ELIE SECKBACH - Reporter

Pictured: Israeli President Shimon Peres. Tourism Minister B. Elon. Rev. Jackson

Israel's Royal Representative!

At 6-foot-9 inches NBA's Lawrence Funderburke is Israel's biggest fan, and I mean the biggest!
In fact he loves the tiny Jewish state so much, that over his own home there's a huge Israeli flag.
Funderburke plays for the Sacramento Kings, one of the premier teams in the league.
He is known for being a tenacious and energetic player who has great offensive moves. In his best game last season, he pounded 29 points on the Golden State Warriors.
Off the court, the 32-year-old is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, he is very articulate and is proud to share his pro Israel views, unlike any professional athlete out there, including some Jewish ones...

Admiration for Jews!
Why do you care so much about Israel?
"Well... I'm the closest a non-Jewish person can be to being Jewish... Besides, I married my wife Monya because she looks like a Moroccan Jew."
He said in smile, going on to explain that ever since he was a youngster in Colombes, Ohio, he has held these beliefs.
"As a Christian, I have the upmost admiration for the Jewish people and their homeland. They are the chosen people, G-d's children. So much goes on in the world but the focus is always on Jerusalem."
To help him keep up with current Mid-East events, he reads lots of papers and magazines including the Jerusalem Post.
"Not long ago I read in Newsweek an article about the world's reaction to operation �Defensive Shield'... it reminded me a quote from the book of Jeremiah, where it says the whole world will unite against the Jewish people... and it is amazing that just one day after the �Seder Massacre' the U.N. passed a resolution condemning Israel."
And like so many of us, the past two years have been very tough on him as he constantly worries about the safety of the people of Israel.
"I've been deeply troubled, so many innocent Israeli's have been murdered and injured... it's terrible. Each time I hear of an attack I pray the victims have a quick recovery. "
Don't give up any land!
Funderburke also has strong views about any peace deal which would force Israel to give up land.
"This is the land G-d promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and between us, in the bible they are actually given the rights to even more land they Israel controls today.
The West Bank is where the profits lived. Amos lived in Tekoa... Samuel in the Eli... Israel has such a deep connection to that land, much more than the Palestinians do."
He has been to Israel a few time, and during the early 1990's Funderburke paid a visit the Golan Heights where he learned about the strategic importance of Israel's highest point.
"There is no way Israel can give up that land. Not only you can see all of Israel from Golan but the country's water sources are located there. If Syria would be in charge who knows what they will do."
How do people react when you express your opinions?
"In general, People are supportive especially since terror attacks of September 11'th. They now understand what life in Israel is all about. What Israelis go though on a daily basis. Prior to that people didn't care that much."
Funderburke also shares his views with other NBA players.
"They ask me questions about Israel all the time and I tell it like it is."
One of the Kings players told me confidentially, that prior to the September 11'th attacks some on the team thought Funderburke was way to intense with his views.
"But now we all know he was right all along."

Played at the JCC -
Funderburke has been around Jews all his life, when he was in high school he played one year for the JCC in Colombes.
"That was a great experience."
As a religious person himself, he enjoys reading the bible, and that's no clich�. So far Funderburke has read the good book, cover to cover, three times and can quote the bible better than some reform Rabbis' I know...
How do your teammates react when you sit there reading?
"They see me reading the bible and they respect it, I know when things don't go right in their life they ask me to pray for them and read a verse from the bible."

Funderburke graduated Ohio State University with a degree in business management while obtaining an amazing 3.9 GPA. He easily could have held a more "Jewish oriented" profession as a stockbroker or an accountant, but chouse basketball instead.
As a person who follows Israeli politics, who's your favorite leader?
"Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau, I enjoy listing to him speak, he is a brilliant man with practical ideas."
And according the latest Israeli polls, it looks like Bibi will be the Next Prime Minister too, gaining 55% of the public's support. Netanyau leads both Sharon (by over 20%) and Labor leader Ben Eliezer (by over 40%).
Have you ever ran into antisemitism?
"Over the years I've heard some comments about - all the Jews are rich, the Jews have money - I know first hand that nothing could be as far from the truth, in Israel alone there are so many people who work two and three jobs just to make ends meat. Besides there are many new immigrants who have nothing at all."
Funderburke does not only talk, each year he donates money to different Jewish organizations "I put my money where my mouth is, it's one thing to talk - but it's another do to."
Before we end our friendly conversation Funderburke, had one more surprise for me... "I'm learning Hebrew, the holy language" he then spit out a few words.
"Ma-nishma? Ma ata rotze? Boker Tov." (How are you? What do you want? Good morning).
And even though there are no Israeli or Jewish players in the NBA, with Laurence Funderburke on our side, it's certainly safe to say that we now have one of us in the best basketball league in the world.
***
His teammate, Sacramento Kings superstar Chris Webber told me in a smile that he's somewhat angry at Funderburke.
"He premised to take me to Israel with him when he went last summer and he never did,,, so I want you guys to get on his case, and next time he goes to make sure to invite me... but really, Lawrence is a good man."
What to you have to say to your Jewish fans?
"I wish I could speak some Hebrew so I could just say stuff...I want to visit Israel and see all the places I read about in the bible."

