JEWBALL 2021-2022 SCHEDULE
9/23/21 – DRAFT SUKKOS PARTY BY RABIN
10/3/21 – WEEK 1
10/10/21 – WEEK 2
10/17/21 – WEEK 3
10/24/21 – WEEK 4
10/31/21 – WEEK 5
11/7/21 – WEEK 6
11/14/21 – WEEK 7
11/21/21 – WEEK 8
11/28/21 – WEEK 9
12/5/21 – WEEK 10
12/12/21 – WEEK 11
12/19/21 – WEEK 12
12/26/21 – WEEK 13
1/2/22 – WEEK 14
1/9/22 – WEEK 15
1/16/22 – WEEK 16
1/23/22 – WEEK 17
1/30/22 – WEEK 18
2/6/22 – WEEK 19 – VETS ROOKS
2/13/22 – WEEK 20
2/20/22 – POSTPONED GAME 1
2/27/22 – POSTPONED GAME 2
3/6/22 – LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
3/13/22 – LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Yes it’s really happening. No awards. No stats. Just trees and ballers.

Schedule for tonight:
8pm – you are still home
830 – nerds show up
845 – Daf Yomi taught by Klink prior to smoking
9pm – cool kids show up
930pm – maariv
945pm – Daf with Klink while wrecked
10pm – Salem hits the dance floor
1005 pm – Singer and Munch are shirtless
1030 pm – Steveo and Prime start rapping for 4 hours straight
1047pm – B-sh curses out police
11pm – Dobs offers sexual favors to Kut for just one more burger
1108pm – Gronk shows up with 5 drunk girls. One of them is Laura Curran.
1130 pm – E, B-sh and Beast brawl out over based way to cook a steak
Midnight – Yaron starts crying and confessing everything
12:24 am – MK messages asking if we are still on?
1225 am – we tell him yes
1226 am – Legs messages what time?

