Israel Bowl IV

As owners and players fight in the NFL over who should make more money and why each side is being taken advantage of, thousands of miles away football is being played for the love of the game.
This past Friday, March 18, the Israel Football League held Israel Bowl IV live from Kraft Family Stadium. I had the pleasure and honor of being on hand and with broadcast partner Ari Louis, I called the game for Israel Sports Radio. While the pagentry of the Super Bowl is like no other, the Israel Bowl certainly had its fill of excitement.
The defending champion Tel-Aviv/Yaffo Sabres were being challenged by the “bad boys” of the IFL, the Judean Rebels, a true clash of styles if there ever was one. The game matched the experience of the boys from Tel-Aviv with the talent of the boys from the Gush. But that is not where the contrasts stopped, the more “Religious Jews” on the Rebels versus the “Secular Jews” on Tel-Aviv, the Palestinians on the Rebels versus the Israeli Arabs on the Sabres, everything was lined up to be a clash like we have never seen in the IFL.
And then the game started…..The Rebels Jump out to an early lead and looked like they were unstoppable. The Rebels appeared to be a team trying to prove to all IFL fans that their comeback against the Jerusalem Lions was not by accident. While most thought win or lose for the Rebels, at least it would be a great game, but the rout was on….
Down early the Sabres could only look on in frustration. But unlike the overpaid players in the NFL, they showed what heart and determination were all about. Oh yeah and great coaching. Adjustments were made late in the first half and after an opening second half onside kick, The Sabres came roaring back.
This game turned out to be one of the best games I have seen at any level of football. As commentators and fans, all we want to see is a close game. And that is exactly what we got. As momentum shifted and the Sabres started to execute like the champions they were, the talent of the Rebels seemed to fade. Clinging to a four point lead late in the game, the unthinkable happened to the Rebels, A SAFETY! Yes a bad snap on a punt lead to a safety and we had a two point game with about 3 minutes to go.
What more could we ask for on a sunny Friday afternoon in Jerusalem, a close game with all the glory on the line. For four years the IFL has been around and never a repeat Champion. On the other hand if the Rebels could avoid the choke, they would be the fourth team in four years to be crowned Champion.
And so it was…The Judean Rebels did hang on and won by the score of 32-30. A day that marked yet another reason of why the owners and players in the NFL better get there act together. The talent on the field may be far inferior in the IFL, but the excitement and passion makes up for it. Where else can you see two teams who are not paid entertain a crowd of a thousand plus fans, play their hearts out and end with the customary handshake, only in the Kraft Family IFL!