I know I should be appalled by Zinedine Zidane’s World Cup outburst (now known as the Headbutt Heard ‘Round the World). I should be disgusted and worry what this will say to children who look up to athlete role models. I should be disappointed. And I totally plan to be.
You know, just as soon as I stop being so damn turned on by it.
I missed the violence in real-time. I’d been distracted by the croque monsieur and madeleines. But hearing the living room take a collective gasp, I turned back to the TV just in time to catch the immediate aftermath. A man’s eyes were on fire and everything in his face screamed, “Merde! I am one angry Frenchman!”
And that’s when I fell a in love.
The announcers started jabbering, as I waited for a recap. And then they showed it again. I sat in stunned silence. And by the third time… well, holy moly, I think I became pregnant by an instant replay.
Both Krissa and Jen were horrified.
“He could have been a hero!”
“Is this how he wants to be remembered?”
“I kinda want to tear his clothes off.”
Which was perhaps the wrong thing to say. Everyone looked a bit confused. I felt that I should apologize for whatever twisted bit of my nature made me think that was the single sexiest display ever, but I couldn’t. All I could offer was, “I thought it was pretty hot.”
I’m still a little bit drooly.
I feel a sort of internal struggle going on – my righteous Christian upbringing fighting the good fight over my evil primal instincts. It may take a bit of time to sort out. Meanwhile, I’ll be in my room. Practicing signing Mme. Heather Zidane in cursive on the inside cover of my geometry textbook.
Hom-in-a.
I mean, violence is WRONG!
well, we don’t know what de rossi even said to zidane. (was it de rossi?) sucks to get hit, but you have to admit, it was a nice solid headbutt.
Speculation at our party went a little something like this:
Materazzi: How eez your wife and my cheeldren?
Zidane: headbutt!
There’s no better global eye candy than the World Cup.
He is ver-ry appealing….. I wasn’t rooting for him until that very moment.
Wow, I’m shocked at you! I thought it was appaling!!!
Don’t worry. I’m shocked at me, too.
I have to admit, I never thought of it that way until now.
Certainly, that’s only hot on the field. It wouldn’t work so well say, when someone pushes their cart into you at Target. Or maybe it would.
I must agree w/ M.
It’s akin to Michael Jordon pissing on the basketball court, after he’s lead his team into the NBA finals, the final game is in overtime, and it’s the last game he will ever play for this league.
For shame, Zidane.
i’m with you. i thought it was kinda sexy. *embarrased blush*
See Fish, now you’ve got me realizing how sexy Zidane was too…
Maybe it’s the bald, shaved head on top of an athletic body.
And the idea that maybe a guy like Zidane could be head-butting a mean guy on the street to protect you… Hmmm….
But it’s still not a good thing to fight on the field.
Nope, I’m completely with you. Even watching it live at 4 a.m. in my pj’s it still had that affect.
Plus, in a terribly pathetic way, I think it’s terribly hot that Zidane smokes as well.
I thought it was completely hot too. Shh… Don’t tell anyone. I love a man who can kick some ass. Show me a guy with a black eye and I’m weak in the knees.
As Charles Barkley would say, “That’s one badass white boy!”
Totally agree. That is hot. I totally root for Zidane after this, and is disgusted with the hot but mean Italian boys who have to use curse words to aggitate him while they are losing….
oh my god, I was on the floor laughing my ass off when I saw the head-butt. Then I played it over and over on TiVo. And… yeah… I would TOTALLY do him. I like ‘em FEISTY.
“Speculation at our party went a little something like this:
Materazzi: How eez your wife and my cheeldren?
Zidane: headbutt!”
haha good lord, I couldn’t help laughing at that.
For those of you who are seemingly still mesmerized by Zidane’s hot headbutt, there’s a clip here. Here‘s a reported reason why the headbutt happened. Click the footnotes there for the sources. (via.)
All of us here in France were more than a little upset by the incident, obviously… I’m an American living here, and I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I was following the World Cup fairly closely, and I was supporting the French team.
I know people keep emphasizing the fact that it was “unsportsmanlike” and a sign of a lack of anger control, but I think it would have taken a HELL of a heavy-duty comment to make Zidane react like that. The verdict is still out on EXACTLY what Materazzi said, as neither player has commented on it and there has only been speculation (or the interpreters’ reading lips) but I think it was pretty unsportsmanlike to use whatever harsh words he used just to provoke Zidane, even if I know they throw around insults on the field all the time.
Plus, you have to keep in mind that not only were the players exhausted after such a long game, but Zidane had a shoulder injury and was probably in quite a lot of pain after being knocked over by one of the Italians earlier on.