I never associated the Jewball season with Passover. Passover is spring. Jewball is winter. We’ve wrapped up around Purim a number of times. This year is different. A combination of League Playoffs pushing us into a post-season era and Passover coming on exceptionally early in the calendar year. And here we are. Recapping the season that was on the doorstep of a holiday that – more than any other – is about storytelling. What is a seder if not a recap of the Exdous. And just as a great seder is meant to make those in attendance feel like they were there (are there), a great recap brings it all flooding back. The moments that made our hearts leap, or broke our spirits, or moved us to scream our lungs out. But there is another connection. Passover reminds us that a great recap is not just for those who are part of the story or even those telling the story. It is just as much about to whom the story is told and to whom the story will be told. In other words, it’s about the continuity of an unbreakable chain.
We recap a season when it comes to an end, but I imagine this season recap being inserted as a link, connecting last year to the year before, and so on, all the way back to the unwritten recaps that flicker and dance in the mind of the Oracle when he drives by a patch of grass with cones set up. But when I imagine this chain, it is not horizontal – in a linear plain from past to present. It runs vertically, from foundation to future. Because each season builds on the last. There is no Silver Age without the Bronze. No Gold without the Silver. And so on and so on, until we reach our current era. We call this era The Revolution, but The Revelation would be just as apt. And I say that we are always building on prior seasons because I feel that it is no coincidence that this era was immediately preceded by The Dark Ages. I can’t explain why that is. Why we needed to suffer through the brink of extinction to arrive at our unprecedented level of success. It just happens to also be a very Passover sentiment. To appreciate a narrative arc where we start with disgrace and degradation – and we end with glory. From shame to salvation.
Hakaras Hatov first. Jewball stands on the shoulders of those who played before us, but this current era is built mainly on the work of Yaron. From the recruiting, to the on field talent, to his chat game, to the jerseys, website, stats, set up, awards, and League – hate on him all you want (seriously, we encourage it), but at the end of the day – Jewball is his world – we are just playing in it. Thank you, Dr. Bron.
It’s rare that I get to recap a season without recapping the final game of the season as well. I mean, I guess I can recap the League Playoffs. I didn’t see the semi of 193 v. Feit Club, but….we all know what happened. UPSET. The winless 4 seed knocked off the best team in the League. How? Why? I don’t care what anyone says – the reason is – Yaron is good. Sting looked like he decided to stop the drops and catch everything. Flash is a game changer. And football. It’s an Any Given Sunday sport. Meanwhile, another “upset” was brewing on Field 2. That would be the 3 seed Birds of Pray beating the 2 seed Ass Men soundly. Ass Men were turning the ball over and could not put up points. Truth is, Ass Men have not had their sh** together in a while. The defense could only hold off the very talented Birds for so long. In the finals, 193 put up a fight, but the Birds were unstoppable on this day. And, honestly, as much as I love every player and every team in this League….the Birds are like the most likeable team ever. Even without Wilmer and Zada there, you just had this squad loaded with talent and personality. Honestly, it’s like a team of Muppets. A bunch of zany Muppets who can dominate you in football. That’s the Birds of Pray. Vegh lead the way with 3 scores and 2 picks taking Finals MVP honors, but Legs was everywhere, Dobs pulls flags like a fiend, PJs is a strategizing savant, Goldberg is the enforcer, Prime is a killer, Salem we will get to, and Pray is the crescendo of this symphony.
Final note on the League is that it was a success. Not perfect. Not beloved by all. But it was a success and it should be back. It was just one of the many surreal aspects of this season that made it the Dream Season. Before we get to that….let’s not forget that we started this week on the turf and then moved to the grass and then almost got thrown off the grass. One phone call from Rabin and games were back on. So, although Bin could not perform on the field this week, he performed spectacularly off of it. Thank you, Rabin. For taking care of us on Sunday. Personally, when I thought my injury was a career ender. And really just for being the guy that connects us all to the roots of this game.
So, the Dream Season. I admit, I’ve been on a bit of what would seem like a marketing binge. Two seasons ago, The Miracle Season, last year the Magical – this year…the Dream. But, Jewball has never been one to self-promote. We entertain ourselves, sure. But we grow organically. The names…just happened. I’m not going to repeat myself – not only because I expressed it better in a prior recap, but also because we all lived it. We all recognize with eyes wide open what a dreamlike experience the past six months have been.
I have said the following many times. If you go back to the earliest of Jewball Chronicles, you will find this idea: Jewball attracts the best people. BUT Jewball can only survive with good football. While, I believe some in our history valued Jewball primarily for the social element, and even questioned when it was too “serious” or “competitive” and called such qualities anti-Jewball….I will always vehemently disagree. And, I’d like to use this season – The Dream Season – to make my point.
When the football is great, everything follows. Again – When the football – the action on the field, the commitment to quality and performance and accomplishments in the physical, visceral realm – is high caliber….everything else falls into place. This was my 21st Season of Jewball. Maybe it was Rabin’s 26th. No one can argue that there was ever a season where more talent showed up for us. I mean, guys! Take a step back for a second. Think about what we are purely in terms of a talent pool. At every position. It’s not even arguable. Is there room to improve?! Of course! And that’s the best part! I guarantee you that there is not one player reading this who doesn’t think they can do better next year than they did this past season. And…I bet they are right. So, although we have never had more talent and our talent has never played better….we are still not at our peak. How f****ing awesome!
