<p>cheers,
Thanks for the link to the article about Zidane. Good insight into him as well as the situation that people of Algerian descent face in France.</p>
<p>It is indeed unfortunate that Zidane had to end his career on such a bad note. But I watched the French team during the opening of the game, as their national anthem was played, and noted that Zidane looked angry, brooding, or just troubled as he stood with his team members. He didn’t part his lips during the singing of the anthem. I remember wondering what was up with him.</p>
<p>There are reports in the British press as well as other European media sources that indicate Zizou was under tremendous pressure not just to bring home a win for France but because of a resurgence of personal attacks and threats made before the game -which, unfortunately, is nothing new (and neither is the headbutting…). There is still no excuse and obviously no escape which is why he got the red card. The FIFA is aware of these problems. I wonder now with the “video arbitrage” in use if it will be increasingly harder to get away with fouls and misconduct on the field. In any case, according to the laws of the game it is a “high crime offense” to spit on someone but “unsporting behavior” (which I can only assume covers insults) only calls for a caution. Perhaps this incident will provoke enough controversy to revise that section of the rule book. </p>
<p>This is a story from 2004 but sums up the situation quite clearly:</p>
<p><a href=“http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1182707,00.html[/url]”>ZZ top | Zinedine Zidane | The Guardian;
<p>FWIW, everyone wants to win and no end-game solution to a tie is perfect, however, if the method in use is approved and clearly stated in the rule book then it is not arbitrary - it is “the law”.</p>
<p>The Italian victory is incredibly important to Italy right now since the win comes at a time of deep scandal in the Italian soccer world with on-going legal suits against several of the leading teams that sport commentators say most likely will lead to the league champions losing their title as well as going down to a lower division. In the soccer world, “la vida sigue” and new coaches are being hired, players are being hired and traded, and training camps are now open – all of this gets intense press coverage outside of the US. This is all part of what makes soccer such an exciting sport - which should not be surprising to U.S. baseball fans.</p>
<p>Soccer commercials, especially those developed by U.S. companies such as Coca Cola and Nike, have great appeal to audiences the world over whether they love or loathe football/soccer.</p>
<p>The Nike commercial “Try This at Home” is great - but please don’t. :)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.soccercommercials.com/[/url]”>http://www.soccercommercials.com/</a></p>
<p>Xiggi, it is a natural thing to want athletes from your country to win - there’s nothing uniquely American about that, nor is it bad - unless it goes to an extreme (if memory serves me right, when the Brazilian soccer team lost the WC a few times ago, one of their members was murdered - now that’s an extreme.) It’s also a natural thing for the populace of a country to gravitate towards sports that they, as a country, do well in. Norwegians love Nordic skiing events but don’t really get worked up over basketball. It would be unfair to be critical of them for this myopia - just as it is unfair to be critical of the US for its relative lack of interest in soccer.</p>
<p>As to skiing, back in the dark days of American Alpine skiing, international stars such as Jean-Claude Killy and Franz Klammer were well known names in the American vernacular.</p>
<p>Zidane seems to be known for a foul temper
Trash talking isn’t new to the world cup or to sports.
My daughter commented to me that one recent team they played- was ultra competitive, and trash talked on the field.
I have observed that when she played basketball & this was in * grade school*, she played against teams where aggressive behavior was encouraged by the coach, both trash talking and being so physical on the court that the girls were getting expelled from the game.</p>
<p>SOme experienced players use it to help them get charged up but others apparently allow it to dissolve their composure.</p>
<p>*But Zidane’s greatest achievements were to come in the international game.</p>
<p>He scored twice against the Czech Republic in his first match for France and later reached the semifinals of the 1996 European Cup.</p>
<p>His France '98 campaign began on a sour note after he stomped on a Saudi Arabian player in a first-round game, earning a two-match suspension…Zidane’s temper sometimes runs hot in matches.</p>
<p>He received a lengthy Champions League suspension for butting a player in a Juventus game during the 2000-01 season, an act that probably cost him the European award.*</p>
<p>IT sounds like he is pretty hot headed-what a way to end a career, by letting down your teammates</p>
<p>My husband, who’s a sports nut as well as very informed on intercultural issues, said that he doubted that the French in general would be that upset at Zidane because according to hubby, the French love flawed heroes.</p>
<p>When I checked out the French TV and radio Internet sites, it seems that hubby is right. I saw lots of appreciation for Zidane’s career, Jacque Chirac’s congratulating him, etc. It’s interesting to see cultural differences. I’m sure that if Michael Jordan had head butted an opponent during his last game, etc., that would have been the focus of various headlines in the US decrying the shame of it all, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in France.</p>
<p>Given the racial tensions in France right now, it would be very unwise to berate a player for getting upset about an ugly racial slur (if that is indeed what it was). Zidane has made it clear all along that he is a Berber first, an Algrian second and a Frenchman third. Looking at the team, France’s chance at soccer’s gloire depended mightily on its ex-colonials.</p>
<p>What Zidane apparently has endured in terms of racism and his reaction (which apparently has ranged from amazing calm to losing his temper) has boosted my admiration for Jackie Robinson, who heroically managed to keep his cool as he integrated baseball despite encountering similar incidents during a time in which there was lots of racial tension in the U.S.</p>
<p>I don’t like what Zidane did but I can understand someone having that reaction. Everyone’s boiling point is different, regardless of our background and our circumstances. The fact that he was under enormous pressure to bring home the World Cup, that he (and his family) had received death threats, that he is a constant target of trash talk on the field, that he had been injured earlier in the game and was obviously in pain, that he was probably exhausted, all those things can explain (not condone) what happened. He was punished as he should have been but I really hope that what was said to him, and the player who said it, if the reports of a vile racial slur are true, are investigated and chastised to the same extent. </p>
