The Zionist Conspiracy |
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A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews. 
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Friday, March 30, 2007
Omar's Offseason Now that the 2007 season is about to start, it is appropriate to critically assess Mets GM Omar Minaya's performance during the offseason. Following the Mets loss in the NLCS, there was a consensus that the Mets needed to make the following improvements: 1. Add an outfielder. 2. Add a second baseman. 3. Add a starting pitcher. 4. Add depth to the bullpen. Minaya signed Moises Alou to replace Cliff Floyd. If Alou is healthy, he will be an improvement. Time will tell. Despite the availability of several decent free agents, the Mets brought back Jose Valentin as their starting second baseman. Damion Easley will fill Chris Woodward's backup role, but is hardly a major acquisition. Minaya correctly declined to overpay for Barry Zito, but he failed to sign or trade for any of the other available starters. Instead, he gave Orlando Hernandez a surprisingly generous two-year contract, decided to rely on John Maine and Oliver Perez as the third and fourth starters, and brought in retreads like Chan Ho Park, Aaron Sele and Jorge Sosa, while letting Steve Trachsel and Victor Zambrano go, trading Brian Bannister and refusing to move Aaron Heilman into the starting rotation. The Mets' biggest offseason failure was with their bullpen, which is now worse than at the end of '06. Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver and Roberto Hernandez all left as free agents, with Bradford's loss the most significant. Heath Bell and Royce Ring were traded to the Padres for Ben Johnson and Jon Atkins, both of whom were disappointing in spring training. Guillermo Mota, his 50 game suspension for steroid use aside, was given a large contract. So was free agent Scott Schoeneweis. Mota and Schoeneweis were both released during the 2006 season. Ambiorix Burgos, the reliever acquired for Bannister, was touted for his strong arm, but has had a lousy spring after a terrible '06 season. The Mets underestimated the severity of the injury to Duaner Sanchez, who appears unlikely to pitch in 2007. Overall, the Mets had a poor offseason, while other NL contenders made big moves to improve. Thursday, March 29, 2007
2007 Mets Despite the manner in which the team's starting staff fell apart late last season, the Mets did absolutely nothing during the offseason to improve their pitching. Both their starting staff and relief corps are already shaky. Even with the emergence of Mike Pelfrey, the Mets have little depth in the event of injuries. The 2006 Mets blew the team's best opportunity in 18 years to win a World Series. Opportunities like that don't occur every year. Prediction: The 2007 Mets will satisfy Fred Wilpon by playing "meaningful games in September," but by October, it will be the Jets and the Rangers who we will be watching. The Mets will finish with a record of 87-75, in second place in both the NL East and the wildcard race. Unlike a "big-time Jew lawyer" who is neither shrewd nor crafty, if my prediction is wrong (and I hope the Mets are a lot better than I am predicting), I promise not to repeatedly contradict myself and then deny having done so. Let's go Mets, and let's enjoy the return of baseball. P.S. This week's New York Magazine had an interview with a so-called "sports psychic." The woman stated that "The Yankees have the best fans in the world, but when they don’t win, they let you know it. Mets fans are happy all the time. " Mets fans happy all the time? Huh? The Ship Be Sinkin': Downfall Of A Dangerous Anti-Semite In a world in which respected professors Stephen Walt and John Mersheimer charge that "the Israel lobby" controls United States foreign policy, a Hamas-led government is deemed legitimate, and Iranian madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatens to annihilate Israel while denying the 20th century annihilation of the Jews, it's comforting to know that Micheal Ray Richardson, apparently the most vicious anti-Semite of them all, is likely to lose his job after recent comments about Jews. Micheal Ray, the former Net and Knick who wasted his immense talent by repeatedly indulging in cocaine, had been head coach of the Albany Patroons, and this season led them to an appearance in the CBA championship. But on Tuesday, Richardson told two reporters: "I've got big-time lawyers. I've got big-time Jew lawyers." As reported on ESPN.COM, "when told by the reporters that the comment could be offensive to people because it plays to the stereotype that Jews are crafty and shrewd" Richardson responded:
