“The Nephilim (Giants) were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4)
The New York Knicks’ Six-Time NBA All-Star Amare Stoudemire was greeted with an intriguing proposal when visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday. In the meeting, covered widely by both the local and international press, President Peres attempted to persuade Stoudemire to leave Team USA and join the ranks of the Israeli national basketball team.
Stoudemire, who just three years ago discovered his Jewish roots and became immediately infatuated with the religion and the Jewish State, is currently in Israel to coach the Canadian basketball team in the 19th annual Maccabiah Games that kicked off Thursday night. The Games, whose motto is “Sound Jews Minds in healthy Jewish Bodys”, brings Jewish athletes from around the world to the Holy Land to compete in “ the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition in the tradition and values of Maccabi, emphasizing the centrality of the State of Israel in the life of the Jewish people” according to their website.
The NBA star further deepened his ties to Israel last week after he joined a group headed by Israeli-born technology mogul Ori Allon that secured the winning bid for one of Israel’s top professional hoops teams, Hapoel Jerusalem for a reported $5.6 million. The group also includes famous Jewish sports agent Arm Tellem.
Stoudemire won a bronze medal with Team USA in the 2004 Olympics but has not played for the USA since 2007.
He has yet to respond to the President’s request.
