Today is Yom Kippur and that means that Jewish people across the globe are fasting. It also means that we took it upon ourselves to list the top Jewish athletes of all time - the top seven are below and then we have other nominations beneath.
Dara Torres
She is the first swimmer from the United States to compete in five Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008. Torres has won twelve Olympic medals (four gold, four silver, four bronze), five of which she won in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She also has a remarkable set of abs.
Corey Pavin
Corey Pavin has a serious mustache - and it’s seriously good looking.. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997. He also wins bonus points for looking like Borat.
Kevin Youkilis
He is commonly referred to as the Greek God of Walks… I call him the Jewish Gold of Free Bases.
Larry Brown
Basketball coach, MVP first ABA all-star game, Olympic gold medalist (1964) and Hall of Famer. Also famous for nearly-killing and then befriending Allen Iverson (who by the way is NOT Jewish) and then helping ruin the Knicks alongside Isiah Thomas (also not Jewish).
Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is a gold medalist wrestler and a WWE champion / multimillionaire. He also looks a tad like Kevin Youkilis sans the gross beard.
Hank Greenberg
AL MVP 1935/1940, Hall of Fame. He hit 58 home runs in 1938, equalling Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 mark, as the most in one season by any player between 1927–when Babe Ruth set a record of 60–and 1961–when Roger Maris surpassed it. He was a five-time All-Star, was twice named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He also has the greatest nickname ever: Hammering Hank.
Mark Spitz
Until Michael Phelps - he had the most dominating athletic performance ever: 7 swims, 7 gold medals and 7 world records. All with a mustache that makes Corey Pavin jealous.
Sandy Koufax
Koufax’s career peaked with a run of six outstanding seasons from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis ended his career at age 30. He was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1963, and won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, when there was only one Cy Young award made for all major league pitchers. His 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in major league history upon his retirement - despite retiring at 30.
Other Nominations:
Ian Kinsler
Kinsler is Jewish, and likes the attention that that generates from the Jewish community. His father was a warden at the state prison on Tucson’s Southeast Side. Kinsler was one of three Jewish players in the 2008 All-Star Game, joining Youkilis and Braun. Kinsler says that “Youkilis will always say something to me on the bases [referring to the fact that they are both Jewish]. ‘Happy Passover,’ he’ll throw something at me.”
Sasha Cohen
2006 U.S. National Champion, 2003 Grand Prix Final Champion, and 2006 Olympic silver medalist. Equally impressive, she appeared in Episode 7 of the second season of Project Runway wherein designers were challenged to design a skating dress for her. Kerri Strug puts her ass to shame.
Jordan Farmar
Sure he played point for UCLA and now for the Lakers - but he looks like he’s ready for his bar mitzvah here:
Bud Selig
Sometimes a dope - but an undeniable winner when it comes to growing MLB. He also is the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers
Marty Schottenheimer
Did you read this far? Just making sure…
Jerry Reinsdorf
Owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls… undeniable jerk on all accounts.
Shawn Green
Won the World Series in Arizona and also defeated the Yankees - that counts for a lot in my book… err… Torah
Jason Marquis
Really great pitcher until the Jewish New Year comes around… which happens to coincide with October.
Anthony Ervin
Won Gold for America in the 50 meter freestyle alongside Gary Hall Jr. Was also the first African American Gold medalist swimmer for America.
Marty Turco
Novelty addition on the site because he is a Jewish goalie in the NHL. Boom goes the dynamite.
Gabe Kapler
Five tool player, World Series champion with the Red Sox and Arnold Schwarzenegger-wannabe:
Brad Ausmus
Houston Astros catcher who got to catch for steroid poster-boys Roger Clemens and Andy Petitte.
Lawrence Frank
Coach of the New Jersey Nets - and while not outstanding, he is the league’s youngest coach
Doug Gottlieb
Played for Oklahoma State and was pretty good (not great) - but has become a great sportscaster and radio host
Al “Bummy” Davis
Winner of best Jewish name ever: AKA “The Brownsville Bum”, controversial lightweight and welterweight star of the 1930s and 1940s with a devastating left hook
Marv Albert
Bizarre sexual preferences aside - he calls a great game and has proven versatile across sports. Again, sexual preferences aside.
Howard Cosell
Put Monday Night Football on the map and had the greatest sports call ever with “DOWN GOES FRAZIER!” Also gives Bob Costas (not Jewish) endless hours of awful jokes… as he thinks he is the best Howard Cosell imitator ever. Did I mention I hate Costas?
Dick Schaap
Hands down - one of the best sports columnists and sports reporters of all time. His son is following in his footsteps (except for E60… Dick would be sad).
Shirley Povich
Outstanding sports writer for the Washington Post.
Neil Ravitz
Jews know their fantasy football.
Marv Levy
General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations for the Buffalo Bills, from 2006-2008. He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes (1973–1977), and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1978–1982) and the Buffalo Bills (1986–1997), coaching the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl games. Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Voted to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Amy Alcott
29 career LPGA wins. Most impressively, three time winner of the Nabisco Dinah Shore Major.
Kerri Strug
Won Gold for America in Atlanta. Then promptly appeared on 90210.
Red Auerbach
7 NBA titles will get you into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame…and the other Hall of Fame too.
Lenny Krayzelburg
World record owner in the 100 meter backstroke with a time of 53.60.
Sage Rosenfels
He has a killer name and, after last week’s ridiculous helicopter jump, he too is the definition of FAIL.
