Alright, one last thought about Zidane. It certainly does seem that the saga has taken on a larger-than-life hue, and in many ways has overshadowed the World Cup, which has become a footnote to the Headbutt Heard Round The World. But, let's be clear. This was nothing more and nothing less that one footballer - albeit, an exceptionally talented one - losing his cool and attacking another, lesser player. No psychological dramas. No social or historical overtones. Hey, football is a violent game. People get hurt. People do stupid, rash things.
If any good can come out of this it will be two things: 1) coaches will explain to their youth players that you never, ever, under any circumstance plow the bone shell that holds your brain into anything else on purpose, other than a soccerball, and 2) don't hit another person hard in the chest. Imagine what we'd be talking about if Zidane's headbutt caused Materazzi to suffer cardiac arrest?
And finally, in five years time, any true football fan will still remembe the name of Zinedine Zidane. In five years I will still remember the transcendent game he played against Brazil. However, in five years time, I doubt that many fans will remember Marco Materazzi, except as a goon who ended up on the wrong side of Zizou's dome.
What's That Smell?
Why, that's the stink of Italian soccer. Today, the verdicts were handed down by Italian authorities on one of the worst corruption scandals in the international history of soccer. Juventus, Lazio & Fiorentina are relegated to Serie B. And AC Milan, while avoiding relegation, gets docked 15 points to start the season. I never watch Italian soccer, so the main fascination I have here is a revenge factor for the painfully dull Italian side winning the World Cup, and the potential transfer of top players from the relegated teams. My Gunners are reportedly after Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon, which would be a nice pickup, indeed.
Bye Bruce
The inevitable has happened - quicker than I expected. US Soccer has said goodbye and good luck to Bruce Arenas. While the most successful coach in US Mens Soccer history, Arenas appeared to be out of ideas at the latest World Cup and it was clearly time for a change. Kudos to the US Men's Soccer Gods for making the right decision. Now, let's get Juergen Klinsmann on board ASAP.
Apparently, Ashley "Used to be the Best Right Back in Football" Cole is pissed at the Gunners for allowing him to be used by Chelsea when he tried to secretly arrange a deal with the London club that has not been paying him millions of dollars to play football.
So, let me see if I get this straight. Let's say a guy gets caught by his wife meeting another woman on the sly, say in a posh London hotel. They haven't consummated anything, but they're clearly headed in that direction. Instead of being red-faced and apologetic, busted hubby should blast his wife for "hanging me out to dry" and using him to get back at the other woman. And, he should castigate said wife for not rewarding him for "all those years of loyalty." Like to see how that one plays in divorce court.
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Ash. Wenger should sell this chump, cash in while he still has high value, and use the money to help buy Saviola and Ribery.
From the Stupid is as Stupid Does Dept. (no, I'm not still talking about Cole. Proving once again that desperate and stupid are a volatile mix.
I've always felt that squirrels (at least the nonnative Eastern grays) we get in the Pacific Northwest are trouble. Now, I have the proof.
Kermit the frog is pretty badass too. 
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