New York, February 7, 2007 – Hunter College was the hippest spot in New York City for an hour on Wednesday night when Adidas showed their trendsetting Y-3 line designed by Yohji Yamamoto in the school’s gymnasium. But all eyes were on French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, who watched the models in the tri-striped garments being moved on a conveyor belt (how unathletic!).

We were the only Americans to battle our way through the army of frenzied photographers for a quick word – through a translator – with the recently retired superstar, whose final game at the 2006 World Cup tournament was infamously marred when he head-butted an opponent from Italy.

Zidane spoke to us in French, but luckily we have charming, multilingual friends willing to translate.

He said he’s happy for his former Real Madrid teammate David Beckham, who has decided to move to the U.S. “This is a good thing for him, because he really wanted to come here. I wish him lots of luck here”, Zizou said, adding that he’s not sure what effect it will have on raising pro soccer’s stateside profile. “This is a sport that has had its difficulties if you compare it to American sports like basketball. But I hope that it will become more important.”

Zidane, seated in the front row with wife Veronique, said that he was in New York for both business and pleasure. Since retiring in July, does he miss football? “Not at all.”