Zidane apparently called 'son of a terrorist whore'...(Drudge headline)

Drudge Report and Times Online ^ | 10 July 06 | Matt Hughes

[SkyPilot]

Our correspondent finds out what may have caused a great player to lose his head in such spectacular style

WITH his monkish mien backed by a sense of brooding menace, Zinédine Zidane has always been something of an enigma, so it is perhaps fitting that the final act of his career should be the source of such mystery. Just why did a man blessed with complete control of a football lose his head in such a violent manner at such a crucial moment, boring it into the chest of Marco Materazzi?

As L’Equipe summed up the moment of madness with a headline of “Regrets Éternels”, a day of endless questioning began. With many conflicting versions of events circling on the internet and in the world’s media, The Times enlisted the help of an expert lip reader, Jessica Rees, to determine the precise nature of the dialogue that caused Zidane to react in such a manner.

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

[JerseyHighlander]

I should start reading the comments before posting one of these years. For posting that info about verification I present to you this bit of comedy spoofing of the event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ga4Je54VCg

[dfwgator]

The voice in that video sounds like Cartman.

[Sam's Army]

Remember when Rudi Voeller got spat on by Frank Rijkaard in the 1990 WC? He jogged away and the Germans stuck it to the Dutch by winning the game. Lothar Matthaus went in front of the Dutch bench and provided a few non-friendly gestures after the game-winning goal.

And somehow, the world didn't stop. A side effect of cameras on everything nowadays is that so much gets over-analyzed.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

What a stupid comment on your part.

[hermgem]

Quite obviously this perfectly coordinated and executed back flip along with Materazzi's agonizing and writhing in severe pain on the turf was executed to perfection.
The primary objective:
Have the oppositions best player ejected.

[Texas Songwriter]

My first question is, "Does Zidane speak Italian?" Does the Italian speak French?"

[RJL]

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

What did their "exhaustive study of the match video" show about the trash talk Zidane was spewing?

[SamAdams76]

What is all this fuss about a silly soccer game? Can't wait for football season.

[TheRealDBear]

Heh, I can see Trey and Matt planning a South Park episode about this right now...

[freedumb2003]

Boo Hoo Boo Hoo!

This wimp wouldn't last 5 seconds in an NBA game.

I guess the standard World Soccer diving lessons include other girlie-man lessons as well.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yet they don't tell us in what language the alleged insult was hurled. Seems to be you know, the most damn critical piece of information here so others can independently verify the lip reading.

I think I read that Zidane used to play for a Milan team, so he probably knows Italian.

[JerseyHighlander]

It's hard to believe that he did that with 10 minutes left in his career. Maybe he wanted an excuse to be able to come out of retirement so that isn't his swan call.

[Sam's Army]

Zidane speaks Italian as he played professionally in Turin (Juventus) for a few years.

[LdSentinal]

The strange thing is why head-butt him? Why not punch him in the face?

[freedumb2003]

But he brought his mother into it. That's what we call "fighting words."

Lyle Alzado (RIP) once told an opponent he would "kill your family and let you live." And that was OLD SCHOOL trash talk.

[worst-case scenario]

It's soccer - you can't use your hands.

[kabar]

Big effin' deal. Your average playground basketball game has worse taunts.

I don't know what playground you grew up on, but in Jersey City those were fighting words. If that what was said, I don't blame Zidane for retaliating. He just should have been more clever in how he went about it.

[toru watanabe]

Zidane's reaction was inappropriate, but I'd probably do the same if called that. Too bad he ended up hurting his team.

[GAB-1955]

My first question is, "Does Zidane speak Italian?" Does the Italian speak French?"

Both Zidane and the Italian play in Serie A, the top Italian league, so probably so.

[Blue Jays]

Hi DES-

Zidane has played for Juventus and Real Madrid recently. I'm sure there are words in Spanish that also sound similar.

~ Blue Jays ~