The Turning Point Academy

Marty Appelbaum lives, eats, and breathes basketball and running. He has been dedicated to coaching Team Houston Maccabi and has built a reputation of being "The Coach" that every young man who plays basketball in the Houston delegation hopes to be coached by. Marty has been coaching Maccabi since 1995 and led teams to gold, silver and bronze medals in the Maccabi youth program. Marty himself is a player on the Maccabiah Team USA and has played on Team USA in the Israel World games in 2001, 2005 and 2009, and at the Pan American games in Chile 2003 and Argentina in 2007. The International Maccabiah Games are not for everyone. The International Games are very different from USA basketball. The physicality is very strenuous. Marty has played through many injuries to assist his Masters' teams to gold, silver, and bronze medals. In his last game in Israel this past summer, I watched with a grimace as he ran up and down the court as if he was 100%. Marty wanted his Team USA to win so much that he never let his teammates or his coach know how severely injured his ankle was in the Gold Medal game against Israel. He taped it and played with all that he had in him and played well ~almost leading his team to an upset victory. They walked away with the silver. Marty has always been a team player. At home, as a husband, as a father, as a business owner.

This has always been his way. I watch as friends congratulate him on being the honoree for the Ronnie Arrow Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Marty modestly tells them thanks because he never did it for fame or to be honored. He did it because it's in his veins, his heart, his soul. I have never met anyone with the integrity, morals and values that my husband, Marty, consistently displays. I can't think of a more honorable athlete to honor. 

 

The induction ceremony will be held Sunday, June 13 at 2pm in the Jewish Community Center Board room. Please let us know before May 7, if you are able to attend. We want to make sure you get an invitation.