Elie Seckbach is an award-winning newswriter, He could be reached: eliemedia@aol.com

===
Shaq's Police Hat -
Why is Shaquille O'Neal, the world's greatest basketball player, wearing an Israeli PD hat?
a SECKBACH Exclusive.

Two days after returning to L.A. from a news assignment in Israel, I went to cover a Lakers game and drove down to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. While there I gave the NBA all-star Shaquille O'Neal a hat with the Israeli Police logo on it. O'Neal took the gift, released his million dollar smile, where the left side of the mouth goes up before the right side, and mumbled quietly, "Thanks man, that's tight."

In all the years that I've been covering the Lakers, I've seen Shaq receive all types of gifts. From expensive jewelry, to leather jackets -- you name it, he's received it. He really isn't missing anything. For the most part, Shaq says a polite "thank you" and moves on. At other times he'd hand the junk off to a close associate. Here's another thing: Only on rare occasions would Shaq -- who stands 7-foot-3 topping the scale at 360 pounds -- wear the same garment twice, even though everything has to be tailored specially for him.
So when I gave him the Police hat I was sure it would rest in peace or, in the best scenario, end up on the block of one of his bodyguards. Imagine my surprise when two weeks after that meeting, Shaq showed up at the Staples Center for a game against the Denver Nuggets wearing the Israeli Police hat.
There he was, one of the greatest basketball players in the league, walking down the hall wearing a blue jeans suit and a hat that came from the tiny Jewish state.
Needless to say, I was not the only one surprised. Other media members rushed to the scene in excitement: "What does it say on Shaq's hat? Is that in Hebrew?"
"Of course, yes it's Hebrew. Israel has the best police force in the world." I replied.
Shaq walked into the locker room and placed the hat in his locker. A move which set off a pilgrimage of spectators, everyone wanted to check out the headgear in question.
During the next few days a few dozen people approached me, asking if I could get them the same hat. "Hey Elie," they said, "If Shaq wears that hat, we want one too." NBA players, sports reporters, producers, photographers, radio personalities, and arena security -- everyone wanted an Israeli Police hat.
I was so overwhelmed by requests, that I had to call my family in Israel and have them ship a load of hats. The irony is if Israel's police would want to hire O'Neal to wear anything with their logo on it, that pleasure would cost them millions of dollars. Big corporations such as RadioShack, Burger King, Nestle, Swatch, and Pepsi pay him top dollar for endorsements, and here the Israeli Police got that service for free.
A maturity process-
What does Shaq have in common with Moses, King Solomon and Goliath? Throughout his career, Shaquille O'Neal has thrived off goofing around and cracking jokes at everyone else's expense. But not this year. Something has happened and O'Neal has become somewhat reserved, smiling less and less.
Shaq says he's aware of this transformation, adding that he's going through a long process of maturity. "Look Elie," he told me during a recent locker room interview,"I am a 31-year-old father of four kids that live with me under the same roof, and I feel I have to grow up."
Still, from time to time, the little child that lives within the mountain of a man creeps out. And as I was talking to Shaq, 6-foot-10-inch forward Samaki Walker entered the locker room, returning from a shoot around. Shaq picked up his head and followed every moment of Walker as a lion would follow its prey in the wild. Without making a sound, O'Neal stretched out, and at the exact moment the forward passed by, Shaq leapt up and grabbed his victim, and in a smack-down move body-slammed Walker to the ground. The two giants then rolled around in a battle that looked like something off the Discovery Channel, a battle between an elephant and a giraffe. Walker had no chance and surrendered in less than 30 seconds.
Shaq, pleased with his victory, returned to his locker breathing heavily. Once he calmed down a bit I asked him why he felt the media was always against him. "Because little people like little people. They're doing to me what they did to Wilt Chamberlain, the greatest player to ever play the game. You almost never hear about him, all you hear about is the Jordans and Iversons."
"So perhaps you need more centers as reporters," I replied. Shaq released his special smile and said, "Have you ever tried talking to centers? They could barely finish a sentence."
I figured I would switch gears and ask Shaq a biblical question. "What do you have in common with Moses, King Solomon, and Goliath?" I asked him. After thinking about it for a long minute, O'Neal replied, "Like Moses I'm a leader, like Solomon I am wise, and like Goliath the little things bring me down, not the big things."
O'neal says he keeps up with world events and watches the news on a daily basis. Last year when Israel was stuck by deadly terror attacks on an almost daily basis, Shaq made a point to send his best wishes to all those Israelis hurt by terror: "I want to tell the people of Israel, I hope the injured recover quickly and send my condolence to the families of those who perished."
I asked Shaq how he knew about the terror attacks. "I saw the pictures on TV they were very bad." Shaq looked at his hat. "They were very bad." -
===
NBA ALL STAR SHAQ O'NEAL: " Every move that was ever created I have it!"

