World Cup Eulogy

by Peter Bean on Jul 10, 2006 7:02 AM CDT in News

Alas, it is over, I'm sad to say. It's been a beautiful month filled with memorable moments and stories. A few final notes as we say good bye to soccer on the blog for a while:

*I went to my World Cup Finals watching party rooting for, above all else, a competitive, dramatic match. We got that, for the most part, and while I would have preferred for one of the two teams to have gone ahead with a goal in the extra time, I was pleased that the outcome of the match was always in question.

*Was there anything -less- predictable than Zidane being ejected for a head butt? The most veteran of veterans gets rattled with just 10 minutes left in the second over time period? Huh? Stunning... I have no idea what exactly happened out there to provoke Zidane, but I do know that the -last- thing I expected was to see a Zidane red card today.

*I think one of the things that had previously prevented me from being anything more than just a passive observer of soccer was the fact that the hardcore American soccer fans were rather possessive. It's sort of been an elitest intellectualist club that outsiders weren't particularly welcomed into.

Score another victory for blogs. This year, by virtue of the great work from our friends at Dodgy, RBR, Braves and Birds, and (surprise, surprise - is there anything Brian can't write well about?) MGoBlog, I've begun to learn enough to watch the games with a better appreciation for what's happening on the field. I may not reflexively call it a pitch just yet, but I certainly have a better understanding of the game, its players, fans, and traditions. Enough, even, to take a rooting interest in a club team or two. A heartfelt thank you to all the bloggers out there who've contributed to the education of the newbies.

*The next World Cup will be a gathering of nations in South Africa in 2010. Who would have thought that for the next four years, this would be the lasting image of this year's Cup?

--PB--

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Lasting Image

Somehow, I thought you might post the picture from EDSBS. Hehehehehe. Oh well, that's a good one too.

by JohnnyArr on Jul 10, 2006 7:33 AM CDT reply actions

I'd put my money on...

...Zidane's headbutt being the result of a racial slur. It is widely known that he is very sensitive about his Algerian heritage. He got a two game suspension in the '98 WC for stomping on a Saudia Arabian player after he insulted Zidane about being Algerian.

Additionally Materazzi is just an ass. He was messing with Zidane's shoulder and arm which ZZ hurt earlier. My guess is:

physical pain + racial slur = Zidane headbutt

by nico @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jul 10, 2006 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

And yet

One wonders how the veteran didn't save his wrath for after the match? Still stunning, no matter the provocation.

by Peter Bean on Jul 10, 2006 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

What will they call this?

Didn't they call Maradona's hand ball the "hand of god"?

The World Soccer press always likes to apply some cliche nickname to famous plays. I wonder what Zidane's will be.

The guy he hit totally flopped too.

On a side note, watch the Italian celebrations come falling down like a house of cards when all those players are found guilty of fixing proffesional games and cheating.
The investigation is underway.

Walker, Texas Ranger -- C.D. Parker: And how are you doing, little partner? Lucas Simms: Walker told me I have AIDS.

by EYESofBEVO on Jul 10, 2006 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

Materazzi may be an ass but that was a legit drop

If Zidane had butted me in the chest like that -- hard to do since I'm a short-arse -- I'd have gone down like a stone and so would you...

On the New Republic's Goal post blog there's speculation that Materazzi specifically called Zidane's father the equivalent of an Algerian collaborator, per what the Saudi did seconds before Zidane stamped on him at the 98 World Cup.

It's a safe bet that Materazzi deserved it but after years of abuse in games around the world it's too bad that Zidane couldn't have waited for another 10 minutes or so -- nothing like a post-game session of handbags, as they like to say in the English press...

Also, Hornsfan, I find the hardcore American soccer fans to be a bit off-putting also. As irritating as it can be to listen to O'Brien on ESPN mangling football vernacular, it's no better having to conform to the canon of US soccer... but there may be some friendly foreigners out there for viewing purposes.

by DC Trojan on Jul 10, 2006 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

Yup

I have a few hardcore soccer acquaintances who spent their entire tournament bemoaning everything - the announcers sucked, the American fans were too casual, and so on. It's not like we didn't all agree on this, but they refused to let themselves, like, enjoy the matches.

Worse, they belittled and frowned upon middle of the road fans - people like myself who were enjoying the matches, thrilled to be learning a lot about a sport, and trying our best to ask intelligent questions.

That kind of attitude serves no one's interest. Not the sport's, not mine, not theirs. Silliness.

Like I said, thank goodness for all the great blogs - yours included, Trojan DC (I should have mentioned it), that were there for us.

by Peter Bean on Jul 10, 2006 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions