Headbutt to the Sternum

Well, it’s been several days now since the final showdown of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but the world is still reeling from Zinedine Zidane’s brutal attack against Marco Materazzi. Although many people have been trying to determine his motivation, and whether or not he deserves the prestigious Golden Ball award, I’m just amazed at his method of assault. A headbutt? To the sternum? Now that, my friends, is a signature move if I’ve ever seen one. A move that all the kids will soon be are already doing:

In a world obsessed with sports action replays and funny videos, it’s no wonder why Zidane’s signature move has become a wellspring of hilarious animations. After seeing Anil Dash’s Zidane World Cup Headbutt Animation Festival, and the animated gifs on The Register, I was curious to see what could be found at YTMND. You’re the man now dog (ytmnd) is a place where users can create and rate funny webpages that are built using only a background image (or animation), a tag-line, and some music. Creativity abounds there and repeated themes (memes) often get started as people build off of each others ideas. All it takes to inspire ytmnd creation is an offbeat quote by a senator, or a weird personals ad. I thought that surely, this signature sternum headbutt move has inspired some ytmnd creations. I was not disappointed. Here is a list of my favorites:

• NES Zidane – An 8-bit reenactment of the attack inspired by Nintendo’s World Cup Soccer.
• Zidane owns Fidel Castro – Zidane uses his signature move against Cuba’s communist president.
• France Fighter II Turbo – Zidane makes a 6 hit move!
• Zidane GETS Owned – Zidane gets a headbutt to the back!.
• Zidane vs Deathstar – Zidane uses his awesome powers to destroy the Deathstar!
• The reason why Zidane did it – He wanted candy, of course.
• Zidane Saves Materazzi’s Life – He didn’t really do it out of anger…
• Medieval Zidane – It was foretold this would happen.
• Zidane is a Pokemon – ZIDANE gained 1 RED CARD!
• It’s not defective, it’s Zidane – A defective PSP did it.
• Connery has had Enough of Zidane – Sean Connery gets in on the headbutting action.
• O RLY zidane : why he was so angry – You fail at football, lol.
• Zidane and Super Mario – He was just playing the game.
• The ZIDANE Keyboard – Only 3 options.
• Azumanga Daioh vs Zidane? – How do I kick shoe?
• Zidane Has One Weakness – Allergies…
• Take on Me, Zidane! – Aha…
• LEGO Zidane Attacks! – Reenactment with Legos.
• Zidane Headbutt Song – Coup de Boule?
• Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em – No YTMND meme would be complete without an appearence from M.C. Hammer
• Zidane Kills Karate Kid – Akime
• Matrix Zidane – the chosen one
• Epic Materazzi Counter-Attack – This could have worked…
• Marco Materazzi Speaks – What happened to your head when you got hit?