(Sorry, ran out of space there…)
Just wanted to add that Zidane is definitely an honorable player and an honorable person in general, and I think this was all brought on by an accumulation of fatigue and stress, etc. I know there are a lot of people out there who would say that these are excuses, but I just honestly think this kind of thing happens more often than we realize. The sad thing is that in fact it was his LAST game before retiring from international play, and it is truly sad that it had to end that way… Without him even being able to say his goodbyes on the field.
On a sidenote, I can see how you thought it was somehow hot too, but that element is escaping us here because we are too stunned… Then again, Zidane is definitely a good-looking guy! (And I admittedly have a weakness for Frenchmen in general…)
Alwaysace-
There’s STILL no excuse. And it will always be remembered that way, by France and the world.
First of all, I have to say that you have had the single best reaction to Zidane’s little outburst ever! along with everyone else, j’suis d’accord, il est très sexy.
Also, the French and German presses have found evidence that Materazzi called Zidane a “dirty terrorist” and that his sister is a prostitute. So, yeah, of course, he would get angry! And after watching the italians play – all of the name calling, punching, tripping, and general theatrics throughout the cup – they definately deserved something.
Oh dear fish I had the same immediate reaction…yummy
i think i may have been 25% more horrified at the fact that he HANDED them the game than at the headbutt heard round the world. four of the best players – gone!
Ha Ha! You make me laugh!
I only watched maybe 20 minutes of the World Cup this Sunday when some loud obnoxious guy invaded the laundry mat. It was that moment that I was really routing for the French on the inside. Now that I see this, I’m a bit disappointed. Your guy cost the French the World Cup!(?) It didn’t help anything later when the large Italian population in my neighborhood took to the street and started honking horns and being just that much more obnoxious! (Ugh! Bastards!)
Zidane is a veteran sportsman and I can’t think that he would have acted in such a way unless he was provoked horribly. There is an investigation as to wheter the remarks made were racist – the theory so far is that he was called a terrorist (Zidane is of Algerian descent).
Zidane has many years of proof that he is not a foul player. It was also not only his final international game but his final game ever. And one which he would DEFINITELY not want to have left early. He had all the reasons a man could possibly need to keep his emotions under the control he has usually shown down the years.
Materazzi (the guy who allegedly said “Your mother is a terrorist whore”) has many years of foul play officially noted on his record. He *is* a dirty guy – fact. Plus he’s also admitted that he provoked Zidane.
Zidane is most definitely *not* remembered as being someone who let down his team. He was cheered to the rafters – both officially and by the fans – on his return to France.
France only missed one penalty, and Trezeguet, the guy who missed it, would have taken one anyway, so Zidane lost France nothing at all.
He reacted like a red-blooded man (hence the reaction of Fish and some of the other women) who had been pushed too far.
I add my salute to him. He enriched football.
I’ve only seen it in pictures so far but I’m cracking up at your internal struggle over this;)
I don’t usually support violence but if Matterazzi really said what’s being reported… then he totally deserved what he got!!!
I’m with you fish, there was just something about it….he’s one sexy RAM!
A British newspaper hired an Italian lip-reader to review the game tapes and the theory is that Materazzi called Zidane “son of a terrorist whore.” Zidane supports his elderly parents and calls them every day, so apparently this insult cut quite deeply. Materazzi also might have given Zidane a “purple nurple,” though the tapes aren’t clear on that point. In any event, Zidane has a known anger-management problem.
That Michael Jordan comment KILLED me. What, are we comparing apples to…kumquats now? I mean, we’re way beyond oranges at this point.
Had it been like Michael Jordan pissing on the court, Zidane would have… PISSED on the field. What it would be like is if Jordan uncharacteristically (but super sexily) lost his cool and committed a flagrant foul. Pissing is weak (and not to mention a show of disrespect rather than violence).
Headbutting is freaking HOT.
Pam, you give the Earth’s population way too much credit in the attention span dept. And besides, France doesn’t have a team in the running for the World Series. I mean the Stanley Cup.
I don’t know that I would call that “hot”, but I did have to laugh at it. I’m pretty impressed, just on a basic level, that even though he had to headbutt the guy in the chest he took him down.
However, I sympathize. In a getting to know you chat if a guy admits to a hot temper, I’m all his. Why is this? I think it shows a certain red-bloodedness, a willingness to act…my ex could stare people down…very hot. He was the go to guy in any fight, probably because he looked mean enough to prevent their happening at all….sigh….I definitely sympathize with your plight there. Shouldn’t be hot, but it is.
I think I may be the only person on the planet who didn’t actually see it. However if I did I’m sure I would have been a little of both, appalled and turned on. Just think about it… a hot guy with a french accent yelling in french and being so into his sport that the loss of the world cup caused that kind of outburst. I gotta find that footage somewhere!!!
i’m so with you, Fish. zidane’s been one of my favorite players for ages and i’ll fight you for the title of Mme. Zidane! it’s a shame that he lost control the way he did, but i’ll stand by him and say he was sorely provoked. i’m just glad they recognized him as the tournament’s top player.
