Jewish Chronicle Layout - Steelers Nation

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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE OCTOBER 11, 2007

˛ ˛SPORTS ˛

Welcome ye pagans to the land of milk and honey – Steeler Nation JONATHAN MAYO The Chosen 1s

We’ve established a new tradition in my house this season, one that has made our humble abode festive and usually celebratory. It’s gotten to the point that every Sunday has been very chag-like. It really started a few weeks ago, when we combined our second-annual Sukkah decorating party with watching the Steelers game. At once, we were able to combine the two true religions of Squirrel Hill into one fun afternoon. We did it again the next weekend, inviting people over to watch the game and presumably eat in the Sukkah during halftime (most of us stayed inside talking about the game, truth be told). Watching the group assembled in my living room made me realize a couple of things. First, the Jewish leaders in this city should be very grateful the NFL decided long ago that Sunday would be football day. Because if games were regularly played on Friday night or Saturday morning, synagogue attendance would take a huge hit. Someone once told me that the Steelers were a second religion here. I’m not so sure how far out of first they are. Second, it’s amazing how consumed people are by the black and gold, and with varying degrees of passion for and understanding of the game. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve grown to really like the Steelers. But as a

Chronicle art by Jane Muder

transp l a n t from New Jersey, I’m more of a convert to this religion. Of course, those who convert are often much more dedicated to their faith, but I can’t say I’m there yet. I certainly can’t lay claim to the internalizing of suffering a lifelong Jew, err, I mean fan, can take as their own. Misery loves company, which then makes triumph that much more special. But there are definitely varying degrees of fandom, just like there are different ways of people expressing their Jewishness. There are those people who are zealots, who follow blindly, perhaps with-

out knowing all the nuances of the “religion.” Some people keep kosher because they always have, but haven’t really read all the rules about kashrut. Similarly, there are Steelers fans who refuse to miss a single play of the game, but wouldn’t know a tight end from an end around. There are those who are extremely knowledgeable. They know everything about this religion, from the personnel to the most trivial rules. These rebbes of the gridiron spend most of their time studying, not just the local tradition, but how others around the football world celebrate their faiths. Some may embrace it 100 percent, some may pick and choose what works for them (the Reform football fan, so to speak). It’s kind of like deciding during Passover that since really observant Sephardic Jews eat rice and beans, it’s OK for you, the Ashkenazic Jew, to do it as well. These pigskin (sorry for using such a traife term)



talmudic scholars should spread themselves out throughout the community to be ready to teach and spread the word, kind of like those out in the community asking passersby if they want to lay t’fillin. There are the “cultural fans.” You probably know who you are. You wear black and gold to work on Fridays, put on the jersey on Sundays, but really don’t have the patience to sit in a house of worship to pay close attention to the game. When I say house of worship, I of course mean a living room with a big screen TV. And you certainly wouldn’t set foot in something as holy as a sports bar. I’m not judging, mind you. People are free to believe what they want in our society. I don’t know if all Steelers fans are that openminded and tolerant, but here’s hoping they can be. You don’t want to shun those who don’t believe exactly as you do. That only leads to turning people off from your faith. With that in mind, for those of you who don’t understand the game — those unable to ask — I’d like to offer my services. Anyone who wants to belong, but doesn’t know how, email me below and I’ll set up a tutorial class, an intro to the Steelers religion, if you will. I hope others take this example and run with it. Open up your arms, your hearts and your homes to people of all kinds and you will be a better fan for it. And Steeler Nation will be fruitful and multiply as a result. (Jonathan Mayo, a sports columnist for The Chronicle and a staff writer for MLB.com, can be reached at [email protected].)

MOVIE TIMES

October 12-October 18, 2007

(*) ASTERISK INDICATES NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT COUPONS ALLOWED.

CINEMAGIC - MANOR THEATER 412-422-7729 * Elizabeth: The Golden Age (PG-13) (Sat.-Sun. 12:50), 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45; Michael Clayton (R) (Sat-Sun. 12:45), 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:35; * The Jane Austen Book Club (PG-13) (Sat.-Sun. 12:55), 3:15, 5:30, 7:25, 9:40; Two Days In Paris (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:40), 3:05, 5:15, 7:15, 9:30 CINEMAGIC - SQUIRREL HILL THEATER 412-784-1217 * Across the Universe (PG-13) (Sat.-Sun. 12:05, 2:30), 5:05, 7:35, 10:00; * The Assasination of Jesse James (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:00, 2:50), 7:00, 9:45; * The Heartbreak Kid (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:20, 2:25), 5:10, 7:20, 9:30; *The Kingdom (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:15, 2:35), 5:00, 7:15, 9:20; Eastern Promises (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:30, 2:40), 5:15, 7:30, 9:25; * In The Valley of Elah (PG-13) (Sat. -Sun. 2:20), 5:20, 9:10; Once (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:25), 7:30

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PITTSBURGH FILMMAKERS REGENT SQUARE THEATER • 1035 S. BRADDOCK AVE. David and Layla (R) Fri: 8:00; Sat: 4:45, 7:00, 9:00; Sun: 5:30; Mon - Thur: 8:00; The Devil's Backbone (R) Sun: 8:00 HARRIS THEATER • 809 LIBERTY AVE. In Service -- theatre/video performance Fri - Sun: 8:00; Once (R) Mon - Wed: 7:30; Thur: 5:30, 7:30 MELWOOD SCREENING ROOM • 477 MELWOOD AVE. The Rape of Europa (NR) Fri: 8:00; Sat: 5:30, 8:00; Sun: 3:00, 5:30; Mon: 8:00 SOUTHSIDE WORKS 412-381-7335 Michael Clayton (R) (Sat.-Sun. 11:35), 2:10, 4:55, 7:35, 10:15; We Own the Night (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:00) 2:30, 5:05, 7:50, 10:25; Elizabeth: The Golden Age (PG-13) (Sat.-Sun. 12:10), 2:45, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20; Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married (PG-13) (Sat.-Sun. 11:30) 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45; The Heartbreak Kid (R) (Sat.-Sun. 11:45), 2:20, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10; The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (PG) 4:30, 7:15; The Jane Austin Book Club (NR) 1:45, 10:05; Eastern Promises (R) (Sat.-Sun. 12:15) 2:35, 5:15, 7:30, 10:00; Resident Evil: Extinction (R) (Sat.-Sun. 11:55), 2:05, 4:40, 7:00 9:40; The Kingdom (R) (Sat.-Sun. 11:40), 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55; The Game Plan (PG) (Sat.-Sun. 11:50), 2:25, 4:50, 7:25, 9:50 CARMIKE 10 We Own the Night (R) 1:10, 1:40, 3:55, 4:25, 7:00, 7:15, 9:45, 10:00; Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married (PG-13) 1:20, 4:10, 7:10, 9:55; The Heartbreak Kid (R) 1:15, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40; The Seeker: Dark Rising (PG) 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30; In the Valley of Elah (R) 1:10, 4:10, 7:00, 9:45; The Kingdom (R) 1:15, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40; Good Luck Chuck (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00; The Brave One (R) 1:00, 3:45: 7:20, 10:00; Mr. Woodcock (PG-13) 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:45, 9:55

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GALLERIA 6 Michael Clayton (R) 1:00, 1:30, 3:45, 4:15, 7:00, 7:15, 9:45, 10:00; Elizabeth: The Golden Age (PG-13) 1:30, 1:45, 4:00, 4:30, 7:10, 8:00, 9:50;The Jane Austin Book Club (PG-13) 1:00, 3:45, 7:15, 9:50; The Game Plan (PG) 1:00, 1:45, 4:00, 4:40, 7:00, 9:30