World Cup 2006 (Football)

[AlohaDawg]

It was a classless move that possibly cost his team and country the World Cup. The other (also classless) guy wins because he got the reaction that may have led to Italy winning.

Not being able to keep your head when it's important, when the cost goes way beyond you, is a personal failure. Zidane's reaction was self-gratification through violence, common thuggery. He has a fairly long history of  thuggery (16 career red card sendoffs??) and he was very possibly played by the Italian. It's better it get decided on the field by superior play and if the Italian guy intended to get that kind of rise out of Zidane, he's a dick too. People need to act like adults and be about their business.

[KeithHernandez]

It was a classless move that possibly cost his team and country the World Cup.

Beyond momentum it did not affect anything.  Also, he had already won his team and country a World Cup, and was treated poorly in his country after that, so why does he have to do it again?  Fuck, why should he want to do it again.  Since when is some retarded trophy more important than your pride? 

[AlohaDawg]

How is that something to be proud of? That's what I don't understand. Maybe it was meaningless to the outcome - but surely you aren't saying that he did the right thing in that situation.

[jough]

Yeah, there are a LOT of lip-readers coming up with a LOT of different "interpretations."

Conclusion: lip-reading is not SCIENCE.

[KeithHernandez]

I think there are certainly worse things he could have done, if in fact it was a racial slur.

I think you don't understand the rampant racism involved in soccer.  As I said, he was treated poorly by the French after they won in 98, so has no reason to play for his country.  He has already won a World Cup and is generally considered one of the greatest players of the last 20 years, so he has nothing to prove for himself.  Do you let a person trash your culture and your family, or do you make him pay for what he said, thus restoring your pride.  I doubt he thought of all this, but it is, at very least, justifiable.

[AlohaDawg]

Yes but, on the other hand, if racist people hold that Algerians are violent thugs, he may have salved his own sense of indignation at the cost of perpetuating the stereotype. He proves the other guys point.

[KeithHernandez]

I didn't look at it that way.  Education.

Still I would say that a racial slur is worse than what he did in return, even if it proves his point, because it doesn't really prove his point.  The Italian is being the thug in that situation.  But still, it gives the image of Zidane being the thug to a casual observer or for one that wants it to be that way.  Who knows what is worse out of those two options?  Actually being the real asshole, or being perceived as the asshole.

So I guess I am trying to say that I see your point.

[Ben-San]

I am impressed by the ferocity of the headbutt involved. Even if the guy getting butted was overselling it, it was a pretty impressively fierce headbutt. He has earned my headbutt-ability respect.

[KeithHernandez]

He was known for his headers.  That was one of his specialties.

[AlohaDawg]

I'm not sure he was overselling it since it was a total surprise and was away from the ball and the ref. I think he just flat out got knocked on his ass. Especially considering where he was struck. And, yeah, ol' Zizzou definitely is no stranger to applying his head to an object in a direct way.

[misterqueue]

Mostly I hate these things, but this made me laugh pretty hard.  (Mostly because I love the original scene it references)

Here's a whole stupid page of them... you know.. if you want.   Jeezus humanity, seriously.  (Okay the lamp post one is pretty funny too.)


Lister: I blame you for this entirely.

[AlohaDawg]

I like the one you click to headbutt the oncoming series of Matarazzis. That was funny.

[slink]

Have to say, I quite liked Zidane headbutting the death star to obliteration.
Classy.

[KeithHernandez]

There are rumors now that 2010 could, possibly be held in the U.S.  It is now scheduled for South Africa, but they are worried about travel accomidations, and, well, that it is in South Africa probably.  If they do move it I would like them to move it to amother place in Africa, but it would be really cool to go to some games.


http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1818166,00.html

[KeithHernandez]

So, Ronaldinho's girlfriend said that he stayed up late having sex with her and playing playstation, which is why he didn't play well in the world cup.

Hell of Sex and FIFA World Cup 2006 (I mean the video game)