VIVA L'ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAD to see the game today. There was no way in hell I was going to pass up seeing Italia, my quasi casa, play in the World Cup. So after frantic e-mailing, and an exchange of distressed and hyper phone calls, I found out that one of my friends was going to watch the game. I kinda invited myself over to my friend's (because I don't have a TV and he does), which he graciously and kindly accepted. I will forever be grateful to this friend.

Seeing that in America, most people don't care about soccer, there were no World Cup parties planned, no one who was wildly running to the supermarket at the last minute to stock up on beer and chips, and the uncontrollable exuberance and excitement brimming over the top, the way it happens with the Superbowl. I hurriedly went to the store to buy a couple of things, excited about prospects of watching the game, and I saw all these people lazily sitting in the courtyard of the shopping center, drinking coffee, chatting, watching their kids run around and play. I couldn't believe it. I incredulously screamed in my head, "What is wrong with you people?! It's the World Cup game today! Don't you care?!"

And then, I got to my friend's house, where there were the 3 of us. To cut the story short, it was basically me, and only me, screaming, clapping, engaging in running commentary about a good play, a bad pass, a screwy shot, cursing, and holding a fist up in the air yelling "YES!!" during specific moments. My friends, unfortunately, were not as enthusiastic and wrapped up in the game as I was.

But it doesn't matter.

Italy won.

VIVA L'ITALIA

GLI AZZURI 2006

My friends, unfortunately, were not as enthusiastic and wrapped up in the game as I was.

Just in case my friends actually read this comment, I would like to say that I LOVE YOU BOTH for having kept me company during the game, and trying to get into the game as much as I was, and conceding and agreeing with all of my running commentary.

Very, very sweet of you guys.

Tash you beat me to posting, and you did a bang up job!
But I must say, this game broke my heart, to see Zizou Zidane go out like that...wow, what a way to end a career! If this wasn't the World Cup and it was the international headbutting championship, he would so go home with a golden something-or-other!
I mean THAT was a head butt!

Can I vote for the ad that involves Mexico fans carrying a giant piece of luggage through airport security, the subways, and other strange places only to open it up and reveal a huge ass mexican flag? Sorry, it's my favorite ad but I don't know what it's for. But if those were desi men with a huge package, they never would have made it to Germany!
Or maybe the AIG ad where the animated logo shoots a goal?
Or the other Mexico ad for McDonald's where the whole world salutes the Mexican flag with the futbol players? Or the one where they call home to some unnamed South American country during the game and have a lovey dovey family reunion over futbol courtesy of whatever that communication company was? Have you guys noticed that I do my world cup viewing on the Spanish channel?

In other news, within minutes of the game ending, there was an onslaught of what the wiki called "vandalism" on the entry for "Zinadine Zidane" on wikipedia which included posting the head butt footage, and changing the text to read that he ended his career beautifully, tragically, and whatever else fans could come up with. There were also references to nipples... Thus, editting to that entry is restricted at the moment

Miss Italiana, bask in the glory for now--but my teams will be back to bite the Italians in the ass in 2010 South Africa!
Anybody want to get tix with me?

Have you guys noticed that I do my world cup viewing on the Spanish channel?

This may explain why I don't know what any of the ads were for, except McDonald's of course-- me encanta!

Miss Italiana, bask in the glory for now–but my teams will be back to bite the Italians in the ass in 2010 South Africa!

Girl, don't even go there-- Italia will ROCK your teams (whoever they are) in 2010.....

(GROWL)

In other news, within minutes of the game ending, there was an onslaught of what the wiki called “vandalism” on the entry for “Zinadine Zidane” on wikipedia

I noticed this last night too...I was wondering what it possibly could have been to merit the status "vandalized". I was imagining racism alla Le Pen????

I was wondering what it possibly could have been to merit the status “vandalized”.

