'Israeli Military Stalls a College Career' diff viewer (0/1)

This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on November 20, 2013 00:18 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/sports/ncaabasketball/israeli-military-stalls-a-college-basketball-career.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Previous version 1 2 Next version

Previous version 1 2 Next version

Version 0	Version 1
Israeli Military Stalls a College Career	Israeli Military Stalls a College Career
2013-11-20 00:20:24 UTC	2013-11-21 01:10:15 UTC (1 day later)
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — For months, Tom Maayan had been the focal point of an international tug of war, pitting the Israeli military against a major American university, while clouding what looked to be a bright basketball career. But when Maayan, a sophomore at Seton Hall, returned to the bustling campus here Aug. 16, after five months of army service in Upper Galilee, the northern Israeli province where he was raised, it was with a sense of relief.	SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — For months, Tom Maayan had been the focal point of an international tug of war, pitting the Israeli military against a major American university, while clouding what looked to be a bright basketball career. But when Maayan, a sophomore at Seton Hall, returned to the bustling campus here Aug. 16, after five months of army service in Upper Galilee, the northern Israeli province where he was raised, it was with a sense of relief.
He thought all that diplomatic jockeying was behind him. He believed that the army had granted him a temporary exemption, the kind bestowed on only a handful of exceptional athletes each year. He started at point guard in Seton Hall’s first game of the season, on Nov. 2.	He thought all that diplomatic jockeying was behind him. He believed that the army had granted him a temporary exemption, the kind bestowed on only a handful of exceptional athletes each year. He started at point guard in Seton Hall’s first game of the season, on Nov. 2.
But a winding and exhaustive ordeal was recently shaken off course again. According to an army spokesman, Maayan’s exemption was for only 120 days, and he was never officially permitted to leave Israel. The military expects him to return by Jan. 2.	But a winding and exhaustive ordeal was recently shaken off course again. According to an army spokesman, Maayan’s exemption was for only 120 days, and he was never officially permitted to leave Israel. The military expects him to return by Jan. 2.
The news was delivered to Maayan on Monday by his uncle David Fuchs, who flew to the United States to see what could be Maayan’s final collegiate basketball games.	The news was delivered to Maayan on Monday by his uncle David Fuchs, who flew to the United States to see what could be Maayan’s final collegiate basketball games.
“It’s a shock,” Maayan said, standing alone outside the locker room after Seton Hall’s 82-66 victory against Monmouth on Monday night.	“It’s a shock,” Maayan said, standing alone outside the locker room after Seton Hall’s 82-66 victory against Monmouth on Monday night.
“Tommy has been and will always be a beloved member of the Seton Hall community,” Coach Kevin Willard said. “We will certainly miss him, and while we understand and respect his responsibility to serve his country, we are disappointed with the timing.”	“Tommy has been and will always be a beloved member of the Seton Hall community,” Coach Kevin Willard said. “We will certainly miss him, and while we understand and respect his responsibility to serve his country, we are disappointed with the timing.”
For Fuchs, who lives in Israel and served as Maayan’s legal guardian until he turned 18, the last 11 months have been replete with ceaseless negotiating, hand-wringing and pleading in the hopes of making Israel recognize Maayan, 20, as an ascendant basketball talent.	For Fuchs, who lives in Israel and served as Maayan’s legal guardian until he turned 18, the last 11 months have been replete with ceaseless negotiating, hand-wringing and pleading in the hopes of making Israel recognize Maayan, 20, as an ascendant basketball talent.
That recognition might have allowed him to remain at Seton Hall, the only program that offered him a scholarship after a devastating knee injury in high school and one that expected to be competitive in the Big East conference with him.	That recognition might have allowed him to remain at Seton Hall, the only program that offered him a scholarship after a devastating knee injury in high school and one that expected to be competitive in the Big East conference with him.
