Lucky 13, Mike Cammalleri
Normally this space is reserved for Devils, Yankees, Mets and occasionally a sci-fi or writing reference. But I’m expanding my horizons and frontiers, literally: I’m now a member of the Mike Cammalleri fan club. To be honest, I noticed him two years ago when he was fed by Matthieu Schneider for a goal, creating what is probably the first (and only) all-Jewish goal/assist scoresheet combination. It doesn’t exactly sound like a High Holiday pledge sheet, but it’s true (read The Jewish Sports Review should you doubt my Jewish geography).
After Schneider motored to Detroit, Cammalleri proceeded to utterly rock the record for most points by a Jewish player, putting up 34 goals and 46 assists for 80 points in 06-07. For the Los Angeles Kings, where he didn’t get the benefit of consistently high-scoring teammates. So this year I’m going to be watching Cammalleri along with Anze Kopitar, hoping that at last hockey lights up the Staples Center.
How’s this for a perfect start to the season: Cammalleri has two goals as the Kings knock off the defending Stanley Cup champs, earning first star of the game honors? Yeah, the game was in London, but it was a regular season game. And #13 wasn’t lucky, he was just good. And during Sukkot (for those of you observing) — the “season of rejoicing” starts 5 hours earlier for fans of the black, silver and purple. Camalleri’s sukkah (temporary shelter, in Biblical terms) is lit by a red light. And there is much rejoicing.
Tags: cammalleri