I was actually in Paris on Sunday, believe me, they’re not happy, but they handled it well. I think Zidane was fed up, because Italy took many liberties during the final, and they were not called. Still, one act cannot completely tarnish a great career, in my opinion.
Thank you, Manipuladar — your comments were right on the mark. And you expressed them much more coherently than I ever could! I simply function with my emotions and can never seem to get my thoughts out in clear terms.
In any case, I also second what the copasetic fish said, the fact that the journalists and all those in France welcomed him home and also recognized him as the tournament’s top player is also proof that he deserves to be admired — even if he had a moment of weakness, like we all do… And again, when push comes to shove (ahem…) and emotions run high, you just can’t expect someone to ignore statements like that.
Anyhoo, back to business as usual… I’m sure this will blow over soon enough, but it’s what is on the radar for the moment — and Fish always seems to be up to date on these things!
Apparently, I am the only soccer mom here! I know name-calling sounds cruel, unfair, unsportsmanlike, etc., etc., but that’s the reality of sports. period. Try sitting on the sideline of a high school soccer game! Any kid will tell you that to lose your cool and cost your team (a red card means playing the rest of the game with one less player on the field) earns you NO respect. It’s self-humiliating. Teenage soccer girls are called whores; teen soccer boys put up with similar. Big deal. Most think it’s stupid or laughable. It’s called mental and emotional strength. And Zidane DID cost his team – finishing play with 10, not 11, players as well as the mental mind game to be played on the Italian goalie who would’ve faced the best shootout kicker ever – the French could have won that game. Merde indeed.
LOL! that’s awesome. I was impressed too, but not quite in that way.
Reminds me of Chris from American Idol
I completely agree. I’ve been in love with Zidane since I first saw his picture on the cover of Eurosport back in 2000!
I just wish he wouldn’t retire. He is such good incentive for us non soccer fanaticas! rrrr!!
finally somebody who also got turned on by this. he has some kind of raw charisma and his display of hot temper emphasized it even more.
LOL! That was the best entry and those are the best replies/comments that I have seen in awhile. It was pretty amazing to watch, I just didn’t see it the way you did…but now that I replay it in my head you are SO OH SOOOO right
It was sexy!
And violence is wrong and he should be wrist slapped. I am sure you would be happy to do the honours.
Thanks for your slant on Zidane-gate .
“MmMMmM Zizouuuu” does sound like it’d be fun to say over and over.
I watched the World Cup from day 1 and I have got to say, they are all pretty hot! Seeing them get frustrated and push and shove and trip each other totally makes them all the hotter. I gotta say though Fish, I play myself, on a co-ed team, and it’s so much better in person!
Yes, yes, violence is wrong, and Zidane should have kept his temper, or at least waited until the end of the game. But sometimes an ass-kicking (or head-butting) is just called for.
Wow, look at all these commenters who mistakenly think this post is about soccer! These are not the droids you’re looking for! This is, simply put, about some hot man-on-man violence.
My friend and her french boyfriend have a new little routine. She says, “Honey, give me a little Zizou (Zidane’s nickname sounds like bisou, the word for kiss)
and then they headbutt each other.
Hot. Definitely hot. But, as violence is wrong, he should be punished. By me.
Hmmm – yeah, Zindane is hot, no arguement there. But I’ve been rooting for Italy because I consider Buffon (the Italian goalie) to be hotness personified…
Plus – he’s nice and tall. Which, when you’re a 5’7″ girl who firmly believes that 4 inch heels are ALWAYS appropriate footwear, is a plus.
Here’s a thought inspired by all the anti-violence types out there…Zidane could have started a fist fight. He could have shoved his antagonist. He could have called the referee. He could have walked away from the situation. None of those options would have been worth getting excited about.
But…dropping the bad guy with a single head-butt to the chest? Dead sexy. He took care of the situation, and didn’t really hurt the other guy. Perfect, not to mention dead sexy.
If you like people who can dish this sort of thing out, black belts make good friends, and better significant others!
Let’s not forget that soccer players, like basketball players, are TRAINED to flop on the ground and act like they’ve been shot at the slightest touch in order to draw the penalty.
Holy hotness! Zidane is so sexy, whether he’s head-butting or not. And I have to laugh at this whole thing and how seriously people are taking it. I mean what if he had just kicked the guy’s legs out from underneath him instead? Would people still be making such a big deal? To me, it’s not that far from that, but people seem more astonished because it was so not your run-of-the-mill blow. Yes, it was unsportsmanlike, but it’s not like he bit the guy’s ear off or stabbed him or something, I mean, Jesus. It was a head-butt, a hilarious and hot head-butt, from which the other player got up and walked away⦠People acting like it’s the biggest travesty to occur in sports have too much freaking time on their hands.
