You were......watching.......soccer?

Soccer would be better if players could use their hands. But then it would be something like Rugby.

Soccer is one of the few sports I actually enjoy watching, but I missed the final match. :( Darn Italians!! >:(

We never head-butted in high school soccer. It was listed as one of the more advanced skills and our coach didn't feel we were ready for it.

What's really sick is that they gave him the (equivalent) MVP award for the WORLD CUP!.... This just proves that the FRENCH are leading the way in corrupting thought and belief !

Brant, Brant, Brant.

First, take that tongue out of your cheek.

You just do not understand the game of soccer.  It's not a France thing; It's a soccer thing. (note the use of a semi-colon.)

Yeah, he let some trash-talkin' get the worst of him and he let loose in a way he is good.  Have you ever seen how good Zazou is at heading the ball into the goal?  Well extrapolate that skill into a vengeful outburst and, voila', headbutt to the lower sternum of a heckler. (Remember, no hands in this game.)

Imagine back in the day, NBA Finals, game 7, overtime.  Michael Jordan is fed up with some Knum-knut dissin' his crib.  WHAM! MJ goes all Kermit Washington on him.  There my friend is an equivalent scenario to weigh.

Would he still be MJ?  Could he afford the fine?  Would kids still buy #23 jerseys?

Zidane, despite tarnishing his image, is still one of the greatest to play the game, French or not.  We Americans jost don't know it.

Signed, an American fan of the game.

Don't you think this was a bit more stupidly slapstick? 

It's more like MJ deciding, in his final game of his career, O.T. of Game Seven, game tied, one minute left, to walk over and kick Pat Riley in the groin.  Then the Bulls would lose the championship.

And a few would buy #23 jerseys, but only as an ironic statement. 

PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Veteran CB Fernando Bryant has put a stamp on the starting job, but his footing isn't completely solid. Bryant, who is coming off shoulder surgery, hasn't been the type of player the Lions were looking for when they signed him as a free agent two years ago. However, he's responded to the challenge from the competition of the younger players and is still doing a better job in the defensive scheme. Bryant was never a big-time playmaker, but if he can show the coverage skills he had in Jacksonville, the defense will have solved one of its biggest issues. . . .

RB Artose Pinner, who was unhappy with his role in last year's offense, will struggle to make the roster this season. The three-year veteran and former fourth-round draft choice who once had a ball-carrying role on the team is currently listed as No. 4 on the depth chart. Arlen Harris, who played for offensive coordinator Mike Martz in St. Louis, has solidified his spot as Kevin Jones' primary backup while rookie third-round pick Brian Calhoun will definitely make the roster at No. 3. With Cory Schlesinger and Shawn Bryson handling the duties at fullback, that leaves Pinner as the odd man out. Not that he's too upset about it; Pinner knew his days in Detroit were numbered when the Lions drafted Jones in the first round two years ago.

SCOUTING REPORT: Detroit's new Tampa Two defense, which puts a lot of responsibility on the safeties, could jumpstart SS Kenoy Kennedy who is coming off a subpar season. Kennedy is a solid run defender but he'll find himself playing the deep middle more often and will be in a position to make some plays in zone coverage. Kennedy, who isn't real strong in one-on-one coverage, always looked for the big hit first but a string of fines during his time with the Broncos has soften that part of his game. He'll still flatten a receiver, but he's much more under control.

REHAB UPDATE: LBs Boss Bailey (ankle) and Teddy Lehman (foot) didn't take part in any offseason workouts and there's still a question of whether they'll be ready at the start of training camp. Bailey will be moved from the strong side to the middle and he has the speed and pass coverage skills to click in the Tampa Two scheme. He's also the team's best linebacker in nickel coverage. Lehman will remain on the strong side where he improved with every game he played. The Lions could handle losing one of these two linebackers, but if both are limited, the defense will be significantly weakened.

INSIDE DISH: Nobody's going to say it publicly, but the Lions starting quarterback is going to be Jon Kitna. Anything can happen through the course of a long training camp, but Kitna has already proven that he's better at handling the offense and running the team. Kitna has a long way to go before he masters offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system, but he's established himself as the clear-cut leader. Head coach Rod Marinelli won't reveal anything because he's preaching that all starting jobs are open and competitive. That's not really true because most of the jobs have already been determined by the staff. There are no jobs open on offense and only two -- LDE and LCB -- on defense.

