OT:Head butt by a real butt

[Fumblyfingers]

Was that not just the most ludicrous thing you have ever seen in your life?

 

I mean, up to that point I liked both teams. I was hoping for Italy but it would have been okay either way because the match was good. But then after that it became personal for me.

 

I was so happy Italy took it and especially since it was on the PK where dipshit would have probably done Italy's chances some damage.

 

I really hope that his entire team got him in the locker room and just beat the living hell out of him. To put that kind of a smear on your country and your own career in the final minutes of your participation in it, is just plain butt stupid.

 

I wanted to crawl down my cable line and kick his ass myself!

 

I still cannot believe it! What an idiot!!

[JoeWalsh21]

To retire, in the WOrld cup, in the Finals, To end your career right there, and to end it that way, is horrendous... Its a shame but he got what he deserved (red card)

[scatterbrain]

and what was he thinking,he could have killed the guy.i mean a headbutt in the solar plexus that hard could give the fittest of athleetes a heart attack.i wanted italy to win butt now i dont think Zu Zu should even get his LOSERS medal.

[Gruupi]

That was sad, and really stupid. How did he think he would get away with that with a BILLION people watching. He should be thrown in jail. That was assault and battery. I am not a big soccer fan and really not all that big a sports fan any more and its displays like this that make me like pro sports even less.

 

Soccer seems like a great game but they seriously need to rethink the referee situation. Too many games are decided on people taking dives hoping to get a penalty on the other team. There is no way 3 guys can see such a huge field with that many players on a side. They need instant replay on game deciding calls. They also need to instate some kind of rule where if a player goes down they need to sit out for a period of time. I know it would screw with the substitution rules but if these guys faked like that in a football game, they would be laughed at.

 

You can't really blame the players anymore. It is no longer just a game. Its a business and also a great source of national pride. I have always hated gamesmanship in sports anyway. As much as I like to win, if you can't win fair and square then its no longer sport. In our neighbor hood pickup games if you pulled shit like that, you didn't get invited back to play.

[scatterbrain]

well,they did in a way the reff,second reff and reffs assistant didnt see the insadent with Zidane so they used the head pieces the have got to contact FIFA,and they told them what happend.The instant replays will definatley come soon,and socer is a football game so stop calling it socer. but i dont think your idea about making players sit out for a while will work,when they "get caught"diving the reff either gives the opposing team a free kick(which can be very effective in front of the box)or he will award a free kick and the diving player will get a yellow card.making the player sit out defeats the whole purpose or giving yellow or red cards.

[AeroG33k]

Zidane was a great player and he did have a integrity. Sadly, a lot of people judge him by his final action, who have never closely paid attention to soccer, or him before. He didn't just make goals, he made a team. The french team as a whole played better because he was there. Now, what he did can't be excused, but I wouldn't call him a "butt". The italian team had a lot more foul play and got away with it, mostly. There has been foul talk towards zidane off the field as well, and I'm sure that's exactly what cause Zidane to lose it on the field with the exchange of words that happened before the incident. It was an emotionally loaded situation, and Zidane would not have done this without provocation. It's no excuse by any means, but don't oversimplify things and don't rush judgement. After all, I'm sure the situation is hardest on Zidane right now.

[Shoes]

You're all right.

 

... and I'll remember him for years to come and likely never think twice about the guy who scored that 5th goal even once.

 

I doubt very much that he thought of that at the time.... nor do I think the Italian ever spent a night with the Frenchman's wife.

 

... which is a topic for another day.

[guitarisawayoflife21]

For people that aren't huge fans of soccer and dont know of Zidane's whole career, he will always be remembered for that one play. He looked like a total ass on that play, and I was glad to see him tossed from the game. I hope and believe it will mar his career for ever. To put your team and your country in a situation where they are man down, losing one of their best players, in the finals, is the dumbest thing you can do as an athlete. He robbed the other men on that team of their chance. This guy is a total moron.

[Gruupi]

If you were in a bar and someone said something to you you didn't like or bumped into you kind of hard accidentally would you be arrested for assault? I think you should be. If his actions had been in the course of a play or as an immediate reaction to another physical event I might think differently. But there was clear evidence that the guy said something to Zedane he didn't like, and he walked up to the guy and head butted him to the ground. Whether the guy sustained serious injury or not could be taken into account, but the action certainly could have caused serious and maybe even career endeing damage to the other player. People have to learn that you can't just go off on someone. I think he should be banned from the sport (I know he is retiring) it will send a message that this type of action will not be tolerated, do you want it to end up like hockey? There is a big difference in the playing of a sport if its just a matter of a hard foul or an intent to injure or hurt another player. Even American football has cleaned up its act a bit by putting in rules to protect players in vulnerable and especially after the play situations.

[Guitarzan]

i seen it on the news. what a dick.

yeah, i never watched the game. so shoot me.

[MILLO]

Originally posted by JoeWalsh21:

To retire, in the WOrld cup, in the Finals, To end your career right there, and to end it that way, is horrendous... Its a shame but he got what he deserved (red card)

+1

 

Beyond stupid.

