World

Europe

France

Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

December 18th, 2006 | By: Laurie | 18 Comments »

A few odds and ends of Bleus News:

First, the French blogosphere is cracklin’ with rumors on who, oh, who, might have said those anoymous nasty things about Thierry Henry. Nothing verified yet, but chances are it wasn’t Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, or Gregory Coupet, all of whom have spoken out in Titi’s defense. (Unless, of course, they’re just trying to look innocent.) Oh! The intrigue! The suspicion! I feel like I’m in junior high again! Except that instead of writing these things on the bathroom walls, they’re writing them in the international media. Which is a whole bunch more fun. If I see anything that looks like it might be accurate, I’ll be sure to pass it on.

Next we have more Barthez news. Last week I said that he and Nantes were trading cheek smooches and thinking of hooking up. Now it seems to be a done deal. Our brother-in-blog Sam at the France Offside says that Barthez has been given an eighteen-month contract. This makes me happy! (LOVE Barthez!) But if you look at Sam’s picture, he (Barthez, not Sam!) still looks like hell on toast. Seriously. I’ve seen more color in a cadaver. Let’s hope that a few months spent in the great outdoors attempting to drag Nantes up from the edge of the cellar will put some pep in his step and a flush in his cheeks. Again: Allez, Fabien!

And last but not least, a little Zidane news to spice up our lives. Zidane’s recently been visiting Algeria, the land of his parents, where he’s feeling the love. He hasn’t been there since he was fifteen, and it’s a little different now that he’s, y’know, a god. From The Guardian:

“Women ululated and adoring youths shouted “Go, go!” as Zidane, in the north African country to inspect charity projects, dirtied his sneakers in the muddy garden of a nursery he helped to fund following an earthquake in 2003… The epitome of selflessness, the jeans-clad Zidane gave the ball away any number of times to his excited teammates.
He was equally gracefully [sic] at a news conference when talking about the role of relief workers after the earthquake in the Boumerdes region killed 2,300 people.”

I am NOT going to make jokes with the word “ululated” because this is serious and good stuff. There’s a reason our Zizou is my favorite former Bleu. Can you say: Decent Human Being? (Even given the occasional impulse control issue.)

On a personal note, I’m currently without power and scrounging internet access when and where I can, and all of my French news links and bookmarks are stored on my dark computer. My power will probably come back up just in time for me to leave town for the holidays, where I’ll be spending the week battling for computer supremacy with three kids and a dial-up modem. I’ll try to slip in to post a couple of times, at least to give you some 2006 highlights videos or something. Have great holidays, and I’ll be back updating this page frequently around the first of the year!

Tags: Player News, Team News

France World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

digg:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

newsvine:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

reddit:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

fark:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

Y!:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

stumbleupon:Bleus News Bits and Pieces: Barthez, Zidane, and Those Anonymous Henry Bashers

Comments

By Martha | December 18th, 2006 at 6:50 pm

She lives! Thank goodness. Are you freezing to death or is a giant bath of hot water keeping the whole family warm?

Also, don’t even try to pretend you haven’t ululated a time or two for Zizou yourself. (Which sounds much dirtier now that it’s written down — wow, go Laurie!)

Posted from United States

By Curry Chicken | December 18th, 2006 at 7:35 pm

Thanks for all the updates, honey (yes, even the Fabien Report). Even in your darkest hour (har har) you come through.

The circus…um..spectacle that is FIFA WPOTY 2006 was held today..Zizou was presented with his Adidas Golden Ball and came in second (Silver) after Cannavaro for World Player of the Year. Understandably, he looked uncomfortable and unemotional….wait, I mean he looked like himself only even less unemotional. I admit, I’ve ululated for Zinedine Zidane. (Damn you Martha, you made me write that one out loud.) Mostly because he’s the kinda dude that shows up to THE award ceremony in the clothes he wore to Algeria and no tie. That’s badass my friends.

Here’s how it shaped up: Canna (494), Zizou (454), Ronaldinho (380), Henry (317), and Eto’o (300). Henry was in FOURTH place with a 60 point difference from El Dinho! See Makelele? You shuldn’t have said those things about such a talented boy…:D

Posted from Canada

By Luis | December 19th, 2006 at 12:53 pm

Hi Laurie – The news vacuum is tough. But since you’re so fond of CR, I thought I’d post a little something to warm up your winter nights. link

Posted from United States

By Martha | December 19th, 2006 at 2:08 pm

Luis you tease! You post something with a name like that, and then lead us to a “page not found” error? Cruel, cruel man.

Posted from United States

By Laurie | December 19th, 2006 at 2:10 pm

Luis, I’m not sure what you gave me, but it’s bad enough that the library computer won’t access the site. Oh, I can’t wait!

Martha and Curry: Oh, thanks SO much. Now the words “Zizou” and “ululation” are permanently linked in my brain. And it feels…dirty.

Catch you all later!! I actually saw a power truck this morning, so maybe someday…

By Luis | December 19th, 2006 at 5:01 pm

heh…guess all those hits brought that page down….sorry guys, I’ll see if I can post it again for you.

Posted from United States

By Luis | December 19th, 2006 at 6:00 pm

Here you go ladies. Uploaded to worldcupblog for your viewing pleasure. Forgive me if you’ve seen it. I just came across it by accident. I don’t troll the web looking for Ronaldo pics.

Uh…where’s the beef?

Posted from United States

By Laurie | December 19th, 2006 at 6:48 pm

Oh, and by the way, Martha. I am a married woman. I have NEVER ululated over another man.

(At least not in public.)

((And I believe that “Ululating in Public” is a felony in Kansas, Arkansas and West Virginia.))

By Laurie | December 19th, 2006 at 6:50 pm

P.S. Martha and Curry: Thank you SO much. I was being SO good.

My impulse control even on the best of days is not that much better than Zizou’s. And now you’ve gotten me started on those Ululation jokes.

(Geez, I love you guys!!)

By Laurie | December 19th, 2006 at 6:53 pm

Luis, I’m blushing! Seriously! (Largely because, given my impulse control issues, I just clicked on the link on a right-out-in-the-open public computer. I am fighting the impulse to look guiltily and furtively around me to see who was watching.)

By Martha | December 19th, 2006 at 7:55 pm

I realize I’m looking at the wrong section of the photo, but what is that weird protrusion in the middle of his chest? Is he growing a wing?!

Posted from United States

By Sam | December 19th, 2006 at 8:13 pm

Um, I’ll change the subject. Laurie, here’s another reason why you should love Canadians: Captain Steve McKenna voted for Henry. Not Zidane, i know, but still.

Posted from Canada

By Laurie | December 20th, 2006 at 12:29 am

Martha, it’s a nose. Look closely. See? The belly button (such an adorable little innie) is the mouth. That…protrusion…is the nose. And the nipples are the eyes. Awww, it’s Cristiano’s little man.

(We just got power back! I’m giddy. Can you tell?)

Posted from United States

By Laurie | December 20th, 2006 at 12:41 am

Aw, Sam, I’ve always loved Canadians. (Where else would I get my stash of Tylenol with codeine, sold over the counter? As if we were, y’know, grownups?)

Btw, the system ate my response to your response to… Oh, I don’t know. Something. I said that it’s okay if you don’t send Anelka to Lyon, but for Christmas you can PLEASE give me one game in 2007 with both Trezeguet and Anelka? Deal? Work it out with Santa.

And I enjoy sharing the French Le Foot thing with you too, Brother-in-Blog.

Posted from United States

By reza | December 22nd, 2006 at 7:06 am

i love you henry.

Posted from Islamic Republic Of Iran