Saturday night lights: IFL teaches Jerusalem what real football is
Jerusalem may be holy to at least three major religions, but when it comes to American tackle football, loyalties are split only two ways: the Jerusalem Blue Sun Music Kings, newcomers to the two-year-old Kraft Family Israel Football League, and the Jerusalem Big Blue Lions, who won the championship in the inaugural 2007-2008 season - and almost repeated their victory this 2008-2009 season at the Israel Bowl II last Friday afternoon.
The Kings' first season looked like something their Sacramento hoop-loving namesakes might churn out, with one victory and seven losses in the regular season. Yet when playoff time came around, they turned on the heat, making it to the semifinal game, where they lost to the Modi'in Dancing Camel Pioneers, last year's cellar dwellers. The Lions, on the other hand, ground out a five-win regular season and made it into the championship game, defeating perennial favorites Real Housing Haifa Underdogs in the semifinal game.
That game was called the most outrageous finish in IFL history, as the Lions, down 12 with five minutes to go, somehow pulled a victory out of their hat with two touchdowns sandwiched by a huge defensive stop.
A dynasty building repeat wasn't in the books, though. The finals, held last week in front of a large crowd at Jerusalem's Kraft Family Stadium (both the league and the stadium are named for New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, a big Israel supporter), saw Modi'in defeat the Lions in double overtime with a 60-yard interception return, a fitting end to a crazy season.
The football league is the second Boston-based attempt to bring American sports to Israel. Larry Baras' Israel Baseball League, which did not have a Jerusalem team, all but folded in 2008 because of money problems, despite a stable of professional-level players and an international fanbase (there is also a flag football league aimed at American yeshiva students played at the stadium). With its annual Passover training camp set to start tomorrow, and a growing base of loyal fans, the IFL ought to enjoy a long and fulfilling life. American expats desperate for Sunday gridiron action are learning that the IFL's Friday and Saturday games can be just as fun. While the players are culled from a decidedly smaller talent pool than say, any one Texas high school, they give their all and put on an entertaining, Divison III college-level show.
Jerusalem didn't win this time around, but the fans certainly did.
Photo of Jerusalem Lions victory over Mike's Place Tel Aviv Sabres courtesy Jay L. Abramoff/American Football in Israel.
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