[Fumblyfingers]

Originally posted by AeroG33k:

Zidane was a great player and he did have a integrity.......but I wouldn't call him a "butt".

The problem in life is this....when you screw up, there is no taking it back or changing it. That is why people need to think about what they are doing 24/7.

 

That stupid action cost him everything in my eyes and so I know in the eyes of many others also. I am not a huge soccer fan, so I did not know his story...but it is all moot based on that move. That was an attack...if he had caught that guy in the face he could have done some serious damage. The hell with him...get him out of the sport forever, in fact he should have charges brought on him.

[JoeWalsh21]

U kno I like to always cut some slack and say, "hey it was the heat of the moment" but watching it over and over again it looked as though it was an assault. He put a lot of power into that shot to the chest. The Italian fell over. I mean even if the guy had attacked me I would be so tired after running around for 90 minutes on a huge playing field. He is a great player, a great career, but no matter what he was, He will always be remembered as what recently happened and that is a great shame. It was an extreme over-reaction, They only exchanged words, barely any contact untill the head shot. The only circumstances I will cut some slack on him is if the Italian happened to say something racist. I have no tolerance for that. But still it was an attack on or off the soccer field and it was dealt with appropiatley and it is a shame he must end a career this way...

[AeroG33k]

Well, like I said it's no excuse and he's responsible for it and should be punished (as he was and is not by the media). This was a very untypical action for Zidane, a clear mistake, but saying that his previous career is moot knowing little else about him is a very poor way of thinking about a person, IMHO. Like you said, though, the stupid action cost him everything, and I'm disappointed in him as well. That said, I'm not a fan of the french team nor of zidane in particular, but I do believe he deserves credit as a player and for pulling his team together. As a team, the french seemed to play a better game. Zidane owes, at the very least, an apology to Materaazi, his team and his nation.

[Guitarzan]

actually it is moot.

he is only an athlete who is there for the entertainment of the masses who decide to put him in high regard.

he is no more special than the guy who brings my mail.

why should i care about his career?

what he did was pathetic period.

[MILLO]

Originally posted by AeroG33k:

As a team, the french seemed to play a better game.

Football is an incredibly difficult sport. As a result, this seems to happen a lot in it (the "best" team throughout the game actually ends up losing). That is something the players have to have in mind when they go on the field. Yup, there are no excuses for his action.

[Fumblyfingers]

Aero I look at it in the same way I would look at a man who had no priors who up and murders his wife out of rage or whatever. All he did up to that point is erased, he screwed it all up, undid all the good.

 

Maybe if I were a fan of this guy I would feel different, not as hardcore about it....but my point is just that he really cocked up in my eyes and since I don't know him I am just done with him. Since many,many people are first time soccer fans most probably feel the same.

 

Actually I thought the media was kinda dealing with it with kid gloves, nobody I have seen on the sports shows came out and condemned him, they just were like " whoa, bad move" etc etc

 

But yeah he must be kicking himself in the ass pretty well.

 

Stupid, especially since it was so premeditated....I mean he accelerated to get himself in front of the guy and then just turned and went off on him...totally planned...what the hell was he thinking....????

[AeroG33k]

I mean come on, people make mistakes. How many musicians have had a violent past, and now we forgive them? I'm sure the same thing could apply to some of us or people we personally know. That doesn't make their life's before and beyond that a moot point! People grow and can take it upon their own to try to make up for it. This is how we handle most misdemeanors of that sort from 'normal people' and like you said, Zidane shouldn't be held to a different status.

 

Originally posted by guitarzan:

actually it is moot.

he is only an athlete who is there for the entertainment of the masses who decide to put him in high regard.

he is no more special than the guy who brings my mail.

why should i care about his career?

what he did was pathetic period.

Well I actually agree with you (I posted on your other topic) but with a slightly different consequence. If he is no more special than the "average joe"... well, the average joe isn't usually judged by one mistake (even a severe one) under tremendous pressure and emotional stress, by people who don't know that person very well and don't even know much about the incident. The fact is, we don't know what exactly was said and we don't know how zidane will try to mittigate it. While there is no excuse, he could certainly apologize, and maybe the italian player has something to apologize for as well.

[pollock]

I have no idea what any of you are talking about.

[Guitarzan]

good point, i doulbt i would do well under the public magnifying glass.

the pressure is probably greater than my usual day at work.

[AeroG33k]

Originally posted by Fumblyfingers:

Stupid, especially since it was so premeditated....I mean he accelerated to get himself in front of the guy and then just turned and went off on him...totally planned...what the hell was he thinking....????

The way I saw it, he walked away after being held by him to join the game, then the italian player said *something* that set him off. Now I may be wrong on this, but I want to wait for some sort of official statement. And don't get me wrong, I'm not defending his action, but I'm defending his person. You have to understand, I am kind of baffeled by this as i saw him as one of the more honorable players of the game, and it botheres me to see people ignore all of what I knew him to be because of that he did today.

[Fumblyfingers]

I don't want to flog a dead horse Aero, I appreciate your point of view.

