Jewish NFL fan rejoices as Greg Joseph kicks his way to new home, Oy, and what a rough season for the Chicago White Sox
As the 2024 season gets underway, the Jewish NFL fanbase has finally found a glimmer of hope in kicker Greg Joseph, who made a splash with the New York Giants last week. Joseph, who just missed making the Green Bay Packers’ roster, joined the Giants ahead of last week’s game, after Giants kicker Graham Gano was injured. While missing a 48-yarder, Joseph redeemed himself the next night, making all five of his field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder, to account for all of the Giants’ points.
However, despite Joseph’s strong night, the Giants suffered a heartbreaking 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Joseph himself remains unfazed, attributing the loss to the team’s overall performance. "Most important is the team winning, which we didn’t do tonight," he said. "One kick doesn’t define me. It never will. Head up, onto the next one, short memory."
Not all teams, however, could say the same. Take the Chicago White Sox, for instance, who are on the brink of setting a new-mark for futility, having lost 119 games so far this season. The season, which has been tough for the Jewish community, is a repeat of the 1962 record set by the Los Angeles Angels. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a record that has stood for over five decades.
For Jewish fans of the White Sox, it’s been an excruciating experience. "It’s been a very tough year for the Jewish people," says Rabbi Jeremy Fine, leader of Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield, Illinois. "Having a great baseball season or anything to look forward to would have been a welcome distraction from the more serious news about the Israel-Hamas war and anti-Semitic incidents."
For Jason Loeb, a fifth-generation South Sider, the White Sox’s struggles have taken a toll on his sense of hope for the future. "I’m more hopeful for Jews worldwide than I am for the White Sox," he sighed. "If I had to take a lifetime more of 30-132 seasons from the White Sox, or what Jews have experienced, I’ll take the White Sox being bad for the rest of my lifetime for things to be better for Jews."
As we explore the experience of rooting for the worst team in modern baseball history, and what Judaism has to say about such suffering, check out our special report.
In other news, a new book tells the incredible story of Estee Ackerman, a Modern Orthodox woman who became a ping-pong champion and was dubbed "the Sandy Koufax of ping-pong" for her decision to forfeit a match on Shabbat. And, Alex Bregman, the Houston Astros star, is expected to be a hot commodity on the free agent market after this season.
Off the field, it’s been a struggle for Jewish PGA star Max Homa, who parted ways with his longtime coach this week, saying he needed a break and a chance to work on his game himself.
And, catch up with Colton Gordon, a Team Israel alum and minor league pitcher who’s been dominating in Triple A.
Catch up on all the action this weekend, as the MLB regular season wraps up, and see which Jewish players are in the hunt for a playoff spot.
