From Eire To Israel

"All right then," he said. "It's a gimmick for fund raising. But I still insist that baseball will never go in Israel."

"That's your opinion, Carl," said the colonel, smiling in the friendliest way, "but we'll go ahead with our plans just the same. And when you see, as I visualize, a big league team, possibly the St. Louis Cardinals, playing an exhibition at Wingate, I think you'll change your mind."

"I doubt it," said Carl Alpert, smiling in the most winning manner.

There were a few seconds of silence. I put down my coffee and leaned forward.

"May I say a word?" I asked, looking around the group.

"Certainly," said Colonel Henshel, speaking for the assembly.

"You say, Carl," I began, "that baseball is too slow for the youth of Israel. For all I know, you may be right. However, I do believe it would be worth a trial. But if you want a fast game, an aggressive game, a game that will give players and spectators alike all the excitement they can handle, I've got the game for you."

"What's that?" asked Carl Alpert.

"Hurling," I said, "the national game of Ireland."

"How is it played?" said Carl Alpert.