I still need to finish the point – and that is….BECAUSE the football was there – the essence (the IKAR) of Jewball was completely handled…..we were given the space and grace to become so much more. To do more charity, become closer; to tap into something eternal that we always knew was there in theory, but we never fully explored to its potential. And there is more room – we can and will venture to do more – push those limits – but the Dream Season was like no other. I’m 43 so I have every right and reason to be sentimental without pretense – I am talking about the looking out for one another and the sharing of smachot – highs and lows – and the bbq in the snow, sushi, donuts, champagne, the poppers….ALL THAT plays out BECAUSE we brought our A games on the field this year.
There is nothing that recaps all that more than how we rallied for Sophia Salem. Her battle is not over –BH it has gone well – but we stick with it. I don’t want to talk about Salem here because – honestly – he’s pretty forgettable. That’s just a running joke….Salem has proven himself to be as committed as they come. Yes, he is a skilled player and an excellent teammate, but – like the rest of the Birds – he represents the best of us in all dimensions of humanity that matter. Now, we stepped up for Sophia – not because it was Salem specifically – but because it was one of our own. Period! That’s all that mattered. One of us. A Veteran, a Rookie, a religion, a race, an age….the category doesn’t factor. We know a Jewballer when we see one. The heart sees the heart. Connects to it. And that’s it. Whether you played in 2005 or 2021. You are a Jewballer. You are my brother. I rally for you. Listen, I hope we never again have the kinds of tests of the brotherhood that we had this year. Sophia was not the only focus of our prayers – it was a tough and scary year – and my hope (and belief!) is that we have so many great things ahead as the football only gets better, and the rest follows.
What does lie ahead though? Why am I so bullish on Jewball’s future? Well, I once again look at our League Champions. The Birds of Pray. Listen, you never know when a Jewballer will just up and disappear from the scene. We have seen it a hundred times. A few seasons and gone forever. But I look at the Birds roster and I see youth and loyalty and a hunger for Jewball. I see In Both. In All. And I see that in no shinier an example than their captain, Sholom “Pray” Prager. He well knows….I was skeptical at the beginning. I’d seen the flashy QB who could outrun everyone (usually due to youth) dozens of times. Sure, they have an arm….but that doesn’t make them a QB. He came into the league last year on fire, making the previously invincible Yaron seem mortal. It was jarring for us, and certainly for Yaron. But – and he claims it was due to some kind of broken hand – he fell off in the second half. The arm strength wasn’t there. The picks came. I honestly wasn’t sure if he was a QB or a WR.
But the summer came and went and Corona numbers went down and it seemed that we would have a Jewball season. The kid shows up to Rabin’s sukkah and just pounds like 8 bags of wings. Rabin’s wife starts planning his Bar Mitzvah, and the rest is history. Listen, I don’t love young/old jokes – as Beast always say – we don’t talk about age (because then we think about it)….we just play until we can’t. But, I still need to give Pray credit for being a leader beyond his years.
Do I even need to get to the numbers? Forget leading his team to the League Championship. That is an accomplishment outside of this particular equation. He accumulated 3 Jewballs this season (could have been more, but it was getting silly how dominant he was). Above that….Leads Jewball in TDs thrown and rushing TDs. And if you think he only produces on one side of the ball….he also has the most interceptions and P6s. And if all this were not enough….ughhhh…..he is an extremely humble, hard-working, fair and honest person…..who somehow is also passionate about the game and highly competitive. At the risk of over-effusiveness and creating an ego where there seems to be none – if Rabin and I created a Jewball MVP in a lab (or made a deal with the devil) so as to give Jewball a long-term bright future – the result would look like Pray. Pray, it is with both awe and gratitude that I present to you – by the powers invested in me as Recap writer – the Jewball 2020-2021 Season MVP. I see many more of these in your future, with God’s help. Amen.
My final message to you all will never waver. It is always the same as it should be and as it must be. It is the message to myself for the past 20 years. Stay in shape. Get in better shape. Let Jewball motivate your decisions. Let Jewball guide you when it comes to your health, but also your lifestyle. Ask yourself – what would my fellow Jewballers think if I did this? If it’s bad for you….don’t do it! If we would be impressed…take a pic and share it!!! : ) Remember that Jewball is for life. And to live a Jewball life…to be back – as we said – better than ever – it takes work, and discipline, and planning, and focus. I challenge you all to show up next September in BEAST MODE!
(I hesitate now…because I know what comes next….the finality of it)
Jewballers, you have made me so proud this past year. I can’t believe I am zocheh to be counted as one of you, let alone in a leadership position. Coming back to the seder….Dayenu that I should have witnessed the snow game followed by the BBQ. Dayenu that I was around for just this one season as a sub. Dayenu to have played during The Revolution. But, to have been a Commissioner of this incredible, holy, brilliant, extraordinary assemblage of individuals for about 15 years in total……I don’t even know what to say…or think….or believe.
There is selfless giving in this life and there is selfish giving. The former is a lot harder than the latter. We are supposed to train ourselves in the former. The latter comes naturally. My love for Jewball and all of you who join this family comes naturally to me. Maybe it always has…and maybe that’s why I’m still here. Meaning, my giving to this league – whether it be the setting things up for many years, or teams, or recaps, or even expenses – it is completely selfish. I cannot imagine life without Jewball. How dreary and empty it must be. What could possibly replace it in all its multifaceted magnificence?  The answer is glaring: Nothing. Nothing can replace Jewball. And because of that – and I don’t care if you are 20 and think you will be young forever or 50 and been there done that – WE HAVE TO ALWAYS APPRECIATE EVERY GAME. Every morning we wake up and can drive somewhere in this cold, angry, stupid world and get on a field with our fellow Jewballers and play this game. My brothers, we start this ride up again in about six months. Until then, In Jewball We Trust.