Well for one thing, someone posted the head butt clip on there, only minutes after it happened (I just chanced upon it because I heard he was of Algerian descent and I was looking that up)

Then over the course of a few minutes the career bio text changed from
"Tragic end to his career," to "Spirited end of his career and he will go down in history," and then there were the adjectives, "vicious," "retaliatory"---so people were repeatedly deleting and adding---damn democracy! This was over the course of maybe 5 minutes---so it got a little nuts--which is when the page was closed due to "vandalism"

The wiki now reads,

In his final game on July 9, 2006, Zidane became one of only four footballers to achieve the feat of scoring in two different World Cup final matches (he scored twice in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final), sharing the honour with Pelé, Paul Breitner, and Vavá. He scored in the seventh minute from the penalty spot. This goal was his 31st for France in his 108th appearance, and his third and last during the tournament. He nearly headed in the ball during the first period of extra time but it was saved by Gianluigi Buffon. His career ended when he was sent off for violent conduct after headbutting Italy's goalscorer, Marco Materazzi, in the chest in the 110th minute. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and Italy won the championship after a penalty kick shootout. His agent, Alain Migliaccio has stated that Zidane said a "very serious" comment by Matterazzi provoked the attack.[7] Zidane refused to elaborate on what exactly was said to provoke the attack. He was the fourth person to have been sent off in a World Cup final and the first to be sent off during extra time.

On July 10, 2006, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball for the best player in the 2006 World Cup. The winner was selected by a poll of journalists covering the tournament; Zidane polled 2012 points, ahead of Fabio Cannavaro, who polled 1977 points.[8] Voting began during half time of the final match, before Zidane's headbutt.[9]

I, like everyone else, have beend desperate to know what happened to provoke Zidane. I read an article that cites the French anti-racist group SOS-Racisme saying that Materazzi callled Zidane a "dirty terrorist." In the article, Materazzi denies it. You can read the original SOS-Racisme statement at the link if you read French but the article is good enough really as far as I could tell.

The group is calling for a FIFA investigation, which seems more than reasonable to me. In some emotional sense, this is important to me, because I deeply want to know what happened. Why would a man with so much attention and fame focused on him at a crucial moment in a match (and career!) all of a sudden go apeshit completely disconnected from the play? Not something you can brush off lightly.

I am now drinking myself silly because France lost; please, please make the pain go away. I shall come up with the most corrupt sponsor ever once the hang over passes :) Now where did I put that guinness?

this is important to me, because I deeply want to know what happened. Why would a man with so much attention and fame focused on him at a crucial moment in a match (and career!) all of a sudden go apeshit completely disconnected from the play?

Soooo totally agreed ::sigh::

Materazzi callled Zidane a “dirty terrorist.”

A racial slur can definately make a player lose his/her cool. It happeneded to be on the field.

But I don't know about this: if Materazzi called Zidane such a thing, then it had to be in a language that was mutually comprehensible to both of them.

I can't say, I am not that familiar with Materazzi as a player and his character; I've been exposed more to Totti and Del Piero, but that's because they were in ubiquitous commercials for bottled water, with that famous little sparrow that came and sat on their shoulders.

Sleepy:

I am now drinking myself silly because France lost; please, please make the pain go away

Get over it :) Italia is the best and there is no denying that. It is a fact. L'Italia e il capo del calcio mondiale. I jumped up when France missed that penalty shot- ha! ha! HA!. Actually, I saw the heavens, the stars, and the moon. (PS I hope you know that I am joshing with you :) )

It happeneded to be on the field

Typo: "It happened to ME on the field in the past".

Christ Hai Bhagwan, I don't know what's going on with me today. Making sloppy mistakes and typos everywhere.

Must be Italy's victoria that has gotten to my head :)

Also, favorite commercial: a Latino guy and a presumably American guy are at a bar watching football. The Latino guy turns to the presumably American guy excitedly about a play in the match. The presumably American guy shrugs and doesn't get it.

Presumably American guy is then replaced with another Latino dude on a cellphone. The two Latino guys then have enjoyable conversation, and the cell phone company concludes its pitch for you to buy its product:)

Most annoying corporate feature: T-Mobile ring everytime Univision switches to their sponsorship during live broadcast. I don't have T-Mobile and I still was startled each time by the thought that someone was getting a phone call nearby.