But, for a second time, Maayan’s future is in limbo, held up by bureaucratic wrangling and an exemption in dispute. The army, according to Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman, took issue with Maayan’s decision to attend college in the United States before serving his required duty at age 18, accusing him of attempting to flee.	But, for a second time, Maayan’s future is in limbo, held up by bureaucratic wrangling and an exemption in dispute. The army, according to Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman, took issue with Maayan’s decision to attend college in the United States before serving his required duty at age 18, accusing him of attempting to flee.
Fuchs believes there to be government skepticism over the validity of Maayan’s unusual back story: a Jewish player recruited by Seton Hall, given a scholarship and earning significant minutes for a top-tier program.	Fuchs believes there to be government skepticism over the validity of Maayan’s unusual back story: a Jewish player recruited by Seton Hall, given a scholarship and earning significant minutes for a top-tier program.
“I told my family I feel like Forrest Gump, when he ran and nobody knew, ‘Why are you running, Forrest?’ ” Fuchs said. “I’m running into an ocean. Nobody understands me.”	“I told my family I feel like Forrest Gump, when he ran and nobody knew, ‘Why are you running, Forrest?’ ” Fuchs said. “I’m running into an ocean. Nobody understands me.”
The first time Fuchs explained to Maayan that he had to return to Israel was in March, hours after the end of his freshman season. Fuchs flew to New York to watch Seton Hall play in Madison Square Garden in the Big East tournament. At dinner at an Italian restaurant on March 13, shortly after the Pirates were knocked out by Syracuse, Fuchs informed Maayan he could not postpone enlistment any longer.	The first time Fuchs explained to Maayan that he had to return to Israel was in March, hours after the end of his freshman season. Fuchs flew to New York to watch Seton Hall play in Madison Square Garden in the Big East tournament. At dinner at an Italian restaurant on March 13, shortly after the Pirates were knocked out by Syracuse, Fuchs informed Maayan he could not postpone enlistment any longer.
Maayan hurriedly packed his belongings for the flight to Tel Aviv. In a tearful goodbye inside his coach’s office, Maayan believed that he had bid his surrogate basketball family adieu.	Maayan hurriedly packed his belongings for the flight to Tel Aviv. In a tearful goodbye inside his coach’s office, Maayan believed that he had bid his surrogate basketball family adieu.
“I didn’t think I would come back,” Maayan said in an interview this month. “I thought once I go home, it would be over for my college career.”	“I didn’t think I would come back,” Maayan said in an interview this month. “I thought once I go home, it would be over for my college career.”
Maayan understood the rules of conscription and his responsibility to Israel, where he has lived (besides a brief stay in Canada) since age 3. He said he had no thoughts of abandoning his duty.	Maayan understood the rules of conscription and his responsibility to Israel, where he has lived (besides a brief stay in Canada) since age 3. He said he had no thoughts of abandoning his duty.
“Tommy never wavered,” Willard said.	“Tommy never wavered,” Willard said.
But emotionally and internally, Maayan had been a wreck since he first began receiving letters from the army to his dorm room in December. How could he just leave his teammates and coaches? How could he abandon his new home?	But emotionally and internally, Maayan had been a wreck since he first began receiving letters from the army to his dorm room in December. How could he just leave his teammates and coaches? How could he abandon his new home?
Once Willard heard about the complication, he assigned Steve Sauers, then the program’s director of basketball operations, to oversee the paperwork and phone relaying. Over the months, Sauers’s folder for Maayan swelled. He learned quickly that bargaining with the army would not be simple.	Once Willard heard about the complication, he assigned Steve Sauers, then the program’s director of basketball operations, to oversee the paperwork and phone relaying. Over the months, Sauers’s folder for Maayan swelled. He learned quickly that bargaining with the army would not be simple.
“We knew, until we got him back, we had a long way to go,” said Sauers, now an assistant at the University of California, Riverside.	“We knew, until we got him back, we had a long way to go,” said Sauers, now an assistant at the University of California, Riverside.
Conscription, for Jewish citizens over age 18, is an unavoidable cornerstone of Israeli life; after years of widespread exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students, more of them have also started to serve.	Conscription, for Jewish citizens over age 18, is an unavoidable cornerstone of Israeli life; after years of widespread exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students, more of them have also started to serve.
