The Jewish Jordan's Triple Threat: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Lessons from the Court

By Tamir Goodman and Judy Horwitz Goodman

Reminiscent of Phil Jackson’s SACRED HOOPS, Tamir Goodman’s Triple Threat explores physical, mental, and spiritual lessons, on and off the court.

Tamir Goodman was dubbed “The Jewish Jordan” by SPORTS ILLUSTRATED  for the unorthodox combination of basketball prowess and devout faith that he brought with him onto the court as a top-ranked high school recruit, D-I and professional basketball player. Goodman’s book features practical basketball training tips, strategies to contend with the mental side of the game, and game-like scenarios to demonstrate how this advice will pay off on the court.

The book also takes readers on a fascinating journey through Goodman’s career, a highlight of which includes Goodman making history as the first Jewish player to play D-I and professional basketball while wearing a yarmulke and refraining from playing on the Jewish Sabbath.

By weaving the hands-on advice with the intriguing personal stories, Goodman examines the basketball fundamentals of shooting, ball-handling and passing from the physical, mental and spiritual perspectives and assigns each of these moves a deeper meaning. Goodman uses examples from his career to make the point that adding an individualized spiritual element to physical and mental training can help athletes take their game to the next level, while also helping them to identify and achieve meaningful success on the court and in life.

"The nickname 'Jewish Jordan' might roll off the tongue, but Tamir Goodman's journey to realize his basketball dreams was no breeze. I thoroughly enjoyed reliving all the twists and turns through HIS eyes—one of the finest sportsmen and ambassadors that our people have ever known – in this captivating book."
—Marc Stein, ESPN NBA Reporter

"… an inspiring book with expert basketball advice that is great for players of all levels."
—Omri Casspi, Small Forward for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers

“… a fascinating look at one man's talents on the court, in his soul, and with an ultimate higher purpose. This book is for anyone interested in the skills of serious sportsmanship and the nuances of living an integrated and rich religious life. Tamir takes the concept of athleticism as a meaningful pursuit to the highest and most profound level. What a wonderful, joyful and superbly elegant exploration into the worlds of sports, religion, and life's purpose.”
—Mayim Bialik, Ph.D., CLEC, Actress—The Big Bang Theory

"As a DC area native, I have crystal clear memories of the Jewish Jordan phenomena and the national attention his story created. While he was obviously an exceptional basketball player, it was his unparalleled commitment to his faith that made him so impressive. This book is a refreshing look at what it takes to be successful on and off the court. It is a must read for all players and coaches. I couldn't put it down."
—Alan Stein, Professional Basketball Strength & Conditioning Coach

"I have had the honor and privilege of watching Tamir Goodman conduct a basketball camp for children, so I have seen him put these words into action. For all the wonderful advice included in Triple Threat, it is his combined love affair with basketball and Judaism, and his spiritual devotion to both that stands out for me. His playing career was far too short, but his passion for his game—and his God—endures.''
—Mary Schmitt Boyer, sportswriter and President of the Professional Basketball Writers Association

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diversion Books
• Release date: Mar 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626810105

Book preview

The Jewish Jordan's Triple Threat

The Jewish Jordan's Triple Threat

Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Lessons from the Court

Tamir Goodman

and Judy Horwitz Goodman

Copyright

Diversion Books

A Division of Diversion Publishing Corp.

443 Park Avenue South, Suite 1004

New York, New York 10016

www.DiversionBooks.com

Copyright © 2013 by Tamir Goodman and Judy Horwitz Goodman

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For more information, email [e-mail].

First Diversion Books edition March 2013.

ISBN: 978-1-62681-010-5

Dedication

Dedicated with endless love, gratitude, and appreciation to our parents Chava Goodman, Leah Meyer, and Chaim Horwitz.

