European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 02, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday april 2, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 25 a by a commentary \ to it was Only a year ago that one of the world s leading soccer officials spoke these prophetic words about Diego Armando Maradona a i am afraid he will wind up like Joe Louis,�?T1 the Man said referring to the Way the great heavyweight Champion had finished his Days As a greeter in a Las vegas hotel broken by financial and emotional troubles. Boxing and world soccer Are not dissimilar in that they offer a Quick Way out of poverty but without the Chance of some random education and peripheral contacts that american team sports offer. Almost All american team athletes pass through High school probably a Junior College often a four year University where they May even attend classes. The richest and most arrogant american team athletes know there is another world outside their Arena Diego Armando was a world unto himself Diego Armando Maradona went directly from a hard Barrio at the Edge of Buenos Aires to a soccer club. His education ended when he was around 12. In the worlds professional soccer system Young players Are like novices m Feudal guilds. They Shine shoes hang around chores learn their Craft. A. But Diego Armando had such rare Powers in his feet and when necessary in his hands that he bypassed the servitude stage. He became a child Star responsible to nobody. A. The 30-year-old a Golden kid Quot tested positive for cocaine the , and is facing a two year ban from his club in Naples his National team in Argenti. A and All Over the world. A the potential exile will be the Start of a Togo Armando a free fall but he has been slipping out of control for months for years. It Wasny to just the Way he acted like a crude rustic when he played in urbane Barcelona or his Gaudy mid season wedding his two children were his Flower girls at which he. Punched out a photographer or the paternity suit or the inattention to work which is often a screaming sign of addiction troubles. _ soccer is a game of style As much like bullfighting As american to Ball. A player can be a Genius or a Buffoon in a scoreless tic and everybody knows it. Like boxing champions Maradona had his retinue. And his retainers. If they said no they were history. While Argentina was training for its world cup defense in Italy last summer at a secluded Camp in the Countryside he would pop into Rome after Midnight. Suddenly the patrons would be asked to eat fast and the doors were closed to keep other night people from entering. When All was secure Diego Armando would enter from a Side door take a Comer table and order up his Midnight feast of pasta and meat bread and wine Francis Ford Coppola could not have created a better scene of raw Power. Unfortunately for Diego Armando he then had to go out and play. He was coming off a championship season for the Napoli club but a mini Industry of doctors and trainers and dietitians could not hold him together. Diego Maradona goes into his act in 1989.r for the entire decade of the As 1s, Diego Armando had been the greatest team athlete in the world an artist As Well As a-5-loot, 6-Inch raging Bull with the Low Slung Center of a luxury sports car and massive thighs that could propel a soccer Ball in Var pious spinning tangents. Now he was surrounded by. Defenders who kicked and jabbed at him and All he had left was Lustri tues. Cynically he began taking dives on the Lush Green Fields no Italy. He tumbled and rolled and clutched at his Ankles and his Knees and his in Gas writhing and moaning a great soccer player reduced to a bad actor. A when he was on his Teet he was arguing , his stubby arms making the elaborate gestures of an Argentine Street dude trying to Cut deals plead his ease cop. A plea score some sympathy. He was pathetic. A one night while hrs goalie was out of position lie stepped front of the goal and swatted a Ball away. 1 he whole world saw a except for he referee and the whole world was reminded of his infamous a hand of god Quot goal m the 1986 world cup when he Rose into the air Ana punched a goal Home against England. This time Maradona had his Quot is reef excuses ready. He did no to do it he said. But if he did do it he added it was an Accident. And besides he concluded alls fair in love and War and Only True note of Genius was a 5-second spurt late against Brazil when he suddenly broke out of a crowd dribbled the Ball with a Quick Little dance from memory and then passed the Ball Fleet teammate who was Able to score the Only goal of the evening. Quot in the final against West Germany Maradona was useless. At the end he blamed every body the Malta the press the italian crowd the soccer .establish-.