Earl Williams, the American-born Black basketball star of the Maccabi Tel Aviv team whose conversion last year to Judaism triggered considerable controversy, announced here he has signed a new contract to play for a team based in Bologna, Italy.
A former player with the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association, Williams’ tough and often aggressive play surprised many basketball officials here. Williams is remembered for striking an opposing player in an international game in Greece two years ago, touching off a riot that involved the entire Maccabi squad.
Williams announced his conversion to Judaism last summer and it startled some Israeli National Basketball League coaches. "This can’t be the Earl Williams I used to know when I was affiliated with the Detroit Pistons during Williams’ stay there," said one former assistant coach. "It just doesn’t sit right with me."
The issue of conversion for basketball players arises from a rule which allows each team to bring in one non-Israeli player of Jewish birth and one of non-Jewish birth. When a non-Israeli player of non-Jewish birth becomes a convert, his action makes room for acceptance by an NBL team of another non-Israeli player.
But the conversion rule, because of the view that some conversions are done for the sake of the basketball teams and not because of a sincere interest in Judaism, has been amended beginning this year. The new ruling allows for each team to acquire two foreign players, regardless of religion or race.
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