Monthly Archives: October 2010
Diego turns 50
That Maradona was among the first Argentine celebrities to grieve publicly over Nestor Kirchner ‘s dead body is not surprising. As I relate in the updated edition of my biography of Maradona , Hand of God , the player not only shared an anti-US ‘Bolivarian revolution’ platform with Kirchner (and with Chaves), but also counted on the former Argentine president’s political support for his controversial appointment as national football coach in the run-up to last year’s World Cup in 2010. I was told that Julio Grondona, the president of the …
Nestor Kirchner rest in peace
So Farewell Nestor Kirchner. Chaves of Venezuela talked of you in terms that made you out to be a 21st version of San Martin, or, even Bolivar. One of your men in the Argentine parliament gave you a similar eulogy suggesting that the whole country should mourn the passing of one of its great political figures. I ‘ve never thought it fair to pass damning judgement on those who have died as it’s hard for them to hit back but I’d like to say just this. Some stocks rose in …
At the Camp Nou
It’s always a joy being back at the Camp Nou to see a live match and Saturday’s Barca vs Valencia was the kind of event that makes it worthwhile. There were close to 90,000 in the stadium which is quite a turn-out for this early stage in the season but then it was an important match. Barca has been floundering a little of late while los ches , as the Valencia players are called, have had an unbeaten run of games, displaying a mixture of attacking football, creative midfield, …
Thought for Today: Belonging
I’m introducing a new occasional item to this website. A thought which I hope may resonate with some of my readers as it resonates with me. This is a short verse from a wonderful book called ‘Eternal Echoes’ by the Irish philosopher writer John O’Donohue. This meditative tome is dedicated ‘for the ones who inhabit lives where belonging is torn and longing is numbered.’ I arise today Blessed be all things wings of breath, delight of eyes, wonder of whisper, intimacy of touch, eternity of soul, urgency of thought, miracle …
On Greene’s trail
My book of the month is Tim Butcher’s Chasing the Devil published by Chatto & Windus. Subtitled, The Search for Africa’s Spirit, this is about a continent I rarely touched as a foreign correspondent, still less as an author. However Graham Greene, who inspired Butcher’s journey across Sierra Leone and Liberia, has formed part of my life since, as a young boy, I was introduced to him for the first time by my father at the Garrick Club. My father was one of Greene’s early editors, and a life-long friend. In WW2 …
