JewishSportsCollectibles

Sports Illustrated Cover Jews

Updated April 4, 2013

Jewish sports collectors who want to build a library of Sports Illustrated issues with MOTs on the cover have more than two dozen items on their shelves.

Below is a (hopefully!) complete list of Jews on SI covers. Please note, this list includes athletes like David Beckham and Pete Sampras, who have Jewish heritage but may not themselves be practicing Jews. 

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Baseball  

 

Ron Blomberg
July 2, 1973

Ryan Braun
August 29, 2011
March 31, 2008

Sandy Koufax
March 4, 1963
April 13, 1964
December 20, 1965
May 15, 1967
July 12, 1999
October 9, 2006

Al Rosen
April 18, 1955

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Basketball


Art Heyman
October 28, 1963

Ernie Grunfeld
February 9, 1976

Jon Scheyer
April 12, 2010

Jamila Wideman
March 17, 1997

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Football

Lyle Alzado
July 8, 1991

Jay Fiedler
October 1, 2001

Robert Kraft
February 6, 2012

Art Modell
December 4, 1995 

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Hockey

Matthieu Schneider
June 14, 1993

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Soccer

David Beckham
July 16, 2007

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Tennis

Boris Becker
September 18, 1989

Pete Sampras

July 11, 1994
July 14, 1997
September 17, 1990

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Olympic Sports

Sarah Hughes
March 4, 2002

Aly Raisman
July 23, 2012

Mark Spitz
July 22, 1968
September 4, 1972

Suzy Weiner (with Mark Spitz)
May 14, 1973

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Other

Charles Goren (bridge) 
Oct. 14, 1957
May 23, 1960

Bob and Bus Mosbacher (sailing)
May 18, 1959

Toots Shor (restaurateur)
July 27, 1959

Howard Cosell (sportscaster)
August 8, 1983

Bar Refeali (swimsuit model)
February 11, 2009

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Did I miss any Jewish SI cover figures ? Disagree with any of the listings? Let JewishSportsCollectibles.com know by commenting below.

Visit Sports Illustrated's Classic Cover Collection if you're interested in buying photo reproductions of any of the above Sports Illustrated covers. eBay and Amazon.com are a good source for purchasing hard copies of SI back issues.

Zach Boren Attending NFL Combine, Appearing At Cleveland Auto Show

Zach Boren autographed photo.
Courtesy of JewishSportsCollectibles.com.

At least one Jewish collegiate football player -- Zach Boren, the fullback/linebacker from The Ohio State University Buckeyes -- will be attending the February 23-26 NFL Scouting Combine, after which he's schedule to sign autographs at the Cleveland Auto Show.

A tenacious blocker and stalwart defender, who was key in helping the Buckeyes to an undefeated season in 2012, Boren is the younger brother of Justin Boren -- a former Michigan transfer and OSU player.

An offensive lineman, Justin went undrafted in 2011 and has been signed by the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos, but has seen no game action.

Zach and Justin's father is former Michigan linebacker Mike Boren.

While their names have been absent from recent Jewish Sports Review football lists, the Boren family is Jewish, according to this article from Cleveland.com and Zack's Wikipedia page.

I met Zach during a December 16, 2012  appearance and autograph signing at Giant Eagle (a large chain of Midwest grocery stores) in Zach's hometown of Pickerington, Ohio. It was there that I obtained  the above signed photo of him standing over Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, who Boren blasted on a sack during the 2012 OSU/Michigan game.

During our brief conversation, I told Boren about JewishSportsCollectibles.com and asked him if I could feature him on the web site.

Zack said that while he didn't actively practice Judaism, “being on the website would make my elders proud.”

Jewish football enthusiasts have the opportunity to add numerous Boren photos to their collections.

Zach Boren running. Photo courtesy of Columbus Dispatch.

The Columbus Dispatch Photo Store offers a wide variety of images featuring Boren available for purchase. These include offense and defensive action shots, like the iconic image of Boren standing over Michigan quarterback Gardner from “The Game”), as well as more casual sideline shots of Boren with teammates.

