World Cup

[Alvare71]

Did any one hear what happened to that italian player for insulting that player on the frances team.All I know is that the italian player told the player from france that he hopes him and his family that he wishes they were all dead, and to go *@#% himself. The player from france head butts him in the chest and he fell, and the player from france was ejected. Did anything happen to the italian player?

Grinder

[RichardGraham]

Hi Alvare71,

No, I don't think anything happened to Marco Materazzi. There's no excuse for what he said to Zidane, but Zidane should have walked away. He very likely cost France the match for responding the way he did. Of course, that's sometime's easier said than done in the heat of the moment.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Alvare71]

That is crazy, wasn't it directed to him because he is middle eastern?

Grinder

[DannyG]

Yes, from what Materazzi and his teammates have stated through the media about the incident, the comment was racist in nature.

Materazzi and all concerned, however, have not said anything that would directly get him in trouble with FIFA in a way-after-the-fact investigation, which is all FIFA has to go on at this point.

Nothing more will come of this to either party...you can speculate that Zidane's presence for penalty kicks might have given France an additional tool to win a championship.

As it is, a "shootout" is not the way to determine the outcome of the game...

I would call for the dramatic change in the game to be: change the zone where offside is called from the offensive half of the field, to the penalty box only.

This would, of course, make the score of every game like 6-5 or 8-7, instead of 1-0 or 2-1. This would change scoring records, and the very nature of the game would be different.

When we first started playing inline hockey, I painted blue lines on the floor. My contention at the time was that it wasn't real hockey without an offside rule. We experimented with first-touch, red-line offside as well. It was a revelation to me when we simply (finally) did away with offside and, lo-an-behold: the game continued largely the same, it didn't matter at all. Wadya know?

I imagine that soccer game scores of 6-5 would be considered a big change, but I do think it would be for the better.

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[RichardGraham]

Hi,

In today's Los Angeles Times, Zidane said the Italian player insulted his mother and sister, not his national heritage. Sounds like it was some pretty vicious trash talk.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[minutemen]

Richard is right. Zidane should have controlled himself. In my opinion he is a veteran Pro, I am sure in all his years he has heard things of that nature. The fact remains he hurt his team for the World Cup. As for the Italian player, it was the wrong thing to do, he is suppose to act professional as well. I think this whole situation is not good for professional sports. It is sending the wrong message.

Zidane has been known to do things of this nature in the past, he is a hot head. The italians knew that. Is is right, no, but they did win. But the question is, what does that teach the the thousands of kids who watched that situation?

After watching and hearing all the issues, problems an concerns about all professional sports in the past few years, it makes me sick. Kids look up to these players, and these athletes should know that. I think players in all Pro sports should have to take a seminar on control. Not just hearing the words from a speaker, but hearing words form young kids. They should be shown videos of some of these youth games and see what the are imitating. Where do you think they learned it from? I own a rink and I hear kids talking about what they saw on last nights game. The fact that they are talking about the next day is wrong.

Morristown Minutemen Pro Minor Hockey Organization.

[RichardGraham]

Hey Justin,

I think you make excellent points. (By the way, I haven't forgotten about you... I've just been crazy busy. I'll get back to you soon.)

Kids do emulate what they see their sports heroes do, there's no doubt about it. Both players showed a lack of class and professionalism.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Alvare71]

I think, which is my own opinion. That some sports should be put on a 5 second time delay. which can control sports that have violent incindents and then they can edit, But then again our roman brother built giant stadiums for violence and bloodshed.

Grinder

[RichardGraham]

Now there's "ultimate" fighting...

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Alvare71]

That and arena football.lol

Grinder

[Brooklynite10]

french player got 3 game suspension and the italian got 2 games