04/19/24
August 18, 2007
I thought Materazzi had been tugging on Zidane's jersey. Zidane said something like telling him to wait until after the match to switch shirts. "I prefer the whore that is your sister" would be a pretty nasty comeback to something like that... and I probably would have headbutted him too.
posted by igottheblues at 01:50 PM on August 18, 2007
Whew! I am glad that is settled! But what did Zidane say to Materazzi to prompt such a response? "This vexes me, I am sorely vexed." But really, what did Zidane say, I wonder?
posted by steelergirl at 02:42 PM on August 18, 2007
Calling Zidane's sister a whore is pretty low. However, Zidane should have been too much of a seasoned pro to let name calling get inside is head. Trash talking is part of the game.
posted by FonGu at 02:50 PM on August 18, 2007
If this is accurate, at the risk of offending Spofi's Real Amerikun Faction, I think we need to account for cultural differences, because my response would be something along the lines of, "Well, better my sister than my mom, though my mom's not bad."
posted by yerfatma at 03:13 PM on August 18, 2007
I think that the bigger question is that is his sister really a whore and if so, what does she look like?
posted by budman13 at 03:29 PM on August 18, 2007
If that is what he said, then it would appear Zidane said something about whores too, unless the translation of that is a little screwy. I wish I had a time machine though, so I could send this back a year to when I might have actually given a shit.
posted by Drood at 03:29 PM on August 18, 2007
It would be amusing to me if that's the first thing you did with your time machine. Then again, maybe you're not the you you think you are writing that comment.
posted by yerfatma at 03:57 PM on August 18, 2007
Budman,that is alow,low comment.You should be ashamed. If I drank suds ,my name might be microbrewski and then Zindanes feelthy seester would be a courtesan,not a ho and we wouldn't worry about how she looked.
posted by sickleguy at 05:54 PM on August 18, 2007
There had been some shirt tugging then Zidane said "If you want my jersey so bad I will give it to you after the match". Then Materazzi replied with the statement, which I thought was top notch. It got inside of Zidanes head and was a brilliant comeback for such a brash statement. Insults are part of the game, like it or not. Zidane insulted him and Marco upped the shit talking to another level. Materazzi is a World Cup winner now and Zidane will always be shamed by his headbutt- end of story (at least for Zizou).
posted by urall cloolis at 06:59 PM on August 18, 2007
end of story It's weird how that never works.
posted by yerfatma at 07:16 PM on August 18, 2007
Soccer poetry in motion, perhaps they should mike the players then we American's, who prefer our violence on a 100 yard field,and not a pitch (is that not a baseball term? whats up with that) might care what happens.
posted by thatch at 08:39 PM on August 18, 2007
thatch, I don't think it is what the soccer players say so much as how they look. They wear those loose shirts and somewhat baggy shorts unlike the players in the NFL who wear those tight pants and shoulder pad to enhance....well, maybe I have said too much.
posted by steelergirl at 09:14 PM on August 18, 2007
No offense, garfy, or to SLAM! sports, but this isn't really breaking news. I thought we'd resolved this nearly a year ago.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:59 AM on August 19, 2007
yerfatma: Primer was a great movie. Good taste my friend. And the second thing I'd do is go back to an hour before the World Cup Final and make a post on here predicting Zidane will headbutt Materazzi...
posted by Drood at 04:17 AM on August 19, 2007
Wouldn't it make more sense to bet on it?
posted by yerfatma at 07:59 AM on August 19, 2007
The more I thought about the headbutt, the more I liked and admired the fact that Zidane would do it on the biggest stage, in his last game ever, in front of a billion people. I wonder if he lost his cool at all. It could easily have been a calculated move on his part. As a lot of other people have mentioned, it wasn't like he was going to be in any PK lineup, and there was virtually no time left in the match. If you're going to stand up to a bully, then stand up to the bully. And if you're on your way out anyway, then leave 'em with something to ponder. Materazzi is obviously a selfish little shit. That's never been in question. But as anyone who's ever been in a schoolyard knows, if you don't stand up to the selfish little shits in this world, then they start thinking they really run things. So fair play to Zidane, and I never want to hear from this whiny little moron again. He won his little trophy. He knows where the door is, he can let himself out any time he likes.
posted by chicobangs at 09:48 AM on August 19, 2007
Well said chico.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:24 AM on August 19, 2007
People seem to think that Zidane was being "bullied" and stood up for all mankind. How about this- over his career Zidane was the Bully, he stomped on a Saudi player while he was on the ground and had about 20 ejections in his career. That doesn't sound like a mild mannered "good sport" to me. It was what it was- two hot tempered athletes, neither one an angel, on the worlds biggest stage, each of them talking trash to the other and one of them lost it in frustration. Can you imagine Michael Jordan being trash talked by Craig Ehlo (or whoever) and instead of playing the game he punched him instead. No- a true giant of the game knows where he is and what is at stake. Trash talking goes on all the time in all sports, like it or not. This is the result of what the trash talkers try to make happen, frustrate and throw off anothers game- this time it worked. As for not being in a PK lineup- rubbish! He was France's number one penalty taker and would have definitely been in the lineup.
