Juventus‘ goalie, Gigi Buffon, is facing punishment for saying “Dio” or “God” after a critical play went poorly. You cannot use the Lord’s name in vain in Italy where officials have used replay tapes to determine if he said “Dio” or, as he now claims, “Zio” or “uncle.”
Under a new “blasphemy law,” referees are expected to toss out any player who uses God’s name in vain. This has led to lip-reading to see if there was a “D” or a “Z” in the utterance.
The West has been increasing prosecutions of blasphemy (here), this is a new application for the blasphemy police.
For the story, click here.
A query to the legislators: Do we really need more felons playing professional sports?
mespo,
I think Mike Vick answered that in the affirmative.
What happened in the next play, or in the whole game? Was Juventus successful? If so, then the goalie can claim that his “Dio,” if that’s what he said, was not in vain. It worked.
Something must be getting lost in the translation.
I would think that using a name “in vain” would be to use it to describe one’s self. In this case, I think it would be easier to claim that the use was that of a “mini prayer”.
That’s what I meant. He said “Dio” as a prayer and Dio answered him favorably.
Henry,
I think the goalkeeper was angry that the other side scored.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/346724-buffon-to-be-punished-by-the-italian-fa-due-to-blasphemy
“The referee didn’t hear you, but through lip reading techniques, some Italian FA officials figure out through the replay that Juventus’ goalie, Gigi Buffon, said “Dio”—in vain, may I promptly add.
….
“Buffon promptly explained the misunderstanding by saying that he spoke out the word “Zio” (Uncle) and not the word “Dio” (God).
“The idea may be be fair, but let’s see who can prove that the player said Dio, Zio or Dino,” said Buffon.
“Well, the lip-reading market is going to reach new heights in Italy, that is for sure.”
In basketball, when a player makes a desperation shot, they said that he threw up a prayer.
When he misses, the say that his prayer was not answered.
A last second pass attempt in football, like Doug Flutie’s successful pass against Miami, is always called a “Hail Mary”?
Hey, years ago I remember the little Catholic basketball players who blessed themselves before each free throw.
Blasphemy laws in Italy?
I wonder if Burlesconi holds himself to the same high standard when he’s entertaining call girls at his beach house.
How clever that the church manages to keep convincing people that “taking the lord’s name in vain” means cursing, and not using the cover of God’s name to abuse 30,000 Irish kids. Like god is a pissy, 12-year-old girl who’s gonna be upset if you curse.
I was joking in my original post. I’ll explain and thereby destroy the humor. “Vain” has three different meanings: “fruitless,” “conceited,” and “irreverent.” The goalie was charged with using it in the sense of “irreverent,” and I pretended that he was charged with using in the sense of “fruitless.” Ha Ha. Duh apparently thought that I was using it in the sense of “conceited” and was puzzled.
I keep repeating this, but Lewis Black said it perfectly:
“There is no bad language, I don’t believe in that anymore. We are ADULTS, these are the words we use to express anger, frustration, rage, in order that we do not pick up a tire iron and beat the living shit out of someone. What are you supposed to say when you lose your job after 40 years, or a daughter?! Oh pussyfeathers? “Why didn’t he say poopie!? Oh why didn’t he say poopie?!”
Forgive you me, but He can suck it.
My understanding of this commandment was that it was meant to discourage ancient peoples from starting wars and killing in God’s name.
True meaning and history gets lost in translation, as usual.
Soccer is my life and I´m waiting for the world cup 2010 because I think that this will be one of the best cups in the history.