I Reject: Zidane's action has no excuse

That didn't take long did it? Hey, I said I could not resist.

As two great cultures are embroiled in a childish small 'c' controversy, there are many ways to look at the Zinadine 'The Rhino' Zidane assault - but only one right answer. To North Americans, we are familiar with the cult of trash talkers and most would agree what Zidane did was an act of mental fragility. One British person on a soccer thread put it best; "Materazzi played. Zidane got played."

Ty Cobb, Claude Lemieux, Pete Rose, Michael Jordan etc. All were examples of athletes who did what they could to tried to take their opponents out of focus. Some want athletes of this genre on their team, others do not. It is what it is.

People will construct ways to look at this and after reading and watching many French media outlets, no matter how you dice it Zidane was wrong - slick French PR notwithstanding. Wow, imagine if Materazzi - a player who's best friend is black - did this do Zidane? What would Zidane's mother - an elderly lady who demanded poor Materazzi's balls on a platter - ask for then? Who would the French go after? Armstrong or Materazzi? Don't they have their hands full chastising American foreign policy?

Another way is to study how the Italian players reacted. Not one of them sought to turn this into a brawl. Fabio Cannavaro, a true class player, looked at Zidane as if he was insane. Gattuso, Buffon and Zambrotta are all friends of Zidane and they too looked on with perplexity. Buffon himself attempted to offer comfort to Zidane following his deserved expulsion. To be sure, as the days move along we will begin to see fools on both sides take this a step too far before it settles down.

In a larger social context, it importantly points to a fascinating malaise in modern society; that of blaming the victim at all cost. It was an opulent orgy of sick self-victimization watching the French defend the indefensible. Some described it as Zidane defending 'the honor of his family' and the 'scourge of Islamophobia.' (What about the honor of the French soccer Federation?) Even though there is no proof Materazzi called Zidane a terrorist.

As Zidane spoke on a popular French program as his head butt played over and over, the reaction was less "Oh, Zidane!" and more "Well, he insulted his family. What was he supposed to do? He had to defend the honor of his family! Of France!" Maybe, afterall Yosemite Sam did not like being told his mother wore army boots by Bugs Bunny. But ole Sam was not playing in a championship match with 10 minutes to go.

Rubbish indeed.

Remember 9/11 and how people began to rationalize that heinous crime against humanity? We sought elusive 'root causes' for years. Ultimately, the general consensus was that American foreign policy was at fault - though never being clearly spelled out how. It just was. Let's blame Bush and move on.

On a much less serious and in some ways incomparable level, there is a similar logical pattern here. I have heard all I needed to hear. I reject Zidane's hollow apology and the people of France for immorally defending him.

Hey, the two sides meet on September 6 for Euro qualifications. Wonder if Materazzi will play.