Rosh Hashanah: Sports Figures Who Should Take Some Time To Repent

Ari Kramer by Senior Analyst Written on September 18, 2009

Slide 1 of 15

SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: Michael Jordan is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during a ceremony on September 11, 2009 in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Tonight, Jews all over the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Judaism's new year.

As the holiday commences, God, according to tradition, begins inscribing people into His "Book of Life." One who God judges as someone who should live will be etched in, but one who has been immoral without repenting may not be as likely to survive another year.

Jews have a 10-day window between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the final day of judgment, to repent and have their name written in the "Book of Life." On Yom Kippur, the book is sealed until next Rosh Hashanah and the people who didn't get in, according to tradition, perish within the next year.

In this slide show are figures in sports who have done something worth repenting for. Some have already apologized, but the more they repent, the better.

Eric Mangini

GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 15:  Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers during the preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 15, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/G

First he couldn't turn an 8-3 Jets team into a playoff team in 2008. Then he was part of a scheme that did not place Brett Favre on the injured report.

Magnini owes an apology to Jets fans and the Viking organization.

Ricky Rubio

BEIJING - AUGUST 24:  Ricky Rubio #6 of Spain reacts after the United States won 118-107 in the gold medal game during Day 16 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China.  (Photo by Ph

The highly touted Rubio didn't like Minnesota's weather and contract, so he booked a plane ticket back to Spain and eventually signed with FC Barcelona.

The Timberwolves still hold the 18 year-old-point guard's draft rights, but it's pretty much definite that Rubio will never don a T'Wolves jersey.

Juan Uribe

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Juan Uribe of the San Francisco Giants poses during photo day at Scottsdale Stadium on February 23, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by: Harry How/Getty Images)

On July 10, Jonathan Sanchez threw a complete game shutout without allowing a hit or a walk. Yes, that means he threw a no-hitter. No, it does not mean he tossed a perfect game.

Sanchez can thank teammate Juan Uribe for booting a groundball with one out in the eighth inning and ruining his chance of making history.

Kevin Youkilis

BOSTON - AUGUST 23:  Kevin Youkilis #20 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after he struck out against the New York Yankees on August 23, 2009 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

He's the only Jew in this slide show, so if only one of these athletes does repent this week it should be Youkilis.

This Red Sox player is known for his volatile temper. Ask Rick Porcello what he thinks of "Youk" and he'll likely respond, "F***ing a**h***." Youkilis, you shouldn't want a reputation like that, so repent.

Larry Riley

NEW YORK - JUNE 25:  NBA Commissioner David Stern poses for a photograph with the seventh overall draft pick by the Golden State Warriors,  Stephen Curry during the 2009 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 25, 2009 in New York City

Who?

Riley is the Golden State Warrior's GM who drafted Stephen Curry with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Knick fans were in shock. Do you really think it was a coincidence that New York's crime rate went up 50 percent that night? Well, it was not a coincidence but it was because of Larry Riley.

Paul Harris, Eric Devendorf, and Jonny Flynn

NEW YORK - MARCH 13: Eric Devendorf #23 and Paul Harris #11 of the Syracuse Orange react late in the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the semifinal round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 13, 2009 in New York C

These three Orangemen chose to leave Syracuse early for the NBA. You can't blame Flynn, who was selected sixth overall, but Devendorf and Harris should have stayed at 'Cuse.

Devendorf was an academic senior last year, but had one year of college eligibility remaining. Had he stayed another year at Syracuse, he could have improved his draft stock, which was clearly low this June. Devendorf went undrafted.

Harris passed on his senior year and Syracuse degree by bouncing for the NBA. He felt pressure to leave because he needed money for his son, but now he is teamless and degreeless.

Without these three players, the Orange are no longer a contender for the national title, so the trio should send its apologies.

Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, John Maine, J.J. Putz, and Daniel Murphy

NEW YORK - MAY 11:  Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets reacts after commiting an error in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves on May 11, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.  (Photo by Jim McIsa

If the first five names had stayed healthy the whole year, the Mets would be a playoff contender. However, it may not be such a bad thing that these guys have spent the majority of the season on the Disabled List; it put Met fans out of their agony early.

Instead of witnessing a September collapse, Met fans understood their team was done back in June.

Although Daniel Murphy has been healthy, I'm sure the Mets wish he wasn't. Not only is he hitting .262, but he also has lost some games with his glove.

All six players owe their fans an apology for not even providing the hope of a postseason berth.

Jorge Posada and Jesse Carlson

Display_image

Why cause a brawl in a meaningless September blowout? It doesn't matter who the instigator was, it just should not happen.

Even more so than Carlson, Posada owes an apology to his teammates. The last thing the Yankees need now is an injury to a star player.

Jim Rice

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 26:  Jim Rice gives his induction speech at Clark Sports Center after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 26, 2009 in Cooperstown, New York. Rice played his entire

Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez? Acceptable as bad role models.

Derek Jeter? To Jim Rice, he's a bad role model. To the baseball world, that's blasphemy.

Everyone recognizes Jeter as a class-act who gives 150 percent every time he takes the field. Millions of kids look up to him. Heck, plenty of pros look up to him as well.

Rice ought to send Jeter, the game's best role model, an apology.

However, Jeter is not the only person he should ask for forgiveness. Each of the little leaguers he spoke to about this also deserves an apology for being lied to.

Plaxico Burress

LEBANON - JANUARY 14: New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress winks at a supporter as he arrives at the Lebanon County Courthouse January 14, 2009 in Lebanon, Pa.  Burress is scheduled to appear in a civil trial in a dispute with an automobile deale

How could someone be dumb enough to shoot himself in the foot?

Just ask Plaxico Burress. He'll also tell you how great jail is and what happens when you drop your soap.

The New York Giants were the unfortunate owners of Burress' contract, and now they are without one of the best receivers in the NFL.

Derrick Rose

CHICAGO - DECEMBER 17: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls brings the ball upcourt against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 17, 2008 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agreees that, by downloading

Still without a punishment, Derrick Rose cheated on his SAT so he could play at Memphis. Obviously, he was not smart enough to take the test, but he was also too dimwitted to realize that the NCAA would eventually catch him.

The only thing he can do for Memphis, who had to surrender its record-setting 38 wins and Final Four victory from 2008, and Tiger fans is apologize.

Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13:  Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees complains about a call with home plate umpire Marty Foster in the fourth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 13, 2009 in the Bronx borough of Ne

When individual reports broke claiming each of these players used steroids, baseball fans across the country wept because they realized baseball's best are fake.

Kids had looked up to A-Rod, Manny, and Big Papi for years. Now what are they supposed to do?

Michael Jordan

Display_image

I can't explain this as well as Rick Reilly can.

Check out his column: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4477759

(4)
...
Share This  
Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

30 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...
posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

381
reads

30
comments

written on September 18, 2009 Opinion


CBS Sports Official Partner
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.