Tamir Goodman
Encyclopedia
Tamir Goodman dubbed by Sports Illustrated
magazine as the "Jewish Jordan
", is a retired Orthodox Jewish basketball
player.
. He earned recognition in Sports Illustrated and was interviewed by ESPN
, 60 Minutes
and Fox
Sports. In 11th grade, he was ranked the 25th-best high school player in the country. He was dubbed the "Jewish Jordan", nicknamed JJ, a title he said he has been trying to downplay ever since.
Goodman received a scholarship to the University of Maryland
, which had one of the top-ranked basketball teams in the country. He said that the news of his plans to go to Maryland attracted over 700 media requests that week. The team's schedule of practices and games meant having to play on Friday nights and Saturdays, against the rules of Orthodox Judaism, so he declined Maryland's offer.
Goodman then accepted a scholarship
from nearby Towson University
. After averaging 6 points, 4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game in his freshman year in 2000–2001, Goodman continued at Towson for his sophomore campaign until December 2001, when he filed a complaint about his coach and left the team.
Goodman then fulfilled a dream of his by moving to Israel and signing a 3-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv on July 22, 2002. To get more playing time, he was loaned to Giv'at Shmuel
for the 2002–03 season, but he never got the playing time he expected, failing to meet the high expectations fans had for him. He then played in a lower league for Elitzur Kiryat Ata
in the 2003–04 season.
Goodman went on to serve in the Israeli Defense Force, a requirement for all Israel
i citizens. He suffered a knee injury that required surgery. After nine months of physical therapy, he went back to Giva't Shmuel to fulfill his contract for the 2005–06 season. He averaged just under seven minutes a game.
Goodman then dropped down to Liga Leumit
to play for Maccabi Shoham. In his first two games, he played more than 20 minutes and scored close to 20 points a game. But in December 2006, Goodman's left knee gave out again and his doctors ordered him to undergo weeks of physical therapy. He did not get to play again until March 2007. In late 2007, Goodman moved back to Maryland to play for the Maryland Nighthawks
of the newly formed Premier Basketball League
(the league began play in January 2008). In his first game he broke his finger and that was his last game with the Nighthawks.
In July 2008, Goodman signed with Maccabi Haifa
.
On September 16, 2009 Goodman announced at a press conference that he is retiring from playing basketball. He is devoting his time to the Haifa Hoops For Kids program, which raises money to help disadvantaged children in Israel attend basketball games.
Goodman is currently the coach of the boys junior varsity and girls basketball teams at The Agnon School, a Jewish day school in Beachwood, Ohio
. He also holds several clinics at the school. He is a speaker at Jewish day schools, around America, motivating Jewish students to try their best to fulfill their dreams, but also remain steadfast to their religion.Goodman is featured in The First Basket, a movie about the significance of Jewish basketball players throughout its history.
Goodman is married and the father of four.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine as the "Jewish Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
", is a retired Orthodox Jewish basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Biography
Goodman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, in an Orthodox Jewish family with six brothers and two sisters. He began playing basketball at five years of age, but he first garnered national attention as a junior in high school, averaging 35.4 points per game for the Talmudical Academy of BaltimoreTalmudical Academy of Baltimore
The Talmudical Academy of Baltimore ,otherwise known as T.A., is a middle-of-the-road Orthodox Jewish K-12 school founded in 1917...
. He earned recognition in Sports Illustrated and was interviewed by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
and Fox
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
Sports. In 11th grade, he was ranked the 25th-best high school player in the country. He was dubbed the "Jewish Jordan", nicknamed JJ, a title he said he has been trying to downplay ever since.
Goodman received a scholarship to the University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
, which had one of the top-ranked basketball teams in the country. He said that the news of his plans to go to Maryland attracted over 700 media requests that week. The team's schedule of practices and games meant having to play on Friday nights and Saturdays, against the rules of Orthodox Judaism, so he declined Maryland's offer.
Goodman then accepted a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
from nearby Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
. After averaging 6 points, 4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game in his freshman year in 2000–2001, Goodman continued at Towson for his sophomore campaign until December 2001, when he filed a complaint about his coach and left the team.
Goodman then fulfilled a dream of his by moving to Israel and signing a 3-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv on July 22, 2002. To get more playing time, he was loaned to Giv'at Shmuel
Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel
Habik'a Basketball Club is a basketball club originally from Giv'at Shmuel in Israel. The club plays in Ligat HaAl, the First division of Israeli basketball....
for the 2002–03 season, but he never got the playing time he expected, failing to meet the high expectations fans had for him. He then played in a lower league for Elitzur Kiryat Ata
Elitzur Kiryat Ata
Elitzur Kiryat Ata is a basketball club based in Kiryat Ata in Israel. The club play in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball, having been promoted from Liga Leumit at the end of the 2007-08 season....
in the 2003–04 season.
Goodman went on to serve in the Israeli Defense Force, a requirement for all Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i citizens. He suffered a knee injury that required surgery. After nine months of physical therapy, he went back to Giva't Shmuel to fulfill his contract for the 2005–06 season. He averaged just under seven minutes a game.
Goodman then dropped down to Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit (basketball)
Liga Leumit is the second tier of league basketball competition in Israel, below the Israeli Basketball Super League.-League system:The league contains 14 clubs that compete in a home-and-away round-robin. At the end of the season, the top eight clubs advance to the play-offs. The first round is...
to play for Maccabi Shoham. In his first two games, he played more than 20 minutes and scored close to 20 points a game. But in December 2006, Goodman's left knee gave out again and his doctors ordered him to undergo weeks of physical therapy. He did not get to play again until March 2007. In late 2007, Goodman moved back to Maryland to play for the Maryland Nighthawks
Maryland Nighthawks
The Washington GreenHawks were a team of the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League based in Washington, D.C.. As the Maryland Nighthawks they were formerly part of the American Basketball Association and a founding member of the Premier Basketball League , in which they later played as...
of the newly formed Premier Basketball League
Premier Basketball League
The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States...
(the league began play in January 2008). In his first game he broke his finger and that was his last game with the Nighthawks.
In July 2008, Goodman signed with Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa B.C.
Maccabi Haifa Basketball Club is a professional Israeli basketball club that belongs to the Maccabi Haifa association. After a 10-year absence, the team returned to the top division in 2008–09.-History:...
.
On September 16, 2009 Goodman announced at a press conference that he is retiring from playing basketball. He is devoting his time to the Haifa Hoops For Kids program, which raises money to help disadvantaged children in Israel attend basketball games.
Goodman is currently the coach of the boys junior varsity and girls basketball teams at The Agnon School, a Jewish day school in Beachwood, Ohio
Beachwood, Ohio
-External links:* *...
. He also holds several clinics at the school. He is a speaker at Jewish day schools, around America, motivating Jewish students to try their best to fulfill their dreams, but also remain steadfast to their religion.Goodman is featured in The First Basket, a movie about the significance of Jewish basketball players throughout its history.
Goodman is married and the father of four.