In the movie Airplane a man asks the flight attendant for some "light reading."  The flight attendant hands the man a two-page pamphlet entitled Jewish Sports Heros. 

Shortly after the movie Airplane debuted, the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was created.  Some familiar names are Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, Max Baer, Hank Greenberg and Kerri Strug.  Pete Sampras and David Beckham also have some Jewish blood coursing through their veins. 

As it turns out, there are some great Jewish cyclists as well.  The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame has inducted Doug Shapiro and Ryan Levinson and has honored Nicole Freedman.  The Tribe can also lay claim to one of the best professional female racers in the world today, Leah Goldstein.  Finally, the 2000 World Champion Romans Vainsteins is Jewish as well.  Oy Velo has gone out of its way to stalk all five of these cyclists.  So far, Oy Velo has only contacted four out of the five.  Enjoy their interviews until we track down Romans Vainsteins. 

_________________________________

Honorable Mentions for the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (from Oy Velo, not the actual Jewish Sports Hall of Fame) 

-Seinfeld.  He had a Klein bike (Jewish perhaps) in his apartment for 9 seasons of Seinfeld.  Oy Velo will even forgive him for having the fork on backwards occasionally.  

-Billy Crystal.  At the age of 60, he became Yankee for a day.  Even though he struck out, he took some great swings at 90 mph fastballs.  Not bad for a 60 year-old actor. 

-Henry Winkler.  The Fonz was a great athlete, he can even jump a shark.  

-Daniel Stern - His alter-ego Cyril was an original Cutter, and helped win The Little 500 in Breaking Away.