 boys, they will be boys. Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Zinédine Zidane is described by those who follow the world church of futbol as an enigma. So I guess it makes sense that the player's final world cup minute should be shrouded in mystery. Just why did the man called Zizou head-butt Italian Marco Materazzi directly in the sternum at a crucial time in double overtime in the finals of the most exciting World Cup since the last most exciting World Cup? The whole world wants to know, so you know someone would try and deliver. It seems at least 2 Euro papers hired expert lip readers and translators to analyze, scrutinize and regurgitize what Materazzi said that inflamed the proud son of two Algerian immigrant parents. Zizou has been heralded as 'sensitive' off the field but on more than one occasion (14 send-offs in all) he has punched opponents during play supposedly, for them trashing his North African ghetto origins. So what do the lip-readers say Materazzi uttered? Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just fuck off.” Double M had to bring Double Z's momma onto the pitch didn't he? I'm not saying that ain't enough to piss a guy off, but given the girth of the matter at hand, is a 'your momma' reason enough to potentially cost your country the cup? It was also widely speculated yesterday that Materazzi had insulted the memory of one of Zidane’s closest confidants and former coaches who had died of cancer shortly before the tournament. Again, a wicked-pisser but worthy of World Cup Finals ejection? Who is to say, personally, I can get where Zizou was coming from, and as an American viewer with no real loyalty to either side, it was one of the moments most appealing to the redneck sport purveyor that I am. I love it when Tony Stewart (NASCAR driver, reknowned, hothead prick) flies off and wrecks or shoves someone after a race in the pits, I love it when Joey Porter (NFL Steeler, reknowned, hothead prick) struts around before a game with his shirt off, trash-talking and sometimes fist-fighting the opposition, I love it when Roger Clemens (MLB Astro, Yankee, Red Sock, reknowned, hothead prick) brushes someone off the plate or just says 'fuck off' and pelts them with a 92 mph fastball, just to show them what is what. I love that shit. It doesn't happen every week, or every game, nor would I want it to. But it does happen in sport...'just enough.' And for any American with WC fever or just a slight twinge of 'I think I starting to get this fuuuuuutbol thang' Zizou's head bore into Materzazzi's chest scored big on the 'this shit can be interestingly fun' scale. Zizou, a Frenchman, seems like a bizarre anti-hero for an American from Kentucky, but as I said. I think I get where he was at. One moment, an angelic superstar with ballerina's grace, the next, a streetfighter with a bald noggin and the glare of a serial killer. What is Materazzi saying in defense of his 'your momma' to Zidane? “I did not call him a terrorist. I’m ignorant. I don’t even know what the word means.' Athletes, enough said. I say, not enough has been made about his getting his ass kicked in front of about 30 million worldwide viewers. He didn't even get up and try to save face. And in response to the charges of Materazzi being racist, several Italian newspapers claimed yesterday that Zidane had insulted the Inter Milan player’s mother, with Materazzi retorting that the Frenchman “made love to his sister.” She was no doubt 'a spicya meataball!' Okay, that could get me head butted into atrial fib. But Zidane/Materazzi ain't got nothing on the '94 Cup video I watched while getting my facts straight to yack a bit about this. It went a little like this. With Brazil being held goalless in a World Cup round of 16 match against the United States, Superstar Leonardo took out his frustration by elbowing Tab Ramos. The blow fractured Ramos’s skull and Leonardo was banned from the rest of the tournament. Yes, you read that right, fractured his skull. Your momma. Boys, they will be boys. I am one too, I reckon. Soccered out. Pentax 67. Ilford HP5+ Humus, dip into some of my work there. And when you finish that adjust your f-stop. I need your Toy Camera works, be well hung. Comment (10) | Permalink |