In many contexts, Micheal Ray's comments would be offensive. They certainly were not the most intelligent thing to say, and indicate a fair amount of ignorance on Richardson's part. But I doubt there was any malice or hate. Regardless, Richardson has been suspended for the remainder of the season, and barred from his team's games. His job - and his comeback from drug addiction - are in serious jeopardy. I know I'll be sleeping better tonight knowing that while we Jews control foreign policy (Condi's playing footsie with the PA and pressure on Olmert is all part of The Zionist Conspiracy), we are not crafty and shrewd. Not even "big-time Jew lawyers" like MoC and Elster. The ship be sinkin'. Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Cathy Seipp Leading columnist and blogger Cathy Seipp passed away today after a long battle with lung cancer. As I understand, she was 49 years old and was not a smoker. Back in '04, when Protocols was handed over to Luke Ford, Luke would frequently write about his friendship with Cathy and her daughter Maia Lazar. As I recall, Robert Avrech at times also posted about his friendship with Cathy and Maia. I have never corresponded with Cathy or Maia and was only a very occasional reader of their blogs, but when I read a while back about Cathy's illness, and in the last few days about her impending death, I felt much sadness for both of them. Perhaps that says something about the nature of blogging and the relationship between bloggers and readers. Perhaps it says something about my state following friends recently losing parents, spouses and children. Probably both. Condolences to Maia and the rest of her family, and may Cathy rest in peace. Monday, March 19, 2007
Tragedy, Answers, And Hashgachah Pratis (Revised) Three religiously observant Jews - a 31 year old women and a 16 year old girl who battled cancer, and a 52 year old man who for decades suffered from chronic illnesses - recently passed away. These are the tragedies I've been privy to; of course there are many others that we've all heard about. The emotional pain of these losses almost inevitably leads to theological questions by other religious Jews who knew them and who recited tehilim and begged God to cure them. The concept of hashgachah pratis, that nothing occurs by chance or coincidence, and that everything that happens is part of God's plan, has become mainstream in the Orthodox Jewish world, and is sometimes invoked to answer the most difficult questions. Alas, hashgachah pratis sometimes causes otherwise reasonably rational people to contrive all kinds of bizarre explanations for the unexplainable. After 9/11, there were silly stories about "miracles" involving people who survived. As for those who didn't - including some who had no reason to be in the World Trade Center or on their doomed flight - well, their gruesome death came about because "their time was up." When tragedy strikes, we hear things like "he's in heaven now" or that collectively we are at a low spiritual level and that God therefore took the victim from this world. Thirteen years after the bar mitzvah of his son Ariel zt'l, Robert Avrech writes: Every day, every hour, our son's cruel absence gnaws away at me. I avoid I do not object to the concept of hashgachah pratis, but I do object to its misuse by "amateur theologians" purporting to comfort those in mourning. Because as Robert reminds us, sometimes there are no answers at all. Friday, March 16, 2007
Observant Jews and the Rest of the World Those of us who are religiously observant, received an advanced secular education, and work in a professional field tend to see ourselves as being part of the "real world." But what do the members of the real world think about us? A few days ago, Orthomom expressed indignation that while shopping in a boutique, an overzealous saleswoman said to her "you can let me touch you to fix your belt, I'm Jewish too, so I'm a very clean woman." Orthomom wondered: Do you think there are really people who live and work in the middle of Manhattan who think that an Orthodox Jew wouldn't be allowed to casually touch a non-Jew because they are somehow unclean? You have to wonder how many layers of misinformation and misunderstandings about Orthodox Judaism would bring someone (who claims to be Jewish, to boot!) to think that.Orthomom's salesperson was certainly quite bizarre. Still, nearly seven years after Joe Lieberman received the Democratic party's nomination for the vice presidency (let's not argue here about whether Lieberman was accurately identified as "Orthodox"), misinformation and misunderstandings about observant Jews and traditional Judaism indeed persist. And I think they persist precisely because we are very visible in law firms, in doctor's offices, in