World Cup 2006 withdrawal pangs
For those of you who were wondering what happened to me - well, like many of you I am recovering from the World Cup 2006 Final.
I have been trawling the net for video clips of the head-butt incident. This morning I could not accept what I saw on TV. If you haven't seen the head-butt incident, be warned about the clips you may find on the net. Depending on the bias, and depending on the camera angle, you will see a different story. What I saw was some very visible manhandling of Zidane by Materazzi (Materazzi pinching Zidane on a particularly vulnerable spot on his chest). Words were exchanged and Zidane seemed to run ahead, then turn back inexplicably. Somewhere there something in Zidane imploded and then he headbutted his way into World Cup infamy. At this moment, Materazzi is the only one who knows what he said or did to warrant the frontal attack.
Two theories:
You get what you sow
Materazzi insulted Zidane. The insult is either a racial slur or worse a personal reference to Zidane's mother. Hence the implosion. If this is the case, Zidane's action, while understandable is still reckless. Look at what the Italians did when the German papers named pizzas after them in a newspaper spread. They "qigonged" and redirected their rage and indignation to pummel the Germans out of a place in the Final.
Get out of my way:
Materazzi, like many opponents of Zidane's French team (save for the equally heralded Brazilian team) is envious of the buzz about Zidane making World Cup history in this Final. The Italian Job here is to stop Zidane from creating the opportunities. If we believe a huge ego resides in Zidane then he may not have taken too kindly to someone who stands in the way of you to securing your place in history. Ask Wayne Rooney.
My minor attempts at thin-slicing tell me that Materazzi knew what would goad Zidane and he used it. But there is no excusing the act of violence. For all the football intellect that Zidane is capable of, he felt sufficiently baited to act like he was in a street fight. The whole affair gives new meaning to phrases and words like "keep your head about you", "hold you head high", "he's got a good head for...", "headstrong", "got to his head", and "use your head".
I pun shamelessly but Zidane should have done the last - he should have used his head!
I have been trawling the net for video clips of the head-butt incident. This morning I could not accept what I saw on TV. If you haven't seen the head-butt incident, be warned about the clips you may find on the net. Depending on the bias, and depending on the camera angle, you will see a different story. What I saw was some very visible manhandling of Zidane by Materazzi (Materazzi pinching Zidane on a particularly vulnerable spot on his chest). Words were exchanged and Zidane seemed to run ahead, then turn back inexplicably. Somewhere there something in Zidane imploded and then he headbutted his way into World Cup infamy. At this moment, Materazzi is the only one who knows what he said or did to warrant the frontal attack.
Two theories:
You get what you sow
Materazzi insulted Zidane. The insult is either a racial slur or worse a personal reference to Zidane's mother. Hence the implosion. If this is the case, Zidane's action, while understandable is still reckless. Look at what the Italians did when the German papers named pizzas after them in a newspaper spread. They "qigonged" and redirected their rage and indignation to pummel the Germans out of a place in the Final.
Get out of my way:
Materazzi, like many opponents of Zidane's French team (save for the equally heralded Brazilian team) is envious of the buzz about Zidane making World Cup history in this Final. The Italian Job here is to stop Zidane from creating the opportunities. If we believe a huge ego resides in Zidane then he may not have taken too kindly to someone who stands in the way of you to securing your place in history. Ask Wayne Rooney.
My minor attempts at thin-slicing tell me that Materazzi knew what would goad Zidane and he used it. But there is no excusing the act of violence. For all the football intellect that Zidane is capable of, he felt sufficiently baited to act like he was in a street fight. The whole affair gives new meaning to phrases and words like "keep your head about you", "hold you head high", "he's got a good head for...", "headstrong", "got to his head", and "use your head".
I pun shamelessly but Zidane should have done the last - he should have used his head!
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