Jewish groups still support Bruce Pearl

I've spent much of this week hunched in the fetal position. Why? Somehow, I came down with some sort of strange strep throat/flu/cold/sars hybrid, and it's totally demoralized me. Today is Day 5 of the misery; I gave up around Day 2. It's been a struggle to stand on my feet for more than a few minutes at a time. Breathing is a nfl throwback jerseys
battle. Talking is almost out of the question.
And, all things considered, I'm pretty sure my week has been better than Bruce Pearl's.
After last Friday's tearful mea culpa in front of the media -- in which Pearl announced he misled NCAA investigators and made "serious mistakes" in his handling of Tennessee's recruitment policies -- Pearl got more bad news later this week, when the world learned that the NCAA has a photo that proves Pearl spent time with recruit Tony Craft on an unofficial visit in his home. When asked about the photo, Pearl and his assistants reportedly said they did not recognize the photo's origin or background. Even though, you know, it was taken in Chicago Bears jersey
Pearl's house. Right.
Fortunately, there is good news for Pearl -- and not just in the form of an airtight contract that will make him almost impossible to fire unless the NCAA hands down a ruling with the word "significant" in it.
This good news comes from the Jewish groups -- including Maccabi USA, whose motto is "Building Jewish Pride Through Sports" -- Pearl has worked for and supported for years. In the face of controversy, those groups are supporting him back:
“We are supportive of him," Jed Margolis, the executive director of Maccabi USA, told JTA in an interview Tuesday. "People make mistakes, and he has owned up and taken responsibility for them, and I feel very comfortable.”
“His impact on the games was very positive, and not just because of the medal he won," Margolis said. "He was a good role model and teacher, and had a wonderful experience in Israel. He was a real shining light for us.”
The organization’s president, Ron Carner, also sent an open letter to the embattled coach offering his support.
“In the past few days I have been contacted by many of our board members and executive committee as well as our athletes -- all unanimously agree that I should write in an official capacity to reassure you that the entire Maccabi USA family is behind you during this trying time,” Carner wrote.
That makes two public shows of New Orleans Saints jersey
support for Pearl since last Friday's announcement, the other coming from Pearl's top two recruits in the 2011 class. Neither display is going to keep Pearl out of the NCAA's boiling pot, but you have to imagine both mean quite a bit to the embattled coach all the same.