Zizou, you are the best I’ve ever seen
It’s not much of a surprise to say that most don’t even know who he is or what he has done. The few Americans who followed European football over the past decade were treated to one of the greatest midfield players the sport has seen. Zinedine Zidane, the star of Real Madrid and France national player has announced his retirement from competitive play.To be honest I didn’t know who the guy was until I watched the 1998 World Cup where he put on an amazing showcase of talent. The vocal captain electrified the crowd and watching world with his two goals against Brazil in the Cup final. From that point on he was a national hero. I even thought about becoming a French citizen just so I could get a sense of the elation he gave the French people.
I know Jimmy gave the link so you could read the article on Zidane but I had planned to give a moment to the man, a son of an Algerian night watchman, born in the melting pot of Marseille, He came to embody the hope of all immigrants, the hope that a nation could meld together and do anything. Zidane along with other immigrant French players did just that.
Our own Joe 1.0 happened to be in Europe during the 2000 Euro Cup where Zidane clinched the cup with a “golden goal" in the 117th minute. I bet Joe could attest to the insane passion the frenchy's had for Zidane that day.
Most won’t even bat in eye when they skim over the ever so small soccer section in there local sports page but I have to tip my cap to a player who’s skill on the field and off stirred a nation like only a great footballer can.
posted by Train at 9:09 AM
7 Comments:
I saw that headline yesterday about his plans to hang up his cleats after the World Cup. Great player, but he's French.
Yes, I was there for the French WC victory in 2000... crazy passion. The U.S. doesn't understand what true pride and loyalty towards your country is. Brokaw's "Greatest Generation" did, because they went through WWII... our war is a media driven war brought upon by greed, capitalism & revenge (correcting GW's daddy's mistakes).
Anyhoo... sorry to get all political up in there for a tic. Of course, it's Train's post, so he'll probably welcome it. Zidane, you were the man. But still French.
ZZ made Ruud and JFH look like 8-year olds playing bumblebee soccer Dutch boy...and in 2000 it was the Euro-Cup not WC...
I don't think it's fair to compare National European Pride with Futbol to any US sport...the US offers three major sports to European's one maybe two (Cricket)...It is still the ultimate goal of any youth outside of the US with a lick of athletic ability to bring home a Cup for his nation, i.e.: Champions, Euro, World...this is ingrained in the culture/society from the largest cities to the smallest villages...
This is part of the problem with English futbol, unlike other European nations, the sense of identity with a lot of English players is for club, not country, something unseen for players from Italy, Brazil and yes 2.0 France...this is not the sentiment for every English player, but I would say they model the American athlete more than the World athlete in that respect
In the US, soccer is a minority sport, not even part of the big 5 (Golf and NASCAR+big 3) and still smaller than the NHL...the problem about national pride with US sports is about choices...or the endless supply of them...no one will argue that the US produces per capita the greatest athletes in the world, but those athletes are given so many choices that by the time they step into HS, they've already chosen their career path and only 2% of those gifted athletes choose Futbol...(in the rest of the world that number is 98%)
Does it bother me that we don't have the same passion for soccer in the US, a little, but based on what I see for 20 weekends during the Fall and the Winter in America, our national game isn't WorldWide, which is sort of how we like it...
sidenote: Vic has been given until Friday at 3pm to make a post in order to keep his roster spot...if not, 2.0's #3 draft pick will be elevated to a shrine in the Lazlo HOF...
Nice, calling out Swinehart. We'll see if he brings it. He's looking more and more like a slacker drummer every day.
Speaking of Lazlo.
He is going to be doing an internship at the Portland Culinary Institute. He will be in one of the Training restaurants as a head chef. He will let us know when he is working and invited us to come to P-town. (A little I-5 lodge road trip?)
He relishes his Ryan Leaf status and said to tell everyone "hey"!
At the end of July he will be going to complete his Bachelors of Culinary in Scottsdale AZ.
Much love for the Lazlo...and if I'm coming down to P-Town he better be providing a free meal or as Tony S. would say: at a rate...
I'd be down for a Lodge roadtrip down to P-Town. July looks good for me now... lame, I know. But with Greg's wedding (and six others this spring & summer), my weekends are pretty much shot. The lesson as always, women ruin everything.
Post a Comment
<< Home