The Zidane Legacy: Blown Out of Proportion?

How will Zidane be remembered? That's the question on everyone's mind. Will they remember him for his mastery and finesse on the pitch? Or will they remember him for his moment of "lunacy," as some have called it?

I'll admit right now, my knowledge on football is pretty limited and thus my ability to comment on the legitimacy of the issuing of the red card is hampered (ask Tim if you want to know whether the referee's actions were justified). Since the France vs Brazil match, I have been entranced by Zizou's ability to handle the ball. His footwork is sheer genius! Genius I tell you! I have never seen such control of a ball before, and since then I've been perfectly addicted to videos of his artwork. Furthermore, the fact that Zizou does his congratulations quickly before waving to the crowd and then heading down into the locker-room is something we don't see too often. Modesty and humility are traits that so many players lack, but Zidane seems to embrace them, and for that he will always be one of the greatest players of all time.

And now, as I peruse the pages of videos on YouTube.com, all I see are parodies, spoofs, and replays of the now infamous "head-butt." Like all things media-related, the subject matter gets covered. And covered. And covered again. The public then becomes saturated with the material. They've seen it a thousand times. They've seen it so many times they can see it in their minds over and over again. And now people are taking those video feeds and perverting them through their imaginations.

Some say imitation is the finest form of flattery, and while appropriate in some media, this does not strike me as the best idea for those who still claim to be "loyal" to Zidane. The general public is fickle, it follows what is most current. Just wait for Paris Hilton to make headlines again and Zidane's head-butting will be forgotten by all but those who truly follow football.

In the end, who will remember this last act by a man reknown for being the personification of the "Beautiful Game"? He plays with style, he is an amazing sportsman, and he is clearly talented beyond belief. Suling even said, and I quote, "Zidane should be God." Witness the swapping of jerseys between Figo and himself after the France vs Portugal match, and you'll see just how classy this guy really is.

As the world awaits FIFA's final decision with regards to the investigative probe, we can all look at Zizou's career and realize just how lucky we were to have him come back and play once more. A maestro, a prodigy, a man of pure talent, he will always be remembered for his fine form (and I mean that on all levels) and his mastery of the most beautiful game on Earth.

On a side note, it is my opinion that Materazzi got what he deserved for insulting Zidane. He pushed too hard, and should not go unpunished for his actions regardless of Zidane's actions. Sportsmanship is sportsmanship, and trash talk really shouldn't be necessary if Materazzi's as good as they say. And so I support Zidane in taking action, but his choice of rebuke is not something I would condone. Just keep in mind that Zidane carried the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders by bringing them all the way to the finals. I'd probably snap too if someone insulted my family.