Congratulations to the Birds of Pray on winning the first Jewbowl and becoming the JEWBALL LEAGUE SEASON 1 CHAMPIONS!

Semifinals:

Birds of Pray def. Assmen 4 – 1

193 def. Feit Club 5 – 4

Finals:

Birds of Pray def. 193 5 – 3

Congratulations on the end of the 2020-2021 DREAM season! Votes are in and congrats to all the finalists. Official MVP announcement will be made in Jordan’s final recap

POLL RESULTS

JEWBALL MVP – Prager

OPOY – Prager

DPOY – Kuti

ROTY – Feit

Most Improved Player – Storm

Jewball is in limbo. As the Dream Season has concluded, we have arrived at a moment without finality or resolution. Why? Because the Dream Season is never quite real. It remains an elusive, almost phantom sequence of events that have linked the sun-drenched days of September to now…somehow connecting us – one game at a time – to the present. An elegant (not random!) series of moments – some so extraordinarily beautiful that our hearts could explode in awe and appreciation – creating an unbreakable chain. So here we are. A Week 20 Recap. But….I’m not an emotional wreck just yet. Because the Dream Season is a season of firsts. Should I talk about them? I should….but I won’t. How could I not? This is the Week 20 Recap! The SEASON RECAP! Where we celebrate the highs and lows and regret none of it except that all things must end. Even the best and sweetest of things. But this is not the Season Recap, this is just the Week 20 Recap. Because for the first time in our proud Jewball history – we are not done after Week 20. We have a postseason to play. We have a League Champion to crown. Will it be the talented misfits of Feit Club? The grizzled and gritty Ass Men? The under-the-radar-flying Birds of Pray? Or the hard luck and winless 193? We shall see…3/21 we regroup and see our brothers once again. So, today is not a day for heartbreak. Sure, it’s troubling that another season has come and gone – and what a remarkable season it has been…BUT…we talk about all that another day. Today, we just recap a game.
The games were played back on the turf. The first non-tackle game in what felt like a month. Gronk had been out of this game for at least a month. The early game was locked in once again with a Pray v. Feit affair and the back and forth rivalry swung this once and final time to its origin – with Feit besting Pray. The final was 2-0, Feit on top. He rode his FC crew to the W, dishing TDs to Mighty and Beast. I didn’t see much of the game but I did see Mighty make some sick grabs that reminded me what a dominant player that kid is. On the other side….not much. I know Singer and Beast are now out with Covid, so….feel better guys. Good time to get it : ) We have 2 more weeks until the playoffs.
Game 2 was Rabin v. Yaron. Even though Pray was on the field, Rabin – a man who played with the Oracle and is still battling – gets the start, to prove himself once again. In fact, he and Yaron – both starters – had moments this season that looked like they were done for the season, if not for their careers (I’d add myself to that list, but Kut will kiiiillll me). But, naaah. There they were. Each had been back for a few games. Showing once again that Jewballers don’t just overcome obstacles this season – we transcend them.
I have to be careful with this recap. Rabin won the game 4-2. I want to explain more or less what happened while not trying to make Yaron think he was that bad or Rabin think he was that good. The fact is, Yaron made a lot of mistakes. Rabin made very few. Both QBs actually threw a nice ball on Sunday. Both QBs though seemed to be throwing to the same team – Rabin’s. Rabin did a good job picking on the weakness in Yaron’s defense – which happened to be our being undersized. He moved the ball very well with the big handsy target that is Jack Ross. When it came to scoring TDs, he mixed it up. Got one to Eddie. One to Pray as well on what seemed like a broken play and a hail mary. Regardless, he had Solo and O to protect and lead block, and Rabin looked like he is ready to take the Ass Men to the Promised Land (AMEN!) Yaron was down 4-0 before he could catch his breath. Was there a dropped TD pass by Taaaabbbaaaaak early on? Yes. Maybe a late one to Prime that slipped through his hands after Beast ran interference? Could be. But the story of the day was Yaron’s inability to complete a productive drive without turning the ball over. Pray picked him 3 times, one of them for a P6. Beast got him as well. And PJS picked one at the 5, setting up Rabin for any easy score. The momentum was just always broken by a pick. We can look at the positives of any performance, but in terms of Ws and Ls, Yaron did not give his team a chance in this one.
Will he bounce back for the 193 in a few weeks when we play our first post-season game ever in Jewball history? It remains to be seen. For now, I am troubled that I send this recap off without a sign up to follow, but also take solace in the reassurance that the Dream Season is not over.

