[spunkywho]

To me it is quite irrelevant what that little shit said or didn't say. What offends me may have no impact on you and what leaves me cold might drive you crazy. None of us is judge about how severe or mean the insult was and nobody but Zidane is in a position to call the reaction appropriate or understandable.

What matters is that Materazzi deliberately and continuously worked on pissing Zidane off - it was NOT a casual insult passed out while running by or while fighting over a ball. It was a despicable and heinous behavior and the actual words are irrelevant. Materazzi was on a mission and succeeded. That's why I would not have given a shit if he had dropped dead on the spot - he was looking for it and he got it. Don't go around bullying people and then run crying to your mom if someone gives you a dirty look. One can die from a violent knock between the eyes as well, yet I don't hear the outrage over DeRossi.

It's always the same: people provoke and act like shits and the crowd accepts it and looks the other way. If, however, someone hits back, the crowd is outraged and ready to hang that reacting bastard.

Zidane acted inappropriately and got a red card. He took responsibility for what he did and paid a very very hefty price for the loss of his temper. That is that. Leave him alone now. Remember, though, it always takes two to tango. Focus on the one that STILL acts like a cowardly weasel and is portrayed as the victim. I am certain Materazzi was quite smitten over his accomplishment and had a good laugh on how he got one of the best and most admired athlete and biggest threat to Italy winning the cup out of the match. How can people sit there and villify Zidane, while praising the aggressor and all the others that played dirty in the matches - dismissing it as 'part of the game'. It's idiotic, illogical and a perfect example of how easily people can be led down a path of irrational hate and blind followship. Lynchmob mentality in its textbook example. Scary. Sad. Disgusting.

Surely Italy won the cup - that is not the issue at all. As someone said in the media: not always does the best team win. This is not the first and will not be the last world cup demonstrating that winning is just as much luck as it is skills.

Nor will it be the only cup in which people will never agree as to whether or not the winner deserved to win.