Men generally spend three years in the military and women two. Exceptions are rare, and temporary exemptions, for elite athletes, musicians and artists hoping to pursue professional careers and spread their good will, even more rare.	Men generally spend three years in the military and women two. Exceptions are rare, and temporary exemptions, for elite athletes, musicians and artists hoping to pursue professional careers and spread their good will, even more rare.
Gal Mekel, a rookie for the Dallas Mavericks and the second Israeli to be ~~drafted~~ in the N.B.A. after Omri Casspi in 2009, earned a postponement of his service for two years, during which he played at Wichita State from 2006 to 2008, before returning to Israel to fulfill his three-year military commitment.	Gal Mekel, a rookie for the Dallas Mavericks and the second Israeli to play in the N.B.A. after Omri Casspi in 2009, earned a postponement of his service for two years, during which he played at Wichita State from 2006 to 2008, before returning to Israel to fulfill his three-year military commitment.
“This is who we are,” Mekel said in a telephone interview this month. “Every Israeli, that’s his duty — to serve the country.”	“This is who we are,” Mekel said in a telephone interview this month. “Every Israeli, that’s his duty — to serve the country.”
But balancing that civic responsibility and grand athletic aspirations could be difficult, Mekel said. Service requires time away from gyms and coaches, time that other players in other nations would spend on developing their skills. It is an undeniable hurdle.	But balancing that civic responsibility and grand athletic aspirations could be difficult, Mekel said. Service requires time away from gyms and coaches, time that other players in other nations would spend on developing their skills. It is an undeniable hurdle.
“Growing up, yeah, you have those concerns,” Mekel said. “Because you want to focus on your dream, your job, basketball. But everybody knows you got to serve. It’s not something you want to fight with.”	“Growing up, yeah, you have those concerns,” Mekel said. “Because you want to focus on your dream, your job, basketball. But everybody knows you got to serve. It’s not something you want to fight with.”
Maayan got a glimpse of such a fight: because he was late arriving to Israel in March, the army sent him to a military prison for two days. From there, he went to boot camp for a month, where he rose at 5 a.m., trained in the heat, learned how to shoot guns and how to sleep in the desert. After camp, he worked in a military office, filing paperwork, and trained with the Israeli under-20 national team in the evenings.	Maayan got a glimpse of such a fight: because he was late arriving to Israel in March, the army sent him to a military prison for two days. From there, he went to boot camp for a month, where he rose at 5 a.m., trained in the heat, learned how to shoot guns and how to sleep in the desert. After camp, he worked in a military office, filing paperwork, and trained with the Israeli under-20 national team in the evenings.
Meanwhile, Fuchs and Sauers continued to send emails and letters and place phone calls between Israel and the United States, urging the Israeli Sports Administration to consider Maayan for an exemption. Sauers said his primary objective was to get Israel to understand the level of Seton Hall’s commitment to Maayan.	Meanwhile, Fuchs and Sauers continued to send emails and letters and place phone calls between Israel and the United States, urging the Israeli Sports Administration to consider Maayan for an exemption. Sauers said his primary objective was to get Israel to understand the level of Seton Hall’s commitment to Maayan.
Sauers would recite the story of how Maayan came to play for the Pirates — a karmic confluence of events. Willard noticed Maayan, long-limbed and tough, only while recruiting Haralds Karlis, Maayan’s teammate at Canarias Basketball Academy, in the Canary Islands.	Sauers would recite the story of how Maayan came to play for the Pirates — a karmic confluence of events. Willard noticed Maayan, long-limbed and tough, only while recruiting Haralds Karlis, Maayan’s teammate at Canarias Basketball Academy, in the Canary Islands.
