The Fall Of Maradona

Introduction:

Before beginning this article, the photo was taken in the backyard of the underwriter and will be used for articles about soccer/football. He authorizes use of the photo to Now Public and others associated with Now Public under the condition that he is recognized as the photographer.

Article:

Argentina lost to Paraguay in its attempt to classify for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa. While many people will be pointing fingers at the players, the main culprit should be the favorite son of Argentina. His name is Diego Armando Maradona.

Maradona will go down in history as one of the greatest football/soccer players in the history of the sport. Unfortnatly, he did not live up to his reputation or the expectations [as well as resonsabilities].

Maradona started in the 1970's around the era of the 1978 World Cup in his country and started to descend almost immediately. Maradona allowed himself to be influenced by drugs and people of dubious character. He also allowed himself to be set up as a form of god that could do no wrong.

The people praised him and considered as law everything that was uttered from his mouth. He had problems with the law and made many attempts to rehabilitate himself from drugs by undergoing treatment in Cuba.

He was forgiven, forgotten, and he relapsed. The artists sang praises of his wise leadership and his intelligence. Maradona thought that he was untouchable. It came to a point that the underwriter thought that maybe Maradona's face would be on the legal tender of his country or even stamps.

The supporters of Maradona [with his blessing] founded the Maradonian Church complete with Easter and Christmas around his date of birth and "salvation through belief in Maradona".

Finally, Argentina decided to award him by naming him coach of the national team. It was expected that the wise leadership of Mardona and his "magic wand" would help Argentina advance to the 2010 World Cup, win it and go far and beyond.

It was not to be since Maradona was a King Midas in reverse. He turned the team into a disaster waiting to happen. Paraguay appeared to have more power than Argentina. Argentina was the skeleton of its former 1978 self and allowed itself to play itself into the hands of Paraguay.

It appears that Argentina will have to sit this World Cup until next time. It should wake up and fire Maradona. Maradona should resign as coach and retire from football/soccer. He can dedicate time by writing his memoirs or traveling between Cuba and Argentina.

In fact, Maradona now has time on his hand and can go see Juanes perform in Cuba. Regardless, what happened to Argentina in its loss to Paraguay was nothing more than a disgrace.