-Menl. / a a a. A a a a a a a -. Since then it has been downhill to disgrace,-1 be has scored Only four goals this season for Napoli All on penalty kicks. Lie has tried to break his contract which extends through 1993.a he has ducked games missed practices undermined club officials with hurls of Legal troubles following him. The official Vatican newspaper used him As the example of the excess of professional sport. As of last report Maradona still had City Homes. And country Homes arid All the toys of the sudden Rich. He May still have despairing corporations in Yunu to sanitize him to 1ly him to Japan to make a Quick Quot million _ last year with the Gumti Drosity of a born con Man Maradona spoke of going to the United states Dor the 1994 world cup not As a player perhaps but As a spokesman Tor soccer a Model for youth. He would not like to be a coach he added with a Smirk because he would hate to have to handle a player As crazy As himself. The Way. It looks right now the place to look for Diego Armando Maradona will probably be the Street. A greeter m a hotel if he a Lucky. Quot. The Newyork Slmaa new yorkers rout stars Cholet France Dodds All stars coach Tom Leblanc knew head need a perfect game and a. Miracle to beat Riverside . Church in mondays championship game of the Cholet International cadets basketball tournament. A a he did no to get either one. University of Texas signee Terrence Rencher banged in 21. Points and new York City High school player of the year Dean Marshman added 18 to Pace Riverside to a 113-66 thrashing of the All stars. A they were just awesome a a. Shocked Leblanc said. A just overwhelming. They were just better than us. A key note is that a lot of their players have signed with big name College to play basketball next year a Wurzburg s Keith Hodge led the Dodds contingent with 18 Points and Hanau a Luis Jime Cholet tourney Nez added 16. As he stared at a 51-29 halftime deficit Leblanc knew that Miracle Wasny to going to show up. A they just dominated us a he said. A there was no key run or big Pray. They had us from Start to _ new Yorkus state High school player of the year Tracey Prengle had ii Points for Riverside and another longhorn Sig nce Michael chaplain also had 11 Points. Ramstein a Deon Moyd had 10 for Dodds As did Wei Brincken Star. James Mcknight. �?o1 think in the first half they shot 63 percent from the Field a Leblanc said. A we shot around 31 percent. We were getting Good percentage shots but the darned thing go Dodds 85, Zaragoza 73 things went significantly better for the All stars in sundays late semifinal As oui pukka Ansama the tallest player on the Dodds team at 6-8, was Given a starting assignment because of Zaragoza a great Overall size. _ a a a Zaragoza a shortest starter was 6-5 Andsen assistant coach Len Tamowski suggested starting a la to give us some size. He was exactly what needed a Leblanc said. A the got us some Points some rebounds and he did an excellent Job of blocking the Zaragoza big Guy Freddie Gimeno away from the Ansama a finn school of Brussels contributed 7 Points it rebounds and 3 blocked shots of. The winning cause As Dodds registered its third straight Victory. Mcknight who played every minute of the. First three games Isbos Olli Pekka Ansama semifinal Star led do Dps with 20 Points. He also had ,j3, boards. Frankfurt a Dan Hallgrimson followed with 15, Mannheim res Dominic. Vassar added 12, and Moyd followed with 10, a �46,952 see London win London apr stun gel Baugh threw for 326 Yards including a 61 Yard to puss to Andre Riley sunday As the London monarchs won their Home opener 22-18 Over lie new York new Jersey knights before 46,952 fans. Gelbaugh overcame a shaky first half in which he threw three interceptions and under throw receivers to finish with 24. Completions in 40 attempts. The monarchs 2-0 Ell behind in the opening minutes against the knights run and shoot offence but used their Superior bulk and strength to Wear Down the visitors and score 19, Points in the third Quarter. The knights 0-2 scored on their first series after running Back Eric Wilkerson went 74 Yards to the 1 and quarterback Jeff Graham scored two later on a keeper. A
