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Do you like The
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Member Of Both
Lions And Tribe
Natural, Casual
& Delicious
Geoff Schwartz
Steve Stein | Contributing Writer
Y
es, he is.
New Detroit Lions offensive
lineman Geoffrey Isaiah “Geoff ”
Schwartz, a free agent who signed a one-
year contract with the team last week,
is Jewish. He’s one of only a handful of
Jewish players in the NFL and the first in
memory with the Lions.
Schwartz should be a big help to the
Lions on the field and in the locker room.
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound California native
can play both guard and tackle and he’s
respected for his positive attitude and
leadership.
He also should be popular in the
community, and not just the Jewish
community. He’s active on Twitter (@
GeoffSchwartz) and he has a podcast.
The son of a business consultant and an
attorney, Schwartz, 29, was raised in Los
Angeles in a Conservative Jewish house-
hold, went to Hebrew School and had a
bar mitzvah.
He played college football at Oregon
before being selected in the seventh
round of the 2008 NFL draft by the
Carolina Panthers. Schwartz played for the
Panthers (2008-2011), Minnesota Vikings
(2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2013) and
New York Giants (2014-2015) before join-
ing the Lions.
Perhaps the best way to meet Schwartz
and get a sense of his personality is to
read his list of random facts about being
a Jewish athlete he wrote for Sports
Illustrated at the beginning of Passover in
2013. Here’s part of what he wrote:
• Along with my brother Mitchell [an
offensive tackle who played then for the
Cleveland Browns and now is with the
Chiefs], we represented more than 20 per-
cent of the Jews in the NFL in 2012. I’m
proud to be a role model for young Jewish
kids and athletes, letting them know it’s
possible for them to reach their goals.
• We’re the first Jewish brothers to play
in the NFL since 1923.
• I don’t keep kosher. I love bacon,
cheeseburgers and pork chops.
• I carry my personal menorah on the
road and have lit Chanukah candles in my
hotel room the night before a game.
• Most of my peers are knowledgeable
about [Judaism]. However, I have gotten
some interesting questions, such as, ‘Do
you celebrate Thanksgiving?’ Yes, we do.
It’s an American holiday.
• Latkes are the most delicious treat
ever, especially when homemade.
CHABAD OPENING DAY
Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers always
is a special day on the calendar. This year,
the Tigers’ home opener at 1:08 p.m.
Friday against the New York Yankees
at Comerica Park coincides with erev
Shabbat.
The Chabad of Greater Downtown
Detroit is taking advantage of the calendar
coincidence. It’s hosting an Opening Day
tailgate party from noon to 7 p.m. for
those who have tickets to the game and
those who just want to soak in the atmo-
sphere downtown.
“We’re located only three-quarters of
a mile from Comerica Park at the corner
of Mack Avenue and Brush Street,” said
Rabbi Yisrael Pinson. “Thanks to a part-
nership with our neighbor, the Hospice
of Michigan, free parking is available for
those who register in advance.”
You read that correctly. Free parking.
On Opening Day. Kosher hot dogs and
beverages will be sold to make the day
even more festive.
The Chabad is hoping for some help
from tailgaters. It’s asking for volunteers
to clean and work the soil and plant in its
community garden and do spring yard
cleanup.
“We hope tailgaters will bring garden-
ing tools and flowers for planting,” Pinson
said. “If the weather isn’t good, we’ll move
the party indoors.”
A post-game, pre-Shabbat celebration
also is on the agenda. It includes a deejay,
snacks and a Shabbat candlelighting cer-
emony at 6:45 p.m.
To reserve a parking spot, go to
chabadtailgate.eventbrite.com. For infor-
mation on the tailgate party, call (313)
744-3770.
The Chabad is at 278 Mack Ave.
Hospice of Michigan is at 400 Mack.
*
Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
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April 7 • 2016
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