Draw Bad Card

The finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Football tournament was held on Sunday July 9th in Berlin Germany. Missed in the Irony is the fact that the finals were held in a city that became a symbol of both the unification of the former East and West Germany's as well as the destruction of the cold war. This supports the old adage that sometimes you have to tear down to build up. The stones taken from the Berlin wall were thrown at the old Soviet system and brought what many have determined to be freedom. I guess one mans vandalism is another mans reconstruction.

That was then, we have to talk about a more recent "then". Going into the third game of the first round of the tournament France were in danger of elimination. They were playing upstarts and potential spoilers Togo. They were with there prolific and exciting playmaker the incomparable Zinadine Zidane. He had gotten 2 yellow cards in the previous games and consequently was disqualified. France somehow beat Togo and welcomed back Zidane for the round of 16 game against Spain. He came back in style and placed his mark on the game and even scored a goal in France's dismantling of Spain who were one of the pre tournament favorites. A few days later Zidane turned up his performance a notch in a classic performance against Brazil in the quarter finals. A brilliant kick from a set piece set up Thierry Henry in the 57th minute to shock the world and send Brazil reeling out of Germany.

The legend of the man Zidane had now grown. Those who had never seen the man in action were in awe as he showed to control a game both on and off the ball. Deft touches, precise passes, amazing penalties. The ball stuck to his boot as if held by a thread. The superlatives and metaphors flowed. Zidane this, Zidane that, Zidane the this, Zidane the that. He was Alexander the great, William the conqueror, Martin Luther King all in one. A builder a roads and tearer down of bridges. The finals were supposed to be his going away party. That rare moment when a sport star leaves his sport his way, on top, in the biggest game of the biggest tournament in the world.

You a go tired fe see me face
Can't get me out of the race
Oh man you said I'm in your place
A make you draw bad card
And then you draw bad card

Propaganda spreading over my name
Say you want to bring another life
to shame
Oh man you just playing a game
And then you draw bad card, draw
bad card
A make you draw bad card, draw bad card
A make you draw bad card(Bob Marley)

Viewers would have noticed that FIFA had anti racism messages before most of the games. Cruel racism, and provocation has been a staple among fans in Eastern Europe especially but also very much so in the Italian and Spanish soccer leagues. This is not to say it does not occur in other countries but its more rampant in aforesaid places. In fact there was tension during the France game because of Racist and vile comments that had been previously made by the Spanish coach toward Henry of France. The Spanish FA did not punish Aragones until FIFA stepped in.



So suddenly in the second half of the final game of his career with France in control of the game Mr Zidane in an off the ball incident head butted on of the "Pizza Boys". Some guy with a name that seems like it came off a restaurant menu. He was sent of in so called disgrace. Instantaneously the praises turned to ridicule, accusation, condemnation, disgust. All of a sudden he was Zidane the wicked, The response of the pundits and commentators were as illogical and as unrealistic as what Zidane did. I am surprised the US anti terrorist squad did not escort Mr Zidane off the field. That is the was they made it seem. I will hold judgment. I do not trust the pizza boy. As far as I ma concerned Mr Zidane must have been provoked severely. Well some say he should be able to control his temper, well that's because they are not usually on the short end of intense provocation and harassment. They say we should respond, with grace, with courage, with humility. O yeah Some people care about profile, what people think, legacy and all that. That may be so, but Zidane does not need their sympathy nor their praises. There is no price that can be placed on being told about ones mother, race, country or religion. Maybe if it were me I would have slapped pizza boy while he was taking his dive too.

I strongly suspect that when all is said and done in the coming days as the truth comes out that those of us who do not accept and condone racial and religious provocation will be singing Zidanes praises. H will have struck a telling blow against those who casually disrespect other peoples. We will then be saying, "What a way to leave the game".