shopping centers and on the street, and yet in many ways we live apart from the rest of the world. We have our own shuls, our own schools, even our own stores. A few weeks ago, on a train from midtown to the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, two young woman in their early 20's - one was Asian and the other Irish - were talking about a co-worker who in the past had worn pants but now would only wear skirts. "I think it is because she became Hasidic," said the Irish woman. "No," her friend said. "She's not Hasidic, she's Jewish but it's a different group from the Hasidim. If she was Hasidic she would also have to shave off all of her hair. She does wear a wig though." To which the young Irish woman said, "Really? I didn't notice the wig. You know my mom had cancer and she had a wig." Most mornings I take the questionably-named "express" bus from Jewel Avenue to midtown. It's just about the only predictable break I get from the requirements of home and the pressures of work, so I usually just read the Post and sometimes also as much of the Times as I can get through. The bus goes from Hillcrest to Kew Gardens Hills to Forest Hills before turning on Queens Boulevard and heading to midtown via the LIE and Midtown Tunnel. Today, despite trying to, I could not avoid overhearing a detailed discussion about Orthodox Jews and Orthodox Judaism by three people - apparently two secular Jews and one Italian Catholic woman - sitting around me. Married women shaving their heads, mixed seating and mixed dancing at weddings, shidduch dating, early marriages, baal teshuvas and their integration into frum society, intra-Jewish tensions, and the differences between chasidim, modern Orthodox and "ultra Orthodox" Jews were all discussed. As could be expected, some of what was said was largely accurate, but most had a certain amount of truth but was based on exaggerated stereotyping. I didn't say anything until the non-Jewish woman mentioned her five-young old child playing in a neighborhood park and approaching a chasidic child of around the same age and being shunned by the other child's parents. "They're just kids. Don't we all come from the same God?" she recalled saying to her husband. As the bus exited the tunnel, the discussion shifted to Jose Reyes. The non-Jewish woman appeared to be a knowledgeable Mets fan. As I was getting off the bus, I briefly tried to explain that some people choose to remain insular and that she shouldn't take this episode personally, but that I agreed that the parents' reaction was not respectful. That indeed is how I feel, though to be sure, the lack of interaction between frum children and other children is probably the main cause for the ignorance about Orthodoxy. We need not apologize for or be defensive about our way of life, but those of us who live in a large Jewish neighborhood should particularly be aware that the world around us does see us as different, and watches us and our behavior closely. Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sports Update I don't have much profound to say, but it would be unfair to blog readers to be forced to turn to Elster for sports commentary. So here are some brief thoughts: 1. Jets - Aside from the acquisition of Thomas Jones, the Jets have been quiet this offseason, with their only significant free agent signing being that of ex-Cowboys backup DE Kenyon Coleman to a surprisingly large contract. In the meantime, the Patriots and Dolphins have both made major moves. I will reserve judgment on the Jets offseason for now, but clearly the Jets still need to improve the right side of their offensive line, and add a cornerback and either another defensive lineman or an outside linebacker. Likely, the Jets will focus on defense during the first three rounds of next month's draft. 2. Mets - I haven't been following spring training too closely, but have noticed the good performances thus far by Lastings Milledge and Mike Pelfrey. As I said at the time, I thought the Mets made a big mistake keeping Milledge off the playoff roster last season. As for Pelfrey, I would still err on the side of his starting the season at AAA. If he pitches well over his first 10-12 starts, the Mets can call him up around June 1. 3. Rangers - Last night, the Rangers continued their maddening streak of losing games they led 2-0. Overall the Rangers have put together a nice effort to get back into the playoff race, but they are so decimated by injuries that the playoffs remain a longshot. Unlike the Islanders, who have made significant strides under the leadership of Ted Nolan and yes, even GM Garth Snow, the Rangers remain rather directionless. 