Israeli Basketball Legend Tal Brody honored at Illinois-Purdue Game
Israeli Missions Around The World Chicago Culture News Israeli Basketball Legend Tal Brody honored at Illinois-Purdue Game

Israeli Basketball Legend honored at UIUC Game

  •   “We are on the map, and we are staying on the map”
  • 2/15/2013
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    In the Picture: Tal Brody, Scott Gendell, JNF President (Chicago); Consul General Roey Gilad, Lital Raz, Maya Karmely, Consul for Public Affairs, Israeli House Director; Nitza Gilad, Program Director for the Israeli Consulate;  applaud Tal Brody's accomplishment as a stellar basketball player and an outstanding or remarkable emissary of goodwill for the state of Israel.
  • Mark Jones/Illinois Athletics
     
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    ​An Israeli Basketball legend brought pride to the state of Israel and the University of Illinois when his college jersey was hoisted to the rafters during half-time of the Illini-Purdue game Wednesday night (February 12).

    Tal Brody, now Israel’s Mr. Basketball and Ambassador of Goodwill was honored for his part in Illinois’1963 Big Ten Championship when he played point guard for the team.


    Though he was drafted by the National Basketball Association NBA in 1965, he decided to play in Israel instead.  In 1977, he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to its first European Cup championship.  After that win, Brody spoke his famous words used then and now, ``We (Israel) are on the map. And we are staying on the map--not only in sports, but in everything.''

    In 1979, Brody, received the Israel Prize. He is one of 13 international finalists for selection to the Naismith Hall of Fame to be awarded this weekend in Houston.   While in Chicago this week , he inspired students at schools in the city by carrying his message of  sports being a way to bring people together from all areas of the globe. ​

    Read more here (Chicago Tribune) 

     

  • At JNF Event

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    ​A community wide reception to celebrate and honor Brody, sponsored by the JNF, llini Chabad, Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Hillel Foundation at UIUC, Sinai Temple, along with other local private and Jewish-owned corporate sponsors, was held before the game.About 300 people attended the event. Consul for Public Affairs Maya Karmely and others paid tribute to Brody and his influence on sports in Israel.