24 January 31 • 2019 jn Ex-Tigers Star Headlines Bagels & Bragging Rights T he Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation’ s Bagels & Bragging Rights event is open to the public for the first time, and the foundation has lined up an inter- esting speaker. Former Detroit Tigers pitching star and Detroit radio and televi- sion personality Denny McLain will speak Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. The free event will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include tours of the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Bob Matthews sports exhibit. An RSVP is required by calling foundation executive director Sari Circurel at (248) 592-9323 or send- ing her an email at Scircurel@ michiganjewishsports.org. Circurel said the event in the past was an invitation-only celebration for Hall of Fame inductees and Pillars of Excellence award winners. It still has that purpose, but now it has another one. “It’ s an opportunity for the public to learn in a casual setting what the foundation does in the community,” Cicurel said. “They’ ll learn about our events, and the money we raise for scholarships, cancer research and the Hall of Fame.” Circurel said she hopes to make Bagels & Bragging Rights an annual event, perhaps holding it in early fall. McLain, 74, is as well known for winning 31 games in 1968 and help- ing the Tigers win the World Series as he is for his off-field problems, which landed him in prison twice. He’ s a popular speaker these days, with more than 150 engagements annually. And he recently launched a podcast with former local sports- casters Eli Zaret and Bob Page titled “No Filter Sports.” There will be time for questions and answers after McLain speaks at Bagels & Bragging Rights. FIRST-HALF CHAMPS They’ re off and running in the sec- ond half of the Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson B’ nai B’ rith bowling league season. The first night of competition in the second half was Jan. 21. First half-winners were the Manute Bolers in the Pistons Division, the Dream Team in the Tigers Division, Pin Pals in the Red Wings Division and NeinandTenn in the Lions Division. Each half has 14 weeks of bowling in the weekly league. Three weeks of playoffs follow the second half. In the first week, the divi- sion winners in the first and second halves compete if needed. If a team wins both halves in its division, it gets a bye. That sets the stage for the final four competing in the second week of the playoffs and the two surviving teams playing for the league championship the next week. “Last year two teams won their division championship in the first and second halves, ” said league spokesman Gary Klinger. “That was rare. Usually we have zero or one team win both halves. ” The big story in the league this sea- son has been the scores. The league moved to the 300 Bowl in Waterford Township from Country Lanes in Farmington Hills, its home since 1986, and scores fell precipitously at the start of the season, mainly because the bowlers were unfamiliar with the lanes. “Scores started coming back up about halfway through the first half and they’ ve continued to climb, ” Klinger said. “But it’ s going to take a while for a lot of guys to get back to where they should be. Their averages were down 20 to 25 pins. ” Top first-half averages belonged to Mike Kolb (218), Aaron Radner (218), Dave Shanbaum (217), Klinger (217) and Phil Horowitz (214). Lyle Schaefer rolled a 300 game and Radner had a 792 series. ■ Send news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com. sports STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Synagogue Executive Director Beth Israel Congregation is looking for a dynamic and experienced manager to work at our active, egalitarian, community minded congregation of 450 membership units. The Executive Director, in partnership with the rabbis and lay leadership, is responsible for our facilities, program, membership services, resource development, Education Director Beth Israel is also looking for an Education Director who’s ready to and innovative.Awesome town, fun shul. We recently just had our long-time rabbi and long-time education director retire, so this is a great opportunity to start with a blank slate and create something new! Interested applicants should email jobs@bethisrael-aa.org with a cover letter and resume. For BOTH full job descriptions visit http://www.bethisrael-aa.org Great Job Opportunities at Beth Israel Congregation - Ann Arbor