The NBA: Where Hanukkah Happens

Recently I echoed the sentiment of so many small children when I said that all I want for Hanukkah this year is one head-nodding religious artifact, which I then amended to state that all I want for Hanukkah this year is one head-nodding religious artifact and a piece of special birthday cake made just for a three-year-old named for one of history's most ruthless dictators. And this, my friends, is why they gave us eight crazy nights. Because tonight, on the third night of Hanukkah (and still the one and only night of Festivus) I hope my Jew love gives to me: one Rally Rabbi bobblehead, one Adolf cake... and a shout out from Ko-be.

I was introduced to The Embedded NBA Reporter, Elie Seckbach, through an intriguing couple of recent posts on freedarko. He came to America from Israel in 1996 to play college basketball and has been covering the NBA since 1997, although his popularity has received a major boost recently thanks in large part to Internet video. Andy Gray of CNNSI called Seckbach "the most entertaining NBA reporter out there" because of his quirky, candid interview style and zany questions beyond the realm of basketball, which often result in classic sound bites from NBA stars. To ring in the third night of Hanukkah, we've got Elie's Hanukkah videos from the last three years, with this year's at the bottom. And yes, that includes shout-outs from Kobe, The Diesel, and The King.


Upon hearing that Hanukkah commemorates a war victory and involves 8 nights of presents: "I need to celebrate Hanukkah more" - Ron Artest


"Happy Hanukkah. You guys have fun and blow out all the candles." - Ricky Davis


"Happy Hanukkah and, uh, I hope everything, you know, goes the way they planned." - Trevor Ariza

For more Seckbachery, check out Elie on Fanhouse.

The only gift I want this Hanukkah

Have you been a good little mensch this year, or have you been a miserable kvetching noodnik? The Festival of Lights is fast approaching, and you're not doubt looking to get your grubby little mitts on all this year's hottest holiday chazzerai. But this year, the only tchotchkke I want is a Rally Rabbi bobblehead.

Call me a schmendrik schlemiel shmeggegie, but the thought of an ex-Deadhead, baseball superfan Rabbi spreading the good word from a motorcycle known as the "Mitzvah mo-bike" just gets me all farklempt.

A great article and a great find by Deadspin.