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Israel celebrates 73

Mickey Berkowitz: "Michael Jordan told me I was good. I replied, 'Thank you, boy.'"

"It's time for us to live for each other."

"I'm still doing fitness with Tal Brody."

"Maccabi fans need to understand: what was in the past, will not return."

"I watch games with the grandchildren. Their grandfather was a good player."

Great Israeli basketball player is hosted in a festive podcast of "Double Team" and marks the next star

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• Mickey Berkowitz

• Double Team

Ahrela Weisberg and Yaniv Tuchman

Thursday, 15 April 2021, 08:28

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Independence Day has over the years become a holiday full of nostalgia.

Alongside the entertainment stages (which we hope will return next year), fireworks displays, holiday parties and barbecues, borax films and sketches of the pale tracker are screened in a loop.

And there is another face to memories of the beautiful Israel of yesteryear: the face of Mickey Berkowitz, the symbol of the first European Cups of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the arrival of the Israeli team to the Eurobasket final.

"The money comes and goes, but the achievements and respect I have brought to the State of Israel, and the joy I have brought to the people, are worth more," says Berkowitz, who was a guest on a celebratory episode of the "Double Time" podcast on Independence Day.

"I tell people who are disappointed with today's Maccabi that what once was will not come back. Every foreigner who gives a good season, leaves. There is no loyalty today. I had many offers after winning the European Cup, but I wanted to end my career at Maccabi."

Acting Attorney Koof Attorney, 67, grandfather of eight grandchildren (one of whom, Ariel, plays in the children's team of Maccabi Tel Aviv and wears the jersey number 9), smiles and says that "my grandchildren are watching the games of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Spring once, and I say to myself: 'Well, their grandfather was not a bad player at all."

He stays in touch with his friends from the good old days, Moti Aroasti, Ulsie Perry and Shuki Schwartz, and discovers that "I still do fitness together with Tal Brody."

For our variety of special articles for the 73rd Independence Day - click here

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Let's not forget the tank top number 9. Mickey Berkowitz on the porch of his house (Photo: courtesy of the family, Shelly Berkowitz)

"I had the honor of playing with the European team against Michael Jordan, and I approached him," Berkowitz recalled.

"I told him we had something in common, because we were born on the same date, and we have the same tank top number, because he was 9 on the U.S. team.

He guarded me and I scored 20 or so points.

At the end he asked to speak to me, saying: 'You know, you are a very good basketball player'.

I replied, "Thank you very much, boy."

Berkowitz refrained from entering politics, but said that "we should live for each other and respect each other." And what about the presidency of the country? "Robbie Rivlin did a good job, and I wish him only health.

It's more comfortable for me as citizen number 9. "

And it is impossible to talk to Mickey without mentioning the song" tank top number 9 ", written by the late Ehud Manor and composed by Kobi Oshrat in honor of his retirement from basketball in 1995, performed by singer Haim Moshe.

"When I hear the song, I want to cry with excitement. My farewell game took place on the date my father passed away. Ehud wrote about a father who sees me from above and is happy for me," he explained as his voice trembled.

* All episodes of "Double Team"

* For tracking in Spotify + Apple + Google + Speaker app

* More recommended podcasts

"Double Team", Podcast 31 for Independence Day:

0:09 Holiday Team: BBQ, Borax Movies, Tracker and MIC

1:59 "The Formula for Success - We Played Many Years Together"

5:52 Michael Jordan told me, "You're a very good basketball player"

9:25 "My mom wanted me to be an engineer"

12:09 "We have to live for each other and respect each other"

16:00 "I still do fitness together with Tal Brody"

18:18 "I no longer regret not playing -NBA "

22:08 The toughest guard and the story behind the

jersey

number

27:13 Remember the name: Ariel Berkowitz, basketball player starts

30:16" Still arrested on the street, but not for a signature - but a selfie "

33:13" The NBA broke More today. I love the style of Yam Madar "

37:40 Exciting to tears: the song" Tank top number 9 "by Haim Moshe

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