posted by urall cloolis at 10:50 AM on August 19, 2007
Zidane took the penalty that put France 1-0 ahead. He would have been the first name on the sheet for the French if the game had run to a penalty shoot-out.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:01 PM on August 19, 2007
Zidane should have waited until after the game,then monkey-stomped that idiot!
posted by mars1 at 02:20 PM on August 19, 2007
I understand David Beckham and Zippidy Zidane's sister have met (and I will apologize in advance for not having anything intelligent to add to this conversation as I suffer from American Syndrome)
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 03:24 PM on August 19, 2007
Zidane should have waited until after the game,then monkey-stomped that idiot! Zidane had already "monkey-stomped" a Saudi player in the head during a game. Should all players that talk trash be subject to a beating after a match? If so there would be a full out brawl after every NBA game and most NFL games. Does T.O. deserve a beatdown after every game? How about Chad Johnson? Kobe Bryant? LeBron James? Are you condoning violence in sports? kyrilmitch- nice link.
posted by urall cloolis at 05:51 PM on August 19, 2007
Are you condoning violence in sports? Yes. The NFL and NHL would be a little less spectacular without it.
posted by yerfatma at 07:13 PM on August 19, 2007
Boy, boxing would be a bit different also.
posted by jojomfd1 at 07:54 PM on August 19, 2007
There is a huge difference in the sports you mention and violence that is against the rules of a particular sport. Was it over the line when McSorley tomahawked Brashear with his stick? How about when that Tennessee Titan lineman stomped on the other players face? Or is that just part of the game? How about when Tyson bit Holyfields ear? Since those are "violent" sports that were mentioned I am curious to find out your reaction to those events. Were they just part of the game or over the line?
posted by urall cloolis at 08:09 PM on August 19, 2007
Yes, urall, because Zidane's forehead in someone's chest followed by an exaggerated fall is exactly the same as someone decapitating someone with a stick or biting off someone's ear. I understand you've got something against Zidane, but please, some perspective.
posted by chicobangs at 10:17 PM on August 19, 2007
Chico- I have no personal vendetta against Zidane, more against those that try to defend his actions. I am an Italian and Juventus fan. I always loved to watch Zidane play and respect his play, which was brilliant. As a coach it is not fun when one of your players comes off the field and says "If that player fouls me again I am going to headbutt him". Then when I explain that it is not respectful of the game and not how you act on the field and his response is "my dad thought it was funny". It opens up a whole different outlook on the event when you are trying to teach kids right from wrong and parents are defending it. If it happened to their kid they would not think it was funny or sporting. His actions and the defense of such action from fans and media disregard the game I love. That is why I do not think it was a worthy response from simple trash talking. He was supposed to be an ambassador of the game and embarrassed it and himself in the process. Soccer gets enough crap from the mainstream and it is not funny to me for this to be the one defining moment of the worlds biggest game for the next four years.
posted by urall cloolis at 10:34 PM on August 19, 2007
Okay. I'm not going to fight you on this, because it sounds like you're angry at someone outside of SpoFi, and you're taking it out on this thread. But to say that because I'm trying to understand why he did what he did means I am somehow dissing the entire sport is reductive and overreacting of you. I don't know who this "mainstream" person is, but it ain't me. if "mainstream" is taking shots at your game, then take it up with "mainstream" personally. There's no user by that name that I know of.
posted by chicobangs at 10:39 PM on August 19, 2007
Chico- I am not angry at you or anyone else about the issue inside or outside of SpoFi- nor am I looking for a fight. I was just letting you know why I feel as strongly as I do about why Zidane was not "right" in this instance, which is what you asked of me. As for the "mainstream" I am talking about the media and public who consider Soccer a second tier sport without understanding it completely. When their big intro to the sport is the World Cup final and the "headbutt" it makes the sport in general look bad. No vendettas, just how I feel the sport was disrespected by one of its own ambassadors in this situation.
posted by urall cloolis at 10:53 PM on August 19, 2007
And I was saying that no one in this thread had expressed those sentiments, so bringing them in here, especially as angrily as you did (do me a favor - reread what you've written here and tell me how you're not reacting angrily to something that's not in this thread) makes it sound like you're spoiling for a fight.
posted by chicobangs at 10:58 PM on August 19, 2007
At poker tonight, some dude was talking to his mom on his cell in the middle of a hand and his conversation included "hooking up" tomorrow with her. Obviously, that led to a few beer induced off-color jokes about this guy's mom while he was on the phone with her. As soon as he completed his call, he folded his phone, raised the pot, and in a serious tone said, "My mom is dying of cancer." Dude could have head butted me, punched me, or slashed my tires, but he chose to complete with a joke or the truth (we do not know). I guess there is a point in there somewhere. A little off topic, but that documentary about Zidane with the score by Mogwai was the nuts. Ok, enough poker references for one comment.
posted by jasonspaceman at 11:04 PM on August 19, 2007
Lighten up Chico. There is nothing in what i wrote, only maybe how you percieved it, that has me looking for a fight. I responded to what was written in earlier threads, your own included, that disregarded Zidanes actions. Nowhere did I express my wanting to fight or personally attack anyone, other than Zidane. You asked me a question on how I felt, I answered it honestly and your only response is antagonistic toward me- it appears I am not the one looking for a fight, but yourself instead. Loosen up.
