Soccer - "The Beautiful Game"

My family and I have long been soccer fans. All my children played on all levels and for many summers, our vacations were coordinated around toournaments or select leagues. In all my experience in many states and even with some foreign teams, I have been very proud to be a part of a sport that seemed (for the most part) not to play into the pettiness, vanity and haughtiness so often seen in sports. It is truly a team sport. Yesterday, as I watched the World Cup, you could see that. The coaches had prepared the teams beforehand, but once the game started, the players alone directed the game. I was constantly reminded why I love this game, why it's often called "the beautiful game". Opposing players, patted each other, helped eachother up after a tumble; appreciation and respect for pure athleticism was evident.

That's why I was saddened when an elite soccer player, Zidane, who would retire after the game, maliciously head-butted an opposing player. He won't be remembered for his talent on the field, instead that image will be replayed in newspapers and on TV over and over again. And my beautiful game got a black eye.