<p>I don’t think that France has the market cornered on love of flawed athletic heroes. The names O.J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant, Pete Rose, Jason Kidd, Daryl Strawberry, Ray Lewis, Latrell Sprewell, Allen Iverson, Warren Moon, Patrick Roy, Jayson Williams, are a few that come to mind.</p>
<p>While Matarazzi has admitted that he insulted Zidane for being “super-arrogant” there is now a new wrinkle in the headbutt-red card incident. Media sources are now picking up on the story that because the headbutt was viewed on a tv moniter via the new “video arbitrage” system the red card might be challenged on a technicality - since it is against FIFA for video pictures to be used to make refereeing decision.</p>
<p>Meanwhile lip readers are busy trying to figure out exactly what Matarazzi said to infuriate Zidane to the point that he “lost it” at such a critical time leading up to the PK finish. As with all red card incidents, the FIFA will investigate.</p>
<p><a href=“http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,109846,00.html[/url]”>http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,109846,00.html</a></p>
<p>Wow, I wish I had read and joined this thread earlier. The comments from “eng_dude” are typical of someone who has not clue about the intricacies of soccer, yet feels justified to offer his opinion. To say that soccer players are not athletic is hilarious. What other sport combines quickness and endurance to such an extreme? Go ask an American football player to run a sub 6 minute mile and then run a 4.3, 40-yard dash. Or go ask a basketball player to run the same. It’s usually one or the other. Soccer players, on the other hand, often can do both. Thierry Henry is a great example.</p>
<p>Furthermore, “eng_dude” have you ever tried kicking a ball 30 yards with your instep, not your toe? While hitting a baseball from a MLB pitcher is arguably the most difficult task in sports, it is just one part of the game. Sports cannot be measured by one skill, rather they must be looked at as a mix of several small skills.</p>
<p>My comment on diving…
I agree there is too much diving in soccer, but for many experienced soccer players the reasons are two-fold. First, it is a great way to take a breather. No, soccer does not have free-throws, downs with thirty second breaks, or line changes whenever (in fact you are limited to 3 subs per game). Second, since soccer is a fast-paced sport, many times players are predicting contact or preparing for contact. Unfortunately, sometimes players guess wrong and look like an idiot. However, I don’t see this as any different than the basketball player who drives the lane, throws up a shot that misses the basket, hoping for a foul.</p>
<p>Ending a game on PKs…
No soccer player likes to end a game on a PK. However, if you have a better suggestion than I would like to hear it. Playing on-and-on is not feasible due to fatigue. Again, if you don’t think the sport requires much endurance, I would happily take any doubters on a fartlek run. A fartlek run is a 6-mile run in which you run 3-minutes at 6 minute mile pace and 3 minutes at 8-minute mile pace. Or, I could take you through the beep test…a requirement for all English Premier League players. It’s basically sprinting, sprinting, and more sprinting util your legs give out.</p>
<p>In my opinion here is what many Americans don’t understand about soccer:
- A soccer game can be won or lost at any time…you miss the first 10 seconds, you might miss the only goal
- The intricacies of a first touch
- Off the ball movement…much like basketball
- Kicking a ball cleanly…a non-soccer player cannot even lock their ankle
- Passion for the sport…I just got back from the World Cup</p>
<p>BBC World reports that Matarazzi has admitted to the racial insults. If this report turns out to be true then this thoughtful piece in the Guardian asks what many others are now asking: what action will FIFA be taking against Matarazzi, given its promotion throughout the World Cup of the ‘Say No To Racism’ campaign?"</p>
<p><a href=“Comment, opinion and discussion from the Guardian US | The Guardian”>Comment, opinion and discussion from the Guardian US | The Guardian;
<p>Hmmm…that’s not the quote I read in the Times this morning…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Say this with an Italian accent for real effect…;)</p>
<p>Perhaps a “say no to head-butting” campaign will be in order in the future.</p>
<p>FS, sounds good to me.</p>
<p>Cheers, I read the same story in the Tmes this morning. The latest stories on this evening’s BBC World and Euronews tv reports are carrying basically the same line which contradicts the Times report. Both of these sources tend to be quite careful before launching into a story but I did qualify my post with an “if true” since I as far as I know these allegations have not been picked up by other sources. This is just one more indication of just how high tensions are running on this issue. The tv reports say that Matarazzi faces possible suspension.</p>
<p>of course you might as well incorporate the antismoking message with a simple ‘just say no to butts’</p>
<p>or keep it within soccer rulings as a general complaint with ‘no hands, refs or butts’</p>
<p>that was funny…you could add one more but this is a family store.</p>
<p>Well, we all know none of these players are exactly what we would call angels in the outfield and what is soccer without the ball? No matter, because the French, as well as other die-hard soccer fans, love Zizou flaws and all. We might not have to wait for the lip readers much longer once Zidane tells his side of the story to the press, pr spin or not. </p>
<p><a href=“http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5774940[/url]”>http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5774940</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5775722[/url]”>http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5775722</a></p>
<p>The referees involved declare that the decision leading up to the red card was based on direct visual and not video evidence. </p>
<p><a href=“Latest news from India - India eNews”>Latest news from India - India eNews;
<p>he may not get the Golden Ball afterall.
<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/headlines/D8IQF6L06.html[/url]”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/headlines/D8IQF6L06.html</a></p>
<p>so they have hired lipreaders to try and figure out what was said-</p>