TACKLES ANALYSIS: C. LT Jeff Backus, who has contract issues, has to bounce back from a sub-par season, and RT Rex Tucker has spent the majority of his seven-year career at guard.

so it goes in the football world, my friend. (hmm. in my head, i said that in a seinfeld-like voice. weird.)

at least no one was killed.

when i was in mexico and more of football fan than i am now, i'd see stuff like that fairly often...cleats to a thigh, backslaps...it can get pretty ugly, unfortunately.

but football's still one of the greatest sports ever, uh, in my humble opinion.

Wow Brant - I can't believe you have comments again. Sucker! :)

The head butt was no big deal - men playing sports, it is always ugly. It's not a france thing, or anything really (except the media selling ads). The guy provoked him and he lost his cool in the most important game of his career. Sucks for Zidane.

I think it should have been a yellow card, tops. Too big a game to toss him. But what do I know? I'm a wingback. :)

Cheers!

yellow card, foleyma? it can be nothing but a red card. fifa doesn't give refs the freedom to give anything less for such an infraction.

it certainly isn't a French thing, either. they do tend to be more civil than that.

In searching for the team with the best running back situation in the NFL, one might choose to look no further than the Seattle Seahawks.

Not a bad choice.

Shaun Alexander pretty much carried the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL. Along the way, he won the league's rushing title and had an NFL-record 28 touchdowns.

The operative word here, though, is "situation." That expands the scope of the discussion beyond the featured running back to include contributions of reserves and the offensive line, and whether the coach is genuinely committed to moving the ball on the ground.

This is how I would rank the top 10 teams with the best running back situations in the league:

1. Kansas City: New coach Herman Edwards is going to bring a more power-oriented approach to the Chiefs offense, and that means Larry Johnson will have every opportunity to win the rushing title. Priest Holmes would be an impressive backup, provided his body allows him to play another season. If Holmes should retire, Dee Brown is a solid No. 2 who won't see much of the football.

2. Carolina: A healthy DeShaun Foster is a top-flight starter. If he can't give the Panthers a full season, first-round draft pick DeAngelo Williams figures to fill in nicely for short or even long stretches, or take the starting job himself. The Panthers are fully committed to pounding the ball to help ensure optimum performance from their dominant defense and to help set up big pass plays to Steve Smith.

3. Seattle: Alexander should have another excellent season, although running behind an offensive line that lost the best guard in the game (Steve Hutchinson), he probably won't be quite as dominant as he was in 2005.

4. Tampa Bay: With added strength and knowledge, Cadillac Williams should be an even more explosive force this season. Michael Pittman is an effective playmaker running and catching the ball, but he likely will see only spot duty given the Bucs' tendency to allow Williams to carry the bulk of their offense on his shoulders.

5. San Diego: LaDainian Tomlinson remains one of the foremost double threats in the league. He is lobbying for a larger role in the Chargers' passing game than he had last season. San Diego's coaches would figure to oblige, especially because it can only help build confidence in new starter Philip Rivers.

6. New York Giants: Tiki Barber gets better with age, and Tom Coughlin will continue to use a run-first approach to complement his defense and ease the pressure on Eli Manning. Keep an eye on backup Derrick Ward, who has shown that he could make an impact if given the chance.

7. Arizona: Edgerrin James is an extraordinary talent, but it remains to be seen whether the Cardinals' offensive line can develop the same tremendous synchronization and chemistry that the Colts' line had with him in running stretch plays to perfection.

8. Atlanta: I know this seems a little low for the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL the last couple years, but so much of the Falcons' production on the ground depends on the scrambling of Michael Vick. That said, Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett make for as solid a combination as any in the league.

9. Miami: Ronnie Brown has the perfect blend of power and speed, and Ricky Williams' suspension means that he will carry a greater share of the load. Brown should be up to the challenge, although the Dolphins are still looking to fortify their depth at the position.

10. St. Louis: New coach Scott Linehan is replacing Mike Martz's bombs-away offense with a run-oriented philosophy that will take full advantage of the size, speed and power of Steven Jackson. Marshall Faulk is likely to retire because of a persistent knee problem, so Jackson won't be sharing the ball too much.