During the past few games Shaq O'neal has been taking more shots, leading the team in scoring, and dunking the ball with his signature power slam.
es - Shaq is it safe to say that you're back?
so -"I am not there yet, when it starts to count I will be there, but I'm not there yet."
Still against the Timberwolves Shaq had one move no one has seen before.
He was posting up on the left side of the key when he got the ball. Shaq picked up his head, took a dribble and rolled his entire 7-foot-1 body under the backboard, towards the baseline. Shaq then reached out his arm in front of the backboard and finger-rolling the ball gently into the hoop. The move left everyone dumfounded.
"I try to add some finesse to the game."
He told me adding:
"It should have been an and one, I got hit on the arm. You Know, every move that was ever created I have it."

This week Shaq O'neal turned 31-years-old. His birthday was March 6, between the Indiana and Minnesota games. I asked Shaq what he wants for his birthday. O'neal smiled and replied: "I do not want anything. Santa does not get gifts he gives gifts. Have you ever seen a movie where Santa gets a present?"
Still his teammates plan on getting him something special: "We want to give his another championship. That's one thing he can't get and is not for sale anywhere." Told me rookie Kareem Rush. Kobe Bryant (who's 24) said he'd get Shaq a rocking chair: "31, that's old man, I can't imagine being that old. I'm gona get Shaq a rocking chair."
To which Shaq replied: "My new name now is Bill Cosbynizi. I went from being Wilt Chamberlinizi to Bill Cosbynizi."
Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen:
Besides the birthday boy, Kobe Bryant also made headlines this week becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points.
At the same time forward Mark "Mad dog" Madsen has been stepping up bringing to the court lots of intensity and hustle. Madsen's also the fan favorite, each time he touches the ball the walls tremble, when he scores, something he did 5 times against Minnesota, it's measured on the Richter scale.
Inside the locker room Brynat said he was really impressed with Madsen: "He's playing some terrific basketball, Mark works hard everyday and it works well for him, Everyone is this locker room is really proud of him."
And assistant Coach Jim Cleamons added: "Mark does a good job, if all the players had his intensity we'd be in better shape."
And Madsen? he's so humble he does not see what so special about him stepping up: "This is not an individual effort, basketball is a team effort."
But Mark, I asked, first you stopped Yao Ming, and now you got Kevin Garnett, who will be next?
"Hey, I just hope we can keep winning" He said in a smile.
What about you shooting 80% from the field, going 5 for 7 on KG?
"I'll take that too Elie, I just hope we can keep moving up."
I asked Shaq if the fact that Madsen has been working out with him for the past 3 years has made other players seem smaller... "Working out with me has its advantages, you get banged on every day. If Mark does not back down from me, he'll not back down from anybody, he's our energy spark off the bench."
****
The Kosher knockout
Meet Dmitry Salita, the 20-year-old boxing phenom who won't fight on Shabbat.
by Elie Seckbach January 6, 2003
Dmitry Salita is just 20-years-old but already is raising lots of eyebrows. He's a professional boxer, who keeps kosher, will not fight on the Sabbath, studies with a rabbi and is poised to be the next world champion.
Some call him the kosher knockout, other refer to his as Dmitry "Star of David" Salita, but no matter how you call him one thing is for sure: Salita is among the elite junior welterweight (139 pounds) boxers in America.
Last year he was crowned U.S. Champion for ages 19 and under. His trainer, Jimmy O'pharrow describes him in the following way: ?He looks Russian, prays Jewish, fights black."
Bill Caplan who handles the public relations for legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum says about Dmitry: "Good Jewish boxers come along like Haley's comet, once every 71 years. The last time we had a Jewish World Champion was in the 1930?s. Back then we had Barney Ross but he quit boxing to join the Marines during World War II." Salita informed me that Ross himself came from an Orthodox family and that he has served as a role model for the young boxer.
Since becoming a professional Salita has had nine fights, winning them all, seven by knockouts. His last fight took place in Las Vegas in November against Ron "The Gambler" Gladdin. Dmitry entered the ring as he always does, with Hava Nagila music blasting in the background. On the left thigh of his blue shorts he had a white Star of David. In less than 90 seconds, a minute twenty-five to be exact, Salita sent "The Gambler" to the canvas. A sharp left uppercut knocked the daylights out of Gladdin. Not bad for Dmitry's first fight to air on HBO.