Boren has been a regular on the signing circuit this winter in Central Ohio. He's done public signings at a variety of sports memorabilia stores, including Sports Possessions, and shows. For a complete list of Boren's past and future appearances, visit SigningsHotline.com or BuckeyeSignings.com.

Boren is scheduled to appear at the Cleveland Auto Show after the Combine on Tuesday, February 26 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Autographs at the show are limited to one per person and are not guaranteed.

Zach Boren autographs a picture in December 2012. Photo courtesy
of JSC.com.

Collectors who have the chance to meet Boren will likely come away from the experience pleased.

Boren was pleasant during our brief meeting at Giant Eagle in December. He took photos and chatted with fans throughout the time I observed him.

The same was true when I had occasion to meet Zach and Justin at a charitable function in 2009. The Boren Brothers each graciously signed OSU pocket schedules for me at that time.

Justin (l) and Zach Boren (r) signed OSU Football pocket schedules.
Photo courtesy of JSC.com.

Zach's 2012 autograph looks very similar to his 2009 signature.

Beyond the photos of Boren from the Columbus Dispatch, I know of no other collectibles for the versatile Buckeye .

Other items, including team programs, yearbooks, magazines, etc., must certainly exist.

A search of the OSU Official Online Store for Boren items yielded no results. The online shop does, however, offer collectors the ability to purchase a memorabilia suitable for getting autographed by Boren and other players, including a variety of 2012 undefeated season items.

If Boren performs well at the combine and sees action in the NFL -- where he'd join fellow Buckeye and Jewish football player Nate Ebner of the New England Patriots -- he'll likely be the subject of future football cards.

In the meantime, fans can follow Boren on Twitter. 

Do any JewishSportsCollectibles.com readers have any Boren memorabilia in their collections? Let JSC know by commenting below.

NFL Update: Patriots Nate Ebner is Jewish

Nate Ebner PhotoFile image.
Photo courtesy of eBay.

Nate Ebner, the New England Patriots defensive back, has confirmed to JewishSportsCollectibles.com via Twitter that he is Jewish.

 

A comment I received in response to the JewishSportsCollectibles.com 2012-2013 Football Preview indicated that Nate's late father, Jeff Ebner, was Jewish. That started me digging.

I learned that Jeff Ebner, was beaten to death in 2008 during a robbery at the scrap metal dealership he owned in Springfield, Ohio, according to WDTN-TV in Dayton.

Jeff Ebner was, according to his obituary in the Springfield News-Sun, a "former member of Temple Shalom where he was the former Sunday School principal." 

So, while Nate Ebner's father was Jewish, which alone is enough for me to include him here (let the arguments begin!), I didn't know for certain if Nate was raised Jewish, practices, or self-identifies as Jewish.

Ebner was never included in the list of Jewish collegiate football players published in Jewish Sports Review, for example.

Asking Ebner seemed to be a good way to solve the problem, so I reached out to him on Twitter.

Nate Ebner Twitter exchange.
Photo courtesy of JewishSportsCollectibles.com.

140 characters is certainly limiting, so my introduction and question to Ebner were short.

"I publish a blog about Jewish athletes and sports memorabilia. Safe to include you? Thanks!"

Ebner's response, was equally short, but informative, to a degree.

"Go for it!"

While Ebner's tweet doesn't fully answer all of my questions, his response certainly indicates that he publicly self-identifies as Jewish.

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As a late round draft pick and a rookie with fewer than a half-dozen games under his belt, as of this posting, Ebner's collectibles are limited.

Beckett.com lists no cards, yet, for the former Ohio State Buckeyes walk-on football player and internationally acclaimed rugby player.

Nate Ebner signed photo.
Photo courtesy of eBay.

OSUphotos is selling a photo of the Buckeyes taking the field, autographed by Ebner and inscribed "Go Bucks!" for $8.95 on eBay.

A 2012 OSU team signed helmet, which includes Ebner's autograph, is available on eBay

There are also several PhotoFile images, including the one at the top of this posting, of Ebner playing for the Pats up for bid.

Ebner had been scheduled to do a public signing a a Columbus card show in February, according to BuckeyeSignings.com, but it was cancelled.

