What an end note!

I only keep up with professional soccer during the world cup finals, to be honest. It's a fun, engaging rivalry that (for a brief moment in time) distracts countries from trying to slaughter each other on a routine basis.

So I knew a little bit about Zinedine Zedane's career prior to the final game versus Italy, sufficient to know that he is a well-respected player in the sport; and worshipped with demigod like fervor in France.

Last Sunday, as every soccer fan in the world knows by now, Zedane was playing professional soccer for the very last time-- the final game vs. Italy was to be his blaze of glory, the high note of his career. Unfortunately, THIS HAPPENED:



Zidane headbutted an Italian player (defender Marco Materazzi) in the chest in the second overtime period (after a brief exchange of words) and got red-carded. After being lionized throughout the World Cup finals, Zedane has pooped all over his legacy in the final minutes of his career. Now he retires on a very ugly note. I feel sorry for Zedane, truthfully-- it's a sad moment when a few seconds of madness can leave such an ugly impression in the minds of so many fans.