Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Did You Read Josh Hasten's Piece On The Gov at JPost?

Revelation: I am the father of one of the owners of the greatest bar in Jerusalem, The Gov aka The Lion's Den.

Here's from Josh:

Wild-card wonderment at Jerusalem’s HaGov
By JOSH HASTEN

It’s the NFL playoffs and Jerusalem’s only true sports bar “The Lion’s Den” is getting ready to air the day’s second wild-card game.


It’s 2:30 a.m. on a cold and blustery Saturday night in Jerusalem and while the majority of watering holes in the center of town are starting to empty out, one pub is just starting to fill up.

It’s the NFL playoffs and Jerusalem’s only true sports bar “The Lion’s Den” (or HaGov; located at the corner of Yoel Solomon and Shamai streets) is getting ready to air the day’s second wild-card game, a highly anticipated rematch between last year’s AFC Champions the Indianapolis Colts, and the AFC runner-up New York Jets.

...According to one of HaGov’s owners Yonah Mishaan, the Jets are “the most popular football team at the venue, with the strongest fan base” due to the influx of New York ex-pats living in Jerusalem, and the many Yeshiva and college students who call New York home.

Dressed in their green and white, these rabid fans surround the multiple plasma screens throughout the bar in anticipation of their contest.

While the Jets/Colts game is the featured attraction, in actuality a diverse NFL fan base of Anglos living in Israel – Hebrew speakers, tourists, and students – have already been at HaGov for several hours to watch the first game of the evening between the Seattle Seahawks and the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

...As he and several other patrons exit following game one, a horde of Jets supporters quickly claim the vacated seats. It’s now almost 3:30 a.m. and the bar is pumping with chants of “J-E-T-S. Jets. Jets. Jets.”

Three hours later as the sun begins to rise, the Jets escape with their one point victory on a last second field goal.

Despite sacrificing an entire night of sleep, these adrenaline-filled fanatics pour out into Kikar Zion in festive celebration of their team’s success.

The Jets will most likely lose to New England next week, but for one long night only, their team is on top of the NFL world.

Whoo-hoo.

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