FIFA WC 2010: Incorrigible Maradona, the Motor Mouth

Once a Star always a Star. It rings as true in Sports as in Showbiz. Many a retired players, former stars prolong their waning career lured by the flashlights and their habit of being Centre of Attention. Some retire only to take up new assignments as Coaches or commentators. The 2010 FIFA WC is full of such former stars. Many of them are doing splendid work with their National Team as have many done in the past. But without doubt Diego Maradona is First Among equals amongst all former players at this World Cup. If ever there was star it was Maradona. He still is a big draw. He gets as much of news cover as the FIFA Player of the Year and hope as an entire nation , Lionel Messi. As a player if Diego was exciting, as a coach he definitely is excitable. In a tournament which is largely devoid of real entertainment on and off the field , Diego is like fresh air. He alone is serving enough spice to keep the entire planet engaged. And no we are not talking about his footrball strategies or rather lack of it. It’s about his sound bites that humour, titillate, anger and more often than not offend an entire nation if not continent.

You Talking to Me?

As a coach he has been under intense Media glare ever since the Argentinean Team struggled during Qualifications. For all his support, his credentials as a coach is yet to be established. Many will be more than happy to see him fail as a coach.( Though the skill on display in Argentina’s two matches is any indication, Maradona may very well have the last laugh on July 12th). He is a darling of scribes who just want some quotable quotes from him every day. And Maradona seldom disappoints them. As a player he let his game do most of the talking, since retirement he does that with his acid tongue. Half of the time I doubt people mess with him completely aware that the emotional guy that he is, will lose cool and come up with nasty retort. Not that he really requires provocation. He dislikes most of the people anyway to take a pot shot at them at drop of a hat. His verbal spats with Greats like Pele and Platini has already entered realms of posterity. Though to be fair, Pele himself has not shied away from attacking Maradona now and then. The root cause is an online poll that rated Maradona as the Greatest ever by a huge margin a few years back. Great though they may want to call themselves or Greatest actually, these stars are certainly not above petty feelings. Sample their latest punches:

In Happier Times

Maradona: “ A Dark Gentleman ( Pele) had questioned the ability of host Nation to be first African Nation to host the WC”

Pele retorts:” I know he has remembered me in South Africa. He must Love me” He continues “ Maradona accepted the job as he needed work and money” going on to add what a foolish decision that has been on part of people anointing him as coach.

The reply incensed Diego enough to suggest “ I am not Surprised, Pele Should go back to Museum”

Maradona earlier has made gross remarks as “ He (Pele) debuted ( lost his virginity ) with a lad “ and sometimes as bold and blunt as “ I was a better player than Pele was”

Pele has come with his own nuggets like “The only time he scored an Important Goal he used his hand” while terming Diego as a thankless freak who forgets a favour.

Not the one to forget an insult The Argentine chose WC to get even with French Star Platini who had suggested that Diego is not as good a coach as he was a player . While claiming his relationship with the French player was distant he quipped “ But we know what the French are like and Platini is French, he believes he is better than us”.

But some of his Gems are all about himself.

“My legitimate kids are Dalma and Giannina. The rest are a product of my money and mistakes.”

“There were people in there because they thought they were Robinson Crusoe and they didn’t believe me when I told them I’m Maradona.”

This was when he was recounting his time spent in a Mental Asylum.

“I was, I am and I always will be a drug addict. A person who gets involved in drugs has to fight it every day.”

He also has words for his team and Messi.

I have 23 wildcats prepared to leave their skins on the pitch.”

“Podolski, Elano, Maicon, they all played well but none of them can compare to Messi’s performance. None of them reached even 40 percent of what Messi showed.”

As a lifelong supporter of Argentina, I am glad that the team is getting in its groove and the youngsters are displaying skill that is mesmerizing to say the least. It will spread across print and electronic media and talked about with gusto at homes, playgrounds and offices. And just in case they choose to have an off day, don’t go away. We still have the “ Show Stopper” Diego Maradona.

Edited by Staff Editor
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