But what makes Dmitry so special is the fact that he is an observant Jew who keeps kosher and does not fight on the Sabbath, making him one of the few orthodox professional athletes in the world today.
And just so everyone understands the caliber of Salita, his promoter is Bob Arum, the same man who represents World champ Oscar De La Hoya and also represented Mohammed Ali. Salita and Arum came together after a New York rabbi from Chabad called the boxing promoter to tell him about the young Jewish boxer.
Every day Arum gets hundreds of calls from people who tell him they have boxers for him, but this was the first call he had ever received from a rabbi. Arum asked the rabbi to forward him a video of Salita. When he got the tape he took one look at it and signed Dmitry on the spot."
As perhaps a way of saying thanks, Arum has made large contributions to the three Chabad houses in Las Vegas.
Recently I caught up with Salita and had a chance to ask him about his career, benig a role model, and what his future holds:
How does one end up becoming a Jewish boxer? I asked.
"I don't see anything special about it, I understand it's not the usual thing that Jews are supposed to do; it does not fit the stereotype. What I'm doing is out of the box, but I feel proud of it. For me it is the right thing to do." Salita has been boxing for seven years he says. He originally started out with Karate, but with the encouragement from his older brother Michael he moved onto boxing: "My brother told me to try it out, so I went to City Boxing Club in Brooklyn and I was hooked from day one."
I asked Dmitry how the other boxers, accept him as an observant Jew given the nature of the sport. "You have to understand, me being observant didn't happen over night; it took a long time. People ask about what they don't understand. Everyone accepts it."
So would you say you?re are an ambassador of traditional Jews? "Listen, Jews themselves have to be proud of who they are and their heritage and feel special. If you respect and understand your heritage it will make you respect other people more. It will make you a better person."
What made you want to learn about Judaism? "I realized that as a Jew it's my duty to learn about my religion, my past and do to what's in my ability. Look, my rabbi does more mitzvahs than I do, but I try to do my share."
Dmitry went on to tell me about the first tournament he participated in after he began observing the Sabbath. "I was in Mississippi for the U.S. championships and they changed the times for me, so I could observe the holy day. Then on the morning of the fight, which was Saturday, I had to sign a paper saying I was OK for the fight. I told the lady, I said, 'I can't sign that'. Everybody kind of heard about me and that I can't fight and were a bit annoyed, so the lady said: 'What, you can't even sign this paper?' And this Latin guy who was standing near by, told me, 'don't apologize to her. Do what you have to."
Dimity went on to win the U.S. Championship. The papers he did end up signing were autographs for fans.
What is your day like? "I get up in the morning and pray, then I go jogging, go study with a rabbi in Brooklyn, then work out. Boxing requires a 24-hour-a-day commitment."
What was the last thing you studied? "We are going over the Tanya book for the second time. In the last chapter we read about the Alta Rabbe and the 19th of Kislev, the day he was released from the Russian prison, that day was declared Rosh Hashanah for Chassidim."
You were born in the Ukraine, did you observe Judaism there? "We didn't know anything, accept that we were Jewish. There was no freedom of religion during those years."
Do you follow the news from Israel? "Yea, I can only express my opinion as a Jew. It's terrible that the Jewish people have to suffer. After all the past. I pray that things will get better. I have some family there."
Salita's next HBO fight will take place on February 1st. Don't miss it. Don't even be late, because if you're a few minutes late it might be over. -end-
Elie Seckbach is an award winning journalist.

Other stories

****
ONE ON ONE WITH SACRAMNETO'S CHRIS WEBBER:
Last time we were in Los Angeles we got mooned by 15 Clipper fans!

Just a small amount of C-4 explosives packs a pretty big punch. In fact less than a pound of it could potentially take out several people, and C-4 weighing about 1.25 pounds (half a kilo) could easily demolish a truck.
Chris Webber, C-4, of the Sacramento Kings weighs about 245 pounds...