 

I just don't agree that the pressure or emotional stress or anything someone might say to anyone, condones that sort of response. I mean even if the guy said something about his Mom.

 

If that had been you or me in the street we would go to jail and face criminal and civil charges. Either way we would pay someone out the ass.

 

Why does the soccer field make it any different? Slide tackles, arms flying, trip up's etc etc some are intentional some are mistakes, some is just the heat of battle...and the cards come out and the names get taken.

 

But that was cheap shot and it was an attack and as much as I respect you standing up for the guy's career to date, I cannot see it any other way.

 

I have this Tivo'd, I will go watch it again tomorrow after work, it's night night time now. I doubt I will change my mind.

[AeroG33k]

Hey, we all have our opinions, and that's fine. I mostly wanted to let you know that there was a different side of zidane. I guess, while you feel anger (for good reason), the feelings I have are more a feeling of disappointment, that's all.

 

EDIT: Not to beat this any further, but this is why I have a hard time believing that *all* of the blame lies with Zidane.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HblsV-urHg&eurl=

 

(Better turn the sound off if you feel similar about rap as I do)

Materazzi can be incredibly provocative and offensive.

[Guitarzan]

that is an interesting vid for sure.

i guess there isn't many sports that are free of dirty tricks and unsportsmanlike conduct.

some of the peoples comments on the page of the vid are eye opening. i understand your point Aero.

it is sad when stuff like this happens.

[The Big G]

So many things contribute to what actually happened, yes Zidane was violent and desvered to be sent off, what was said to him to make him react like that????? and in the heat of the moment and the pressure he was under it made him blow his stack, but people must remember him for being the finest player of his generation and winning a World Cup when he was the most instrumental component in 1998. As a football player truly one of the greats and a shame he has tarnished his record with his last moments in football. It was sad, very sad

[Durockrolly]

Unfortunately for him, first impressions and last impressions (Which for many, were made in the last thirty days), if negative, are what one can remember most. He has had a stellar career, and for most that is what they will remember.

 

I had a childhood hero who played in the NFL and was inducteded into the hall of fame. His accomplishments however were seriously deminished by by an alleged act he commited.

His name? O.J.Simpson.

My intention is not to say Zidane committed a horrible act. Just that last impressions can leave a "lasting impression". Better judgement on his part could have been used.

[James-Italy]

This was not a "one time mistake" by Zidane.

 

Doesn't anyone, (AeroG33K??? thought you were a fan?) remember in the 1998 World Cup when he was jumping over a player who was on his stomach on the ground, and deliberately kicked down on the guy's back? A simple stomp on a downed opponent because of "heat of the moment"? No, in my opinion, just another demonstration of his LACK of integrity. France was winning the match 2-0 and it was just uncalled for. He earned a suspension of 2 days I think. Google it. Wait, I just did : http://www.canoe.ca/SoccerWCQuarters/jun30_zid.html

 

It's too bad Zidane lacks character, because he was a good footballer. Oh, btw I think Materazzi comes from the same mold as Zidane. That will never be an excuse for Zidane's behaviour though. Zidane has no one to blame but himself.

[AeroG33k]

Well, actually I said I wasn't much of a fan of the french team or zidane in particular, I'd have to actually see what happened there. But come on, I for one am convinced Zidane was angered by a nasty, probably racial, remark by Materazzi, otherwise he would not have given up so much. Even so, it remains a mistake that probably cost france the game, but there was definitely more than we saw on TV.

[Shoes]

Originally posted by pollock:

I have no idea what any of you are talking about.

Some guy who was voted the most valuable player of the tournament happened to head butt a guy to the ground in the last moments of extra time during the final of the World Cup.

 

It actually ran before the news of Italy winning the cup on many major network news stations across North America.

 

I had no personal favourite in this game and did not let that one simple act alter my impression of a rather terrible game. Neither team deserved to be there based on their actual performance throughout the tournament and this boring game was proof of that. No offence at all. Far too many personal infractions both real and imagined!

 

This tournament goes down in history and in my mind more significantly because of how well it was hosted by Germany and for this moronic end to final game. Give your heads a shake and let it go. It was the single most exciting moment of a game that had little entertainment value.

 

Football fans all know who the most pathetic fakers in the game are and that in my opinion ruins the game far more than any REAL altercation ever could. I'd have red carded several players from both teams out of existance for the bullshit they displayed on the field.

 

You know who you are and what you do to the game and making more of this and less of that turns the game into political crap.

 

Read this twice if you don't get my drift and remember..... I've got a hockey stick in my hands

[Mudcat]

Originally posted by Durockrolly:

...I had a childhood hero who played in the NFL and was inducteded into the hall of fame. His accomplishments however were seriously deminished by by an alleged act he commited.

His name? O.J.Simpson...

Although he was found not guilty in criminal court, he was found to be responsible for the two deaths in civil court. "Alleged" no longer applies.

 

Back on topic - I about fell over laughing when I saw Zidane's moron move. I knew Italy had the game in the bag from that point on.