The Sports Page
SPONCORE
„,
DEViNN-
S
L
All In The Family
Generations
Bridged
Dad, two sons celebrate Harrison's
state football title.
Residents of Meer
Apartments in West
Bloomfield helped Detroit
children as part of an
Steve Stein
Special to the Jewish News
outreach effort. Shown
are, above left, Meer
resident Helen Friedman
I
t couldn't have been a better high
school football season last fall for
Billy Slobin and his family.
Slobin was a volunteer assistant
coach and his sons Steve and Jake
Slobin were both starters on the
Farmington Hills Harrison team that
went undefeated in 14 games en route to
the Division 2 state championship.
"It was terrific, special, emotional and
much more to have all of us on the same
team at my alma mater winning the state
title,' said Billy Slobin, who has been the
Hawks' volunteer strength and condition-
ing coach for 26 years.
Senior Steve Slobin was a two-year
starter at tailback.
He gained 624 yards and scored eight
touchdowns as a junior, and had 341
yards and three touchdowns as a senior
before suffering a torn ACL in his right
knee the first time he touched the ball in
Harrison's opening-round playoff game
against visiting Birmingham Brother Rice.
"I caught a flare pass, made a cut and
the knee just gave out:' he said.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder played
briefly in the state championship game,
Harrison's 38-28 victory over defend-
ing state champion Lowell on Nov. 26 at
Ford Field in Detroit.
He's continuing to rehabilitate the knee
and plans to play college football next
fall at a Division II, Division III or NAIA
school while studying pre-law.
"I think Steve has dreamed about
playing college football since he was
born," his father said.
Sophomore Jake Slobin (6-0, 225)
started at offensive guard for Harrison.
He blocked for his older brother and the
Hawks' other offensive weapons.
Hawk Tradition
Thanks to their father's longtime involve-
ment at Harrison, both boys have had
the Hawks' green-and-gold blood in their
veins since they were quite young.
Harrison is one of the state's most
storied high school football programs.
Even though their victory over Lowell
ended a state championship dry spell that
stretched from 2001, the Hawks have now
won 13 state titles.
Billy Slobin is a senior vice president
at Southfield-based Capital Mortgage
Funding. He donates much of his spare
36 January 20 2011
DeVinney Czarnecki
Physical Therapy
5839 W. Maple • Suite 100
W. Bloomfield
248-851-6999
www.dcptonline.corn
posing with some of her
new friends from Wilkins
Elementary and below
left, resident Gerry Levy
getting to know some of
the students.
Jake and Steve Slobin
time to guiding Harrison players through
off-season and in-season workouts.
He does more than strengthen the play-
ers physically. He also tries to strengthen
them mentally and socially.
"I do my best to help them make
smart choices outside of football, like
taking their studies seriously:' he said.
"I'm very aware of the dangers and
travails kids face nowadays; and I think
it's important for the players to know
there's someone outside their own fam-
ily who cares about them."
Besides working with Harrison play-
ers in the weight room, he has coached
several in the Farmington Rockets youth
football program.
Perfect Season
Billy Slobin can't heap enough praise on
the 2010 Harrison state championship
team, which beat eventual Division 1
state champion Lake Orion during the
regular season, and had to plow through
powerhouses Brother Rice, Warren De
La Salle and Rochester Adams to get a
shot at Lowell.
"These kids were very talented',' he
said. "But I told them constantly that the
only reason they'd lose is if they were
outworked, and their commitment to the
weight room was second to none. They
were as hard working as any team I've
worked with at Harrison:'
Billy Slobin played center for
Herrington at Harrison in the 1978 and
1979 seasons. The Hawks were a corn-
bined 12-6 those years, but neither team
made the state playoffs during a time
when the playoff field was much smaller
than it is today.
Billy and Tracy Slobin and their sons
live in Franklin. rl
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Take Your Kids To 'The 0'
Farmington Hills-based JARC is
partnering with the NBA's Cleveland
Cavaliers for a daylong experience in
Cleveland on Sunday, Feb. 27.
The day includes luxury motor coach
transportation to the Cavaliers' practice
facility where parents and kids will enjoy
lunch and an afternoon of playing bas-
ketball and games.
Next stop is Quicken Loans Arena
("The Q") for a tour, dinner, access to the
owner's suite and prime tickets to the
Cays vs. Philadelphia 76ers game. The
evening will conclude with a sendoff and
a return to Detroit at about 10:45 p.m.
Event chairs are David Carroll and
Jeff Eisenshtadt. Space is limited to
50 people. Ticket price is $1,000 per
parent/child team; additional children
$500. Proceeds to JARC, which supports
people with disabilities.
Contact Rena Friedberg at (248) 538-
6610, x314, or renafriedberg@jarc.org.
Journey Through Cancer
Join facilitator Jodie Jacobs, LMSW, for
inspiration, support and encouragement
on the second and fourth Wednesdays
of each month at Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield. Next dates are 5-6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Feb. 9 and 23.
This is a drop-in group for those
18 and older that have been recently
diagnosed, are in treatment or have just
completed treatment
Registration is required. RSVP 48
hours in advance to attend.
Contact the Robert Sosnick Family
Life Center at (248) 661-5700 or
rsflc@temple-israel.org.
ASK A Survivor
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield hosts
Adults Seeking Knowledge (ASK) from
noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb.14, with
Martin Lowenberg, Holocaust survivor
and local artist.
Lowenberg began his training in crafts
and design while living in Europe. World
War II broke out, and Martin, at age 13,
was sent to a German concentration
camp, the first of five he endured in four
years of captivity. After liberation in 1945,
he immigrated to the United States.
Over the years, hehas continued to
perfect his skills at designing and creating
the jewelry, metallic creations and Judaica.
His work can be found in museums, syn-
agogues and many private collections.
During February, Temple Israel's
Goodman Family Judaic & Archival
Museum will feature his work.
The $5 cost includes lunch. RSVP by
Monday, Feb. 7.
Contact Cheryl Weberman at (248)
661-5725 or cheryl@temple-israel.org .
Magic Hugs
Magic Hugs squares are tiny blankets
(12-inch knitted squares) that are
wrapped around Beanie Babies and
delivered to children in area hospitals.
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield will be
collecting Magic Hugs squares and NEW
Beanie Babies throughout February.
Magic Hugs Squares: Due to possible
wool allergies, squares must be made
with non-wool fibers only.
Tools: Size 10.5 or 11 knitting needles,
darning needle or crochet hook.
Supplies: Leftover worsted weight
(non-wool) yarn. Mix-and-match colors
or just use one.
1.Cast on 40 stitches, or enough to
measure 12 inches once knitted.
2.Create a stitch pattern, if you wish,
and knit enough rows to measure 12
inches.
3.Bind off.
4.Cut yarn, leaving a three-inch tail to
weave in with darning needle or crochet
hook.
Questions? Contact Michelle
Lichtman at michelle@temple-israel.org
or (248) 661-5700.