Freakaholic
not just an addiction
Materazzi vs Zidane: should there be repercussions?
Ive gotten in some heated arguments here, and read some interesting articles.
One, on Counterpunch, calls for Italy to give back the Cup.
http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin07112006.html
A friend thinks that Materazzi should be suspended or fined if there were racist remarks made.
Personally, I tend to side with this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5168622.stm
I think taunting is part of the game, and that people will do whatever is necessary to get someone off of their game. Aterwards, all is generally forgotten.
But I think this begets a different question: When has it gone too far? Are there personal lines you shouldnt cross, or should everyone in the game realize its just a tactic, like pulling shirts, twisting nipples, even spitting?
Even further, are these illegal, but largely missed, aspects of the world's game bad for the game? I tend to think that they make it interesting, but on the other hand, if racism is a problem, this could make it worse. But then, racism is a problem with or without soccer, soccer just being a nother facet of life.
At what point is soccer no longer politics, and when should the two interact?
Ive gotten in some heated arguments here, and read some interesting articles.
One, on Counterpunch, calls for Italy to give back the Cup.
http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin07112006.html
A friend thinks that Materazzi should be suspended or fined if there were racist remarks made.
Personally, I tend to side with this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5168622.stm
I think taunting is part of the game, and that people will do whatever is necessary to get someone off of their game. Aterwards, all is generally forgotten.
But I think this begets a different question: When has it gone too far? Are there personal lines you shouldnt cross, or should everyone in the game realize its just a tactic, like pulling shirts, twisting nipples, even spitting?
Even further, are these illegal, but largely missed, aspects of the world's game bad for the game? I tend to think that they make it interesting, but on the other hand, if racism is a problem, this could make it worse. But then, racism is a problem with or without soccer, soccer just being a nother facet of life.
At what point is soccer no longer politics, and when should the two interact?