Sunday, October 28, 2001
Should he stay or should he go?
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jack Jennings, 30, the former Holmes High and Western Kentucky University basketball star, has led the Israeli National Basketball League in scoring five of his seven seasons there (28-29 points per game).
But he might not return this season because of his concerns about tensions in the Middle East.
In seasons past, he'd have been in Tel Aviv by now. The ISBL opened play last Sunday.
“Because of the world situation, I don't know where I might play this year,” Jennings said. “Maybe Argentina.
“I'm not as concerned right now as I might be a few months from now,” he said. “The coalition (against the Taliban and the Al-Qaida terrorists) looks pretty solid, but there are some people who think if the bombing in Afghanistan continues for a lot longer, there could be a holy war. If it does, Israel would be right in the middle of it.”
Jennings' agent, Avi Zimmerman, said he doesn't know of any other Americans on ISBL teams who haven't returned to Israel to resume play. Two U.S. players are allowed on first-division teams; one on second-division teams.
Jennings' teammate on Maccabi Givat Shemuel is former University of Louisville player Tick Rogers. He has returned to Israel to play ball this season, Zimmerman said.
“Argentina's a possibility for Jack, but coming back here might not be out of the question, either,” said Zimmerman, via telephone from Tel Aviv. “We're keeping his options open. He could miss a couple of games without it being a problem.”
Jennings is a fan favorite in Israel. He reminds Israelis of former NBA great Charles Barkley, with his wide body (255 pounds), versatility (can play small forward, power forward, even center), and knack for rebounding (averages 9-10 per game).
Jennings scores from everywhere, including the high and low posts. He always could. As a senior at Holmes (1988-89), he averaged 35 points a game (led the state), scoring 68 points vs. Newport Catholic and 53 vs. Holy Cross. In the Sweet Sixteen, he scored 39 vs. Buckhorn and 42 vs. Louisville Ballard.
“We'd miss him as a player and as a person if he didn't come back,” said Zimmerman, who continues to work the phones on behalf of his client, looking for the best available job.
Jennings said he would miss Israel and his friends there if he doesn't return this year. He likes everything about Israel, including the food. He likes the grilled chicken and vegetables served Mediterranean style. All of America's fast foods, such as McDonald's, Wendy's and KFC, are available. (He can't, however, find his beloved turkey and dressing, macaroni and cheese, and greens made just the right way in Israel, so he loads up on those favorites when he's in the States).
“Israel is like our 51st state,” Jennings said. “The people love America. Where I live — south of Tel Aviv — it reminds me of Florida because of the warm climate. Tel Aviv is a big city. It reminds me of New York. Anything you want, you can get.”
He likes the music, discotheques, bowling alleys and movie theaters, the friendliness of the people — and the fact that they're basketball-crazy.
“They're even crazier about basketball than people in the States,” Jennings said. “Over here, there's more of a tendency for people to sit on their hands at the games unless something big happens. Over there, they stand and yell the entire time.”
There are no Baptist churches, Jennings notes.
“But the people are open and understanding,” Jennings said. “If I go to a teammate's house and the family is doing their Jewish rituals, I join right in. I even know a few words of Hebrew.”
Filled with emotion
Celeste Hill, 29, who with her Holmes High teammates went to the regional final in 1990 and was a star at Old Dominion, played in Israel from 1994-97, and in Greece for two seasons. She, like her longtime friend Jennings, loves Israel.
“I can understand Jack's concern,” she said. “If I'd been there in September and could have seen how the people in Israel reacted (to the terrorism in the United States, plus the increased violence in Israel), it wouldn't be an unknown. But when you're not there, it's as though you're opening a closed door and you don't know what's behind it.”
Unlike Jennings, Hill had a personal experience with a terrorist's act in Tel Aviv. It rattled her.
“I was at my friend's home (on the main street in Tel Aviv) when a terrorist blew up a city bus,” she said. “I was less than a quarter-mile away. At first, we thought it (the loud explosion) was bad weather. But it wasn't. He had blown up the bus. Up until then, I rode city buses. But I didn't for a while after that. Many shops were destroyed. The Ben & Jerry's (ice cream shop) where I always went was destroyed. Several little boutiques I frequented were damaged.”
And yet, she returned to Israel for subsequent seasons. That is how much she liked Israel.
Remains undecided
Jennings isn't ruling out the possibility of returning to Israel next season if a holy war doesn't break out in the interim.
“There's no doubt in my mind Israel can handle its problems. Its military is battle-tested,” Jennings said. “Nobody except the terrorists, wants a holy war. I think it just might be better for me to play someplace else this season.”
He said he has neither personally witnessed an act of terrorism in Israel, nor does he personally know any victims of one.
“It's something I've seen on the TV news and in the newspapers (in Israel),” he said. “Otherwise, my life hasn't been affected by it. I've felt safe there.”
Thoughts of a holy war concern him, however. There is no way the whole of Israeli society wouldn't be affected by that.
As it is, he has been free to move about the country the past seven years. Security is a lot tighter in Israel than in the States, but the only time he feels it significantly affected his lifestyle was when he was flying back to the States. He'd have to get to the airport four hours before his flight.
“Sometimes I'm lucky, though,” Jennings said. “They (security workers) recognize me. They say, "Come with us, Jack.' I've been able to avoid some lines.”
Basketball expatriates
Here's where some other former local collegians are playing overseas this season:
University of Cincinnati
Erik Martin - Japan
Herb Jones - Italy
Darnell Burton - Korea
Terrence Davis - Hungary
D'Juan Baker - Hungary
Bobby Brannen - Australia
Ryan Fletcher - Germany
Pete Mickeal - France
Source: Tom Hathaway, UC.
Xavier University
Reggie Butler - Germany
Lenny Brown - Belgium
Gary Lumpkin - France
Source: Chris Mack, Wake Forest.
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Should he stay or should he go? 
