'Jewish Jordan' inspires faith in youth

'Jewish Jordan' inspires faith in youth

The man Sports Illustrated once dubbed the "Jewish Jordan" is not easily forgotten.
Nearly a decade after making headlines for becoming to the first Orthodox Jew to play Division I basketball, Tamir Goodman returned to the area after playing professionally in Israel and now plays for the Maryland Nighthawks.

The Nighthawks are a member of the Premier Basketball League, a minor league basketball organization.

This summer, Goodman plans to start a basketball camp in Baltimore designed to help bring together the Jewish and black communities.

"God blesses some people to become doctors or lawyers or dentists; he just blessed me with the talent to play basketball," he said. "The important thing is to use your talents to help others as much as you can."

But Goodman is still remembered in College Park for his decision to walk away from a full scholarship on the Maryland team when he realized playing for the Terps would require him to break the Sabbath.

In January 1999, Coach Gary Williams recruited Goodman, who averaged 38.8 points per game as a junior while playing hoops for the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. But before the season started, Goodman and team officials were unable to reach an agreement that allowed Goodman to sit out on games played on Sabbath.

"I have nothing against the University of Maryland," said Goodman, 28. "I'm a huge Terps fan, especially of Coach Williams, and always will be. It just wasn't the right fit."

Goodman transferred to Towson University where Coach Mike Jaskulski allowed him to miss games for the Sabbath. He averaged six points per game in his freshman season with the Towson Tigers. Coach Jaskulski, however, was fired at the end of the year and was replaced by Michael Hunt. Goodman did not get along with the new coach and left the university.

Years later, Goodman insists on downplaying the conflict between honoring the Sabbath and playing to his full ability.

"To me, religion and basketball are all one thing," he said. "My formula in life is to do everything how God would want me to."

Goodman wears a yarmulke and tzitzit, the four-cornered garment, while he plays. The tzitzit, worn under Goodman's jersey, have tassels with 613 knots and represent one commandment in the Torah.

But his faith on the court transcends his attire.

"I give everything I have because it's a gift from God and He deserves nothing less," Goodman said.

Goodman regularly appears as a motivational speaker at basketball camps and has started Tamir Goodman Charities, which is a "non-profit organization dedicated to using basketball as a tool to help Israeli victims of war, terrorism, and poverty," according to its website.