Separating the men from the boys - World Cup 2006

Below is a letter written by a passionate football fan who is also a fren of mine. Carl Skadian's article published in the newspaper is loop-sided and has prompted my fren to write to debunk his claims in his article. Pls read her letter below and give her your support. Thanks!

Zidane

I would like to refer to an article "Separating the men from the boys" written by Carl Skadian published in The Sunday Times July 16 th with the opening line stating that "Zinedine Zidane is an immature bum". Immediately after you made that comment, you followed by goading readers "There, I said it, so shoot me".

Hmm…this tactic of goading people somehow bears the uncanny resemblance of the Italian player Materazzi's style of provoking Zidane. You are not an Italian fan by chance, are you? It only makes the readers wonder from this childish style of writing. I applaud you on mimicking Materazzi's style to provoke readers…truly classic I must say. Four stars I give you. The same as the number of times the Italians have won the World Cup(information with compliments from a friend).

Don't worry, I don't think any Zidane's fans out there will "head-butt" you. I am only truly deeply amused that such an article actually appeared in the Straits Times. Strangely enough, all this was followed by articles on anger management and so on. As a newspaper striving to be a world class paper, I was hoping for articles like "More fair play in Fifa matches"etc. But I found none of that. As a fan of football, I was deeply disappointed. There were so many incidents of biased refereeing, unfair play…but no one in your newspaper team focused on that. Instead you choose to focus on a "head butt" because it's easier to tear a man to shreds as compared to contesting the fairness of the game and in a bigger picture, the fairness of life itself. This is in itself a philosophical topic too complicated for even journalists themselves to comprehend..hence of course the "head-butt" is so much easier to write. If you like any other journalists in the world who must depend on the "head-butt" to churn out enough articles to keep your insatiable editor happy(so as to keep your job), then by all means do so…but please do write from a fair point of view with no overly biased comments. To support what I have just said, please read below.

I am not a fan of Zidane but I have to make certain points known to people so as to truly judge the man himself on fair grounds. Every article I saw only focused on Zidane's head butting. What about Materazzi's verbal abuse? Isn't verbal abuse as bad as physical abuse? When a person is physically abused, the hurt will only last a period of time. But verbal abuse is akin to mental abuse of a human being and the hurt lasts so much longer, in extreme cases-a lifetime. Hence, how do we measure which is truly worse. I agree Zidane is not entirely without fault. However, as a fellow human being, we must assess every aspect of a person's actions and understand why instead of focusing on the surface of correct protocol and calling a person a bum? Quoting from Charlotte Bronte "Feeling without judgement is a washy draught indeed; but judgement untempered by feeling is too bitter and husky a morsel for human deglutition."

And please do bear in mind, Zidane didn't use his hands. So I do not constitute that as a fight (as what you did in your younger years). He could have used his hands to fight but he chose not to. But if you insist on categorising a head butt as a childish fight, then next I will question you : what about the pushing and shoving and diving done by the Italians? They had more than their fair share of dirty tactics in the game. And pulling of shirts to prevent the French players from jumping higher to head the ball…??? Hence, please do kindly enlighten me who are the men and who are the boys? I think you already know the answer. The Italians' playing bear the likeness of American football and Rugby. If they should ever decide to change to compete in rugby tournaments, my money is on them, no questions asked.

You mention "Real man walk away" even if their mothers or sisters are insulted. Now I ask you to envision yourself in his shoes. If your wife/mother was insulted in the worse way a woman can possibly be insulted, what would you do. Be true to yourself…what would you do? Do take note we don't know the exact words of the insults, hence, we can't judge. But do imagine it as something disgusting which affects your wife's honour, will you simply turn and walk away? If the answer is yes, then now please go home and ask your wife if she will still keep you for not defending her in front of another man who made snide remarks about her and remember the remarks could be something terribly degrading to a woman. Zidane tried to turn away…but halfway through, he turned back. He couldn't run away from that moment. If he did, he would never forgive himself for the rest of his life. He knew it was something he had to do. I could imagine a thousand thoughts going through his mind…"his reputation", "his fame", "the World Cup", "his team mates"…but he made the final decision that his family were the most important to him. The World Cup and fame is all but fleeting…protection of his family's honour is the most important. Who cares what the world thinks about him as long as he knew he did the right thing to protect his family. He could have chosen to use his hands but he didn't for fear of a red card. I am very sure he went through some options contrary to most reports. For a man who put his family first, I have nothing but respect for him. I understand how he feels because I have had incidents long time ago when I failed to defend my friends/family and I was left with nothing but regret and guilt for valuing my own reputation more than the most important people in my life. And no matter how I try to go back, the moment is lost. It haunts me forever. Hence, who am I to judge the man. He is already in enough pain now and in great remorse towards his team mates but he had to do what he had to do. Real man don't walk away, only cowards do so. They don't want to get involved in anything that may cause them unnecessary issues. For such a man, I will only drop him like a bomb.

