Why? To rake in lots of euros

The most infamous sports gaffe of 2006 is set to become the “in” fashion statement of 2007.

Italian entrepreneur Alessandro Ferrari has developed a line of sweatshirts inspired by Zinedine Zidane’s head-butt during the World Cup final, with two stick figures depicting the incident printed on the back.

The line’s brand name is “Xqua,” a play on the French word pourquoi, or “why” in English. That was the question asked by millions of soccer fans when Zidane, captain of France’s national team, rammed his head into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Zidane was ejected because of the foul and Italy went on to win the World Cup in a penalty-kick shootout.

Ferrari told Reuters he was inspired by the incident to promote mutual understanding through a clothing line.

“This message of peace is directed towards young people,” he said. “We’re nearly sold out. We’re also working on accessories like bags and belts.”

Some accessories, to be sold at discount prices, will be called red-card specials.

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Grade for season: Incomplete

Purdue-Calumet, an NAIA Division I school, has canceled the remainder of its men’s basketball season because of lack of interest

The northwestern Indiana school had an 8-5 record when it decided to scrap its remaining 16 games after eight of the team’s 14 players were declared academically ineligible. The school also accepted the resignation of Coach Mike James and his staff.

“This was supposed to be a time of great excitement for our program,” James told the Associated Press.

“I am extremely disappointed, and as head coach, I accept responsibility.”

On the plus side, players can no longer say they don’t have any time to study for finals.

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Trivia time

The Rose Bowl began matching champions of the Big Ten Conference and the Pacific Coast Conference in 1947. In what year did the Pacific Coast champion first defeat the Big Ten winner?

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Teeth to go

Teeth are a temporary thing for many players in the NHL.

Former defenseman Tom Reid, now a radio analyst for the Minnesota Wild, recalled watching 13 of his teeth, real and fake, go flying all over the ice when he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time -- catching an errant punch from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Bob “Battleship” Kelly while Kelly was fighting one of Reid’s teammates.

“I scooped them all up and took them over to our trainer,” Reid told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I said, ‘Here, hang on to these. I might need them later.’ ”

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Teeth to go II

Wild center Wes Walz told the Star Tribune there are advantages to going through life with removable teeth.

“You look tougher, more grizzled, without teeth,” he said. “My kids tell me the same thing. If they’re not behaving around the house, I’ll take the teeth out and keep them in line.”

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Trivia answer

1953, when USC defeated Wisconsin, 7-0. The Pacific Coast did not win again until Washington defeated Wisconsin, 44-8, in the 1960 Rose Bowl.

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And finally

On Sunday’s “NFL Today” program, CBS analyst Boomer Esiason addressed the recent slump of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

“He’s gone from Jessica Simpson to Carrie Underwood,” Esiason said, “so he’s not winning the Super Bowl.”

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mike.penner@latimes.com