My Life in Exercise: One Man’s Journey
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My Life in Exercise: One Man’s Journey

ByMichael Thal

  Doctors will tell you about the many benefits of exercise—a great way to keep the pounds in check and the metabolism chugging. Exercise also reduces the risk of developing diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. On a personal note, when I complete a workout I feel a small fire blazing inside…

Special Basketball at the JCCA
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Special Basketball at the JCCA

ByMichael Thal

The Westside Jewish Community Center on Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles hosted its 12th annual basketball exhibition game Saturday evening March 3, 2018 between the Special Macabees and the Santa Monica West Side Special Olympics All-Stars. It was a rainy evening, but the excitement inside the JCCA was palpable. Athletes on both teams ranged in…

Benchwarmers selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 Encore Prize
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Benchwarmers selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 Encore Prize

ByMichael Thal

Benchwarmers is a non-profit nascent organization with the mission to promote access to team sports for all kids by providing a nurturing environment where children who are less athletic can thrive and feel they belong. Benchwarmers’ focus is on sportsmanship, education, and deliberate practice.  A decade ago retired Teledyne engineer Joe Bock had a dream….

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Special Basketball Stars: Special Macabees vs Special Olympics

ByMichael Thal

The Greeks expected people with special needs to be put away in some dark hidden place. Sixteenth Century Christians, like Martin Luther and John Calvin, believed people with disabilities to be possessed by evil spirits. During the third decade of the Twentieth Century the Nazis blatantly exterminated them. The Jewish Community Center on Olympic Blvd….