When I caught up with Sacramento's superstar he was in the midst of getting ready for the Kings big game against the World Champions Lakers.
Webber was sitting by his locker, placing tickets into envelops. There were at least 90 tickets there, while the entire area in front of him was covered with envelops.
In between C-Webb was talking on his cell phone, assuring his loved ones and friends they were set. As he took a break I sat down beside him and asked: So what�s the toughest part about getting ready for tonight�s game?
�Hardest part? well I'd say it's getting all these tickets to people.�
Do you feel the tension in the air? playing in Los Angeles?
�I sense the tension, last time we were in L.A. we got mooned by 10, 15, Clipper fans. This was as our bus was leaving the arena. It was funny but it showed us how much we are appreciated here.�
Is that upseting?
"Not at all, years ago I learned to enjoy the booing, from my high school to my college days. It�s a kind of motivation, at times I find myself encouraging the booing, I don�t mind it at all.�
I switched gears and asked Webb what would you do if you won the lotto tomorrow, lets say 250 million-dollars?
Before the All Star had a chance to answer, his teammate, Bobby Jackson yelled out:
"He already has 250 mil,,, he got a 127,000,000 contract."
and the entire locker room broke out into a roar.
Still Webber went on to answer:
�If I had a championship? and I won the lotto? I�d move to Yugoslavia, grow a beard like Vladi, and live out my life on one of the mountains. Lets put it this way, if I won the lotto I�d make a lot of other people happy.�
Who was your favorite hero growing up?
�Basketball wise? There were many, Magic, Moses Malone, Bird, Barkley, I liked the Detroit Pistons as a team.�
Hey C-Webb what's the craziest Christmas gift you've ever received?
�I once got cooking wear and I don�t cook. Someone gave me a mixer, I don�t know how to mix, not cake batter, not mashed potatoes, I don�t cook.�
Last, can I ask you what was the last movie you saw?
�I saw Drumline. I was forced to go see it and it was pretty good, not by choice, usually PG movies don�t rock my boat, but it was cool.�
-End-
====
The Boston Celtics -
Ricky "The Posterizer" Davis: "Cleveland is a joke and will always stay a joke!"
Also Vin Baker on loosing weight and Mike James is learning Hebrew. Exclusive.

Boston's Celtics guard Ricky Davis is one of the most exciting players to watch.
At only 6-foot-4 he is a high-flying act that has the ability to dunk the ball in anyones face. When he steps on the court it's like watching the Harlem Globetrotters.
"I like to have fun. I fly. I've seen it so much, it is not like I go home and watch myself. That's just me." He told me during a recent interview.
Nicknamed by his fans "The Posterizer", just ask Dallas Mavericks Stave Nash who last season was victimized by Davis in one of the most talked about dunks of all times.
Davis was running down the open court when Nash stood in the key to take a charge. Davis, lifted off from the corner of the free-throw-line soaring way above Nash, slammed that baby home in a monster jam. Leaving Nash dumbfounded.
The dunk impressed Kings Center Brad Miller so much, that he considers it the best move of last season: "He never even touched Nash, that was the best."
Clippers center Melvin Ely considers Davis on of the leagues' best leapers.
"Ricky Davis is up there, he can just take off any place and time, when he's on the court you got to keep an eye on him."

Davis a six-year veteran started the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers but found himself a Celtic a month in half into the season.
He was not surprised about the trade:
"For over a year I was expecting it, I knew it was coming. This is a good move for me, a good experience, you know the Celtics are a great team."
As the Celtics visited Los Angeles to play the Lakers I stopped in their locker room. The atmosphere in there was so tense, you could cut it with a knife.
Each player was sitting by his locker not saying a word. It was one of the quietest locker rooms in the league second only to the San Antonio Spurs.
Ricky, just a few weeks ago you were here with Cleveland and the traveling Lebron Circus, now you're with Boston, difference of day and night...
"Here it is very business like, guys are serious, they are down to business. We know what we need to do and how to do it... Cleveland was a joke, and will always be a joke. I like it here a lot. "
Before Davis could say another word, his teammate, Marcus Banks, turned to Davis:
Do you like me Ricky?
Davis looked at Banks, smiled and replied:
"I don't like him - I like JJ (Jermain Jones)."
I went on asking: Today you are going up against Kobe Bryant how tough is it to play him?
"Tough? it's not tough, it's a walk in the park, that's just what I do."
What would you say to your fans?
"Just keep on watching, I'll give you highlights baby."
Vin Baker - Another Celtic who has been playing great as of late is Center Vin Backer, who is raising lots of eyebrows. Who looks like a new person.
Vin, you've lost a lot of weight, what's the secret? "No secret here. Just working out all summer, taking care of myself, that's basically it ... Just working out."
But people don't even recognize you...
"Well, I did get my quickness back, so that helps. I've just been working hard, trying to get better." Off the court Backer is known for being an avid singer, his dad was a preacher ran the church choir and Vin sang for him.
Do you still sing? "Right now I'm subject to shower singing..."
Have you had a chance to watch American Idol?
"I've watched it a few times, it's a good show, but some of the people on there are nasty though... can't sing at all."
If you tried out, what do you think Simon Cowell would tell you? "He'd get me off the stage in a heart beat. Ha ha ha."

