TEL AVIV, Israel - Even casual Israeli basketball fans begin their day with an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the newfound obsession with the NBA franchise has little to do with superstar LeBron James. Douglas Santos Jersey . Rookie head coach David Blatt is one of their own, making his name professionally in Israel and raising a family there.Nearly all of Clevelands games are broadcast live on Israeli sports channels, and the national morning radio broadcast almost always delivers the score of the previous nights games. Radio shows feature a daily update segment, and local newspapers have begun to resemble Ohio dailies in their blanket coverage of the drama surrounding Blatts talented yet underachieving team.Its beyond surreal. It feels almost alien-like, said Gil Barak, who broadcasts Clevelands games for the Sport 5 TV channel. This is a guy were used to seeing around here as his everyday self. Now hes got LeBron and directing the most high-profile team in the world.And as Cleveland fans worry that Blatt isnt using his roster properly, Israelis are proudly sticking behind him. Boston-born Blatt, 55, remains one of the countrys most beloved figures, thanks to his winning history as a coach in his adopted homeland and national pride in his making it big time.It means a lot from two perspectives: Number one, I can do something for the people in Israel, and number two, I can do something about bringing seven million new fans to the Cavaliers, Blatt said Monday night after a third straight win put the Cavaliers at 22-20. Ive been very fortunate, we had a great deal of success in Israel the last several years, so people are positive about this and about me and Ive got Bron and Kevin and Kyrie and they love the NBA over there so its a natural tie-in, and its great.Israelis went crazy in 2009 when Omri Casspi became the countrys first NBA player, and again when Gal Mekel made fleeting appearances for the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. But those reactions paled in comparison to the hoopla surrounding Blatts sudden ascension to become the first coach to jump from the European leagues to the NBA. Learning that he would coach the planets greatest player has only added to the excitement.Barak said the channel has experienced a spike in ratings this season, and that he is often stopped on the streets by strangers who want to pick his brain about Blatt.From our provincial perspective, it is a huge deal and we want to see one of our own succeed, he said.Blatt played his college ball at Princeton under coach Pete Carril. He has called Israel home since 1981, when he first arrived to play for the U.S. at the Maccabiah Games. A solid playing career in the Israeli league followed before an even more successful coaching career began in 1993.Over the next two decades he developed his reputation as a top international coach and offensive wizard whose stock surged dramatically after leading the Russian national team to a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. His signature moment in Israel came last year when he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a series of upset wins en route to a dramatic Euroleague championship title.As rumours floated that Blatt would soon head to the NBA, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even pleaded with him to stay.His roots in Israel remain deep. Hes married to an Israeli woman, Kinneret, and raised his four children here, with the oldest two having completed their military service. He speaks fluent, albeit American-accented, Hebrew and is a popular pitchman for TV ads who has professed a desire to one day serve as an ambassador for the country. An economic newspaper recently reported Blatt just purchased a pair of high-rise Tel Aviv apartments.Overnight, the Cavs became Israels team in the NBA, replacing traditional favourites like the Celtics, Knicks, Bulls and Lakers. Even those who rooted against him have become his backers, with the loyal following taking up a prominent presence online to defend him against critics.Dotan Ben-Yosef, a 25-year-old university student, is among many who cant wait for the morning highlights and gets up at 3 a.m. to watch the games live.Hes living out the dream of every Israeli who wants to make it big in the world, he said. I think everyone here wants him to win.So far, it hasnt worked out that way. With a slew of injuries, questionable team chemistry and a seemingly awkward relationship with James, the Cavs are in the middle of the pack after being favoured to win the Eastern Conference.Blatts every move in America is scrutinized in the local media with commentators saying the pressure is taking its toll. Known for a demanding, vocal style in Israel, Blatt often appears muted on the NBA sidelines and monotone in postgame press conferences.Devin Smith, his former player on Maccabi, said hes confident once Blatt gets through the growing pains he will thrive.Youve got a group of guys who have never played together, said Smith, who played his college ball at the University of Virginia. Its a growing process. People expected because LeBron is there for him to go back and win every game, but that is not the case.Guy Goodes, Blatts former assistant and successor as Maccabi Tel Aviv coach, said if anyone could withstand the enormous expectations it was Blatt.David is going through a tough stretch, but he will adjust, he said. We are all happy for him and proud of him and feel a part of helping him get there.____Follow Heller on Twitter @aronhellerap Casemiro Jersey . Colton Sissons also scored for Milwaukee (19-12-8), which went ahead with a two-goal third period. Wade MacLeod and Greg McKegg replied for Toronto (23-12-4). Gabriel Jersey . -- John Senden never imagined it would take more than seven years to win again. http://www.officialbrazilonline.com/ . The move is retroactive to Aug. 1. Hosmer was originally hit on the hand in the first inning of a July 20 loss to Boston. He has played most of the time since, but missed a few contests due to the injury, then departed Thursdays win over the Twins and had tests that revealed the fracture.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If this was Mike Shanahans final game with the Washington Redskins, it was just like the season. Very disappointing. Jerrel Jerigan caught a 24-yard touchdown pass and ran 49 yards for another to lead the New York Giants to a 20-6 victory over Washington on Sunday. Shanahan has not only seen the Redskins (3-13) finish the season with an eight-game losing streak just a year after winning the NFC East, but his future coaching the team is uncertain because of his shaky relationship with oft-injured franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Giants (7-9) also arent going to the playoffs, but they closed the season with a 7-3 record after losing their first six games. Its a finish that probably will have two-time Super Bowl winning coach Tom Coughlin back next season, unless the 67-year-old decides he has had enough. The game was the final one at MetLife Stadium until the Super Bowl on Feb. 2. This one was about as ugly as it gets, and the constant rain and injuries didnt help. The Giants lost quarterback Eli Manning (ankle), receivers Rueben Randle (knee), Hakeem Nicks (ankle) and offensive tackle Will Beatty (broken leg) in the regular-season finale, while the Redskins saw cornerback Josh Wilson (callf) and defensive end Jarvis Jenkins (head) leave the game. Custom Brazil Jerseys. Before leaving at the end of the first half, Manning combined with Jernigan on a 30-yard catch and run that set up the touchdown pass two plays later for a 7-3 lead. Jernigan got his other touchdown on the final play of the third quarter on an end around after taking a handoff from Curtis Painter, who played the second half with Manning out. Manning finished 10 of 24 for 152 yards with the touchdown and his career-high 27th interception of the season. Josh Brown had field goals of 34 yards in the second quarter and 38 in the fourth. The way the Giants defence was playing, thats all New York needed. Washington got field goals of 31 and 49 yards from Kai Forbath, both after Giants turnovers. The Redskins finished with 251 total yards after converting on 5 of 20 third-down attempts. Kirk Cousins, who started third straight game since RGIII was shut down, was 19 of 49 for 169 yards with two interceptions. The game might have been the last for Redskins linebacker London Fletcher, who said he is 99 per cent sure his 16-year career will end this season. He played in all 256 games in his career, starting the last 215, an NFL record for linebackers. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '