Top 7 Jewish Sports Stories of the Decade - #7

Over the next week we will be posting the top 7 stories of the decade. Normally, we go by a Jewish calendar here, but this is a special occasion. This list is totally of the opinion of TGR but we are fairly confident that we made the right choices. We felt the top 6 stories were pretty obvious. The 7th (today's story) we struggled with. Just so you know the stories that were thrown out were Bar Refaeli making the cover of Sports Illustrated. Trust me it was hard to take her accomplishment off the list, but we felt our reasoning for keeping it had little to do with sports. Also, just coming up short were Andre Tippett's induction to the Football Hall of Fame and 2008 Baseball All Star game having three Jewish players. So what is number 7. One word.

GOLDBERG.

No not the hockey player from the Mighty Ducks, but rather Bill Goldberg of WCW/WWE fame. Now people might not be happy with number 7 and think that we here at TGR love wrestling too much (at least I do), but hear me out.

After Bill Goldberg, probably one of the most famous and recognizable wrestlers ever, left WCW (or WCW died) he was out of a job. Goldberg, after much dispute and months/years of negotiations finally joins the WWE in 2003. Soon thereafter he wins the World Heavyweight Championship at the pay per view titled Unforgiven.

So why is this so important or worthy of the 7th slot. Goldberg, unlike many Jews, has never concealed his Jewish identity. From day one, everyone in the wrestling world knew that Goldberg, a fomer NFL Linebacker, was Jewish. And that made Goldberg special to the Jewish world. Finally, a Jew kicking ass all over the world. He speared the crapped out of everyone from Hulk Hogan to Ric Flair.

TGR decided to give Goldberg slot number 7 because of his Jewish pride and never backing down from a fight (even the fake ones).

And Let Us Say...Amen.
-Jeremy Fine