The Red Zone

It was a busy Sunday. There were a lot of wide receivers pointing up to the sky, giving thanks. An equally jubilant group of running backs showing gratitude to the powers that be for allowing them to cross the goal line. There were even a few "Hail Marys." That's not even taking into account the genuflecting place kickers and the legions of football fans making special prayers for the success of their favorite teams. And all of this took place before the first pitch of the American League Championship game, setting off another flurry of sports-related worship. Would you guess that the Supreme Being is a Yankees fan, or would he stick with the party line and root for the Angels?
Is it any wonder then, that Sunday also saw violent clashes erupt at Jerusalem's holiest site? ll of Israeli riot police marched toward young men covering their faces with T-shirts and scarves, sending many of them running for cover into the Al-Aqsa mosque, one of the Islamic structures in the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. In some quarters, this could be considered a triple play. A group of hardline settlers and rabbis met in Jerusalem on Sunday evening calling on Jews to pray at the site. Most rabbis, however, say the place is so holy that Jews should not even set foot there. Police allow only Muslims to worship in the compound and say that practice will be enforced. Even at the end of a blowout loss in St. Louis, the Rams still let the Colts get together at mid-field for a little post-game prayer. Maybe it was a bye week for the Deities.