Diego Maradona is Argentina's folly
The word out of Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon was that Argentina had selected Diego Armando Maradona to be its new national coach.
If true -- and there was no reason not to believe the early reports by cable television station Todo Noticias and the website of the respected newspaper Clarin -- Maradona would certainly set some soccer firsts.
He would, for instance, in all likelihood be the first national team coach to have fired a gun at reporters.
He would be the first national team coach to have been tossed out of a World Cup for failing a drug test.
He would be the first, at least from Argentina, to have regularly lambasted the foreign policy of the United States while fawning over Cuba's Fidel Castro.
He would be the first to have blatantly cheated at a World Cup by illegally using his hand and afterward claiming it was "the Hand of God."
He would be the first, or at least the first from Argentina, to have been pursued by Italian tax authorities for not meeting his obligations in that sphere, not to mention fathering a child by a women other than his wife while he was in Italy.
And he would be the first Argentina coach to have his son-in-law, Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero, as one of his starting players.
If true, it is an astonishingly foolish move by Julio Grondona, the president of Argentina's soccer federation. In fact, it smacks more of an attempt by Grondona to win some popular support among Argentina's fans ...
than it does of a well-thought-out move for the good of the national team.
According to Todo Noticias and Clarin, Maradona will have Carlos Bilardo at his side to hold his pudgy hand and steer him along the way. Bilardo was Argentina's coach in 1986, when Maradona and company won the World Cup in Mexico.
That, of course, was before the Maradona downward spiral that saw one of the world's most accomplished players ruin his reputation through cocaine and alcohol abuse.
He is not the first to do that by a long shot, but the others were not elevated to a position in charge of one of the world's finest national teams. George Best had drinking problems but never coached Northern Ireland. Gerd Mueller had drinking problems but never coached Germany.
Seven years ago, Germany named Christoph Daum as its national coach only to discover that Daum had used cocaine. The job offer was quickly withdrawn.
Argentina, it appears, does not operate by the same moral standards.
How long this marriage will last is debatable, but it certainly makes things interesting for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.
There will be more here as developments warrant.
-- Grahame L. Jones
Photo: Former Argentinian football player Diego Maradona performs at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 20 in Cannes, France. Credit: Valery Hache / AFP / Getty Images
Grahame,
You are truly an idiot. As an Argentine I will be the first to tell you that there are several reasons why Maradona is not properly qualified to be the Head Coach of one of the greatest football franchises in the world.
However, your uneducated and completely disrespectful comments about his personal life really amaze me. Especially coming from a country where these types of things happen EVERY SINGLE DAY. And as long as you hit another home run, or score a touchdown NOBODY says a word.
Just this past year, seventeen NFL players were arrested for various crimes, ranging from illegal possession of marijuana to involuntary manslaughter. In Cincinnati, where I currently reside, nine Cincinnati Bengals were arrested in a nine month period! Yet every Sunday I see families going to the games wearing the jerseys of players that were recently arrested!!
That is the NFL! I don't even want to think of what the number would be if we added the NBA and MLB.
Next time....try writing a more balanced post....and maybe even sprinkle a little other than his personal life for why he may or may not be qualified.
"It is better to remain silent & have people wonder if you are an idiot rather than to open your mouth & prove to everyone in sight that you are an idiot beyond all doubt."
Alejandro Bethlen
abethlen@gmail.com
Posted by: Alejandro Bethlen | October 28, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Grahame... or a.k.a "THE IDIOT"
Mr. Alejandro Bethlen made a point ...you are truly an idiot. I am an Argentine too and I consider you a poor, ignorant human being that is just lucky to have a column in the LA Times.
We are aware about Diego Maradona issues in the past, and you "Sir" haven't discover anything new...so if you don't have anything new to write about, I suggest that your editor get a decent and professional columnist in your place...a person that is willing to do some real work for us, the readers.
You talk about Argentina's moral standars as in this country (USA) moral standars are high ...ARE YOU FOR REAL? I cannot believe that they let you write this piece of garbage.
Take a look at the newspaper...be informed: NFL players arrested, for all kind of crimes...you make of O.J Simpson some class of icon HE IS A MURDERER, ...this list can go forever, I hope you get the message and take back what you wrote.
Maybe your moral standards (if they are high) make you wake up and smell the coffee
Veronica Bittar
lakinta@gmail.com
Posted by: Veronica Bittar | October 28, 2008 at 07:48 PM
what a twisted piece of reporting. You have no love of the game, and no clue either.
One of the weirdest articles I have read associated with the game in some time. I wish I was as "moral" and upstanding as you Graham and could judge people so easily.
Posted by: Dallas | October 28, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Alejandro, Graham is English, not American.
