Open Blog for Friday July 7th-Zidane wins World Cup's best player award

Yesterday, the Associated Press posted an article ('Zidane wins World Cup's best player award',http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5772720) announcing the Captain of France's World Cup team as the winner of the Golden Ball award after being selected by journalists as the best player of the soccer tournament. For anyone who watched the final game of the World Cup they would recognize him as Zinedine Zidane, the guy ejected by a red card from his last game before retirement for head-butting a player from team Italy during the second overtime. It was his last act as a professional player and one that was widely criticized in France and abroad. ('Zidane wins World Cup's best player award', Associated Press) With all of the criticism Zidane's behavior is getting, I have to say that I was surprised at the announcement.

Going into the World Cup I have to admit that I wasn't exactly familiar with the game of soccer. I didn't really set out to watch the series until my boyfriend became involved in an office pool which consisted of each person throwing in 10 dollars, drawing a team randomly out of a hat and winning a portion of the pot if they happened to draw a team that finished in first, second or third place at the end. So needless to say, the World Cup frequented the TV at our house. I couldn't help but watch, not only because I found it exciting but also because I was so surprised by how physically aggressive the players were towards eachother. I guess since soccer is a game played without the use of one's hands I had assumed that the players had no need to touch eachother. I was wrong, although they don't use their hands to control the ball they do use them to kick, punch, shove, pinch, etc. their opponents throughout the game.

I understand that the player's love for the game and competitiveness can sometimes cloud their judgment. These men represent their country and it is more about pride than the actual game itself. Zidane is the only one who has to live with the fact that he was unable to finish the last game of his career in the finals of the World Cup, he is the one who will question himself for his lack of control in the final minutes of overtime and wonder how things would've turned out differently for him and his team had he just walked away. Still it bothers me that this man was presented an award for being the best player of the finals. To me, the best player is someone who excels not only in their physical performance but also demonstrates the professionalism and sportsmanship of someone who realizes the importance and honor of being chosen as a representative for their country and the sport they love. I realize that he was the captain of France's team and a world renowned soccer player but why would you vote him as the best player when in the final minutes of the game he failed to pull through for his country and his team?