Polls are open and will close by Friday at 3pm – where the results will be open and available for all to see. Note that these polls are for fun, and the commissioners office will make all final decisions on these rewards regardless of the results (but does take them into account).

per criteria of minimum 10 GP, several rookies from this years class were not eligible, but will be considered rookies next season if they meet minimum games played (Ivry, Ross, Walls, Maor, Held, Whiskey, etc)

This one was unanimous without question. But honorable mentions to Gronk for New Years Sushi and PJs for the poppers.

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Additional polls for your enjoyment:

Final Category is Best Overall Sticker. Please use the following link for reference:

Stickers

Vets Rooks is always over-hyped. It was created over fifteen years ago, not just to lend some gravitas to the final weeks of the Jewball season, but to also act as a State of the Union. The Vets represented where we have been. The Rooks stood for where we are going. It was an opportunity to invite out all our players and create a match that spoke to what we cherish most about Jewball. The respect for those who played before us – the exclusivity of a club we call Jewball Vets. But also to engage our newest members. Rooks are our lifeblood. Without them, Jewball would stagnate, atrophy – and die. 
The fact is though, it was historically a pretty terrible and one-sided game. The trash talk going into the game was always fast and furious, with the Vets talking about needing to change the Rookies’ diapers. The Rookies claiming the Vets were washed up has-beens. And when the game was played, the Rookies were always right. For the first decade of the game, Jordan, Yakir, Joey, Rabin, B-sh, Show, and Marino tried to beat the Rooks…and always failed. We could not keep up with them. Whether it was the Ike, Uri, Klink, Dorothy, BD class. Or the Mighty, O, Socks, PJs, Steveo, Zez class. Or the Snow, Singer, Kut, Tom, Munch class. Rooks were young, quick, and athletic. The Vets had experience and heart….but….who were we kidding? We could not keep up! The games were often a joke. And even if they weren’t, the Vets lost.
Enter the Revolution. And all of sudden, the Vets are loaded – and it is a game – for the first time. Why? Because those talented Rooks who embarrassed us Vets for all those years…are now one of us. And this does not take away anything from the extremely talented Rookie class we have now – but….for the past three years – as you all by now know – the Vets have asserted dominance over the Rooks. 
This is a roundabout way of saying that, although Vets Rooks 2021 wasn’t much of a game – a 4-0 Vets win – it is not the first blowout. It’s just the first blow out in the past few years. And there is an argument to be made that the tables have turned. Those prior exceptional classes have stuck with us (always – I never forget – and I’ll let the emotion overcome me next week when I write the final recap – THANK YOU for sticking with us) – and now the Vets are formidable. They seem like they will be for years to come.
A game that at first looked like it might be a doubleheader of Vets Rooks games turned into one game as the snow fell and stayed on the field – and did NOT become ice – just crunchy – which allowed us to play our first ever Vets Rooks tackle game. 
On paper, there was no reason to think that this game would be anything but an all out brawl. One that would go down to the wire. For the Vets, Gronk – an extremely loyal, if not controversial, Jewballer, since his debut in 2017 – was named Captain in his first game for the Vets. The kid oozes talent and has grown as a player before our eyes. He probably has a thousand tricks left in his bag, which we will be fortunate to witness over his career. He certainly earned his Captain status on the field. His team was, for lack of a better word…stacked. Mighty, Snow Pup Singer, Steveo, BD, Daveo, PJs, Rabin, Kut, Tom, Jordan, Munch, and O. Yikes. You’d think…unbeatable? Maybe so, but the Rooks roster looked like this: Yaron (Jewball MVP 2019), Prime (Jewball MVP 2020), Prager (Jewball MVP 2021….wait…sorry…premature), Beast, Storm, Logan, Salem, Dobs, Sting, E, and Solo. I mean….this is a team brimming with talent and potential. Was certainly an “Any Given Sunday” challenge where either team could wrestle the W from the other.
In a way, this remained true throughout most of the game. Even though the final score says 4-0 which make it seem that the Rookies did not have chance, if the game is broken down – it really could/should have gone either way.
Let’s take a look:
The Rooks started with the ball and with a commitment to the run. Prime was naturally the biggest threat on the field in that regard. An extremely sturdy and destructive ball carrier who can bulldoze through most. With Sting neutralizing Jordan with interference, Prime bullied his way to a first down. But the Snow Pup made sure it was the only one the Vets would gain. Yaron – who once again – and it is near nauseating at this point – was plagued by drops – including one on the opening drive which would have been a sure first down – could only walk off the field wondering if he was destined to have another rough outing. The Rooks took over around midfield.
