This & That, Ceci et Cela

For anyone out there seeking more proof of soccer (not Islam or Christianity) as the #1 world religion, here it is:

Yep, Buddhist monks dig soccer too.

This Buddhist temple has a carrving (inset) in the likeness of David Beckham.

Like billions of other people around the world, 25-year-old Phra Prawit is avidly following the World Cup - and especially his favourite team, France. On the other side of Bangkok, 28-year-old England fan Pramaha Preecha is equally addicted to the beautiful game. But Prawit, Preecha and their football-mad friends have a problem: they are Buddhist monks and have to be awake at 5am every morning to collect alms from the local community.

The issue of whether monks should be allowed to watch football has been a topic of debate in Thailand over the last few weeks, with the subject featuring in newspaper reports and TV chat shows. After all, Cambodian monks have apparently been asked to steer clear. The chief monk in the capital, Phnom Penh, told the French news agency AFP that monks found watching the World Cup should be kicked out of their temples.

-Gooaaal!!!