Menschwarmers

For years, Mike Wilner has been beloved by Torontonians as the voice of Blue Jays baseball on the radio, calling games, taking fan calls and interviewing players. His tenure with the team ended unceremoniously last fall, when Rogers, which owns the team, let him go. But the veteran announcer hasn't disappeared: he landed a gig as the baseball columnist for the Toronto Star; his baseball podcast, D...

Zach Hyman, Toronto's homegrown Jewish hockey star, recently signed a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million with the Edmonton Oilers. The move will sadly take him away from his belowed hometown, where he played for the Maple Leafs since 2015 and where his whole family lives.  Before jetting off to Edmonton with his wife and eight-month-old son, Hyman spared some time to join us for a conversatio...

From Australians Jessica Fox (canoe slalom) and Jemima Montag (racewalking) to Israel's mixed judo team and gymnasit Artem Dolgopyat, Jews were well represented at this year's Tokyo Olympics. In fact, so many Jews medalled that, if Jews comprised their own country, they would have ranked alongside Belgium and Jamaica. Here's a rundown of all the Jews who've won medals so far, as well as those who'...

Shalom, sports fans! We've got a special episode for you today: the Menschwarmers appeared on Bonjour Chai , The CJN's weekly current affairs podcast, to chat about Olympic history, Jewish athletecism and much more. Subscribe to Bonjour Chai on Apple , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Plus: don't forget to register for the Menschwarmers' first-ever live event! We'll be reviewing how Jewi...

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics starting this week, Jewish sports fans are abuzz with one question: Who's representing the tribe? As it happens, there are plenty of promising Olympians with fascinating stories, from Argentine tennis phenom Diego Schwartzman to Jewish Japanese basketballer Avi Schafer and a whole lot of American and Canadian fencing stars—to say nothing of Israel's contenders in marat...

While no Jewish baseball fan is looking forward to waking up at 5 a.m. to watch Team Israel compete at the Tokyo Olympics, every Jewish baseball fan is still rooting hard. Gabe and Jamie are no exceptions—and they're equally excited to chat with Dean Pelman, a pitcher for Team Israel, mere days before he sets out on the road to the Olympics. Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver,...

This year marks the first time since 1988 that Canada has fielded a full roster of men's and women's Olympic fencers. Eli Schenkel, a young Vancouver-based fencer, is taking a stab at putting the cerebral sport back on Canadians' radars. In today's episode, Eli joins the Menschwarmers to explain how he got into the game, why Jews have excelled with the epee, and how excited he is to go to the fenc...

There are many Jewish musicians. There are many songs about sports. But how many songs about sports (or even songs that just mention sports) were written (or even just once recorded) by Jewish musicians? In this episode, Gabe and Jamie cast an admittedly very wide net into the broadly defined world of Jewish sports music. Listen to find out what made the cut—and then add your own picks to our open...

We've got a special treat for you, Jewish sports fans! Our most-requested guest, Cody Decker, is here with a generous interview about his career and Jewish identity. Cody may have retired from pro baseball, but he's still very active in the sports world. He's working with charities and hosts his own podcast, but more importantly, he's been involved with training Israel's Olympic baseball team this...

Nate Fish, the self-proclaimed "King of Jewish Baseball", has been a coach and player with Team USA at the Maccabiah Games, the Tel Aviv Lightning, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and the Savannah Bananas, a "baseball circus" team that focuses on entertainment, costumes and dancing. This spring, he's heading to Arizona with Team Israel to prepare for their historic appearance at th...

It's hard to get kids to care about culture and religion. It's much easier, on the other hand, to get them to play video games. Bridging that gap is Lost Tribe Esports , a non-profit organization that organizes video game events, competitions and communities for young Jewish gamers. (And if you don't think gaming is a sport, you've clearly never watched competitive Super Smash Bros.) Andrew Exler,...

Star NFL wide receiver and Superbowl MVP Julian Edelman has arguably been the most popular Jewish athlete of our time. This week, he announced that time has come to a close, as he retired from pro football after 12 seasons with the New England Patriots. James brings on guest host Alex Rose to talk about his legacy and Jewish identity. Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver, and pro...