Gronk took the ball for his fellow Vets with the confidence of a, well, Vet. Although he was by far the youngest Vet, he showed a leadership beyond his years. The first drive was steady. Gronk does not mix it up unless the defense forces him to. Coasting on a steady diet of Mighty and Singer – because why not when such weapons are at your disposal – the Vets’ first possession resulted in a score. But not in the way anyone would have expected. A 15 yard pass to Singer was tipped by the Snow Pup as the defense collided with him at the same time as the ball (foreshadow!) – the ball bounced off his fingertips and landed in the snow. ALMOST! Because Mighty on the spot, dove full extension and reclaimed the ball from incompletion oblivion – pulling it in and landing in the endzone. “I caught it”, he yells. “We know.” And the score is 1-0 Vets.
So, the Vets – it can be argued – got a cheap one. Sure they are up, but it was a fluke one might argue. The Rooks had no reason to despair. However, on the very next drive….after moving the ball soundly for 55 yards, Yaron underthrows a ball and Steveo is there to pick it in the red zone. It would be the first of 3 back breaking picks Yaron would throw on the day. All three when his team was poised to score. But he wasn’t the proximate cause – as we say in the law – of his team’s demise. The defense was somewhat porous. Gronk moved the ball with fluidity all day. Rabin was a huge x factor. Just left open…and making catches for gains. The second Vet score was a beautifully designed bootleg to Singer. Many claim it was Mighty’s call. Or at least Mighty said so after the TD. 2-0 at the half. No reason to think the Rooks wouldn’t get right back in it. But they just didn’t. Why? Because there was blame to go around.
Beast couldn’t haul in a big 1st down catch that might have been a TD if he stayed on his feet. Sting dropped one in the endzone that was reminiscent of an Eddie drop last year that devastated the Rooks’ hopes.  Dobs caught one in the back of the endzone but his feet were on the line. 
With these missed opportunities, it wasn’t just points off the board, but it was a dearth of momentum perpetuating other near misses. Meanwhile, Gronk started to mix in PJs and Tom – each true Vets having hella good seasons. PJs and Tom…proving that you stick with the damn game because maybe your best years are ahead of you! Maybe yours 20s was just you getting started. And look at them now. Popping off big plays and serving up poppers. Gronk snuck in a ball to Tom that Pray had a nice read on, but missed a P6 by a split second. Another momentum changer that vanished in a flash. Tom gets a 1st down. And another on a one handed grab. And then PJs muscling his way to a chill inducing almost score. Eventually Gronk makes it 3-0 finding Mighty leaking out from the 4 yard line. 
By now, there are only 20 minutes left and Yaron is despondent on the sideline. He takes himself out of the game. Pray gets some garbage time reps, but it goes no better. A deep ball loses steam and Singer is there to pick it. Gronk throws an NFL quality pass to Singer in the endzone a play later but Prime attacks and the bang bang play results in dropped ball (arguably the second TD saved by Prime’s safety prowess – a goal line pass to PJs was controversially negated earlier). Gronk would eventually get to the point by finding BD – MY VET! – over the middle on a zipped in pass that BD plucks from the sky. 
So, as this recap shows – it could have gone either way. But, perhaps the difference between a Vet and a Rookie is the elimination of Rookie mistakes. Who knows? Maybe it just was a football game that swung in the favor of an excellent team. 
Our Jewballs are going to two players this week. Each are earning it for special performances on a specific side of the ball. To Steveo, for his defense. Singer plays like an ecstatic puppy. You play like a lion. Ferocious, majestic, proud. You make us all proud as well. You bring so much to our game and really to our lives. Jewball to you my friend. Steveo Island is real. Your pick in the back of the endzone was as poetic and vibrant as your rhymes. An absolute honor to be on the same field as you.
As humble as Steveo is…Gronk is someone I try not to compliment too much. I have no idea what goes on in his head  – if he is modest or arrogant – crazy or sane – soft or hard – but this past Sunday….he stepped the F up. I consider myself lucky to have been on the sideline for many of the offensive sets – to just watch and appreciate a man mastering his abilities. Playing without fear. 
Let me digress for a second. This is a tackle game…so fear is an element. There are people coming after you. Big angry people. Like Solo, and O, Beast, and Munch and Kut….so….because they rarely get the headlines – shout out to these warriors. Munch, for just showing up for us. Your mere presence is powerful. O – you were in rare form. Like I said – it was like the clock was turned back 13 years and we were playing Chabad. Kut – you are our forever role model of a grinder. Now, let me get to Beast and Solo – and I want to commend them….while really putting Gronk on the pedestal. They were all over him. Our line tried to protect him, but….Solo and Beast? C’mon! These guys are machines out there. So they got to the QB. Plenty. But, Gronk really was a wizard out there. Keeping his eyes up – not folding – taking hits – making smart decisions over and over again. I really found a new level of respect for Gronk this past Sunday. Jewball to you as well. 

