Nicely done!

It’s right up there with Rod Carew’s last game, when he hit the opposing left fielder with a rake.

Weird weird weird.

I am curious as to what was said. Do you think he’ll tell? Either one of them? Not that it justifies his actions, but still curious.

Angie — most people think that it was a racial epithet, but I’m guessing that Materazzi made disparaging remarks about his mother.

Martin — Thanks. I have no memory of that Rod Carew game. As far as I can tell, google doesn’t either . . . which is also weird.

For some happier WC 2006 memories of Zidane (played over the touching strains of Rod Stewart), check out this video (via The Rootless Cosmopolitan).

In the post, I joke about the incident, but really, it was quite crushing.

Not the first time he’s done something like that…

As Zidane has always said, “If you mess with the bull, you get the horns!”

Oh, I was joking.

I think it’s about time for a li’l ol’ Rod Carew Urban Legend, don’t you?

Yeah, he hit the opposing left fielder with a rake! His last game! The rake is on display at Cooperstown, but in a “secret” part of the Hall of Fame Museum, and only dignitaries and other jacked-in types can see it, and the long-supressed video of the incident, which was taken by a fan in the stands with a home Super-Eight film camera.

People with wonder, just as they’re doing now with Zidane, WHAT WAS HE THINKING??????

Via my sister-in-law Jen:

Zidane blames Materazzi insults:

“Sources in France say it is believed Materazzi insulted Zidane’s mother.”

I suspect that’s true, but even if it’s not — well-played.

What other explanation could soften the blow and win sympathy for Zidane? Sure, he over-reacted, but come on — show me one soccer-mom out there whose disgust at Zidane’s action didn’t just melt into grudging admiration.

Sadly, the Carew rake incident did not have a similarly redeeming explanation. Some say, in fact, that Carew’s outrage was directed not at the opposing left-fielder, but at a bearded, pun-wielding fan in the stands who had heckled Carew mercilessly throughout the game. It’s ironic that a player so skilled with a bat could display such bad aim with a rake.

Sacre bleu!