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By TARA BAXTER; Times Leader Sports Writer
Saturday, February 06, 1999 Page: 1B
Chaim Katz never expected to become famous.
After all, the Wilkes-Barre native teaches and coaches basketball at
Talmudical Academy- an Orthodox Jewish day school near Baltimore with an
enrollment of 72 students.
However, one of those students is bringing Katz plenty of attention.
Talmudical junior Tamir Goodman, a 6-foot-3, 150-pound point guard, is
averaging 36.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Goodman made an oral
commitment to attend the University of Maryland on a basketball scholarship,
bringing him and Katz into the national spotlight. Sports Illustrated magazine
featured Goodman and Katz in its Feb. 1 issue.
“I don’t know how I got so famous,” said Katz, 35, who said he now goes by
the first name Harold because it’s easier for people to pronounce than his
Hebrew name. “Tamir’s been with me since he was a little kid. We grew up
together.”
The husband and father of five is speaking figuratively, not literally.
Katz actually grew up in Wilkes-Barre. His father, Rabbi Joseph Katz, taught
at Wilkes University.
“Growing up in Wilkes-Barre, I used to be at the (Jewish Community Center)
24-7,” said Katz. “That’s where I learned about socialization. My dad was
always right around the corner at Wilkes. I was really into bowling, baseball
and basketball.”
Katz went to a boarding school in Rochester, N.Y., away from his many
friends who played for Wyoming Valley West and Meyers. At his school there was
no basketball team. That’s just as well, because Katz is a much better coach
than he was a player.
“They said I could shoot … I couldn’t make anything, but I could shoot,”
said the affable Katz. “Let’s put it this way. I had a great outside shot.
Unfortunately, the game is played inside.”
In 1981, when Katz was 17, his father took a job in Annapolis, Md., and the
family moved to Baltimore.
“I miss Wilkes-Barre, but I knew I couldn’t stay there,” said Katz. “It was
a great place to grow up. I remember playing baseball at Tioga Park. I had so
much fun. I miss the homey feel of it.”
Katz began his college career at Towson State University. He transferred to
the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, from which he graduated.
Katz said he learned how to coach while growing up in Wilkes-Barre.
He said former Wilkes head coach and current Lake-Lehman coach and athletic
director Rodger Bearde “was the first coach I ever watched outside of my rec
leagues. I also learned from watching John Reese coach the Wilkes wrestling
team. My swim coach at the JCC, Rick Evans, taught me a lot about coaching,
too.”
Watching others prepared Katz for coaching, but nothing could prepare him
for dealing with the national spotlight that’s shining on him and his star
player.
“There isn’t a high school player in the country more scrutinized than
Tamir right now,” said Katz. “His teammates are really protective of him. He
doesn’t go anywhere alone. Somebody’s always with him. They understand that
he’s the best player they’re ever going to play with.”
Like Goodman’s teammates, Katz is also protective of his star player.
“The (Sports Illustrated) article said that we call him the Jewish Jordan,”
said Katz. “That’s something the media made up. I would never compare any
player to Michael Jordan. It’s unfair to Jordan, and it’s unfair to Tamir. No
kid should have that much pressure.
“But he can definitely play. If he couldn’t, he’d just be a freak show in a
yarmulke. But he’s a yarmulke that can play. It’s rare for me to get excited
watching a kid play. I’ve known Tamir since he was little, and he still
surprises me once in a while.”
To emphasize Goodman’s basketball prowess, Katz talked about the game his
team played earlier in the week.
“Tamir got lost on his way to the game, so he showed up late,” said Katz.
“He came in at the end of the first quarter and played 25 minutes. He still
scored 45 points. He is at worse entertaining and at his best breathtaking.”
Katz said his relationship with Goodman is more father/son than
coach/player.
“I don’t think people realize what our relationship’s like,” said Katz.
“I’m the only guy he talks to about basketball. If a reporter calls his house,
he won’t talk to them without my permission. And that’s the way he wants it to
be. He doesn’t want to be known as a religious player, but a player who is
religious.”
Katz admires the fact that Goodman has remained grounded despite becoming a
celebrity.
“I’m more proud of the fact that Tamir is a great man than the fact that
he’s a great basketball player,” Katz said. “That’s what basketball is about.
It’s about building character and integrity, being true to the media, and
signing autographs, even if it takes up a lot of your time.”