Posts
 |
| 'Look at me - I'M EL DIEGO!' |
When
I was growing up, there was always one name, one footballer in particular that
really riled my Dad. This man’s name, when mentioned, was always accompanied
with the word “cheat” – along with other, quite colourful phrases - so I pretty
much grew up thinking that this man was the footballing-equivalent of Satan.
Of
course, my father conveniently ignored the fact that Diego Maradona was a
phenomenal footballer. “Dad, look at this video – look at this run!” I would
gleefully exclaim, wishing that he would at least appreciate one of the finest
footballers ever to grace the planet. “He’s still a cheat”, he would reply,
somewhat dishearteningly.
I
can usually ignore all of the negative, off-field aspects of a fantastic
footballer, because it is their football that I care about, nothing else. The
Hand of God doesn’t really rile me all that much – I wasn’t born in 1986, but
if I had been I like to think that I would have focused more on his second goal
rather than his first. Or maybe I’d have focused on Shilton being beaten to the
ball with great ease by, comparatively speaking, a dwarf.
But
even putting aside that infamous goal – Diego Maradona is still an almighty
dickhead.
Undoubtedly,
Maradona had talent. But I cannot be alone in thinking that, because of either
personal issues or problems with drugs, it really was a waste of talent. He was
addicted to cocaine from the mid-1980s until 2004, allegedly first using the
drug in 1983, whilst at Barcelona. He was at one of the best clubs in the
world, a club with such great history and with such loyal fans, and he still
didn’t realise what he had.
He
ruined parts of his professional career with drugs which not only resulted in
the Argentinean serving lengthy bans but also affected his ability to play the
game. His attitude to football and life, quite frankly, stank.
I
mean, for fuck’s sake, he was mates with Fidel Castro! He owes Italy around 37
million euros in taxes and refuses to pay it, and he once shot a member of the
media. These aren’t antics that can just be laughed off – these are appalling
actions, even for someone as stupid as Maradona.
Despite
these betrayals and the I-don’t-give-a-shit outlook on life, Maradona is still
worshipped as a God – and my word does he know it. He has a general “I’m Diego
Maradona so you should listen to me and make me coach of your team” kind of attitude.
He’s so arrogant; some will say he has the right to be arrogant, but he really
doesn’t. No one does. The fact that he’s so gifted yet so flawed with such
easily-remediable issues makes me hate him even more – the ungrateful bastard.
He’s
a loudmouth, always giving his opinion on everything, most recently criticising
national team manager Sergio Batista for “ignoring” Carlos Tevez. He’s always
chirping away. Just shut up Diego.
And,
let me just remind you, these criticisms are coming from the man that oversaw
Argentina only just qualify for the 2010 World Cup and then looked on as Messi,
Mascherano, Higuain and co. were embarrassed by Germany in South Africa.
Due
to Maradona’s complete ineptness as a manager I actually felt sorry for Messi.
I felt sympathy for the best player of this generation! Esteban Cambiasso was
left at home while Martin Palermo went to the World Cup, clearly for
sentimental reasons. It’s the sort of decision you’d get on Football Manager.
It’s idiotic. Messi and the whole of Argentina were let down by Maradona.
Many
onlookers laughed at Diego’s attack-dominated side, in fact most were
positively beaming at the sight of a rotund Maradona wearing a suit on the
sideline with a beard that made him look like Father Christmas and celebrations
that exposed the limitations of said suit. I’m sure many LOLs were had.
But
not by me. He let Argentina down, he let himself down turning what could have
been a pristine career into a drug-fuelled, ego-topped life. He had the world
at his feet and all the wealth and love that any individual could ever wish for
– but he took his career for granted and threw it all away. Well, some of it.
All
of you nostalgic football fans can ignore the complete twattish-ness of Diego
Maradona, but the fact that he had so much quality but turned to drugs and
alcohol and then continues to be one of the most arrogant and “outspoken”
(definition: needs to learn to keep his mouth shut) men alive makes him even
more of a dickhead for me.
And
again my hate for him has nothing to do with the Hand Of God. Nothing. Nada.
Ok,
maybe a little. What a cock.
This
piece was originally published on Magic Spongers.
