American Cliche - #53
This week has been a fun week so far. A few days ago I caught a foul ball at the Dodger’s game. Tonight I’m heading over to Amy and David’s to watch the All-Star game, and on Thursday I leave for a family wedding in Pittsburgh. I think I’m going to be exhausted by Sunday, but it will be worth it. In addition to all that excitement, Brian and Jason make their triumphant return this week!
Here’s da’ scoop:
- Kicking Cement Soccer Balls
- Dirtbag of the Week: Zinedine Zidane
- One Man’s Opinion
- Texas Schools Take Away Freedom of Fashion
- Listener Rant of the Week: Meredith
- America, Fuck Yeah: Bush’s Baghdad Palace
- Mighty Minute
- This Week’s Show Sponsored by Shell Gasoline
- The Living End – What’s On Your Radio
July 12th, 2006 at 4:06 am
c’mon dude, zidane, dirtbag of the week? thats a bit harsh, what he did was wrong, but matterazzi’s a thug anyway, read up on him first, the deliberate elbows on other players he’s made and number of red and yellow cards he has aqquired in various seasons (e.g when he played for everton, 32 games, 12 yellows, 3 reds). Im not defending Zindanes actions but he was clearly proked, probably racially and with his experience should have risen above it.
However President Chirac was completely right to applaud Zindane and look back on his amazing carrear, he’s certainly one of if not France’s greatest ever player and an inspiration to immigrant families and neighbourhoods in france and world wide.
sorry for the rant man, i like the show, i just thought the term ‘dirtbag of the week’ was a bit unrespectful to one of the greatest soccer players in the last decade
July 12th, 2006 at 6:46 am
I just wanted to let you know, I usually respect your opinion. I may not always agree with it, but usually I can see where you are coming from. But your schpeel on Zidane, was really un-informed… For you to state that you don’t know anything about that topic, really topped it for me. Like the above commentor said, you should look into Materazzi and the kind of person he is. Of course what Zidane did was out of control, but he is only human. As for him being player of the tournament, the voting for golden ball was done before the second half, had it happend afterwards he wouldn’t be carrying that trophy.
Any way, I really don’t feel like getting into this right now. I’m trying to hold myself back from delving into this, but I just fealt what you had said was really un-called for and un-informed. Anyways, heres a link for you to check out on Materazzi.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yXJvnYBpFpY&search=materazzi
July 12th, 2006 at 7:19 am
Meredith, i’m with you girl!!
where i work, its a company that is populated of more than 85% women and of that 85% i think 43% need re-educated on their bathroom habits. EVERYDAY i go in there and its FUNKY, i don’t just mean the stentch, but there is TP all over the floor, paper towels that apparently they can’t reach the extra 3 inches and throw away, toilets not flushed (what’s up with that) this is just something we learn when being potty trained, and other even more gross things i’ll keep to myself that i’m sure other ladies can attest to. One of the more recent bathroom fads that is catching on is the cell phone in the stall usage. OMG, when this happens, i do whatever and i mean whatever i can to make sure that whoever they are talking to knows for a fact that they are sitting in the shitter. that is just rude. i’ve heard people have a whole conversation WHILE IN THE STALL. its not like they are standing out by the sinks because its more quiet than the break room, IN THE STALL people. i’m going to go nuclear on one of these people on day and flush their damn phone down the toilet!!
July 12th, 2006 at 7:23 am
I seem to have struck a nerve…
My stance is very simple – nothing that anyone can say to you can justify physically assaulting someone. Violence is just not an answer to solving problems. You are correct, I know nothing about the history and background of these players. What I do know is what I, and a billion other people watching on Sunday, saw on televison – that was unnecessary unbridled physical aggression. Whether Materazzi is ass or not is irrelevant. By that logic should we go around head-butting every asshole we come in contact with in our everyday lives? Is that what you want to teach our kids?
-S
July 12th, 2006 at 7:24 am
Melissa,
That’s classic. I have yet to run into that phenomenon, but I’m sure I will any day now.
-S
July 12th, 2006 at 7:45 am
Oh and since we’re on the subject:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/specials/world_cup/2006/07/12/fifaprez.zidane.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
July 12th, 2006 at 7:51 am
“gage-ing”: to decrease in gages while stretching ones ear lobes; hence gauging.
To follow up on Melissa and Merideth’s comments: Public washrooms-UGH. Why do both men and women have equal space allowance, when it is blatantly clear that women take more time in a washroom than men? I would also like to add that when you make that sort of washroom-half-smile at the sink to co-workers, the least they could do is acknowledge your presence. Nothing fucking pisses me off more than seeing someone from a different office and meeting them countless times in various meetings and making an effort to do that awkward greeting to nothing. Bitches.
Correction: Mall of America is not the largest mall in the world, Scott… I think that it is in China now. Largest in North America is West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada.
I have no comment on this soccer brouhaha that has arose. I simply welcome back the ‘dirt bag of the week’ segment…
July 12th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
WoW! Thats pretty cool that you caught that fly ball at the Dodgers game. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to catch one. One in a million sorta thing…
About the “Dirt-bag of the week”, he does and doesnt really deserve it. I agree with Scott here, “nothing that anyone can say to you can justify physically assaulting someone. Violence is just not an answer to solving problems.” Untill someone has physically assaulted you personally, thats a totally different situation. But this guy head-butted his opponent for an insult taken wrongly. This is why i say he DOES deserve it. BUT,..... he did deny recieving the award of the Golden Bowl. And he said he didnt deserve it. Could this show that he felt bad about the incident?
