ames

THE DETR O I T JE WIS H N EW S

MACCABI

10

ALAN HITSKY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

page 3

Sitting in the arena tunnel Sunday, the
Detroit athletes laughed about the bus ride.
Jennie Bello complained (anonymously, she
said) about the softball team being singled
out to sit on the floor of one of the crowded
buses.
The following day, Jennie and Jill Gold vol-
unteered to fast pitch for their team for the
first time in their young softball careers. A
New Jersey athlete, scheduled to be on loan
to the Detroit team, became sick last week
and was hospitalized. The substitute pitch-
ers were hit hard, but did not complain.
Golfer Derek Sanders told a reporter to
"put in a good word" about the Maccabi
games. "Say something nice," he said. "I'm
excited about being here."
Sanders, captain of the Detroit Maccabi
golf team, "is what Maccabi is all about,"
Coach Matt Lester said.

"Three years ago, Derek was a little kid, Jay headed the Detroit organizing commit-
not very strong. Now he's a leader and a sol- tee in 1990 and is a Detroit Maccabi Club
id player. He looks out for the new kids and board member.
The Reitblat family now lives in New Jer-
just goes with the flow. That's why he's our
sey. As Hanan grinned and danced around
captain," Lester said.
Softball player Melanie Stein already had the athletes Sunday at the arena, his moth-
er Rima said, "He is a Maccabi baby.
traded four or five Detroit pins before
We are here with Detroit because we
the opening ceremonies began. She
kept her growing collection in a plas- And they're feel a part of this."
Other young delegates at the
tic bag. Asked how many pins were
off! The
games were Leah Spokojny, 10, and
needed to acquire a coveted Israeli
team emblem, Melanie said, "It took 200mm run Lauren Tucker, 6. Jill Spokojny is
more than just one or two Detroit gets under vice president of the Detroit Maccabi
Club and husband Tony was official
way.
pins."
videographer for the Detroit team
Hanan Reitblat had a wonderful
during the games. All three Spo-
time throughout the games. Hanan,
6, was born four days before the opening cer- kojnys helped entertain Lauren Tucker while
her father, Andy, coached Detroiter Erin
emonies of the 1990 games in Detroit.
His father was head of the Russian dele- Kaufman in the gymnastics competition.
While Leah Spokojny sang and giggled
gation at the 1990 games, and the family re-
mains close with Jay and Barbara Robinson. with swim coaches Herb and Dena Bernstein

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