So cute I laughed out loud. I was so busy willing the Italians to win that I didn’t quite see it from this angle.
So cute … writes the laughing kiwi woman.
Right again, Fish. That was so hot yet so wrong. I hate violence and I agree he should be punished. We should all take turns “punishing” him
God, always with the headbutting with you!
I totally agree Fish. He is very hot to trot. Part of it for me is the shaved head….hot hot hot!
Fish,
The headbutt incident was unfortunate. I felt bad for him, his team and all of France.
I found your thoughts on the matter amusing and quite funny.
I cant help but think that italian guy had it coming – the headbutt shows more than anything that Zidane is human after all, and all that was missing was his technique (I honestly expected him to be better at it). Next time aim higher say I – although god knows what that would do to fish!
totally missed the game, the news about it, the whole thing…You nailed this one for me…thanks!
Personally speaking, I would never have sex with a Frenchman, even if he did shave his head and bash other guys who also were wearing short pants. But if Uma Thurman did something like that, well, let’s just say that I simply ccould not be held accountable.
Violence is so so so hot. I think it must be some kind of cave man instinct that makes us look for a man tough enough to protect us. So when one man head buts another hard enough to make his eyes pop out of his head, what we see is a man who can take care of us…
I do feel bad for the guy on the receiving end though…
I thought it was funny as hell. I don’t find Zidane attractive so the sex appeal was missing, but hilarious nonetheless.
I particularly liked a comment in this morning’s paper when Zizou says he couldn’t stand by and continue listening to comments about his mother and sister… “I am a man before anything else”. If that’s not hot I don’t know what is!
He’s definitely very very sexy…
This post cracked me up. Thanks for making me laugh.
THANKS GOD I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!,
I feel so normal now!, thanks!
To all my fellow Zidane/headbutt lovers:
Careful, this could be like porn to you!
Click here for some good headbutting fun!
I really enjoyed your perspective on the Zidane headbutt.
When I saw it in the game I was slightly appalled (all “violence is wrong!”), but yeah…with every replay, I swear Zidane has become hotter and hotter. I think right now I’m totally at swooning fangirl point, which is just so sad.
oh you said it. and i thought i was crazy for thinking the exact same thing, and saying it. hot hot hot!
As a male comfortable with his heterosexuality, I will tell you that Zidane’s sex appeal is in the eyes. Those piercing eyes. He is a handsome Frenchman of Algerian descent. He has a long track record of sportsmanship and philanthropy. Materazzi is plainly a thug. He had been playing dirty the whole tournament.
I must say though, that was the best damned head butt I’ve ever seen. He could have induced a cardiac arrhythmia with that! Mme. Zizou sounds good to me Fish…I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
I am in love ever since that moment… His sex appeal has driven me crazy to the point that I am ready to move to Madrid!
When we talk about real men, we can only talk about Zidane. World cup final, final career game but he does not care…
Manhood takes over.. How do you you spell testosterone in French?
Let me know your email through this site if any of you want any photos as I could forward to you the sexiest imagges of zizou I have collected from the web.
Did I mention I want him like mad?
just to let all u girls knwo Zidane is acuallty from algeria he was just one hell of a soccer player and got a french citizenship,very hot guy
Yum. Not much of a soccer fan before, but when I saw that move-I officially signed my mebership card into the “Girls Who like Hot Soccer Players” (and all their fierce, rugged, badassness that goes with them) club. When does next year’s season start….?
ok so i think that violence is wrong too but come on that guy had the headbutt coming i mean he had to have said something very upsetting for Zidane to loose his cool like that. Did you see the way he flew through the air.lol.Again violence is wrong
Hey, I just discovered your blog and came across this earlier entry. I just have to say I agree with you so much! Likewise, in Chicago, it was the Cubs vs. Sox game and Cubs player Michael Barrett punched Sox player A.J. Pierzynski in the jaw and I thought that made Michael look so damn sexy….
i just discovered this blog. love it! i wish i’d had this to read back when all the hoopla was happening. I have to say, girl, you had it right when everyone was still taking it all so seriously and crucifying our hero. I totally agree with everything you say. He is so friggin’ HOT I can’t stand it!! Those lips, those eyes, that amazing body (have you seen the booty on this man? OMG!! I’m ready to move to Madrid and become a stalker.
I agree with Fish, that headbutt was HOT!!!! I am now completely hooked on soccer. I do not condone violence but, Oh Man!! I’m watching the video right now (is it getting hot in here?)