The Jewish Link and The Humble Toast would like to recognize Eli Pinewski as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Moriah fourth grader is coming off another great Bergen County Flag Football season where he helped lead the BCFL Burger Boss Texans to the championship. Eli is a coach’s dream player. Whether he’s playing baseball, flag football, floor hockey or on one of his three basketball teams, Eli always puts the team’s goals before his own and does whatever it takes to help his team to victory. Eli’s father, and BCFL coach Jason Pinewski told The Jewish Link, “The most stressful, but fun, part of my week is my action-packed Sundays watching and coaching Eli. He’s a great all around athlete, but more importantly he’s a great teammate and always does whatever he can to encourage his teammates and help them get better … and always with a kippah on his head!”
Eli, congrats on a great BCFL season and on being recognized as this week’s Sportstar of the Week! Who are your role models and why?
My dad is my role model. He makes time for things that are important and one of those things is coaching me and my siblings. He helps us become better and nicer players.
What is your favorite sport?
This is a really hard question. I play basketball, tennis, hockey and football every week. Basketball is probably my favorite—it was the first sport I started loving when I was 2 years old.
What is your pregame routine?
I don’t really have a pre-game routine. I just show up and do my best.
What is your favorite sports memory?
I once hit a buzzer beater in a basketball game. It was pretty awesome. My teammates all rushed over and jumped on me.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
My favorite athlete is Jalen Brunson, because he works really hard on the court and he is helping the Knicks become a team that can make the playoffs.
What is your earliest sports memory?
When I was was 3, I was doing the Steph Curry dribbling drill where I dribbled two basketballs with two hands.
What is your weirdest sports memory?
I went to the YU Macs semifinal game. At halftime, a woman came up to me and asked me who my favorite player is, and I told her one of the Knicks players. Then she asked me who my favorite Jewish player was, and I said Gabe Leifer. Then she asked me, “What about Ryan Terrell? He’s going to go to the NBA.” I laughed and said, “No way, he’ll be in the NBA.” And she told me, “Yes he will! You know how I know? I AM HIS MOTHER!”
It was a funny moment—and now he is working his way there! The Macs won and it was really exciting to be there cheering for them.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
When I’m not playing or practicing sports (rare) I like to play board games like Ticket to Ride, chess and Masterpiece.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
It’s cool to be a Sportstar. I get a The Humble Toast gift card and I get to be in the newspaper! Thank you Jewish Link!
The Humble Toast Star of the week will receive a $25 gift card to The Humble Toast. Please send nominees for an upcoming The Humble Toast Jewish Link Stars of the Week to [email protected].
