'Hail Mary' of Desperation

This Post is not on anything I have read in a book. It is about a newspaper article, infact the title of an article. The author is that iconic figure of American journalism, Tom Friedman. The piece appeared in yesterday's New York Times and was titled "The Hail Mary Pass".

As a Roman Catholic, I have said the beautiful prayer 'Hail Mary' countless times. This is the full prayer: Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus; Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen . But what is Tom Friedman, a Jew not known for piety, doing with a Catholic prayer?

I read the article and it turned out to be on the American predicament in Iraq. Assuming the United States to be in a no-win situation, Friedman asks President Bush to make an unconventional, wild move. Hoping to win support of the diffident regional powers, the President should visit the Arab conference in Egypt and make a speech apologising for unilaterally invading Iraq. Among other things, he should say: "I am sorry that I rushed into the invasion of Iraq. I honestly believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. I was wrong... etc."

Well, the President has to be really desperate to be persuaded to make such a speech. Considering Friedman's staunch support to the war when it was launched, the irony of his present position is difficult to miss. But that is not my concern. (Besides, right to hold one's views is meaningless without the right to change them.) What interested me was the connection between the American desperation and the Catholic parayer. Here the omniscient Wikipedia came to my rescue.

What I found is this: "Hail Mary Pass" is the name of a desperate move in American Football when no other playing option is open. The player wildly throws the ball and says a prayer, may be 'Hail Mary', hoping somebody from his side to catch. Chances of success are little as defence against the move is easy considering the position of the ball and player making the move.