Best of the rest: Washington, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Denver, Cincinnati, New Orleans.

SHORT YARDAGE

•Archie Manning had it right when he told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that his son, Eli, has the ideal personality to handle the intense media scrutiny of New York. "He doesn't go high or low," the elder Manning said. Eli Manning's even-keeled approach is good for coping with the daily barrage of criticism, and even praise. But I'm not so sure how well it serves him when it comes to getting his teammates to view him as the leader Manning is supposed to be as a quarterback. I get the feeling the rest of the members of the Giants offense want to follow Manning and believe he is capable of taking command in the most difficult and pressure-packed situations. Manning might very well be able to do that, but his tendency to keep his emotions suppressed (at least in public) might be causing him to fall short in the inspiration department.

•Maybe it isn't about how many offseason workouts that teams have, but when they have them. The Denver Broncos recently held the NFL's only July minicamp and the feedback from their players has been extremely positive. First, it makes the wait for the start of training camp seem shorter. Second, it replaces the monotony of lifting weights and other off-field activity that players throughout the league normally do this time of year with actual football drills. Third, it allows the coaches to have a better gauge on the progress of players, mentally and physically, at the start of training camp rather than going more than a month without seeing them.

•I always find myself looking at Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor and thinking, if only he could stay healthy, he could have an off-the-charts career. Taylor is very good, but at some point on the way to greatness he encounters a road block, such as the nagging knee problem that he said does not bother him any longer. Taylor is doing all he can to take control of keeping his body in one piece and allowing himself to perform at the highest level possible. He has worked with a personal trainer during the offseason, and, at 227 pounds, he is about seven pounds lighter than his playing weight in recent seasons. He told Jaguars.com he expects that, in addition to the power to withstand collisions, he should be able to have burst. If so, Taylor could do something special in an offense desperate to replace the loss of its best playmaker in Jimmy Smith.

•The Houston Texans are determined to make tight end a major component of their offense. They have two good ones in Mark Bruener and Jeb Putzier, whom new coach Gary Kubiak brought with him from Denver, as well as fourth-round draft pick Owen Daniels from Wisconsin. Another candidate at the position is Bennie Joppru, who has been sidelined by groin muscle and knee injuries since joining the Texans in 2003 as a second-round draft pick from Michigan. Joppru is healthy and expects to get a legitimate shot to stick with the new coaching regime, which, he told me, has helped create an unmistakably higher level of excitement within the team. "Last year at this time, there were probably about 10 guys down in Houston working out (at the team's facility)," Joppru said. "On (July 6), we had an optional run and 27 or 30 guys showed up for the run. There's a whole new attitude down there. We're all working hard. I think we're going to make our fans happy this year."

•Among the many reasons for second guessing the Buffalo Bills' coaches last season was their underutilizing Willis McGahee in red-zone situations. McGahee was a disappointment last year, especially after failing to live up to his public declaration of being the best running back in the NFL. Nevertheless, he was -- and still is -- the Bills' best offensive talent, and having him more involved in scoring situations should be a no-brainer. There is reason to believe that new offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild recognizes as much. Although McGahee's decision to stay away from the vast majority of offseason workouts in Buffalo was unpopular with the new regime of general manager Marv Levy and coach Dick Jauron, he at least made a good impression by showing up for his lone minicamp appearance in top physical condition. I think McGahee, motivated in part by the desire to get a better contract, is determined to show great improvement over what he did in '05.

•It's easy to find reasons to doubt the New England Patriots' ability to return to their dynastic ways, but one difference-making development should be the return of safety Rodney Harrison from a knee injury. So far, there is no specific timetable on when he might be on the field. He could very well miss all of the preseason, but if he is playing by the start or the early portion of the regular season, the Patriots defense should be automatically stronger. Harrison's contributions go beyond what he can do physically. He does a superb job of communicating the many calls involved in the scheme and is a consummate leader.

