T amir Goodman 34 Jerusalem Israel

In the beginning

I was a normal kid with a great childhood. I had good friends a terrific school and coaches a close-knit family and a warm and open home. My dad z”l was a real role model for me. He was one of the first lawyers in the US to wear his kippah in court. I remember one day he took me with him. I was sitting on the last bench and when my dad walked into the courtroom I was so proud to see him with his kippah. I knew I wanted to be just like him when I grew up.

I started playing basketball when I was five. I liked all sports but nothing came close to my love of basketball. When I was 10 or 11 — I don’t remember exactly — I’d leave the house at 9 a.m. and go to the inner-city basketball courts. They didn’t let me play — the games were all adults — but I’d wait there all day just dribbling on the sidelines. At nine p.m. when it was late enough that they didn’t have enough guys anymore I could get into a full-court game for a few minutes. My parents had confidence in me — my dad often came down to the courts to watch me play.

A Jewish teacher from my day school passed by once and saw me there. The next day she asked: “Aren’t you afraid to be there?” I told her that I wasn’t. In fact it was the place I felt most comfortable.

The moment I became a household name

Early in 11th grade when I was 17 the coach from University of Maryland saw me play in a high school game. Maryland is a Division school the highest level of intercollegiate athletics and he immediately offered me a full four-year scholarship. That’s a big deal! He told me “I’m already sure but I’m coming back tomorrow to see your game just because I enjoy watching you play.” It was my favorite team and my favorite school but I told them I could only commit if I didn’t have to play on Shabbat or chagim.