SEASON PRECAP

It is crazy to think that one year ago Jewball started off on a new journey. We called it the Succession. Jordan went off to the holy land and I was left babysitting all of you cry babies….just kidding. But with Jordan not being here on a regular basis, it was on all of us to truly bridge the gap from past to future. To make this transition as seamless as possible. And BH We did exactly that. That is not to say there haven’t been challenges.. of course there have been but we have braved every storm (literally) in a way that only Jewball knows how to do and that’s with perseverance, energy, and absolute in both mentality. It’s not just a love of the game of football. It’s a love for the people in this group and the strength of those bonds that keeps Jewball running like a machine. It’s time to finally wake up from months of nothing and say IN to everything Jewball has to offer.

Speaking of challenges…I am cognizant of the date while I’m writing this. Three years ago today has no words to describe it. It was a gut punch to everyone and it was months and years of pain and agony for our brothers and sisters everywhere. But I think like many of us we became more proud and more emboldened to say I’m a jew. I believe Rabin came up with the name Jewball 20 something years ago, but wearing my JEWball sweatshirt and shirts around made me feel somehow more special. It’s who we are and it’s our identity. Whether it was Jordan arranging for bbqs for soldiers or yakir raising money for boots for soldiers or old time jewballers like joey (I forgot his jewball name) reaching out to raise money. Jewball stepped up in our own way and that deserves some reflection. To be cliche but it’s in the darkest moments that you can see the light. But that’s what we always have done. I’m not sure the dark moments are over but at least we can be a small Island of hope and positive energy in this world.  It starts with football but it certainly does not end there.

8 years ago I got a text from a spicy fellow who asked- “hey sholom (no clue who that is) wanna play in this thing called Jewball”? Next thing I know I’m standing in Gries park with a handful of Jewballers and 193ers. Some kid named De’Ante asked me my name and I hesitated, do I say sholom or prager. I was pringle. That was it. Whether I showed up for any more games or not I would forever be Pringle. But to me that was the hook. A group of guys who had a love for the game of football as much as I did but could have a good time both on and off the field. Guys who cared for each other no matter what. Of course the name has changed a bunch over the last 8 years, to its current FGD iteration, but the Jewball world has not. It has grown into something that Rabin and Jordan and the Oracle could never have ever imagined. Even if you take away every other amazing thing this group does, we are the pinnacle of football and that’s not going to change as long we keep our foot on the gas. So hit that sign up button every week. Make sure that you’re starting your season off on the right foot. It was a long summer but now is the time to shake off the rust and get back into it. Rookies, we were all there once. I promise if you show up week in and week out and go to work, you will be guaranteed to have the best moments and memories of your lives. You’ve only just dipped your toe into the jewball pool…. go full cannonball you will not regret it. The bonds and brother hood we form here don’t break once you’re off the field or chat. You can be anywhere in the world, literally, and meet a fellow jewballer and instant connection. It could be someone you’ve never met or played with and immediately you’re talking about games or events that occurred on this island that we get to be a part of.

So whether you’re a rook or a vet, week 1 is finally here. The only hard part is starting correctly. Say in both to football and bowl games, say in both to the extra curriculars we have, but most of all- say in both to jewball.

We got draft night tomorrow night to see who will win leagues because if you win the draft then well…. Let’s get this season started off with a bang.

Who wants Week 1. IJWT. Huh? eh lol