Posted on Tue Sep 05, 2006 at 02:47:31 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: World Cup, Zidane (all tags)

Marco Materazzi, the guy whose verbal jabs lead to Zidane melting down and headbutting him in the chest and leading to Zidane's ejection, confirmed today that he insulted Zidane's sister.

n Tuesday's interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi disclosed that after he held his opponent's shirt, Zidane said: "If you want, I'll give you the jersey later."

"I responded that I preferred his sister, it's true," Materazzi said. "It wasn't something nice, true. But luckily there have been dozens of players who have confirmed that a lot worse things are said on the field.

Now Materazzi is a dirty pig but really, we think Zidane overreacted a little bit here. When it was first reported that Materazzi called him a "son of a terrorist whore", we all sort of understood why Zidane flew off the handle. But an insult to his sister isn't quite the same thing. In the heirarchy of relatives you can't insult, it's 1) mother 2) grandmother, 3) wife and kids, 4) sister 5) father and finally 6) brother.

Materazzi also said that his door was open if Zidane wanted to make peace. Hey jackass, considering you're the one who insulted him and got him sent off and shamed on international television, perhaps you should be the one apologizing.

[AZ Central]: Materazzi insulted Zidane's sister

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Posted on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 02:18:29 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: soccer, World Cup, amusing (all tags)

It seems an English company is still upset at Cristiano Ronaldo for (indirectly) getting Wayne Rooney sent off in the World Cup match between Portugal and England. Check out this ad for a new action figure with "Unique Uppity-Downy" action. The ad references the wink that Ronaldo gave to the Portugese bench after Rooney was sent off.

To be fair though, couldn't they have made this action figure for almost any of the soccers players in the World Cup?

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Posted on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 11:34:17 AM EST in MLB
More on: sports history, MLB, records, soccer, World Cup (all tags)

In 1941: Pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby, Sr. of the Cleveland Indians combine to halt one of the greatest feats in sports history: Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. In front of 60,000 fans in Cleveland, third baseman Ken Keltner made two great plays to keep the Yankee Clipper off the score sheet. He would start a more modest hitting streak of 17 games the next day, thus hitting safely in 73 of 74 games. DiMaggio hit .409 during the streak, and went on to win the MVP and the World Series for the Yankees. His record has barely been approached, with Pete Rose reaching 44 games in 1978 and Paul Molitor getting to 39 in 1987. baseball-almanac.com

In 1994 In the first-ever championship game to be decided on penalty kicks, Brazil defeated Italy to win the World Cup in front of 94,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. The 0-0 tie capped an otherwise very successful World Cup on American soil. While many believed that the supposedly soccer-ignorant Americans could not hold a tournament of this magnitude, it was the most-attended World Cup ever. Down 3-2 in penalties, Italian superstar Roberto Baggio’s attempt sailed over the crossbar, giving the Brazilians their fourth World Cup.

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Posted on Thu Jul 13, 2006 at 02:20:59 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: Zidane, World Cup, funny (all tags)

You know, a lot of press goes to the collaborative nature of the internet and Web 2.0 blah blah blah blah blah ... but as far as we're concerned, the real benefit is for threads like this on Something Awful. Internet geeks can be a clever clever bunch. Although some of them spend way too much time playing video games. In any case, here are the best of the Zidane animated gifs. The MC Hammer one is genius.

 
 

And one more big one here.

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Posted on Wed Jul 12, 2006 at 03:09:46 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: Zidane, World Cup (all tags)

Zidane won't say what Materazzi said exactly but he did confirm that Materazzi insulted his sister and mother.

He said words that were very difficult to accept which he repeated many times - they were more difficult to accept that just gestures.

It was difficult to turn away as they happened so quickly. They are very serious and personal. He mentioned my mother and my sister.

He mentioned them once and I feel bad but you hear them a third time... these words, I would rather have taken a punch in the jaw than have heard that. I reacted - it certainly wasn't a gesture to make.

It's true that two or three million people saw that ... and children, and I apologise to them. I do apologise but I don't regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.

Meanwhile, Zidane could be stripped of his Golden Ball award because of the old 'conduct detrimental to the game' clause.

Finally, check out this Zidane flash game. (thanks There's Your Karma.) It's very amusing but nowhere near as fun or addicting as the Yeti swatting a penguin flash game.

