a movie in its own right. And, of course, we had the Olympics and its own once-in-four-years production.
The Olympics, as many are already aware, is the worldwide sporting event where athletes cruise line luxury package vacation from various nations around the world compete in what is supposed to be a harmonious environment. Of course, there always seems to be a hiccup or two along the way.
This year�s Games were no exception, as the Lebanese Judo team refused to practice within viewing distance of their Israeli counterparts. Many had hoped for a meeting between the two Judokas to settle the score, cruise line luxury package vacation but, alas, that wasn�t meant to be.
Additionally, USA gymnast Alexandra (Aly) Raisman garnered much praise and support for her musical choice during her floor-exercise routines, when it was discovered cruise line luxury package vacation that she picked the �Hava Nagila� tune as her own way of honoring the fallen Israeli coach and athletes who were murdered during the 1972 Munich Games.
To paraphrase the adage, �If you can�t beat them at their own game, then start your own,� Jewish athletes predominantly take part in the Olympic-like Maccabi Games, held every four years in Israel, since the Games� inception cruise line luxury package vacation in 1932.
Through Raisman helping the United States to its first gymnastics team-Gold since 1996, performing her floor exercise to the �Hora,� and Lezak�s spirited finish in the 4X400 meter swim at Beijing in 2008 that helped teammate cruise line luxury package vacation Michael Phelps become the winningest Olympian at a single Games, these two showed that Jewish athletes can hang tough with the best of the world.
In a recent statement that was mostly missed by many media outlets caught up in the Olympics hoopla, cruise line luxury package vacation Maccabi USA (MUSA) announced that former NHL player, Mathieu Schneider , will serve as Director of MUSA�s Ice Hockey team for the 19th Maccabi Games, to be held next July in Israel.
During his pro career, Schneider won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993, played in 1,289 games, netted 233 goals and totaled 743 points. The native New Yorker is the All-Time leading Jewish scorer in NHL history, and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports cruise line luxury package vacation Hall of Fame in 2000.
After retiring from playing in 2010, Matty Ice continued his long involvement with the Players Association when he accepted a position as special assistant to NHL Players Association Executive cruise line luxury package vacation Director, Donald Fehr , and is now deeply involved in the labor talks between the NHLPA and the NHL Owners. Schneider will bring his extensive experience to MUSA, where he�ll oversee all aspects of its ice hockey program for the upcoming Maccabi Games.
�I'm thrilled to be involved with Maccabi USA and working on this exciting project, enthused a cheery Schneider. My experiences representing the United States cruise line luxury package vacation in international competition have been among the highlights of my career.
The two-time US Olympian (1998, 2006), cruise line luxury package vacation Schneider, cruise line luxury package vacation also represented Uncle Sam as a member of the Junior and Senior National Teams, and is a sure-bet to bring leadership cruise line luxury package vacation to MUSA�s ice hockey division, where he�ll aid in the recruitment of players and coaches, as well as serve as its ice hockey spokesperson. Matt will be assisted in his roles by an advisory cruise line luxury package vacation board made up of current and former professional players, and others with strong hockey ties.
�As a Stanley Cup Champion and Olympian who had a distinguished career in the NHL, Mathieu brings knowledge, experience and excitement to the USA�s World Maccabi Games Ice Hockey program, exclaimed Jeff Bukantz , Chairman, USA World Maccabi Games Organizing Committee.
You would rather not tune into something cruise line luxury package vacation as compelling as watching a double-amputee race alongside able-legged counterparts because of the constant-possibility-for-steroid-use cloud hanging over many athletes' head this day and age?
Need I remind you these Olympics were the first of its kind in the manner of how you could tune in...? You didn't need to physically turn on a television to watch. You could have done so via other avenues, watch the specific sport live, and, oh, that's right, commercial free too!
Yes, I will allow the political simmering was a bit much, but don't forget what it says in Tanya, Zeh l'umas zeh, asah Elokim for everything on one side of the fence, there is something to counter it. For every Jacques Rogge there is a Bob Costas.
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