Jewish Pirates

If you happen to engage me in conversation on September 19, you might be a little confused as to my manner. For instance, instead of saying “Hello,” you may hear me shout, “Avast, me hardy!!” And if I happen to concur with something you’ve said, I might utter, “Aye, ‘tis true!” Why, you might wonder, has your cantor suddenly morphed into Long John Schulmiller? No, I haven’t simply gone mad a few days before Rosh Hashanah. I’ll simply be celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which falls each year on September 19. It’s true that this holiday was started on a whim a dozen years ago by Mark Summers and John Bauer - two racquetball buddies who simply decided that it would be more fun to talk like a pirate one day a year (they chose September 19 because it was an easy day to remember - Mark’s ex-wife’s birthday). Now, this holiday may seem frivolous at best, and downright pointless at worst, but I challenge you to find a more fun way to spend an afternoon than by hollering, “ARRRR!!” at every passerby. And, of course, there’s always a Jewish connection to be found, right? Since the ranks of true swashbuckling pirates aren’t exactly teeming with Jewish heritage (with the possible exception of Jean Lafitte, an 18th century legendary pirate based out of New Orleans who may have descended from crypto-Jews fleeing the Inquisition), we’ll have to rely on the impressive roster of Jewish Pirates, Buccaneers, Raiders and Steelers who have graced the fields of Major League baseball, football and even basketball to inspire us each September 19. The most important Jewish Pirate is, of course, Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg, who played his last couple of seasons in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In fact, by an astonishing coincidence (or was it?), September 19 is not only Talk Like a Pirate Day, but the day on which Hank Greenberg paved the way for Koufax’s legendary action by sitting out a crucial game during a pennant race because it fell on Yom Kippur - September 19, 1934! Of course, there never would have been a World Series to shoot for if it hadn’t been for another Jewish Pirate: Barney Dreyfus. Dreyfus, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the turn of the 20th century, was the renowned

baseball executive who created the World Series (his Pirates lost the first World Series to the Boston Pilgrims in 1903). Not to be outdone, it was a Jew, Sid Gillman, who also first suggested the idea of a Superbowl, to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1963. Football Hall of Famer Sid Gillman was a legendary coach whose use of game film footage and insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes made football into the modern game that it is today. Gillman also happened to give fellow Jewish football legend Al Davis his first professional coaching job. Since then, of course, Davis has gone on to create one of the most successful football franchises in history – The Raiders (you know, the ones in the silver and black with the emblem of a pirate with crossed swords and an eyepatch…) And the Raiders would not have won all those Superbowls without the help of defensive linemen like Jewish four-time All Pro Lyle Alzado, who helped the Raiders tackle their way to victory in 1983. Across the country, two Jewish players were instrumental in the Superbowl championships of the other marauding NFL team – the Pittsburgh Steelers – originally known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. There was Randy Grossman, nicknamed “the Rabbi” by his teammates, a tight end who caught the crucial touchdown pass against Dallas in Superbowl X. And Steve Furness, who played alongside Mean Joe Green as a member of the Steelers infamous “Steel Curtain.” With all this talk of Pirates, Raiders and Steelers, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a few Jewish Buccaneers while I’m at it. Before Larry Brown’s ascent as one of basketball’s best coaches of all time (his recent tenure with the Knicks notwithstanding), he was an instant star as a player in the nascent ABA League, playing for the New Orleans Buccaneers. During the 1967-68 season, he was named MVP of the ABA All-Star game, and was second team All-ABA, and led the Buccaneers to the ABA finals. In 2006, we have Jewish NFL quarterback Jay Feidler, who will hopefully bounce back nicely from last year’s season-ending injuries as the new quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And to finish where we began, in baseball, there’s John Grabow - a successful up-and-coming Jewish pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who last year led all Major League relievers by stranding nearly 90% of inherited runners on base. So now that we’ve paid tribute to a few of our fellow Pirates, Bucs and Raiders, where does this leave us? I think it’s a blessing that such a silly holiday usually falls so close to our most awesome of days. This September 19, why not take advantage of this annual opportunity to engage in a way of speaking that is purely recreational. Then, on Kol Nidre, as we stand together and acknowledge the sacred power of speech, we’ll be able to think back on Talk Like a Pirate Day, and be reminded that our language is a gift – one that we should continually strive to renew as a source of healing and not harm; of blessing and of love. Until then, me mateys I’ll see you on deck!!