World Cup: Panic in Argentina if Diego Maradona’s naked truth is realized

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People might soon be fleeing Buenos Aires in droves.

The mass exodus will only gather steam if Argentina progresses, as expected, through the upcoming World Cup. The city of more than 12 million could be empty by July 11.

The reason? Diego Armando Maradona and his most recent proclamation.

Having shown the ‘hand of God’ to useful effect for his country in 1986, the short, pudgy and -- let’s be honest -- not especially attractive Maradona is promising to show his countrymen (and countrywomen) even more in 2010.

‘If we win the World Cup, I will run naked around El Obelisco in the center of Buenos Aires,’ Argentina’s coach said in an interview with radio station FM Metro.

Maradona has shed all before at the drop of a hat, not to mention the drop of shirt, the drop of a pair of trousers, the drop of -- well, never mind. He once appeared stark raving naked in the soccer -- sorry, futbol -- magazine El Grafico.

So the good citizens of Buenos Aires have been given fair warning. Unless they want to see far more of Maradona than anyone should, they had best be out of town by the time Lionel Messi and company bring home the Cup after the July 11 final.

It all sounds like another excellent reason to wish for an England victory.

-- Grahame L. Jones