{"id":15280,"date":"2019-09-19T14:11:09","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T14:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sportsrabbi.agpwebdesign.com\/?p=15280"},"modified":"2019-09-19T14:11:09","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T14:11:09","slug":"israel-preseason-basketball-week-3-demetrius-treadwell-interview-winner-cup-on-tap-maccabi-presser-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/israel-preseason-basketball-week-3-demetrius-treadwell-interview-winner-cup-on-tap-maccabi-presser-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel Preseason Basketball Week 3 – Demetrius Treadwell Interview, Winner Cup on Tap, Maccabi Presser & More!"},"content":{"rendered":"

1) The Winner Cup Preseason Tournament gets underway<\/strong> on Thursday with 3 games plus a Friday Matinee at the Drive-In. There will be plenty of interest to see how the teams will play being under a little more pressure than they were over the past few weeks with regular preseason contests. Now with something on the line, the players will step it up as they\u2019ll compete to win the trophy which Maccabi Rishon Le\u2019Zion captured last season.<\/p>\n

Maccabi Rishon Le\u2019Zion vs Nahariya
\nNes Ziona vs Maccabi Haifa
\nHapoel Beer Sheva vs Hapoel Gilboa\/Galil
\nHapoel Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Ashdod<\/p>\n

Next Week the quarterfinals begin on Monday and Tuesday with each evening hosting a doubleheader as Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusaqlem, Hapoel Holon and Hapoel Eilat all joining the dray at the Drive-In while the Semifinals will take place in Holon on Thursday. The Final will be played next Saturday night at the Drive-In.
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Dov Halickman Photography<\/p><\/div>
\n2) The Sports Rabbi spoke to Demetrius Treadwell<\/strong>, Hapoel Tel Aviv’s new center about basketball, shoes and of course how he got his Twitter handle Tall Ass Tree!<\/p>\n

Tall Ass Tree:<\/strong> I was 18 years old and I thought it was unique. It’s stuck with me ever since.<\/p>\n

Childhood Dreams:<\/strong> I wanted to be a chef when I was a child and playing basketball was never my goal. Basketball wasn\u2019t even my favorite sport growing up, I loved baseball player and Ken Griffey Jr. was my favorite athlete growing up. He had his hat on backwards and had that upper cut swing, I just loved his whole swagger. I got to meet him one time when he was with the Cincinnati Reds.<\/p>\n

Basketball role models:<\/strong> Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant but my favorite players were Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady.<\/p>\n

Playing with Akron College:<\/strong> We were winning and we were very competitive for a mid-major program. We had an amazing group of teammates and it was close to home.<\/p>\n

NCAA Tournament:<\/strong> One time we played we got killed. So it was an amazing experience to get there and it was a blessing that I had that chance.<\/p>\n

Arriving in Israel at the start of his career:<\/strong> Romeo Travis who is an Akron Alumni told me Israel was a great place to start my career and it was an easy adjustment. <\/p>\n

Playing in France for Nanterre:<\/strong> It was a good experience and we made it to the Final Four of the domestic league and Top 8 in the Champions League. Playing in Paris was great and we had great teammates and terrific chemistry.<\/p>\n

Returning to Israel:<\/strong> Coach Ariel told me right away that he wanted to bring me back here and I was one of the first guys to sign. I came to do something special here with Hapoel.<\/p>\n

About Hapoel Tel Aviv:<\/strong> We are aiming for the Sky. We want to win the State Cup and trying to be competitive in the league and win the title at the end of the season. We don\u2019t want to sell ourselves short. <\/p>\n

Favorite shoe:<\/strong> Air Jordan 4 \u2013 Black and Red. I\u2019ve always got a nice pair of shoes on. That\u2019s my thing, I\u2019m a sneakerhead.
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Dov Halickman Photography<\/p><\/div>
\n3) Maccabi Tel Aviv held their season opening press conference<\/strong> and Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos stated in Hebrew the following when asked about the upcoming preseason tournament in Greece as well as the Winner Cup \u2013 \u201cWe want to win all of our games.\u201d Check out the other quotes from the Maccabi Tel Aviv Hall of Fame!<\/a>
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YouTube<\/p><\/div>
\n4) Don\u2019t miss the latest episode of The Sports Rabbi Show!<\/a><\/strong> The Sports Rabbi had the great honor to host Keith Dambrot<\/strong>, the head coach of Duquesne Dukes men\u2019s basketball team who also was LeBron James first coach at Akron JCC and then at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. We talk about college ball, his career, Akron, his current challenge and of course arguably the greatest player since Michael Jordan.<\/p>\n

Hapoel Tel Aviv\u2019s shooting guard Rodney Purvis<\/strong> also joined The Sports Rabbi to talk about his move to Israel after playing in the G-League and with the Orlando Magic as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv legend Anthony Parker. We also look back at his college days with NC State and UCONN and also his love for football and Michael Vick.<\/p>\n

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WHOA! Nick Ward takes down the whole basket in Israel for Hapoel Gilboa\/Galil! @IamNickWard<\/a> is an impact player from @MSU_Basketball<\/a> isn\u2019t he! pic.twitter.com\/aBT5L4wZnS<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) September 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n