Nate Ebner at OSU.
Photo by Jim Davidson,
courtesy of the-Ozone.net.

No past signings with Ebner are listed on SigningsHotline.com, and I found no Ebner memorabilia for sale at Cardboard Heroes, an Ohio memorabilia shop that offers autograph signings regularly with OSU athletes.

The OSU Memorabilia Store and the Ohio State Athletics Official Online Auctions site offers no Ebner collectibles, as of this posting.

Jewish football collectors can, however, find numerous photos of Ebner available for purchase on the Columbus Dispatch's OSU Photo Store. These images are suitable for autographs and getting framed. Prices vary by photo and size. 

Neither the Patriots online shop or PatriotsMemorabilia.com offer any Ebner memorabilia, as of this posting, but both are logical places to look for his items in the future. 

Nate Ebner, Rugby Magazine. Photo courtesy of OSUrugby.com. 

The Ohio State Rugby web site boasts a photo of Ebner on the cover of Rugby Magazine's Spring 2011 issue.

I could find no copies of it available for sale on eBay or Amazon.com, and RugbyMag.com doesn't appear to sell back issues.

Certainly other rugby memorabilia associated with Ebner -- a two-time IRB Junior World Championship MVP -- must exist. I could find none on USARugby.com, however. 

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Do you know of any additional Nate Ebners collectibles? Any rugby memorabilia? Do you have any Ebner memorabilia in your Jewish football collection?

Let JewishSportsCollectibles.com readers know by commenting below.

Ed Sabol, Founder of NFL Films

Goal Line Art Card of Ed Sabol, 2011 Hall of Fame inductee, founder of NFL Films. Photo courtesy of eBay.

With the death on Tuesday, September 18 of Steve Sabol (read JewishSportsCollectibles.com's remembrance of Steve Sabol here), I thought it an appropriate time to examine the collectibles of Steve's father, Ed Sabol.

The 96-year-old founder of NFL Films, 2011 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame has a wide variety of memorabilia available to Jewish football collectors.

Ed Sabol's football cards include a Goal Line Art Card (photo right), produced for each Football Hall of Famer as well as a Class of 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame special issue card set, produced by Panini, part of an eight-card set given away at the Hall of Fame on Induction Day.

Collectors can purchase the complete, unsigned 2011 Induction Class Goal Line Art Card set from the Football Hall of Fame's web store for $27.99.

Sabol's individual Goal Line Art card can be found on eBay for $10 for unsigned cards, with autographed cards selling for between $75-$100. Amazon.com sellers are offering authenticated and autographed Ed Sabol Goal Line Art Cards for $90-$165.

Ed Sabol Hall of Fame card. Photo courtesy
of eBay.

The elder Sabol is also featured on a 2011 Panini Timeless Treasures card (#10), with a sticker, standard card and autographed card varieties available, according to Beckett.com.

The limited edition Induction Day giveaway Panini cards sell for $1-$20 on eBay.

The unsigned Timeless Treasure sticker is available on Amazon.com for $0.39 and from the Panini sticker and standard card can be found in the Beckett Marketplace for $0.25-$2.10.

Ed Sabol HOF signed football.
Photo courtesy of ProFootballHallofFame.com.

The Football Hall of Fame web store offers a variety of Sabol memorabilia for purchase, including individual and Induction Class items. These include several Ed Sabol photos and plaques, single signed and group autographed footballs, an Induction pin and yearbook.

Ed Sabol signed HOF mini helmet.Photo courtesy
of Amazon.com.

A variety of mini helmets, bearing the NFL and Hall of Fame logos, autographed by Ed Sabol are available on eBay and Amazon.com.

My personal favorite, however, is more specialized mini helmet.

Ed Sabol graduated from The Ohio State University, where he was a varsity swimmer. According to Wikipedia, Sabol qualified for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, but refused to participate because the Games were being hosted by Nazi Germany.

In 2011, OSU's Wexner Center for the Arts honored Sabol before his Hall of Fame induction by screening a series of classic NFL Films.

An eBay seller with a deep appreciation of history is offering an OSU mini helmet signed by Sabol for $159.99.