4. Nets - The Nets have also been badly hurt by injuries, but that's not an excuse for their 30-35 record, especially since they have gotten solid performances from Mikki Moore and Boki Nachbar. Lawrence Frank is simply unable to get his team to play hard every night. Vince Carter in particular mails it in all too frequently. If the Nets can make the playoffs as the #7 seed, they will have a good chance to make it past the first round. The key for the Nets, however, will be trying to get something of value in a sign and trade for Vince Carter after the season. If instead the Nets sign Carter, they will likely look to trade Richard Jefferson. Unless they are offered two starters, one thing the Nets should not do is trade Jason Kidd. With better coaching, when Nenad Kristic returns in 07-08, the Nets should be talented enough to contend in the weak East. 5. NCAA Tournament - I used to care. Unless Brooklyn College or Columbia University are in the bracket, I don't anymore. Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Post-Purim Drinking Last week Jewboy offered his thoughts about teen drinking on Purim. A topic that appears to remain taboo, however, is toddler drinking. Following Purim, someone gave my wife a bottle of homemade chocolate liqueur. We in turn, gave our babysitter some of the junk food we got, along with several bottles of Kedem wine. Perhaps in a Kedem-induced stupor, the babysitter caused my 2 year old son to enjoy some of the liqueur. My son does not like to drink milk. To encourage him to drink milk, we sometimes put a couple of ounces of chocolate milk in his milk. This does not usually work, but occasionally it does. On Friday night, it worked very well. Before going to sleep, my son asked for apple juice. There was a bottle of chocolate milk conveniently sitting in the refrigerator, so we offered it to him. He accepted the offer, quickly drank the bottle's contents, and ebulliently declared "yummy chocolate milk!" and asked for more. At that point, my wife wondered why my son smelled of alcohol. Call me old-fashioned, but despite my son's enthusiasm, he won't be getting any more liqueur for a while. Not even on Purim. Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Michael Walzer At YU Following the series on war and ethics in both the current issue of Tradition and the current issue of Meorot (formerly the Edah Journal), YU's Center for Ethics will be presenting two lectures by Princeton Professor Michael Walzer. On the evening of March 19, Walzer will lecture on 'Terrorism and Just War,' and the next evening, he will present reflections on last summer's Lebanon War. During Israel's war against Hezbollah, Walzer wrote a noteworthy piece in The New Republic that was largely supportive of Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. In the past, Walzer, a leading supporter of Americans For Peace Now, has been both a vocal critic of some of Israel's policies - particularly settlement growth - and a strong defender of Israel against those who question its legitimacy - particularly NYU Professor and Israel-hater Tony Judt. Monday, March 05, 2007
Thomas Jones It's 7:00 P.M., and ESPN is reporting that the Jets have traded the second round pick they acquired from the Redskins (#37) to the Bears for Thomas Jones and the Bears' second round pick (#63). Assuming the report is accurate, my initial reaction is mildly positive. Jones certainly improves the Jets at RB. Indeed, with Jones and Leon Washington, and Cedric Houston as the third string RB, the Jets are pretty solid at the position. The Jets do go down 26 slots in the second round, but they still have two second round picks - albeit both late in the round. Opposing defenses will have to consider that Chad Pennington might actually hand the ball off, and will perhaps respect his play action passes. My misgiving is that there are a number of unrestricted free agent running backs on the market who could have been signed without giving up any picks. I happen to particularly like T.J. Duckett. Jones is a good running back but not quite the star he was expected to be out of college. He's already been in the NFL for seven seasons, had some injury problems earlier in his career, and - his long Super Bowl run notwithstanding - only has 24 career rushes of 20 or more yards. GM Mike Tannenbaum does deserve props for picking up Washington's 2007 second rounder during last year's draft. Thanks to the Redskins for their 5-11 season. And a nice job by me for recognizing the importance of the pick by keeping a weekly focus on the Skins during the '06 season. To sum up, overall this looks like a pretty good move, so long as it doesn't prevent the Jets from addressing other areas that need improvement, particularly cornerback, defensive line and right offensive tackle. | "