I am not trying to play psychologist here but the comparisons you make between Zidane with the likes of Lance Armstrong/Michael Jordan are not on fair grounds. They are totally different issues altogether as the insults made by the abuser are in varying degrees of harm towards to victim. As an experienced journalist you should have the wisdom to decipher the difference – no psychology training needed. For example(to make my point above), if someone insults me, I will just shrug at the abuser and say to myself "so childish". But if someone were to insult my family, it strikes a totally different chord(in my heart). I admit in the worst scenario I may probably do exactly what Zidane did. Hence, it was not a really fair comparison you made. Hence, how do you convince us when your examples are weak?

The World Cup 2006 left most people with a deep void in their hearts and minds. In 1998 Zidane impressed everyone with his 2 goals out of the total 3 that brought France victory over Brazil. A legend was born. In 2002, Ronaldo was the hero in the finals when he kicked in the 2 goals that bagged Brazil the World Cup. He redeemed himself and football fans were in euphoria as a great team has won. That night in Yokohama was a night that no one can forget. As I write this, I still remember that magic moment. They were the epitome of great football play...the stuff legends like Pele and Maradona were made of. With the finale of the last 2 World Cups, the world is left with no doubt the winners were the best team and should win...hands down. But this year, the winner may have bagged the trophy (apologies to Italy fans) but how does the world truly feel abt it?Did they win the world over with their great sportmanship? Answer is no. What they left was the scars of dirty playing...like how one Italian player elbowed a US player so hard...his nose was bleeding and blood covered his whole face. You mention sportsmanship is dead….I agree with you…because a team who based themselves on the inexistent of sportsmanship has won. There is no more fair play in Fifa….so why not do away with the referees altogether since no sportsmanship is needed. If no sportsmanship is needed, then Zidane's head butt shouldn't be any issue to you now and he shouldn't be red-carded. The only difference was he used his head while others used their legs or hands. So your comment that sportsmanship is dead really contradict and confuse the readers. If no sportsmanship is needed, then the new generation of players will be misled into what's right and what's wrong. The scariest thing for a footballer is not losing, but losing to a team that doesn't demand their respect. Without sportsmanship, sports medals and trophys are nothing. They are just junk that is to be won by the player or team with the most degrading play of animalistic actions.

In one day, the world is cheated of a great WC team winner....they may celebrate and cheer their good "luck"...and I say "luck"...but the world will never remember them. Winning your opponents without their respect for you is no winning at all. It's just an empty cup. For football fans who truly know the meaning of World Cup, they will just pretend the world cup this year never occurred. Frankly to speak, my favourite team is Argentina…if they didn't win, then I simply want the best team to win. But I was deeply disappointed with the controversial Italian win. These comments I make is not to incite a war between the fans of the various teams but to simply speak the truth. I apologise if anyone is offended but I would just like to make my comments on fair grounds.

I was very surprised that such a term "Zidane is a bum" was used in the Straits Times which reminds me of the German newspaper that called Beckham's sister a sow and his mother having the smile of a peasant. These comments were totally uncalled for. It only shows immaturity of the newspaper. And to my utter disbelief, in the Sunday Times I found the word "bum". Quoting from a great international news provider like BBC, "A good journalist is one who puts himself in the shoes of the person he is reporting on". I didn't find that quality in your article. And to end it all, you even commented on the Italian captain as a real leader we should look up to. That really takes the cake. The reader doesn't know how to react, to feel amused or simply irritated. How come you don't mention Luis Figo or Ronaldo?? They are legends themselves and the pillar of strength of their teams. It makes the neutral reader start to wonder if you are an Italian fan writing from a biased point. Perhaps this is what separates the men(world class newspapers) from the boys(your article).

On the other hand, I feel that Sumiko Tan has written a good article "Don't get mad, just get even" in the Lifestyle section in all fairness telling her point of view from all aspects without any extreme biased comments on the said person. This is fantastic journalism and I hope she will go on producing such fine quality articles so as to bring the Straits Times to an international level alongside the "men".

I sincerely hope in all fairness you will publish my comments. Let the readers decide for themselves whether Zidane truly is a bum? Let the man who has never sinned cast the first stone.

And if I don't see my comments being published in the Straits Times…what can I say….except commenting to my friends "This is what separates the men from the boys" – proven!

But I do thank you for writing this article. If not, I wouldn't have revealed my innermost thoughts….. I would have just turned away as "real man" do.

Thank you.

Rgds,
Corolin Tay

* *end of letter* *