For those who wanted this game to be more competitive….I guess I apologize. No, I can’t. It was played. It was won by the Vets because they earned it. We can run it back next year. I know we all talk smack going into the game and some of it is true…but it is ALL LOVE. We are Vets. We are Rooks. We are one Jewball. Who wants Week 20!

As I watch my car being buried in snow as this deposition drones on in the background, I am getting more excited to bring the pain on Sunday as we play and celebrate Vets Rooks 2021. At the same time, the crew here wants a Recap. I look back to Week 18…and what do I see? Tom was completely broken. Crushed ribs – could hardly breathe – sleepless nights in agonizing pain. Of course he was IN but only if it was tackle. Eventually he opted out and Rabin and Dobs jumped in late to give us, not only a tackle game, but our first 8 on 8 of the season. 
When I got to the field, the messaging was clear: Yaron sucks. Now, was this true? Of course not. It’s a chat meme. At the same time, he was off to a rough start. Some mix of fumbles and picks on his first two possessions – both leading to scores. Pray had a pick 6 to get the party started, I believe. Either way, it was 2-0 with a little more than an hour to go.
Within minutes of my arrival, I was able to observe the bad luck Yaron was having and the momentum that Feit and his crew was riding. Yaron, down but never out, pitched the ball to Prime to get something good going – as is often the case when Prime gets the ball in a tackle game. But Snow Pup Singer is out of his mind when the field is covered in snow. You would think the white stuff was cocaine and he was inhaling it throughout.
He leaps on Prime’s back and yanks his arms apart. The ball is loose! Beast recovers – and things are only getting worse for Yaron. Even when he calls a safe play, things go horribly wrong. Now, let’s look at the other side of the ball. Feit, drops back….gets sacked by Kut – no wait….forces a fumble….this could be a huge gain for Yaron if one of his players jumps on the ball. Maybe can run it back for a score. But, now – Prager picks the ball up and throws a floating 45 yard TD pass! Was the TD called back because the rule was not clear? Yes. But, the contrast between the two fumbles spoke volumes. Feit did eventually convert the turnover into points by having Singer run it up the gut. (FYI – In tackle games, we play one ball in the endzone). 
Yaron came out swinging on the next drive – looking to make sure the game would not become a laugher – even if the win seemed out of reach. With a deep ball to MK who leaked out from the wing, his crew was in position to score. Mighty made a great tackle on MK to save a TD, but Yaron did put in the endzone by hooking up with MK again a few plays later. 3-1 Feit. 
The momentum really seemed to shift when Storm leaped over Singer to pick a ball meant for Beast. The defensive stat gave Yaron the ball and really short yardage to go to make it a one score game. Unfortunately, Feit and co. put together a goal line stand that likely ended the game for Yaron. Mainly because time was running out for the comeback.
Feit made the comeback even more difficult by refusing to slide on defense any more. The non-score by Yaron turned into a full field drive by Feit capped off by a jump ball TD to Singer, our Jewball winner. 4-2 Feit on top.
With about a half hour to go Yaron put together a Gronk-esque drive consisting of simple calculated plays (outs to Kut who can rumble for big yards with the best of em) and miracle heaves (Rabin making 3 catches on the drive – one of them on 4th and long). The drive ended on with a Kut TD. Down two scores with little time left, the odds were heavily stacked against Yaron. His weak start was going to haunt him.
The nail was hammered into the coffin as Feit drove the entire field and put up a final point.
All Yaron could do was attempt to make it closer. He did so, with a game ending TD to Prime.
I don’t apologize for the lack of passion in this recap. My passion is reserved for Sunday. Beware ye Rooks.