posted by urall cloolis at 11:31 PM on August 19, 2007
After the Offerman thread the other day, it begs the question "should the law have been involved?" And should Zizou have dropped his bat before he charged the Materazzi.
posted by JJ at 04:01 AM on August 20, 2007
I responded to what was written in earlier threads I think you need to be a little bit careful about dragging in anything that went on in other threads. Sure, there may be history, and a lot of people may know about it, but you have to be careful or it turns into a kitchen sink spew of "...and you said THIS and you did THAT and..." which doesn't improve the situation. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. (and I think it's an automatic yellow card whenever you command someone else to "lighten up")
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:28 AM on August 20, 2007
If "loosen up" is a similar infraction, that's a two-thread sit down.
posted by yerfatma at 09:34 AM on August 20, 2007
I agree with urall ... I have so many friends who already belittle the sport who argue whether soccer is a sport or entertaining or one of many other American-ish arguments against the sport. When I say "Zidane dragged his team through most of the games" all they respond with is "Yeah, but he cost France the title". They didn't come away with any of the positives from anything they saw. As an American soccer fan, I want to see the popularity grow so our team can compete a little better on a world stage and this only hindered it. I can't see where it would have a positive effect anywhere else either. If I were French, I would be disgusted he let this happen over a silly insult.
posted by Ricardo at 10:47 AM on August 20, 2007
the zidane headbut was not even hard enough to hurt my 84 year old chest...I can't imagine an american saying something so inferior, maybe "I prefer the ho that is your sister" prefer to what, to Zidane?
posted by Greeksinger at 11:23 AM on August 20, 2007
I wonder if there are people who hate soccer who are really starting to resent that the mainstream media keeps lumping them in with Americans.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 11:52 AM on August 20, 2007
They hate football, not soccer, Sousepaw.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:59 PM on August 20, 2007
I figured if you hate it, you have to call it "soccer."
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 01:05 PM on August 20, 2007
You've learned the cut-and-paste function! Lovely! Now go away, please.
posted by ajaffe at 07:57 AM on August 21, 2007
That looks a lot like it was targeted at me. Can I get a confirmation on that? I'd hate to break out another can of Over The Top only to find I'm in another episode of "Three's Company."
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 09:32 AM on August 21, 2007
I missed that one too, Crafty.
posted by hawkguy at 09:34 AM on August 21, 2007
That looks a lot like it was targeted at me. What, ajaffe's comment? It wasn't. It was in response to a (now deleted) comment from an individual who posted a comment in the Michael Vick thread and felt the need to cc it to every other recent thread. (edit: which is why it's good to not respond to blatant trolling comments that are certain to be deleted...the non sequitur gives everybody a case of vertigo)
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:55 AM on August 21, 2007
Thanks, LBB. The troops are standing down. But you're on notice, ajaffe. One more totally inadvertent dismissal in my direction and you will feel the heat of my misdirected fury. (Is it possible to continue the policy of deleting comments that solely address deleted comments? I know there is precedent, because the only comment I can confirm has ever been deleted -- maybe the funniest thing I've ever written -- was deleted along with the comment it referenced. No, I'm not bitter. Okay, yeah, a little.)
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:07 AM on August 21, 2007
I am an Italian and Juventus fan.I hope you're as tough on players and teams who cheat with diving and match-fixing as you are on players who cheat with violence.
posted by rodgerd at 03:44 PM on August 21, 2007
rogerd- not that it is relevant in this thread as the issue is Zidane and the headbutt heard 'round the world, but I will bite anyway. Diving is a part of the game (a part of the game I hate). Italy was known for diving in the 80s and 90s, in the latest Cup Italy was definitely low on the diving list, yet still is accused of it. I can live with that. They won fair and square, like it or not. Juventus disgusted me with the match fixing scandal, yet it was officials with the team, not the players...so I will stand by them and continue my allegiance to them. You may want to read up a bit more on the "match fixing scandal"- it was the top clubs colluding to get the best refs to do their matches, not ones that would fix games for them- in fact many of the games were between the top clubs accused and penalized. No refs were accused of fixing matches or blackballed as a result of the investigation. There is no proof that any single game was affected as a result of it, thus "match fixing" is not the correct terminology.
posted by urall cloolis at 05:51 PM on August 21, 2007
"I prefer the whore that is your sister"?!? Wow. I'm impressed with the grammar. That's the classiest way to say that I've ever heard. It's a Colin Firth movie. Materazzi shouldn't have been headbutted. He should have gotten slapped with a over-sized leather glove.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:24 PM on August 21, 2007
My apologies to anyone who thought my comment was directed at them -- it was, in fact, directed at the troll, and I regret taking the bait. In any event, I thought my comment was deleted...
posted by ajaffe at 07:32 AM on August 22, 2007
What we need is a marker in place of a deleted comment. Leave the post there with the text changed to something like "Post deleted".
posted by Ricardo at 06:15 AM on August 23, 2007
To what? This is even more mysterious now.