Willard was interested, but Maayan had offers from other colleges. During Maayan’s lone postgraduate year at Canarias, though, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Other teams suddenly shied away, but Willard made him an offer: pay for one semester of classes at Seton Hall, complete your rehabilitation with the team, and there would be a scholarship waiting for you.	Willard was interested, but Maayan had offers from other colleges. During Maayan’s lone postgraduate year at Canarias, though, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Other teams suddenly shied away, but Willard made him an offer: pay for one semester of classes at Seton Hall, complete your rehabilitation with the team, and there would be a scholarship waiting for you.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” Maayan said.	“It was a no-brainer for me,” Maayan said.
The fact that Maayan was Jewish, spoke Hebrew and had had his bar mitzvah did not seem to matter for either Maayan or Seton Hall, a Roman Catholic university, where the university chaplain, the Rev. John Dennehy, sits on the bench and the campus ministry is a few hundred yards from the athletic center.	The fact that Maayan was Jewish, spoke Hebrew and had had his bar mitzvah did not seem to matter for either Maayan or Seton Hall, a Roman Catholic university, where the university chaplain, the Rev. John Dennehy, sits on the bench and the campus ministry is a few hundred yards from the athletic center.
Maayan started 17 games for the Pirates last season, averaging more than three assists and one steal per game. But any minute, he fretted, his plans could be aborted.	Maayan started 17 games for the Pirates last season, averaging more than three assists and one steal per game. But any minute, he fretted, his plans could be aborted.
“It was really hard for me,” Maayan said. “I didn’t know. Will I be able to stay here? What’s going on?”	“It was really hard for me,” Maayan said. “I didn’t know. Will I be able to stay here? What’s going on?”
Maayan was raised by a single mother — Fuchs’s sister — in Montreal until he was 3, when they moved to the Fuchs’s kibbutz in Galilee, near the borders with Syria and Lebanon. (His mother has since moved back to Canada.) In Israel, Maayan took up basketball and led his high school, Emek Ha-Hula, to consecutive national championships in 2010 and 2011.	Maayan was raised by a single mother — Fuchs’s sister — in Montreal until he was 3, when they moved to the Fuchs’s kibbutz in Galilee, near the borders with Syria and Lebanon. (His mother has since moved back to Canada.) In Israel, Maayan took up basketball and led his high school, Emek Ha-Hula, to consecutive national championships in 2010 and 2011.
And when the army letters came to him, he could have easily turned his back on Israel, too. Maayan holds Canadian as well as Israeli citizenship, meaning he could have remained in the United States and ignored Israel’s calls to serve. Taking that route, however, meant he would be barred from returning.	And when the army letters came to him, he could have easily turned his back on Israel, too. Maayan holds Canadian as well as Israeli citizenship, meaning he could have remained in the United States and ignored Israel’s calls to serve. Taking that route, however, meant he would be barred from returning.
“I was raised in Israel most of my life,” Maayan said. “All my family, my friends, live over there. I really love that country. I couldn’t imagine not being able to go back there.”	“I was raised in Israel most of my life,” Maayan said. “All my family, my friends, live over there. I really love that country. I couldn’t imagine not being able to go back there.”
In March, Sauers drove Maayan to Kennedy Airport, both afraid to utter the cynical reality — it could be the last time they saw each other. Sauers continued to ask for help at home (from Father Dennehy; deans and associate deans; the university president; the consulate in New York; and the embassy in Washington) and abroad (from the army; members of the Parliament; the office of the prime minister).	In March, Sauers drove Maayan to Kennedy Airport, both afraid to utter the cynical reality — it could be the last time they saw each other. Sauers continued to ask for help at home (from Father Dennehy; deans and associate deans; the university president; the consulate in New York; and the embassy in Washington) and abroad (from the army; members of the Parliament; the office of the prime minister).
Maayan was selected to play for Israel’s under-20 national team competing in the European championships in Estonia in July. He earned notice from Arik Shivek, the coach of the Israeli national basketball team, while averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for Israel, which finished 15th.	Maayan was selected to play for Israel’s under-20 national team competing in the European championships in Estonia in July. He earned notice from Arik Shivek, the coach of the Israeli national basketball team, while averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for Israel, which finished 15th.