Mike James - Boston Globe's beat writer who covers the Celtics is Shira Springer. Though she's been doing her job for six years she looks, at the most, 16-years-old.
While in the locker room Springer told me that starting point guard Mike James is learning Hebrew! With no hesitation I turned to James and asked:
Why Hebrew of all languages, it's only used in Israel? "Well", replied James, "It is the original language of the bible - before you can understand the work of god you have to understand the original text."
James is part of a growing trend in the NBA, other players who are into learning Hebrew are Knicks Allen Houston and Charlie Ward, as well as Sac Kings Lawrence Funderburke.
"Yea we have the same spiritual following - I know where they're coming from, our beliefs are similar we are pretty religious guys who want to study the bible in the way it was written."
What have ya learned so far? "Shalom, Ma Nishama (Hello, how are you). Actually my wife, she's very good with the alphabet, me, myself, I'm just starting to get into it."
Is it a tough language?
"Oh man. Extremity tough - I would say it's a very tough language, the words have meanings and also tell a picture. Also it is hard to just read it... in English we real left to right, while Hebrew you read right to left, you have train yourself ."
So Mike, soon you'll be able to talk trash on the court and get a way with it...
"Not really, as you know Elie, the bible has no bad words in it, so I could be praying or blessing someone and still get a tech."