Signed Ed Sabol HOF induction photo.
Photo courtesy of eBay.

A wide variety of other memorabilia is available on eBay. These include autographed and unsigned photos of Ed, and Ed with Steve Sabol, first day covers and cachets signed by Ed, autographed footballs and index cards, and Induction Day programs and ephemera. As always, buyer beware.

On Amazon.com, Jewish football collectors can also find a photo of Steve and Ed Sabol, signed by both men (certified by PSA/DNA), along with signed photos of Ed. 

Less personal Sabol collectibles include the thousands of NFL Films videos available on VHS tape and DVD. Nearly all of the films in the Football Hall of Fame's video store are NFL Films products. Amazon.com lists more than 2,000 NFL Films titles and eBay offers nearly 900.

What Ed Sabol memorabilia do you have in your Jewish football collection? Have you had the chance to meet the NFL Films founder? Share your thoughts with other JewishSporstCollectibles.com readers by commenting below.

Obituary: Steve Sabol, NFL Films

Steve Sabol of NFL Films.
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press.

"We merely watched football until Steve Sabol taught us how to really see it." 

So reads the caption to a photo of the former president of NFL Films in his obituary on Yahoo Sports, and a more fitting tribute, and truer words I could not think of.

Sabol died on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 after an 18-month battle with brain cancer. He was 69.

The son of Ed Sabol, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and founder of NFL Films, Steve Sabol was a cameraman, editor, producer, director and narrator, according to IMDB.com. He was involved with the production of thousands of projects.

"The sheer mass of the Sabols’ work is almost numbing," reports the New York Times. "Each year NFL Films processes around 1,000 miles of film into weekly football shows, web casts, highlight packages and more. Its film vault holds 100 million feet of game film, going back to Thomas Edison’s film of the 1894 Princeton-Rutgers game. It has ventured into commercials, rock videos and movies about men landing on the moon and the killings at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Published estimates of annual revenues of NFL Films exceed $50 million."

Sabol was the recipient of more than 40 EMMYs for his work, and NFL Films more than 100, according to Yahoo Sports.

He won dozens of other industry awards, including the Sporting News' 2002' "Sports Executive of the Year" the EMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and the Pete Rozelle Award for "outstanding contribution to the National Football League and to professional football," according to NFL.com.

"If someone were to ask me how would I define our job at NFL Films," said Sabol in a video about his work that was included with many of the online obituaries, "I'd say it is to bring a new understanding to something that's already been seen, to give a creative treatment to reality."

Sabol did just that, extremely capably. The NFL Films' style is unmistakable. It combines hard hitting action shots, extreme close-ups, multicamera slow motion replays, candid player commentary and orchestral music, along with the narrator's booming voice (often Sabol's own), to form a sort of ultimate highlight film that "evolutionized sports broadcasting and mythologized pro football," according to Sports Illustrated. 

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Jewish football collectors have access to an expanse of Steve Sabol memorabilia that includes thousands of videos.

Steve Sabol Pro Set football card. Photo courtesy of eBay.

Sabol is featured on a football card (#10) in the 1989 Pro Set announcers series. The unsigned card is available for less than a $1 on eBay, Amazon.com and in the Beckett Marketplace.

Steve and Ed Sabol signed photo. Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.

As often happens in the wake of a celebrity death, eBay is chock full of Sabol autographed items, featuring his block letter, all caps name.

These include the Pro Set football card, autographed photos, business and index cards, calendars, etc. As always with the auction giant, buyer beware. 

Collectors can also find a photo of Steve and Ed Sabol, signed by both men (certified by PSA/DNA), on Amazon.com. 

Less personal Sabol collectibles include the thousands of NFL Films videos available on VHS tape and DVD. Nearly all of the films in the Football Hall of Fame's video store are NFL Films products. Amazon.com lists more than 2,000 NFL Films titles and eBay offers nearly 900.

Sabol was also the author and coauthor of, or contributing writer to, numerous books on football.

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What Steve Sabol material do you have in your Jewish football memorabilia collection? Did you ever have the opportunity to meet the film maker or his father?

Let JewishSportsCollectibles.com readers know by commenting below.