Off Topic Maradona - Moved from the RIP thread

Sad.

 

Yes, apologies. Thought they had been removed.

As Maradona himself said, I gave other players an advantage with my drug habit. Think how good I could have been if I wasn't using cocaine.

 

It was moved here, as clearly there were going to be some disrespectful comments. Those wanting to pay their respects are still free to do so on the RIP thread.

My own view is that I find the RIP thread mawkish, but then I do have a black sense of humour.

 

Small minded, insular? Deludedly think we have never had footballers, or other sportsmen who have cheated and bent rules? Only Johnny Foreigner does that. Ironically a lot of these people are the first to throw accusations of being a racist at others.

 

Seems that some people's moral high horse was also used in the siege of Troy, it's that MASSIVE!

Mexico '86 was the first World Cup I remember in full, and forget the handball, he effectively dragged an average side through the tournament to the ultimate prize. It's also worth remembering that when he won 2 scudetto at Napoli, it was while Serie A was the best and toughest league in world football, and again he was the driving force in an unfashionable team.

It was a joy to watch him play.

 

George Best died today 15 years ago, wow on many levels.

 

It's only a game at the end of the day!

 

Incredible footballer who paid for his flawed character with an early death. I don't hate him. Don't love him either but RIP nonetheless.

 

A wonderfully talented footballer with, like many extremely talented individuals, he had a flawed character. The most gifted footballer I have ever seen but will never forgive him for the handball. Like with many moments in life you remember where you were when you witness them, this was one of those moments.

However, I have more angst towards the officials, as nearly everyone saw what happened except the 3 officials on the pitch. Players cheat to get an advantage, and he did it and was probably as surprised as anyone that the goal was allowed.

RIP.

P.S. This story GL tells about keeping the ball up is incredible.

 

Tim Vickery, the Beeb's South American football correspondent, made a couple of interesting observations about Maradona's "character" in an interview today.
a) The amount of battering D.M. received from the opposition on the field was incessant, often brutal, as lesser footballing mortals attempted to stop him performing his magic. He came onto the pitch in most games with the expectation there was a high chance of ending up injured - even in hospital.
b) He was constantly on some form of medication to alleviate pain from injuries (niggling at least, but often very painful) due to the attention he was always receiving during a game. The implication was that he was permanently on pain-killing drugs which would have taken it's toll physically and psychologically over the long haul.

I don't believe Vickery was making excuses for D.M's. descent into overuse of "recreational" drugs, just a suggestion that the man was under such pressure (both self internalized and forced on him by external expectations), that his social habits may well have been in many ways his only escape from those pressures.

We've seen such character flaws in many a celebrity over the years ( centuries in some instances). Fame can be hard to manage, especially when others depend on the subject for financial gain and are managing their "assets" by focusing mainly on that goal.

RIP D.M.

 

Probably not a lot around who remember the Betting Scandal of 1964 in the UK leading to 10 professional football players being jailed for match fixing. My sister-in-law went out with one of the more famous players.

 

Duplicate.

 

Peter Swan, Tony Kay & "Bronco" Lane of Sheff Wednesday. Remember it well.

 

Peter Swan, Tony Kay & "Bronco" Lane of Sheff Wednesday. Remember it well.

 

Another odd quirk of history - Maradona's mate Fidel Castro died exactly 4 years ago - same day - Nov 25th.

 

Decent larker but a cheat.

Nuff said

 

So just like 99% of decent larkers then.

 

If you say so sweetie.