New York – CBS may have already cancelled its show “Million Dollar Mile” — in which contestants aim to get through a mile-long obstacle course while a group of professional athletes tries to stop them — but one of the final episodes will feature an athlete wearing a yarmulke.
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Michael Neuman, a 25-year-old psychologist from Miami Beach, Florida will appear in the July 13 episode of the show, which was co-developed by NBA star LeBron James.
“At first I was uncomfortable, people would be staring at me on the start line,” Neuman said in a news release about his experience in the obstacle course racing world, which earned him a spot on the show. “But then I would remember it’s probably strange for them to see an Orthodox Jew on the start line of a sport. You just never see it in pro sports … In the end, people have been really responsive and respectful and it’s brought me friends from all walks of life.”
Michael grew up in a typical orthodox family on Miami Beach where he attended yeshiva, but always wanted to be an athlete. However, with leagues on shabbos and great focus placed on meaningful pursuits, excellence at sports wasn’t the priority. Michael finished his degrees and presently is a psychotherapist and founder of Movement and Active Psychology, where he adds exercise and movement as a means to apply psychological interventions.
But Michael never gave up on his dream, and began competing as a Spartan, obstacle course racing (OCR). Michael competes in Spartan racing, running in mountains while doing as much as 40 obstacles ranging from carrying a bucket of rocks, barbwire crawls and monkey bars, if he fails, he does 30 burpees, an intense version of push ups.
Recently he became the first orthodox Jew to podium in a Spartan race. The biggest surprise for people is when Michael always competes proudly wearing his yarmulke.
“At first I was uncomfortable, people would be staring at me on the start line. But then I would remember it’s probably strange for them to see an orthodox Jew on the start line of a sport. You just never see it in pro sports. My goal in life is to affect others and make a kiddish Hashem, so I was like, let me bring my love for Hashem to this as well. In the end, people have been really responsive and respectful and it’s brought me friends of all walks of life.”
“I believe being orthodox has absolutely helped me get this far in sports. It taught me a lot of discipline and basically, you can try to do anything because in the end, Hashem has got to help. So why not try whatever you’re passionate about.” His parents were very supportive and Michael even trained his dad to compete in a OCR race.
As Michael was moving up the ranks in the sport of OCR, he got the call to compete in the Super Bowl of OCR competition, Lebron James’ new CBS show, Million Dollar Mile. The show has the contestant racing through obstacles while being chased by a professional OCR athlete.
Michael says he hopes to show Jewish children around the world that you can chase your dream while also keeping faithful to the values of Torah and frumkite.
“Everyone can pursue their dreams while never deviating from keeping Hashem and Torah values as the center of your life. Strive for greatness, but don’t ever let your personal goals get in the way of Hashem’s goals for you.”
The show premiered in March, and CBS cancelled it in May, but decided later to air the remaining episodes that had been filmed. Former NFL quarterback turned minor league baseball player Tim Tebow was the show’s host.
Tune in July 13th at 8pm on CBS (tape it or watch online after Shabbos), to see how Michael did.
good for this young man.
‘Tune in July 13th at 8pm on CBS (tape it or watch online after Shabbos), to see how Michael did.’ ?? vin is losing i again with the hiring of elementary aged students to replace their bungalow vacationing regular staff.
don’t you assume most of your readers do not own a tv to tune in to and watch??