Elie Seckbach Embedded NBA Correspondent
===
Hollywood Stars Turn to Zion -
For the first time since the current Intifada began some two years ago Hollywood actors are coming out in support of Israel. The thunderous silence has been broken.
If you watch the FOX News Channel you may have noticed one Jewish entertainer who always comes out in support of Israel, using his razor sharp tongue lashing out at the Palestinians and their sympathizers. I'm referring to none other than Jackie Mason.
"For many generations Jews all over the world have suffered from anti-Semitism and now when Israel gets up to defend itself all types of Arabs and those who hate Israel get up to condemn saying Israel is the aggressor."
Mason, who speaks at the speed of 500 word a minute, went on: "Israel has been attacked hundreds of times, and after each attack, they tell her now's the time for a cease-fire, so that she could not answer her attackers. And then there are people who are liars, sick in their head, who just disgust me. They blame Prime Minister Sharon saying he has a personal problem with Arafat. That he's a war monger. That is a straight-out lie. Israel wants peace."
Mason also had some strong words for reporters who side with the Palestinians: "They look and try to sound so intellectual, with their round glasses. Maybe they can look good and dress fashionable with nice ties and all, but they don't have one drop of intelligence, they simply make me sick."
To date Mason has been the only entertainer brave enough to take a stance and stand up for the righteous. Well, until now that is. Recently I had the opportunity of interviewing a hand full of Hollywood actors on the issue of Israel, Palestinian terrorism, and more. This was just weeks after the Los Angeles Times tried locating Jewish actors willing to support Israel for a story they were doing about Jews, Hollywood and Israel, but they weren't able to find anyone willing to go on the record.
Jon Voight: We all should be supporting Israel
Chabad's main-man, Oscar winner Jon Voight, started off by telling me, "You know, we all should be supporting Israel at this time." Speaking with such enthusiasm, one would think he had just made aliya. "I can't help but wonder who would be the next (victim). I feel complete outrage for anyone who could make excuses for this barbarism, and I feel complete content at anyone who is not intelligent enough to see that this propaganda in the media painting the Palestinians as poor victims, is capable of destroying the state of Israel."
Voight then went on: "We are witnessing a new type of Holocaust. We as American Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, whatever our religion, should express outrage and demand the truth be heard. The Palestinian radicals have only one prayer on their lips, and it's to kill and rid every Jew, young and old, from the state of Israel."
He also had a message for the people in Israel. "I pray to God for intervention, to please save his chosen people."
I asked Voight if he's ever been to Israel. "Once. it was for a very short visit, I was there less than 24 hours. You know the history of the country. It's been at war since its conception. The people there need all our love."
So many within the Hollywood community have been extremely quiet. What made you want to take a stance? "I am always someone who wants to be there for people. It's my natural instinct to try and do something."
Chris McDonald: Everyone's heart is broken
Chris McDonald who played 'Shooter McGavin' in the family friendly comedy Happy Gilmore and who's recently starred in the children's summer blockbuster "Spy Kids 2 told me with me what he thinks of the current situation. "These acts of terrorism by the Palestinians is unforgivable. It's hard for me to put into words how Hollywood feels about it."
What's you first reaction when you hear of these attacks? "I pull my hair out, staring at the people who conceive of doing that, killing innocent people. And it's fanaticism, and that's all I can think about. I pray for peace."
McDonald explained what prompted Hollywood to get involved. "I think everyone's heart is broken. The world is a very fragile place right now and the hot seat is in the Middle East. Everyone wants to see an end to the violence. Now it's at a peak, so Hollywood's taking a stance."
Have you ever thought of visiting Israel? "I've been to Israel. I was a college student there in the 70's. It's a beautiful place and I hope it stays that way."
Tom Arnold: We are very pro-Israel
Actor, author, director, producer, talk show host Tom Arnold, told me right off the bat: his mother's maiden name was Cohen. "Growing up, I thought I was the only Jewish kid in Ohio" he said with a smile.
As for his feelings on the Mideast crisis, Arnold does not shy away from controversy. "We're frustrated like they are. In my opinion you get the hard-liners out from both sides, and then you work it out. Israel needs to be safe and the Palestinian people need to have a life. But the hard-liners on both side are frustrating lots of Americans.
"We want peace there, it's so important. We are very pro-Israel. It's just like our country when the hard-liners are involved we are in trouble too."
Carlos Bernard: We are all affected
Carlos Bernard from the action packed television series 24 told me why he sympathizes with Israeli terror victims. "I think we are all affected by it. Although it's happening overseas, it is something that happened in our country. Israel is experiencing September 11th every week, and we got a taste of it I think we are starting to understand what's going on there."
I asked Carlos how come other actors don't come out in support of Israel? After thinking for a long minute he replied: "In the grand scheme of things being on TV is not such a big deal when you're talking about these kind of stuff."
Jaime Pressly: Friends in Bnei Brak
I asked Jaime Pressly, a popular teen actress, if she ever watches the news: "Are you kidding? absolutely."
What goes through your mind when you hear of people sitting at a coffee shop or ridding a bus and never come home? "The same thing that goes through everyone's mind, I'm sad for the people, and my heart goes out to them."
Pressly added she has friends in Israel. "They live in the city of Bnei Brak, the most orthodox city in Israel, and thank God there were no attacks there. But I worry about them."
Maybe now that the non-Jewish stars have been brave enough to come out, the Jewish ones will see the light and understand that it's alright to say the right thing without feeling guilty or shameful. Leave it to Jackie Mason to sum it best. "Jews have an identify complex, their biggest fear is that someone would know they were Jewish." -end-
Elie Seckbach is an award winning journalist
*****

Features:

"HOOK ME UP PLAYER" A BOOK BY NBA'S LAWRENCE FUNDERBURKE.

WWW.HOOKMEUPPLAYER.COM

Among those Funderbuke has interviewed for the book you can find, NBA stars such as Chris Webber, Gary Trent, Baseball players, Football players, as well as journalists from HBO Sports, ESPN and even NBA Correspondent Elie Seckbach.

Fundu says the goal of his new book is not to discourage young people from trying to make the jump to the pros, but to help them see the value in broadening their options to include other professions that may be just as lucrative and could be more rewarding.

Who is the book intended for?

"Hook Me Up, Playa! will appeal to athletes and non-athletes, to sports fans and non-sports fans, to parents and to people who have no children.
In short, there is something here for every one no matter what their interests!

What prompted you to write it?

"I was inspired by my own experiences as a young man, a college athlete, a college graduate, a professional athlete, a business man, and a community activist with others, especially young people.
My hope is that they will learn from both my mistakes and my triumphs.

*****
Ilan Ramon - Israel's first astronaut 1954 - 2003.

In August of 1999 I had the privilege of interviewing Ilan Ramon for the leading Radio station Israel National News. This was one of the first interviews Ramon gave the media, a short time after it was announced he was going to be Israel's first astronaut. Back then Ramon was new to the US, working out at Johnson Space center in Houston preparing for his mission as a payload specialist.

