Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

The Godfather · Jul 21, 2006, 12:07 AM

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...70&cc=5901

Seems like FIFA wouldn't either. What's US$6,000 for Zidane? What's a suspension and a three days of working with kids for a retired athlete? It is not even a slap in the hand.

This is going to set up a precedent and we will see more tetê-cule (that's head-butt in French, right?) in football without fear of serious reprimands.

More importantly, our kids are going to emulate this stunt

On the other hand, the U.S. will start taking interest in the sport at this point.

hickey · Jul 21, 2006, 12:10 AM

Im just dying to know EXACTLY what the Italian player (Martezzo I think) actually said to provoke the headbutt.

Tenacious Dyl · Jul 21, 2006, 12:28 AM

Originally, it was said that Zidane was called "terrorista" or something similar, which to him, and his actual heritage (he's not french) was one of the worst things he could be called.

Shortly after hearing this, it was then said (I believe by some of his relatives, he STILL hasn't said what happened himself) that it was an insult / comment about his mother, who either was in very poor health, or recently died.

Either way... at that age, and in a sport that includes a damned lot of trash talking, a player like him should know how to not-head-butt people. It was a ridiculous move, and a hell of a way to end his career. He'll be known for that...

Velocity211 · Jul 21, 2006, 12:41 AM

Zidane's headbutt from different point of views.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07...dbutt_outrage/
He should expect that kind of trashtalk on the field, people always try to get you mad and so you have to retaliate somehow. And that was his last game too...what a bad way to end a game.

hickey · Jul 21, 2006, 12:50 AM

well if i was in his position and I knew it was my last game, if someone said something that went too far, I might have done something similar. Gotta go out with a bang.

invisibleX · Jul 21, 2006, 12:51 AM

He offered to do the community service, and considering it was the end of his career etc etc, I don't see it as a huge deal. He did something regrettable, but not unforgivable.

greenamp · Jul 21, 2006, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

...
On the other hand, the U.S. will start taking interest in the sport at this point.

It's so funny when people like you make this statement, when the US and maybe the Aussies were the cleanest playing teams this World Cup by a longshot.

But wait Americans are violence loving savages aren't they? That's why two of the three biggest sports here, Baseball and Basketball, are non contact sports right?

Velocity211 · Jul 21, 2006, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by hickey

Gotta go out with a bang.

Well yes, but he could've ended it with something good, not by getting a red card.

goMac · Jul 21, 2006, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by greenamp

It's so funny when people like you make this statement, when the US and maybe the Aussies were the cleanest playing teams this World Cup by a longshot.

This is like pointing out that road rage occurs less in 90 year old women.

greenamp · Jul 21, 2006, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by goMac

This is like pointing out that road rage occurs less in 90 year old women.

Way to take my comment out of context and respond with something that has nothing to do with what I said.

Even out of context it makes no sense at all.

ShortcutToMoncton · Jul 21, 2006, 05:17 AM

I would walk up to him, and give him a huge bearhug.

What a way to go! I love it. He's had the World Cup, he's had league superstardom, he's had the burden of singlehandedly getting an aging team into the Finals through sheer force of will. And then, on the berge of spectacular success, he turns around and slams the **** out of some dude, sending his team to an agonizing defeat without his genius leadership.

Ahhhhhhh. This is the stuff legends are made of, people. I was never more proud to hear about (and then see) that hit, no matter the disappointment of the loss. Enjoy it.

greg

Troll · Jul 21, 2006, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

I would walk up to him, and give him a huge bearhug.

I doubt that would have worked. Materazzi was going to fall to the ground no matter what. Watch some of the other games he's been in. His MO is to walk straight at the guy he's just pissed off and then fall like a log as soon as he bumps into him.

I think it's interesting that Materazzi was given a 2 match ban and a fine. AFAIK, that's the first time anyone has ever got punished for provocation; which suggests that it was pretty bad.

I also reckon there's more to Zidane's decision not to reveal the full extent of the slurs. If they had been racist, and there have been suggestions that they were, then the consequences for Materazzi and for Italy could have been very serious.

kaze0 · Jul 21, 2006, 07:39 AM

So if FIFA really punished him, why would Zidane even pay or comply?

Cody Dawg · Jul 21, 2006, 08:21 AM

Yes, Zidane should be punished.

These athletes are examples to millions (billions?) of children. They should remember that they are setting an example.

If children did that while playing for their team(s) they wouldn't be allowed to play at all. Professional athletes are no different.

Gossamer · Jul 21, 2006, 08:24 AM

Photoshopped Headbutts

These are priceless.

dcmacdaddy · Jul 21, 2006, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by hickey

Gotta go out with a bang.

Originally Posted by Velocity211

Well yes, but he could've ended it with something good, not by getting a red card.

Yeah, like taking a penalty kick at the end. I would have much preferred to see him do that, and score.

dcmacdaddy · Jul 21, 2006, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Yes, Zidane should be punished.

These athletes are examples to millions (billions?) of children. They should remember that they are setting an example.

If children did that while playing for their team(s) they wouldn't be allowed to play at all. Professional athletes are no different.

If you watched the press conference in Paris you would have seen him profusely apologizing to the children of the world and explicitly instructing them that what he did was NOT acceptable behavior on the football pitch and NOT something to be emulated.

villalobos · Jul 21, 2006, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...70&cc=5901

Seems like FIFA wouldn't either. What's US$6,000 for Zidane? What's a suspension and a three days of working with kids for a retired athlete? It is not even a slap in the hand.