Links:
[The Sun UK]: ZZ: Marco insulted family
[Fox Sports]: Report: Zidane could be stripped of award

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Posted on Tue Jul 11, 2006 at 03:58:15 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: World Cup, Zidane (all tags)

According to a lip-reader, Materazzi said to Zidane, "We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore". Zidane's mother is very ill and was admitted to a hospital on Sunday.

A French Football Federation source said: "If you insult Zidane's mother you are asking for trouble. Combine such words with a reference to terrorism, which French Algerians are very sensitive about, and a violent reaction might appear inevitable.

Prior to the terrorist whore comment, Materazzi had twisted Zidane's nipple and said that he twisted it hard because "I know that's how your mother likes it."

Holy crap. I think Joey Porter laid down the rules of trash talking during the Super Bowl. You never talk about someone's mother and you never talk about someone's grandmother. Outside of that, it's all fair game. Apparently, the rules only apply in the United States.

For some reason, Zidane's reaction doesn't seem so insane in light of those allegations. Materazzi has denied saying anything about being a terrorist and instead insulted Zidane's wife.

Links:
[Sun UK]: Sick taunt that riled ZZ
[ESPN Soccernet]: Materazzi admits he insulted Zidane before head butt

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Posted on Mon Jul 10, 2006 at 01:48:30 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: World Cup (all tags)

While the world (OK, the soccer world) is waiting to hear Zidane's side of the story, there's been speculation that Materazzi called Zidane, who is French-Algerian, a "dirty terrorist". Zidane's agent, Alain Migliaccio, said that once he calms down, Zidane would reveal what happened.

Materazzi denies calling him a terrorist: "I'm ignorant - I don't even know what the word means."

Others had earlier claimed he was riled by goading by Materazzi, who was clearly seen twisting the Frenchman's nipple in the run-up to the incident.

Well, at least he didn't pull a Jason Terry and punch him in the nads.

Meanwhile, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player.

Links:
[Daily Mail]: 'Zidane was goaded by racist slur'
[The Sun UK]: Marco denies 'terror' jibe
[International Herald Tribune]: Sad ending to a great career
[SC blog]: Zidane headbutt video

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Posted on Sun Jul 09, 2006 at 08:26:08 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: World Cup, soccer (all tags)

The World Cup Final was mostly a boring contest after the first half until Zinedine Zidane blew his top and headbutted Materazzi in the chest after the two exchanged some words. Zidane ruined his spectacular World Cup showing and perhaps career by getting sent off for a ridiculously stupid play.

Here's the video of Zidane's headbut. The best part is the french announcer yelling "why?.... why... WHY?"

We are anxiously awaiting Zidane's explanation. What could Materazzi possibly have said to cause Zidane to go bonkers? Did he talk about his mother? Did he call him a homo? Did he say "Jerry Lewis sucks!"? Inquiring minds wants to know.

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Posted on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 04:30:35 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: Wimbledon, tennis, world cup (all tags)

A womens tennis post without Maria Sharapova just seems wrong somehow but #1 ranked Amelie Mauresmo got to her first Wimbledon final by outlasting Sharapova in three sets. On the other side of the bracket, Justin e Henin-Hardenne beat #2 ranked Kim Clijsters. HH has won 17 straight matches and a victory in the finals would give her a career grand slam.

In other news...

[Miami.com]: French fan dies amid World Cup celebration

[USA Today]: When the Cosmos and Pele ruled American soccer

[ESPN]: Bonds' trainer held in contempt for refusing to testify

[Ben Maller]: Matt Leinart is back in Paris Hilton's STD-ladened web

[SignOnSanDiego]: Dawgs deal Canseco to Long Beach

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Posted on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 07:09:51 PM EST in Other Sports
More on: World Cup, soccer (all tags)

Ladbrokes has set the Italians as a slight favorite to win the World Cup Finals at 8/11. The Italians haven't given up a goal in a game for the entire World Cup except an own goal to the United States. However, after watching the old French team run through the tournament, is it really smart to bet against Zidane and the boys?

In other news...

[China Daily]: 100 arrested in Pakistan for World Cup betting

[Reuters]: Pranksters fill soccer balls with concrete

[Reuters]:FIFA to fly Shaolin temple abbot to final

[AZ Central]: Landon Donovan proves he's a good player against mediocre opposition

[Detroit Free Press]: Boy, 8, gets once in (early) lifetime ace

[Border Battle]: Eddie Griffin: Multi-Tasker Extraordinaire

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