You’re the tops
(Statistics through May 2)
Tennis, anyone? Diego Schwartzman of Argentina won his first Association of Tennis Professionals tournament when he captured the men’s singles title at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open in Turkey on May 1, upsetting second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-0. With the victory, the unseeded Schwartzman rose in the ATP rankings from 78 to 62, making him the top-ranked Jewish player. His success in Turkey also sent him over the $1 million mark in earnings.
Follow the bouncing Blatt: David Blatt, the Israeli American who was fired this season as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, reportedly will interview with the Sacramento Kings for the same position.
Blatt interviewed for the New York Knicks last month, though the team is said to be leaning toward interim coach Kurt Rambis, and also was considered by the Los Angeles Lakers before they hired Luke Walton last week.
At the time of his dismissal, the Cavaliers had the best record in the Eastern Conference. Blatt had led Cleveland to the 2015 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Nobody’s perfect, this time: Sandy Koufax pitched the second of his four no-hitters on May 11, 1963, against the San Francisco Giants. He walked a batter with one out in the ninth inning to ruin the chance for a perfect game, a feat he would realize two years later against the Chicago Cubs.
Birthday greetings: Danny Schayes, NBA veteran and Maccabiah player and coach, turns 57 on May 10. Thelma “Tibby” Eisen, one of three Jews to play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, was born on May 11, 1922.
Sources: JTA, Day by Day in Jewish Sports History
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