No me gusta McDonalds, but I didn't have a particular reason for that other than their ubiquity and opportunism in promoting this in Spanish.

a Latino guy and a presumably American guy are at a bar watching football. The Latino guy turns to the presumably American guy excitedly about a play in the match. The presumably American guy shrugs and doesn’t get it.

Presumably American guy is then replaced with another Latino dude on a cellphone. The two Latino guys then have enjoyable conversation, and the cell phone company concludes its pitch for you to buy its product:)

Hmm, I saw that one and didn't quite catch what transpired until you summarized it above. The heavens, the stars, and the earth just synchronized inside my head--thanks Saurav :)

Futbol is known for the racism that is abound on the field, in team squad formulations, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if Materazzi was hating on the Arab...sigh...
Not only will it take me awhile to get over this, but with no more football, I have nothing to do in my spare time, or should i say nothing to help me make excuses for not being productive...I guess I should begin making that outline for my final exam next week...

Who saw the McDonald's ad where the guy in bed starts screaming Gooooolll! and his wife is startled and falls out of bed. I thoroughly enjoyed that commercial, though I don't know what it had to do with fast food...
And who LOVED adidas Jose + 10 as much as i did??!!

who LOVED adidas Jose + 10 as much as i did??!!

I have to admit I did too, though I'm afeared of the turn this conversation has taken because of me :) I thought we're supposed to be trashing companies for contaminating ground water, not reinforcing their marketing campaigns :)

Nah, it's all good Saurav :-)

I mean what is it if not brands that give us the universal language of brotherhood and world peace ;-)

Viva La Calle: sorry! I'm sure your post would have been much better, amigo. You certainly pay attention to those Spanish ads...but it's amazing how much we actually take them in.

Hey, at least in the magical land of advertising all our troubles go away...so let's hope Zidane will be alright. I'm thinking he has a few million francs to soothe the pain, a wee bit of Real Madrid money, and maybe he'll get an advertising deal with NIKE (who were apparently v miffed at Adidas being given centre stage for sponsorship).

I mean what else did his head-butt say except for 'Just Do It'...

I'm thinking slow motion, I'm thinking Zidane symbolically overcomes racism by head-butting some annoying blonde guy while 'We Are The World' plays in the background and tiny African orphans cheer him on. Then he does a round of the field and those crazy Mexicans with their flag break the border and climb over the stands to run with him.

Wow, I should give up human rights law to go into advertising.

Desi Italiana: seeing your modesty at the Italia win is heartwarming ;-) But I still believe that Materazzi must've said something terrible to him to warrant that head-butt. And obviously the whole tweak thing - I mean that's just out of order!

Still, I love it when any good-looking team wins so Viva L'Italia :-)

Sleepy:
hope that hangover's gone away.If you wanna keep the patriotism going you could drink patriotic French substances...just my two francs...

though I’m afeared of the turn this conversation has taken because of me I thought we’re supposed to be trashing companies for contaminating ground water, not reinforcing their marketing campaigns

Saurav and Tash,
i think it's less that we internalize opportunistic advertising, and more that I watched way too much futbol over the last few weeks.

There's still plenty of hating on advertising to do, the hater in me never dies!
I'll focus on the little things:
- the adidas emblazoned soccer ball
- the t-mobile chime during the game on univsion
- the McDonald's FIFA extra value chicken sandwich meal....like...are you serious???
- and why do the futbol fans always need to be Spanish speaking?

I think the chicken sandwich takes home the prize....

Viva La Calle:

Yeah, those are all pretty shocking. I think someone needs to re-read their copy of No Logo to keep those flames of hate burnin\'! ;-)

FIFA only works with Maccas if it stands for Funding Incredibly Fat Arses. Damn the tastiness of their evil processed food!

There\'s nothing like buying the Weight Watchers points book to put you off it though, there\'s enough calories in a Happy Meal to warrant a whole day\'s worth of points...