Posted by: Bart | October 28, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Alejandro and Veronica, you prove once again to the world that the national religion of Argentina is Maradona-worship. Do either of you seriously believe that Maradona has the emotional stability to manage a World Cup team -- especially one that's the constant focus of attention and criticism? Besides, is the AFA making sure that he doesn't relapse, not only for their own credibility but for his own life? Isn't Maradona's life worth anything? Obviously not (see next paragraph).
If anything, the AFA is using Maradona, and Maradona is either too stupid or too infatuated with his own ego to realize it. Diego Simeone -- one of Argentina's best players ever, a classy professional and a man with coaching experience (at Boca, of all places!) -- should have been hired. Perhaps he was offered the job and refused. What about Ricardo Lavolpe? Is the AFA in such disrepute that it couldn't get anybody else?
Yes, Maradona was one of the most energetic, charismatic, talented players in international soccer history, and a legitimate source of Argentine pride. But he has not demonstrated that he has his self-destructive behavior under control, let alone abandoned it altogether. Can such a man, even with Bilardo as his assistant (don't be surprised if he actually makes all the major decisions), manage a major soccer team and survive?
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | October 28, 2008 at 11:11 PM
What the heck is wrong with this idiot?
I am not Argentinean, but ia m apaled by your negative commehts. Morals? what the heck are you talking about? You think British players have morals you dumb idiot?
Why dont you mention that he is the greatest player to ever play the game, yes he has made some mistakes. But lets see what he does, he has given up the drinkinga nd the drugs and lets give him a chance.
Does this Graham idiot actually work for the LA Times? How can they accept this as balanced reporting?
Posted by: Jim | October 29, 2008 at 01:52 AM
America is a continent, not a country. Although you might think you actually own the continent... theres a smal island in the middle of the caribean sea, you dont own.
cheers from argentina!
Posted by: Bart & Everyboy up there too. | October 29, 2008 at 04:24 AM
Joseph D'Hippolito ,
I don't know you, but with all my respect...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Have you take the time to read Alejandro's note and also mine?
We AGREE on the fact that Diego had a lot of problems in his past life and for this reason he is not properly qualified to be the Head Coach of our National Team.
So before you write offensive comentaries about how Maradona-worship is the national religion of Argentina...and how Alejandro and I are an example of that...you better pay attention about what are you writing and why, because you are so wrong...and disrespectful to Argentinien people in general.
My original point is that the article written by G. Jones goes nowhere...that his lack of professionalism is shown well in his note and also he has nothing to apport to the Sport Section of the L.A Times or the world of sport in general, maybe he can dedicate his life to write Biographies or work for the Yelow Press.
Sorry if you were lost in translation and good luck to you.
Veronica Bittar
lakintapata@gmail.com
Posted by: Veronica Bittar | October 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Yes, Veronica, I did read your post. That's why I responded the way I did. I'll admit that I went overboard with the "Maradona-worship" comment. But why do you and Alejandro feel so threatened by one man's comments about a soccer player if you have the pride in your national heritage that you say you do? Maradona is not Argentina. In fact, by making a constant fool of himself, he is making a fool of his countrymen.
Besides, Jones wasn't comparing Argentina to the United States. He was comparing Argentina to Northern Ireland and Germany -- and in soccer terms, not social ones.
Posted by: Joseph D'Hippolito | October 29, 2008 at 06:45 PM
I have to agree that this piece is much too ignorant to have any place in a major newspaper.
I just wanted to touch on the sentence about diegos political views for how (1.) irrelevant it is and (2.) how ignorantly this article presents them.
Perhaps this would only matter if this was the US and (god forbid) somebody like dick cheney was running the national team, i don't know for sure but i imagine the foreign policy of the US is about as unpopular in argentina as anywhere in south america. I personally have alot of added respect for maradona as a person for the social causes he supports and his beliefs and just as his skill set him apart on the field he's continued to set himself apart from the status quo. Thats certainly made me an endearing fan of him as a person to stand for what is right rather than what will pay the big money last i checked castro is dishin out any money for his endorsement. Perhaps maradona doesn't have the coaching skills of an alex ferguson etc.but he more than makes up for it in a motivation he can give to the side and the will to succeed and with all the talent the argentine side has maybe that is what its gonna take...an injection of the spirit of maradona and the force of will that could drive messi et al to a repeat of '86
Posted by: tex | October 30, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Mr Grahame Jones, I wonder if you have ever played Soccer in your life to think you have the authority to write that bunch of nonsense. Mr D'Hippolito no soccerman represents his country outside the soccerfield, remember that, they do that only withing the soccer stadium and Diego did "pretty well" in that area. Grahame I don't know where you are from (I can just imagine) but if you know anything about the sport I can't understand how you could not have sensitivity to appreciate his technical abilities and separate from his personal missfortune. You are dangerous man. . . .
Posted by: Claudio | October 31, 2008 at 11:38 AM