Zinedine Zidane is the Jean-Luc Picard of soccer. They are both French, bald, sexy, and you’d better not mess with them. Seriously, “Zizou” is my hero. He is a class act in a sport where many stars are cheaters and crybabies. His outburst came under extreme pressure and mitigating circumstances, and, though unfortunate, it was an appropriate response, all things considered.

I have been wrapped up in the high pop-cult drama of that incident since it happened. I’ve read all the theories about what Materazzi said, and I’ve been patiently waiting for Zizou to tell his side. Finally, today he did. Materazzi denies that he said (and repeated) anything about Zidane’s mother (who is presently in the hospital, although Materazzi seems not to have known that); so technically it is one person’s word against another’s. But I believe Zidane 100%. For one thing, Materazzi refuses to admit what he actually did say. But it is less that I disbelieve Materazzi, and more that I believe Zizou.

So much of Zizou’s conduct throughout his career stands in direct opposition to foolish, selfish, violent acts; he would never have done such a thing had he not been very seriously provoked. Zidane has long been considered one of the best players of his generation, and, importantly, also one of the fairest. He has born the pressure of the captaincy of a soccer powerhouse for a good decade, and has thrived under that pressure, almost always showing extreme focus and cool-headedness. He had nothing to gain by head butting Materazzi at that point, and everything to lose. The final was his last international game; he had born so much pressure already. The hardest parts were over already; it would have been completely senseless for him to act in the way he did had he not been severely provoked. Therefore, it must be that he was severely provoked. Materazzi is the primary culprit. Zidane has apologized, and he ought not to be vilified. Contrary to the safe, politically correct stance of many media commentators, there are some things that warrant the response Zizou gave. Vive Zizou!