That\'s only for those whose preferred form of self torture is working on their New Year\'s resolution in July, if that\'s you, come sign up for the gym with me right now :-)

Also I think Spanish just sounds hotter than other languages, I mean who could forget Ricky Martin\'s *stunning* former World Cup song \'The Cup of Life\' with its celebratory \'Here we go! Ole, Ole Ole!\'

The Germans are great but their heavy metal s***/Eurotrash pop can\'t really compete with Spanish-ness for conveying team spirit.

I think the chicken sandwich takes home the prize….

Agreed. Though I think the "Asian salad" posted about earlier is worse :)

A transatlantic phone call this morning informed me that Matterazzi is un pezzo di merda, tutti lo sanno (Translation: Matterazzi is a piece of shit, everyone knows that) and so it is totally possible he flung a racial slur at Zidane. Also, the link that I recieved, (thanks, Vivek) claims that

First Marco Matterazzi called the French star the Italian equivalent of 'n*****', and then insulted both his mother and his Muslim background by saying he is the 'son of a terrorist whore. [Link]

But then Matterazzi states:

Materazzi, 32, told Gazetta dello Sport: "I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned to me and talked to me, jeering.

"He looked at me with a huge arrogance and said, 'If you really want my shirt I'll give it to you afterwards'. I replied with an insult, that's true."

He has denied, however, some of the more vile insults referring to his wife or sister or calling him a terrorist.

"It was one of those insults you're told dozens of times and that you often let fall on a pitch," Materazzi said.

"I did not call him a terrorist. I am not a cultured person and I don't even know what as Islamist terrorist is."

He added: "For me the mother is sacred, you know that."[Link]

Hmmmm....what to think?

Hmmmm….what to think?

That Matterazzi is lying? :)

More via a deaf lip reader and the BBC

She deciphered the insult as being "you're the son of a terrorist whore" - a translation also carried by many national newspapers in Britain on Tuesday.

The BBC's Ten O'Clock News also called in experts to study the television footage of the incident and determined the following:

Materazzi's first word to Zidane was "no" before he then told him to "calm down".

He then accused him of being a "liar" and wished "an ugly death to you and your family" on the day the Frenchman's mother had been taken to hospital ill. This was followed by "Go f*** yourself".

Zidane's agent, Alain Migliaccio, has hinted that Zidane will soon reveal exactly what was said by Materazzi.

Piara Powar, national co-ordinator for the anti-racism group Kick It Out told Five Live, said: "If there was a racial slur then Fifa needs to act."

Keith Hackett, head of referees in England, said that if it can be proved that Matterazzi racially abused the Frenchman, then Fifa should take retrospective action for "the good of the game."

damn straight Materazzi is lying!

Yes, but there's also this from the same article (which I think we were probably reading at the same time :)

The BBC's Ten O'Clock News also called in experts to study the television footage of the incident and determined the following:

Materazzi's first word to Zidane was "no" before he then told him to "calm down".

He then accused him of being a "liar" and wished "an ugly death to you and your family" on the day the Frenchman's mother had been taken to hospital ill. This was followed by "Go f*** yourself".

So open question: is it worse if he called his mother a "terrorist whore" than if he wished death upon her the day he was in the hospital?

That Matterazzi is lying?

That concluding phrase on my part was an attempt to present two sides of the story as an um...objective writer to the readers :) I'm kind of hesitant to take a lip reader's word for it, so I want to see what Zidane is going to say. Matterazzi's responses do sound like a lie, ie "Mothers are sacred, you know that", playing on the stereotype of Italians worshipping their mammas. And judging from Zidane's reaction, it is entirely possible that Matterazzi could have said a racial slurs. Racial slurs have a way of really angering people.

“If there was a racial slur then Fifa needs to act.”

Absolutely. That kind of stuff -- racial slurs, racism -- is unacceptable, even if it's a game (I read some comments along the lines of "oh, well, during a game players often exchange insults, and what not").

