The final act of a proud warrior

Like most members of the French classe politique, Jacques Chirac has never come close to matching the popularity and respect enjoyed by Zinedine Zidane. But few would take issue with his graceful valediction to Zizou as someone "who represents all the most beautiful values of sport". Okay, that head butt, an ugly reminder of Zidane's tough upbringing on the meaner streets of Marseilles, was inexcusable, but it's interesting that the President made his comment after the end of the game. The exit of Zidane - who nevertheless won the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament - seemed less of a walk of shame than that of a proud warrior with no regrets. As the Saudi player whom he trampled on during the 1998 World Cup discovered, there is a point beyond which a red card is no deterrent for a man who will not tolerate being denigrated.

Zizou’s red card does                                       not diminish him, says                                  philip jacobson

Zizou's head butt inspiration for musicians

Zinedine Zidane's head butt might not have gone down too well with a lot of people. But the act has gone on to become an inspiration for three musicians to compose a song on it, reports CNBC-TV18.

Zinedine Zidane would never have dreamt that his outburst at the World Cup finals would inspire the Plage associates to come out with a song!

Titled Coup de Boule, that's French for head-butt this song initially e-mailed to some 50 people, has been posted on the Web. French radio SkyRock is putting it on its play-list and record labels and ringtone sellers are fighting for its rights. So what really inspired them to make a song on an issue that was making everyone go up in arms..

"What really amazed me is that France had been so shocked by the Zizou event, and especially, that it had been such a drama. We thought that it wasn't that dramatic, on the contrary, it's a rather great exit. So we needed to put the event back in its context, it's not that serious," said Franck Lascombes, Producer and Composer.

Just a few days down the line and this song is already creating waves. Big labels could fork out as much as EUR 100,000 for the rights of the head-butt song. There are also plans of making versions in English, Spanish and Italian. Clearly, a case of finding inspiration in things not so musical!

source: moneycontrol.com