Monday, June 5, 2006
You know, former GM of the Red Sox...apparently he's been named director of player development for a new, speculative start-up Israeli baseball league! Very interesting...
Businessman aims to have Israel in 2009 WBC
Yet American businessman Larry Baras is determined to bring professional baseball to Israel, and already has scheduled opening day for next June.
Baras is fielding a high-powered team -- including a New York Yankees executive, a one-time Red Sox general manager and a former ambassador to Israel -- intent on bringing the sport to the Holy Land.
Baras envisions bringing in dozens of Jewish-American players to compete in a two-month summer league. He hopes the league will help develop local talent along the way, enabling Israel to put together a team to compete in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
"I'm under no illusions as to what I have here. But I think it can be done," Baras said during a recent trip to Israel. "This is a long-term project. It will be brick by brick."
Baras, who owns a Boston-area baking company, spent his visit scouting out potential venues throughout the country, returning home even more optimistic than when he arrived.
He said Israel's only full-size diamond -- located in the Baptist Village near Tel Aviv -- is virtually ready for action, while another field at Kibbutz Gezer -- between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem -- easily can be enlarged for games. A number of soccer stadiums could be converted for baseball use, he added.
"I fell in love with the place," he said, describing the rolling hills, vineyards and fragrant flowers that surround Gezer's field. "You just feel you're sitting and watching something so breathtaking."...
... Intent on building up a local talent base, the league has named Dan Duquette, former general manager of the Boston Red Sox, as its director of player development.
Duquette, who now runs a sports academy in Massachusetts, plans to open a similar facility in Israel to train young baseball and softball players. He hopes to build a national team -- comprised of Israelis as well as Jewish-American players - that can compete in the 2009 World Classic.
"I understand it's a challenge," Duquette said. "I've had a knack for turning around baseball organizations with good players and development operations. This project is along those lines." ...
[H/T: BornIn1965]
Tel Aviv has a Baptist Village?
who knew?
OMG! This is the tzures we need now, on top of everything?
This and root beer...
Having lived there, I know there are little leagues and adult baseball .... and, given the mixed welcome the World Cup ( int'l soccer) gives to Israel I think interest in baseball can really go quickly over the top. Country is ripe to bring on a new shared international excitement/ new season of sport. All Israel needs to do is have Israel baseball participate well in some competition and I think it quickly be known as a baseball country. Israelis identify so much with America. Personally, I think it sounds great. I read another article on this too. Seems like it could be a really welcome thing.
I wonder if they've got any interest in a 38 year old second baseman?
They are having Israel Baseball League Tryouts this summer in August at the Dan Duquette Baseball Academy.