Right on signora!

"Mothers are sacred, you know that”, playing on the stereotype of Italians worshipping their mammas

Hehehe I think that's amusing...

So open question: is it worse if he called his mother a “terrorist whore” than if he wished death upon her the day he was in the hospital?

Both are equally bad!! Wishing death to your mother who's a "terrorist whore" lying in a hospital bed is fu@*ed up.

Maybe eventually we will need to move past this, but this France/Italy thing has given every damn body a lot to talk about...

(ANSA) - Rome, July 11 - Controversial ex-minister Roberto Calderoli was at the centre of a fresh storm on Tuesday after making derogatory comments about France's national soccer team .

In a statement issued Monday in celebration of Italy's World Cup defeat of France, deputy Senate speaker Calderoli said the French team was made up of "blacks, Muslims and Communists", sparking protests from the French Embassy .

Calderoli is a leading member of the regionalist Northern League, one of the four parties in the centre-right opposition headed by former premier Silvio Berlusconi .

He was forced to resign from the Berlusconi government earlier this year after he appeared on television wearing a T-shirt printed with cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad .

In his World Cup statement, Calderoli held up the Italian victory as a "triumph of our identity" - a phrase which was already unusual for an anti-Rome party which fiercely champions devolution .

"A team which fielded Lombards, Campanians, Venetians and Calabrians won against a team which sacrificed its identity for results by fielding blacks, Muslims and Communists," he said . [Link]

Well either way what I really love is Materazzi's OWN admission that he's a total idiot.

'I'm not a cultured person, I don't know what a terrorist is...'

Newsflash: Mr. Materazzi, people who misuse that term are anything but cultured.

Oh, if only the Benetton ads did not lie so and there was not so much rampant racism in the world.

I know that in New Zealand even racist skinheads shut up and sit tight at a rugby team with a Polynesian and Maori majority because those big guys win us the games every time.

Thanks for putting up the article, viva la calle, it just shows how much right-wing populism has spread in Western Europe. 'Blacks, Muslims and Communists...' That is such a cheap shot and it's not like Communists are even a threat anymore.

Calderoli is a jackass. He always has been. He's become somewhat of a mascot for idiocy (except those who are aligned with him, in which case he is a leader).

Calderoli is a leading member of the regionalist Northern League, one of the four parties in the centre-right opposition headed by former premier Silvio Berlusconi .

"Northern League" is actually the Lega Nord which is known to be one of the most virulently anti...well, everything. They hate everybody-- the Mezzogiorno (the Southern half of Italy), immigrants, Albanians, refugees, non Christians, and the Public Enemy of any given day. There biggest proposal was initially a partition of the North and the South (because the lazy Southerners don't work but suck up all the tax money of those who really work, the Northerners). Then, they pushed for federalism. They do not recognize Rome, the nation's capital. When you'd read their newspaper, they'd place Rome under the section of the "international weather forecast".

"Center right" is an understatement. Lega Nord, like the Alleanza Nazionale have been referred to as neo-fascist parties.

“A team which fielded Lombards, Campanians, Venetians and Calabrians won against a team which sacrificed its identity for results by fielding blacks, Muslims and Communists,” he said .

Yesterday, they considered people from the Campania and Calabria (regions which are part of the Mezzogiorno) as "foreigners", as opposed to those from Lombardia and Venezia. Today, those from Campagnia and Calabria are "Italians" banded in opposition to "blacks, Muslims, and Communists". Tomorrow, there will be another enemy to deface.

Like I said, Calderoli and his ilk hate everybody.

y'all might be interested in this. it's superfun--put words in materazzi's and zidane's mouths :)

Okay I don't think anyone's gonna be interested in THIS but here's the lamest joke to come out of the head-butt fiasco so far heard on talkback radio today...

'I heard Sophie Ellis-Bextor was found head-butted to death in her Paris apartment.'

The verdict?

wait for it...

Murder on Zi-dane's floor. Ha.hhahahahaa.ahahahahaha.