•There shouldn't be too much fuss over the possibility of Bill Parcells calling the Dallas Cowboys' offensive plays to fill the void created by the departure of former offensive coordinator Sean Payton, who now coaches the New Orleans Saints. I've heard concerns voiced by Cowboys followers that it might compromise Parcells' ability to manage other aspects of the game. But Parcells has ample experience in multitasking on the sidelines. He started to become heavily involved in offensive play-calling as head coach of the New York Jets, periodically taking the duties away from a young assistant who would go on to become one of the best offensive play-callers in football -- Charlie Weis. Parcells knows when he has a good feel for an opponent's defense and how to best exploit it. He also knows how to push the right buttons to get more production from Drew Bledsoe than anyone who has ever coached the veteran quarterback in the NFL.

•The Detroit Lions are counting on the return of injured linebackers Boss Bailey (ankle) and Teddy Lehman (foot) to contribute heavily to their defensive revival under new coach Rod Marinelli, but the fact neither was able to do much of anything during offseason workouts is cause for serious concern. For one thing, the players will have little time to work on their conditioning and stamina. For another, they need all the practice they can get in the new Cover Two defense that Marinelli is installing. The defense requires each player to carry out his assignment with perfection (or as close to it as possible). Otherwise, the offense can easily find an opening to exploit for a big play.

FIVE REASONS WHY …

…Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes should retire:
•Concerns over whether his injured neck can hold up through the punishment of another NFL season.
•He can only diminish, rather than enhance, a career in which he established himself as one of the all-time great rushing/receiving threats.
•Inability to work out during the offseason because of the neck problems.
•He is likely to see very little of the football as a backup to Larry Johnson.
•After battling back from three knee injuries and a displaced hip, he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

-- Forget about all of the drama that surrounded Brett Favre's decision to return for another season and the questions surrounding the inexperience of new coach Mike McCarthy. An offensive line that probably will include a pair of rookies at guard -- Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz -- is going to make or break the Green Bay Packers' season.

-- The Texans' selection of Gary Kubiak as their coach was made, in large part, because of his ability to make quarterbacks better. So far David Carr has shown significant improvement in his arm strength, accuracy and footwork in the pocket.

-- The Baltimore Ravens can't be comfortable about the fact that not only do they need to find a steady starter to pair with Ed Reed at safety, but they also have gaping holes at nickel and dime back.

-- The Bears are hoping they can get fullback Bryan Johnson back in the lineup from a foot injury that could cause him to begin training camp on their physically unable to perform (PUP) list because their offense isn't quite the same without him.

-- I'm a big Adam Vinatieri fan, but I have faith that rookie Steve Gostkowski will adequately fill the role that arguably the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history once occupied for the Patriots.

-- This quote that Brian Jennings gave 49ers.com gives a whole new meaning to depth for a long snapper: "My goal isn't necessarily to snap the ball accurately. I don't spend my offseason just doing that. I spend my offseason trying to make myself a better person physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. The by-product of that goal is that I snap the ball accurately."

-- You get the feeling that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan might not be completely sold on his presumed top two running backs, Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell, when you hear him talk about rookie Mike Bell, Cedric Cobbs and even fullback Cecil Sapp being in the mix for the starting job.

-- Don't be surprised, if the Dolphins perform as well as many prognosticators think they will this season, to hear coach Nick Saban give some credit to the team's new 96,000-square-foot indoor practice bubble that should cut down on the number of practices shortened or cancelled because of inclement weather or extreme heat and humidity.

-- One of the underappreciated aspects of the Buccaneers' defensive dominance was the inside work of lineman Ellis Wyms, who is capable of lining up at end but has made, with his quickness and explosiveness, a strong case to continue to receive considerable playing time at tackle.

Doug - May I presume you are making the assertion that you enjoy American football and don't give a rat's hoot about soccer?

Broncos should NOT have cut Mike Anderson!

Steve, you presume correct. Thanks for picking up on that.

I've heard the "Americans are the only ones in the world that don't care about soccer" complaint for a long time, with a dash of "tsk tsk" to go along with it. But after this year how can anyone say that? I've seen more World Cup coverage and heard more talk about it then ever before and I'm certain the next one will be on prime time TV here. There are, apparently, a majority of post-ers to Brant's blog that actually care about and follow this. And that's fine.

So, now, Americans apparently love "futbol" too, and people can stop lamenting that we don't! International Friendship Affair!

Wow...

Can I ramble on about how Real Madrid has become the New York Yankees of the futbol world or will I remain silent?

No. I silently hold my peace.

LOL.

Faye,

Is Real Madrid in the AFC East?

I like the Dolphins this year.