&

In loving memory of Kalman Chaim Ish Tov Goodman, for everything.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pre-Game Talk with Tamir

Chapter 1: Shooting//Preparation

1.1: One on One with Tamir: The Early Years

1.2: Physical and Mental Keys to the Game

1.3: Above the Rim: A Spiritual Lesson from Preparation: Defeating the Odds

Chapter 2: Ball-Handling//Focus

2.1: One on One with Tamir: High School Days

2.2: Physical and Mental Keys to the Game

2.3: Above the Rim: A Spiritual Lesson from Focus: Rising Above with 100 Percent Effort

Chapter 3: Passing//Awareness

3.1: One on One with Tamir: On Campus

3.2: Physical and Mental Keys to the Game

3.3: Above the Rim: A Spiritual Lesson from Awareness: Give and Go

Post-Game Roundup with Tamir

Tamir’s Tips

Off-Season Workout

Pre-Game Talk with Tamir

My passion for basketball dates back as far as my earliest memories. I was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in Baltimore, Maryland. As a little kid, I began watching my older brothers play basketball. Before long, it became obvious that my enthusiasm for the game far surpassed theirs. By the age of five, it is fair to say that I had fallen head over heels in love with the game.

Throughout my childhood, basketball permeated every component of my life—I woke up thinking about basketball, insisted on wearing only basketball clothes to school, played basketball every chance I had, watched basketball on TV, and then went to sleep thinking about basketball. As I matured, my passion for the game never wavered and I began spending countless hours on the court developing my skills.

In high school my career took off. In 1999, during my junior year, I was ranked among the top 25 high school basketball players in America and was dubbed the Jewish Jordan by the media. The following year, I was the recipient of the MVP award in the prestigious Capitol Classic All-Star Game. As a high school recruit, I turned down an athletic scholarship offer to play for then college powerhouse team, the University of Maryland Terrapins, due to scheduling conflicts with the Jewish Sabbath.

I opted instead to play Division I college ball at Towson University, which managed to modify their practice and game schedule to accommodate my observance. After playing two seasons of college ball, I signed a professional contract to play for a top team in the Euroleague, Maccabi Tel Aviv. I went on to play six seasons for various professional clubs before retiring from playing in 2009 after suffering multiple serious injuries.

It was not my skills on the court alone that catapulted my story to the headlines of The New York Times and The Washington Post, the pages of Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and People magazines, and to feature reports on news stations like CNN and Fox. What captivated both the media and the public was the apparent dichotomy between my big time basketball aspirations and my open display of spirituality, demonstrated by my religious practice, which I brought with me onto the court.

As my career began to progress, people told me that as an observant Jew, my goal of playing at the collegiate and professional levels was unrealistic. Considerable scheduling conflicts with both the Jewish holidays and the Sabbath were just the first of many barriers that made reaching the top levels of the game seem impossible. But because I never viewed my relationship with God as a burden that would limit my potential, I remained determined to chase after my dream.

Throughout the ups and downs of my career, I maintained my staunch belief that my spirituality gave me an edge as an athlete, and would ultimately help me reach my potential as a complete player. Traditionally, in basketball, the complete player is adept on both offense and defense while also possessing an upbeat attitude and leadership qualities that positively influence the entire team. This all-around player is also equipped with the skills necessary to handle the many physical and mental challenges that invariably come with the game. I learned firsthand that the repertoire of physical and mental skills a complete player must possess, and which are imperative for success on the court, are maximized when spirituality is added to the mix.

The widespread media attention mostly focused on my overt religious practice, namely the kippah (yarmulke) that I wore on my head at all times, including while I was on the court, and my refusal to play basketball on the Sabbath and any Jewish holidays. What was largely overlooked, though, was that my spirituality converged with basketball to such an extent that it actually shaped my entire view of the game; it put me in a position where I looked at the physical game on a deeper level, intent to discover sparks of meaning and holiness in each shot, dribble, and pass.

Ultimately, my relationship with God gave me a higher purpose for playing basketball which fueled my desire to excel and succeed on the court, along with the drive to tirelessly pursue my dream. When I eventually made history at the Division I collegiate and professional levels as the first Jewish basketball player to faithfully wear a kippah on the court and to refrain from playing in any game that fell on the Sabbath or a Jewish holiday, I demonstrated that sport and the practice of spirituality do not have to be at odds after all.

In this book, I convey some hard-earned physical, mental, and spiritual lessons by examining the basketball basics of shooting, ball-handling, and passing on a deeper level where shooting represents preparation, ball-handling represents focus, and passing represents awareness. In my career, the physical tips and mental