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LIVING
A 'Souper' Matzo Bowl
The "Mossad" team, the Yiddish Footba II League's Matzo Bowl champs, show-
ing off their "trophies" of chicken broth and matzah, are Bruce Ruben, Rocky
Pemple, Marc Ruben, Steven Bell, David Zeitlin and Scott Farnick.
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26
December 22 • 2011
Steve Stein
Contributing Writer
56, are the league's elder statesmen.
The Ruben brothers, who live in West
Bloomfield, made up one-third of the
he Matzo Bowl isn't the Super
Team No. 3 roster along with fellow
Bowl, but for the guys who
West Bloomfield resident Zeitlin, joined
play touch football in the
by Steven Bell, Scott Farnick and Rocky
Yiddish Football League, it might as
Pemple from Commerce Township.
well be.
Bruce Ruben was the team's captain.
The championship game of the
Team No. 3, which calls itself the
22-year-old league is called the Matzo
Mossad team after the international
Bowl, and this season, Team No. 3 won intelligence agency of Israel, went 8-2
it, beating Team No. 1 9-6. That's nine
during the regular season and beat two-
touchdowns to six touchdowns, by the time defending Matzo Bowl champion
way.
Team No. 2 in the playoff semifinals.
There was no storm of confetti
Team No. 1 beat Team No. 4 in the other
when the game ended, and the win-
semifinal.
ning team wasn't presented a trophy
Only the top four teams make the
on a huge stage. It won the tradi-
playoffs. The semifinals are played the
tional box of matzah. Lightly salted, of week before the Matzo Bowl.
course. Game MVPs Bruce Ruben and
Team No. 1 led the Matzo Bowl dur-
David Zeitlin also didn't win a trophy,
ing the first 60 minutes, but two defen-
but they did each take home a box of
sive stops by Team No. 3 helped it take
chicken broth that goes to the MVPs.
the lead, which it never relinquished.
Birmingham Groves High School
Team No. 3 had a rocky season in
is the site of the league's games.
2010 following the loss of legendary
They're played Sunday mornings
league quarterback Kevin Granader,
from September through December
a former Ohio State University base-
on grassy (sometimes muddy) fields,
ball player who moved to California
and at times on the turf field used by
because of a job opportunity.
Groves football teams, usually late in
The lawyer led Team No. 3 to three
the season when the weather isn't so
Matzo Bowl championships in seven
great.
years before his departure. But he may
The weather often hasn't been great
be winning more boxes of matzahs.
for the Matzo Bowl, played on the first
"We heard Kevin might be coming
Sunday in December. It isn't unusual
back:' Bruce Ruben said. "That would
for snow blowers to be brought in to
be great because our quarterback
remove snow from the field.
[Zeitlin] probably will have to retire
Games last for 90 minutes, run-
because of injuries."
ning time, with no halftime or quarter
Bruce Ruben, a physician, said he
breaks. The field is 50 yards long, with
loves playing in the league because
end zones that are 10 yards deep, and 20 "it's the focus of my recreational life'
yards are needed to pick up a first down. Before the start of each season, he goes
There are no referees. Calls are made
through a rigorous training regimen at
on the honor system, "and the guys are
West Bloomfield High School.
extremely honorable Ruben said.
"I have to get this old body in shape
Six teams of six players compete
for the season:' he said. "Two years ago,
each fall. While there is some player
I ran a 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. My
turnover, league commissioner Bob
dream is to catch a pass for the Detroit
Goldsmith does his best to keep the
Lions someday."
teams competitive, and he writes a
That would be a step back from
weekly newsletter that focuses on
winning the Matzo Bowl, but quite an
league results and other happenings.
accomplishment nonetheless.
Players are in their 20s through 50s.
Ruben, 53, and his brother Marc Ruben, Send news to sports@thejewishnews.com .
T