This is going to set up a precedent and we will see more tetê-cule (that's head-butt in French, right?) in football without fear of serious reprimands.

More importantly, our kids are going to emulate this stunt

On the other hand, the U.S. will start taking interest in the sport at this point.

First, for your enlightenment, head-butt in French is coup de boule. Secondly, Zidane WAS punished, with a red card. Then he was punished again with a fine and a suspension. How is that not a punishment? Glad to see that sleazy italian player punished as well.

wallinbl · Jul 21, 2006, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by greenamp

But wait Americans are violence loving savages aren't they? That's why two of the three biggest sports here, Baseball and Basketball, are non contact sports right?

I don't understand the attraction to baseball. However, basketball is chock full of thugs and guys pretending to look gangsta or whatever that crap is. And don't forget hockey, where fighting is somehow "part of the game".

Just to be picky - if you're going to say that baseball and basketball are two of the three, then you're leaving out football, because NASCAR has all other sports smoked. Many of us forget about it, but it dominates in terms of money.

Gossamer · Jul 21, 2006, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by greenamp

But wait Americans are violence loving savages aren't they? That's why two of the three biggest sports here, Baseball and Basketball, are non contact sports right?

Play one game of pickup basketball here and see how non-contact it really is. There's no tackling, but there is PLENTY of contact. I'm learning how to throw my weight around inside the lane for rebounds. Nailing someone with your hip does a lot to throw off their balance.

greenamp · Jul 21, 2006, 12:32 PM

There is much more "contact" in Soccer than there is in Basketball.

The point is, saying that the attraction to violent sports is somehow singular to Americans is absurd.

ShortcutToMoncton · Jul 21, 2006, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

I doubt that would have worked. Materazzi was going to fall to the ground no matter what.

Bearhug him. As in, hug him and go "That was great Zidane, loved what you did. Good stuff. Thank you."

greg

TheoCryst · Jul 21, 2006, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Photoshopped Headbutts

These are priceless.

Haha, some of those were great.

Millennium · Jul 21, 2006, 03:02 PM

Why would I want to punish him? I just want to give him a nice chiropractic work-over.

With my forehead.

mitchell_pgh · Jul 21, 2006, 03:22 PM

^^^ Something I've never seen at an American baseball, basketball or football game.

I'm so tired of the "X sport is dumb, Y is a REAL sport." [Y usually being a sport your country does well in] It's really comparing apples to oranges. I guess I appreciate each sport for what it is.

Example:
Me: Curling is better!!!
You: No... you are wrong, surfing is a REAL sport!

The Godfather · Jul 21, 2006, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by villalobos

First, for your enlightenment, head-butt in French is coup de boule. Secondly, Zidane WAS punished, with a red card. Then he was punished again with a fine and a suspension. How is that not a punishment? Glad to see that sleazy italian player punished as well.

I am too very glad that Materazi was punished too. But my point is that fining Zidane $6K is like fining $1-million to Bill Gates: it is peanuts to them. The suspension is inconsequential since he is retired now, and the community service is something he would have done anyways.

But I have to re-iterate. The FIFA should look into punishing the stunts and provocations that Materazi and others make habitually.

d4nth3m4n · Jul 21, 2006, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

This is going to set up a precedent and we will see more tetê-cule (that's head-butt in French, right?) in football without fear of serious reprimands.

More importantly, our kids are going to emulate this stunt

i've never seen (or even heard of) a kid in little league charge the mound. get your head out of your as$.

::maroma:: · Jul 21, 2006, 04:26 PM

I would punish him for his name. But not like a mean punishment, because I think his name is funny. The punishment would be something like he has to say his own name 100 times in under a minute. And he can't screw up or he has to start over.

simonjames · Jul 21, 2006, 05:44 PM

I wouldn't punish him at all - he did keep faithful to the rules of football by not using his hands!

Is it true that 3 of the Italian players have been nominated for Academy Awards?

Kevin · Jul 21, 2006, 06:33 PM

What, no telling The Godfather to get a blog?

ghporter · Jul 21, 2006, 06:38 PM

It looks like the FIFA officials took into account his story about how harsh the taunts were-taunts he says were about his family. Now if he'd been an NBA player he'd have gotten a MUCH harsher penalty.

ambush · Jul 23, 2006, 04:10 AM

More importantly, our kids are going to emulate this stunt

ambush · Jul 23, 2006, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Yes, Zidane should be punished.

These athletes are examples to millions (billions?) of children. They should remember that they are setting an example.

If children did that while playing for their team(s) they wouldn't be allowed to play at all. Professional athletes are no different.

What should we do with hockey players then?

Hang them?

*rolls eyes*

And for the record, Zidane has done more for children than you will ever do.

greenamp · Jul 23, 2006, 04:23 AM

I wonder just how many of the Macnn Boyscouts in this thread actually follow Soccer?

ambush · Jul 23, 2006, 05:51 AM

I don't normally follow soccer, but am nonetheless able to detect stupidity.

greenamp · Jul 23, 2006, 05:57 AM

I was directing my comment more to the armchair Zidane crucifiers.

d4nth3m4n · Jul 23, 2006, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n

i've never seen (or even heard of) a kid in little league charge the mound. get your head out of your as$.

quoted for perpetual relevance.