We're still digesting matzah brei and baseball season is right around the corner. What better way to celebrate both than by smushing them together into one giant celebration of Jewish baseball—in seder form? James leads the first-ever "Jewish baseball"–themed Passover seder, from the Ten Players to the Four Questions (About Jewish Baseball Athletes). Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirs...

Episode Notes Outrage ensued after Miami Heat player Meyers Leonard used the K-word on a public broadcast. How did the league respond? Plus: Author Andrew Maraniss joins to chat about "Games of Deception", his book about the 1936 Berlin Olympics, as well as his new title, "Singled Out". Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver, and produced and edited by Michael F...

Episode Notes When Dodgers Stadium was built, it displaced an entire community of Latinos in Los Angeles. It's a story told by sports journalist Eric Nusbaum in his new book, Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between . Eric joins the Menschwarmers to chat about this and more. Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver, and produced and edited by Michael F...

Episode Notes When 19-year-old Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija was drafted to the Washington Wizards, Jewish NBA fans went nuts. The Wizards have since created websites and social media accounts in Hebrew to cater to their newfound fans. To chat about the effect Deni's had on the team and the city, the Menschwarmers are joined by Fred Katz of The Athletic. Menschwarmers is hosted by James Hi...

Episode Notes Did we miss anything? The Menschwarmers are back in full swing, after a 10-month hiatus (and the closure, then revival, of The CJN). Jody Avirgan, the former host of ESPN's 30 for 30 podcast and a current host of This Day In Esoteric Political History —as well as an avid ultimate disc tosser—joins Jamie and Gabe in the first show of, uh, we'll call this Season 2. Sure. Why not. Mensc...

Former NFL and Iowa State quarterback Sage Rosenfels joins the show to talk about the differences between being a Jewish athlete in rural Iowa compared to Miami, and more. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising producer. Our music is “Brass” by 4bstr4ck3r feat. Daman. You can follow the Menschwarmers on Twitt...

Ethan Zohn, winner of the third season of Survivor and contestant on this season's Winners at War , joins the show to talk about that log challenge on the Edge of Extinction, his soccer career and charity in Africa, his audion for Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David, and more. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the sup...

Eric Koreen, who covers the Raptors for The Athletic, joins menches Jamie and Gabe to talk about David Stern and Adam Silver, the future of basketball in Israel, and how he uses his doubt for the greater good. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising producer. Our music is “Brass” by 4bstr4ck3r feat. Daman. You...

Tim Hortons teamed up with Wayne Gretzky to make a commercial—but something's not right about it. Also on the episode, Jamie chats with Nathan Abrams, a Jewish professor and cricket aficionado, about the "gentilization" of Jewish sporting life. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising producer. Our music is “Br...

From Chariots of Fire to School Ties and the debatably Jewish Happy Gilmore (does the Sandman ever not play a default Jew?), Gabe and Jamie curate a list of the best Jewish sports movies to keep you warm over the holidays. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising producer. Our music is “Brass” by 4bstr4ck3r fea...

As Hanukkah approaches, gather 'round the stereo system as Gabe tells the story of the great miracle that was the birth of the Maccabiah Games. Plus: one ice skater's head-slapping Holocaust costume, and the mixed blessing that is a stereotypically Jewish wrestler. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising produ...

With the NHL in full swing, the Maple Leafs' Jewish player Zach Hyman returns on the heels of coach Mike Babcock's departure. But the real story deserving Jews' attention is ousted octogenarian Don Cherry, whose racist comments about immigrants should anger Jews across Canada. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the super...

When the entire editorial board of Deadspin walked out in resignation last week, one unsuspecting freelance writer walked in. That writer, Alan Goldsher, joins us over the phone from his home in Chicago to explain what happened. Menschwarmers is hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh, and produced and edited by Alex Rose. Michael Fraiman is the supervising producer. Our music is “Brass” by 4bstr4ck...