Dirty, stinky, filthy public restrooms. Yesterday i went into a Mervyns (clothing/household store) strictly to use the restroom. I walked in and 1 of the 3 faucets was running, scratched up mirriors, tagging over every barrier wall(enough to catch your eye after every blink…), and trash all over the ground. I had to say something. They sounded like they knew about it, but hadnt gone in to check it out. Im thinking it’s been that way for a few days. Pretty sad to see in a store that is well maintained and has a good reputation.
Overall, a GREAT show. Hope you have a good week/weekend!
Till next time,
Charles
Hustle
July 12th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Okay… so after my little excitement attack to see that my rant had been aired, I finished the episode, and realized…. .I had to pee! Amazingly, no feet came into my stalls, but alas.. there was a woman on her cell phone.
I’m mad at that. Gr. I should have flushed her phone, per Melissa’s advice!
Oh, and Scott… are Eps. 1-20 missing permanently from the archives?
July 13th, 2006 at 3:55 am
It turned out that Matterazzi said something to Zidane about his sister and his mother. From what I know he is of moroccan descendant which explains why he just flipped. Living together with a moroccna I know that the mother is almost holy. I heard that Matterazzi said something like “son of a terrorwhore”. Zidane rulez!
July 13th, 2006 at 5:10 am
Scott – “By that logic should we go around head-butting every asshole we come in contact with in our everyday lives? Is that what you want to teach our kids?”
What about charging the mound in baseball, or fist fights and even bench brawls in hockey? The emotions run so high in professional sports, never mind the finals. Having a whole team ride you like that all game, and your entire professional carreer can certainly get to you. I’m not saying its OK to headbutt me for disagreeing with you. I’m saying that it could have been alot worse for the world to see than a headbutt, just thank god Zidane’s not Tyson. And it WAS wrong of Zidane, it broke my heart to see that happen. But he was sent off, and that alone is enough to show kids its wrong… or was the hero bashing not enough?
July 13th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Scott, I loved the America Fuck Yeah segment. I hope it’s a recurring segment that comes up quite frequently. There is certainly enough material to draw from to make it quite interesting each and every time.
I don’t really have much to say about the football thing. I think you are right though and frankly sports stars get away with way too much. They have enough control to practice eight hours a day, but not enough to control to take a little slag about their mom. We let them get away with too much.
I do want to rant a little bit though. I understand that you want and need advertisements on your show to keep it going. I respect that, I know that as part of the Podshow Network I am sure they make you follow some sorts of guidlines about advertisers. But frankly I was a little shocked and apalled when you said that today’s show was brought to us by Shell Oil. You seem fairly liberal, a forward thinker, someone that has morals and values, and you let big oil advertise on your show. You rag on SUV’s from time to time, you rag on America’s place in the Iraqi war, and someone you managed to read an advertisement from in my opinion, one of the most vile corporations in the World.
Did you feel sick after you finished the show, cause I know I did?
July 13th, 2006 at 9:59 am
I’m wondering where people are seeing this transcsript of what Materazzi said to Zidane. Seeveral of you have speculated that he called his mother and/or sister a terrorist/whore and in the latest interview I saw even Zidane isn’t saying that was said. So, I’m wondering where you are all getting this information?
Again, regardless of what was said, trash-talk is part of sports. Things much more vile than that are said everyday on the court and field of professional sports. Do I agree with it? No. However, I stand by my statement that nothing anyone says to you warrants violence.
Thanks to all of you for your comments.
-S
July 13th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
It’s been said before, but I gotta put my two cents in. I was rooting for Italy, but Matterazzi started it
“Patrick Says:
July 13th, 2006 at 3:55 am
It turned out that Matterazzi said something to Zidane about his sister and his mother. From what I know he is of moroccan descendant which explains why he just flipped. Living together with a moroccna I know that the mother is almost holy. I heard that Matterazzi said something like “son of a terrorwhore”. Zidane rulez!”
the above is still being disputed, but both guys claim the word “terririst” didn’t come up. I dunno, but Zidane isn’t a “scumbag,” if anything, Matterazzi should be he week’s scumbag
July 14th, 2006 at 6:33 am
There’s a difference between trash-talking and making utterly discriminatory/racist comment. Calling Zidane’s mom and sister terrorists because he’s a Muslim is unbelievable. I guess it’s hard for you to empathize, but calling him the dirt-bag of the week just shows how little you look into these stories before judging on them. I listen to your show every week, but this one just left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Yes, it would be great if everything could be dealt with in a pacifist manner, however sometimes there’s no other mean of getting justice. I think Zidane is going to keep everyone of his fans. Having lived in Europe and dealt with open racism I am even a little proud that he had the balls to defend himself.
July 16th, 2006 at 9:44 am
I love your show, I may not always agree with your opinions but I find you to be an extremely talented well informed host. Unfortunately I couldn’t disagree with you more when you complained about the guy from the World Cup. Fisrt of all I hate it when people say atheletes are role models, they are NOT. They are paid to do a job, it just so happens that the job they do is in front of millions of people. They are paid to win, nothing more, nothing less. So what if this guy headbutts someone, in the grand scheme of things does it really matter? No, it doesn’t. Actually I think it’s kind of cool, makes the game more entertaining.
Have you ever been an athelete? I have, I played sports until I graduated high school, in fact I played soccer. I loved playing soccer and there is a certain level of violence in every game. The point of playing a sport is to compete and to win. If you have to humiliate and attack someone along the way to victory then so be it. It’s not how you play the game, but whether you win or lose and there is no honor in 2nd place.
But hey what do I know, Dennis Rodman and Dick Butkus are my two sports icons.