The Fan: NBA Fools, Sarachek Rules

By Jeremy Chernikoff

Brooklyn is well known for its incredible sports history.  The Brooklyn Dodgers, Ebbetts Field, and Astroland have all contributed to the Borough’s greatness.  While baseball and the Cyclones might be the true symbols that Brooklynites cheerfully bring up in many conversations, Brooklyn has a proud basketball history as well.

This history had one of its proudest moments on February 17, 1963, when a youngster by the name of Michael Jordan chose a wonderful spot to start his life.  More recently, Stephon Marbury of the Phoenix Suns played his high school basketball at Lincoln High, not far from Coney Island.

Unfortunately, I never managed to catch a glimpse of the budding star before he went to play for Georgia Tech, so I settled for the next best thing.  That, as some may have guessed, is Yeshiva League high school basketball.  I’m not going to try and fool anyone.  We all knew back then, as we do now, that none of these guys were going to the N.B.A. (although it couldn’t hurt the Knicks to send over a scout).

Save for the players who continued on the path to playing at the Max Stern Athletic Center for the Yeshiva Macs, the guys in the Yeshiva League found themselves at the end of the road.  That is precisely why I would watch one of their games over an N.B.A. game any day of the week.  You turn on an N.B.A. game and, if you’re lucky enough to catch a moment of playing time in between the commercials, you may see Shaquille O’Neal miss a free throw!  Maybe Kobe Bryant will tackle Reggie Miller again!  Furthermore, during the regular season, it is obvious to even the most casual fan that the players simply don’t care enough to play hard.  While it would take some work to provide evidence for my theory, I have a feeling that I’m not alone in my thoughts.

Yeshiva League basketball is pure excitement.  These guys want to win.  End of story.  No one is thinking of a million dollar contract.  No one is being given a Lexus to go to some university in the Midwest that he may not be able to spell.  The league is known for having strict rules with regards to athletes maintaining proper grades.

The 65-team NCAA basketball tournament every March is perhaps the most exciting time in all of sports.  The Sarachek tournament has many similarities.  Guys playing their final games of their careers, winning shots at the buzzer, controversial calls that send the crowd into an uproar.  Quite simply it is basketball at its finest, the way the game ought to be played.

Hopefully, as in years past, the Yeshiva faithful will pack the gym to cheer on the nation’s finest in Yeshiva basketball.  Whether rooting for an alma mater, schlepping to see your brother’s team from L.A., or keeping up a fine Brooklyn tradition, you’re in for a great show at this year’s tournament.