Is the Tennis World ready for Maradona?

If I had the money, I would hire Diego Maradona to be my personal cheerleader. He could follow me around all day and go nuts as I eat lunch, finish a book, and fire off a few posts. The legendary player has turned into a legendary fan and just watching the joy he has supporting Argentina and Boca Juniors is enough to get me fired up.

Maradona is set to take his over-the-top support to Moscow this week when Argentina takes on Russia at the Davis Cup tennis tournament. Maradona is no stranger to tennis matches and that has some officials in Russia worried.

Maradona, who has led a chequered life on and off the pitch, including time spent in Cuba for drug rehab, drew the wrath of tennis officials during Argentina’s first-round win in February, repeatedly insulting opposing player Robin Soderling.

As the venue was in Argentina, the bad boy somehow escaped being tossed from the stadium.

But ITF referee Mike Morrisey said on Tuesday that leniency is not an option in Moscow. “We will not tolerate abuse or aggressiveness. If that happens, we must apply our rules to improve the situation,” he warned.

The Russian players have countered by saying they might invite Boris Yeltsin to attend the competition, but unless he is standing on a tank, I can’t see Yelstin being a better cheerleader than Maradona. The mere thought of Maradona talking smack to opposing tennis players during the middle of a backswing and the possibility that a fight involving tennis rackets could ensue is reason enough to be a tennis fan for a week.

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Category: World Football