Prior to the interview I knew Ramon was a war hero, I knew he was Col. in the Israeli Army and that he had earned citations for heroism in the 1973 Yom Kippur was and the 1982 Peace in Galilee operation.
So it's easy to imagine why I was expecting to meet someone who was 6'5 weighting 230.
To my surprise Ramon was no more than 5'9 weighing 155.
From the get go he was a very charming person, he was friendly, with no ego and had a great sense of homer.
Aren't you a little small to be an Astronaut?
Ramon smiled and replied:
"Maybe now I'm only 5'9, but when I'll be up in space I'll be the tallest Israeli in history, so I don't have any problems with that."
Ramon then told me that his childhood dream was to be a bus driver or an ambulance driver, growing up in Israel, he said he never even thought of space exploration.
"That option did not exist over there, now it's there, this shows anyone can become an astronaut."
In 1997 Ramon was approached by a team of researchers from the Tel Aviv university who asked if he would be interested in becoming an astronaut, conducting research for the university in space.
Ramon who graduated TAU in 1982 with a degree in electronics and computer engineering, laughed off the suggestion at first, but then he recovered soon enough to answer: "Sure, I'll try it."
"I was very surprised and excited." Ramon recalled. "I don't know anyone who would turn such an offer down."
At first he did not tell anyone, not even his close family. That was the type of person he was very humble. "Because in the early stages you can get cut from the space program in a blink of an eye."
Only later, once he knew he made it did he tell his family and friends and everyone was proud of him. He told me how he would work hard at the Johnson space center.
"From the early morning to late at night we do simulations. It is very expensive to do practice missions so all we can do is simulate."
Ramon who was not a religious person made a point to say that it space he would only eat kosher food:
"The fact is that I will only eat kosher food in space. All mission food is made in a laboratory, and it comes in a vacuum bag, all gray and in a square shape. If it wasn't for the tag on the outside, you wouldn't know what it was until you tasted it."
During the training he has gotten to know "all the astronauts you see on TV" he said. He was especially happy to meet, Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, an American Jewish Astronaut who has been to space five times.
"Jeffry is a great man."
(Hoffman is the second Jew to fly into space for the America space program. The first, DR. Judith Resnick, was among the seven people who died in the tragic 1986 Challenger.)
During his stint in the US Ramon had traveled across the world visiting Jewish communities wherever he went. He had observed that an Israel Astronaut was a source of pride for all Jews: "I'm very happy about that" he said.
He set himself a mission to connect between the Jews around the world and the citizens of Israel.

Back in 1999 He did not know if would wear Tfillin in space, but he knew he wanted to do something special: "I want to do something that will mean something to all Jews. From all traditions and streams. From orthodox to secular. All of the world's Jews are one people." When he went up to space, he took with his a little Tora, a Mezoza, and a kiddish cup and a picture drawn by a child who murdered in a concentration camp during the holocaust (the picture was the view of the world looked upon from the moon.)

****
Shaq's Heart of Gold -

One night 10-year-old Christopher, an African American kid from Los Angeles, went out to play basketball. When he came home he didn't feel good and was taken to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. That nighet his life has changed forever - doctors diagnosed Chris with a rare disease (a form of meningitis that hits people 1 out of 100,000. To save his life they had to amputate both his arms and legs.
In less then 24 hours the child went from being a regular kid to a person who would need 24 hour care for the rest of his life.
What makes this case ever worse is that chirs has no parents, his biological father died when he was just one year old and his mother is not able to take care of him.
This case happened in Feb. 2001. Chris was released from the hospital in May and I produced a TV story about him for CBS News.
Despite his condition Chris was able to keep a great scense of humor.
What do you like to eat Chris? I asked and he replied:
"I love Pizza."
How about ice cream?
"Yea."
What about Cabasa?
"Noooo, that's nasty."
Chirs told me that when he was in the hospital he received a special visit from Shaquille O'Neal -
"Shaq came and I was sleeping, he woke me up... I opened up my eyes and saw him standing over me."
Chris then went on: "He was real nice, but he looked tired, the policeman that brought him told me that Shaq didn't feel good that night."
What do you think about Shaq?
"He's a pretty good basketball player, he's real tall and heavy too."
After that visit Shaq bought the youngster a brand-new van, one which will be adequate
to a wheelchair, with DVD's tv video priced at about $100,000 dollars. Shaq doesn't only play like a champion he acts like one too.
Chris has a long way to rehabilitation, he still doesn't realize yet what happened to him and how will he manage the rest of his life.
He can't do anything on his own, not eat no drink not even move his wheelchair.
I asked other Lakers what they though of Shaq's actions: Bryan Show told me he heard about the case but had no idea about the severity of the
situation.
"Shaq told me he bought a car for a sick kid, but I had no idea it was that bad, wow."
Mark Madson added "I had no idea."

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