Posted on 10/29/2005 3:12:47 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
Argentine football hero Diego Maradona has interviewed Cuban President Fidel Castro for his television chat show.
The former Argentina football captain told Cuban television interviewing Mr Castro had been his dream. The two men have known each other for many years.
"For me he is a god," Maradona said of the veteran communist leader.
The interview is due to be broadcast on Argentina's Canal 13 television channel on Monday. The contents of the programme have not been revealed.
Maradona became friends with Mr Castro during his stays in Cuba to receive treatment for cocaine addiction.
He has a tattoo of the Cuban leader's face on his leg.
The football star also said he would lead a march against US President George Bush when the US leader attends the "Summit of the Americas" in Argentina in November.
Leaders from all the countries in the Americas will attend the summit - except Mr Castro.
'The greatest'
Maradona's popular television show is called La Noche del Diez - The Night of the Number Ten - in reference to the number 10 shirt Maradona wore for the national side.
The show has provided a return to the limelight for Maradona since he retired from football in 1997. Brazilian football legend Pele was his first guest.
He is widely regarded as one of the finest football players of all times, and captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, but cocaine addiction took its toll on his career and health.
The interview with Mr Castro is "icing on the cake" for the show, Maradona said.
"I was missing the greatest one, and now I have him," he added.
11 minutes ago
HAVANA - Argentine soccer hero Diego Maradona promised Cuban President Fidel Castro on Thursday he would be at the front of an anti-Bush march in Argentina next week.
U.S. President George W. Bush President George W. Bush will attend a summit of leaders from all countries from the Americas -- except Cuba -- in Mar del Plata, Argentina, November 4-5.
"I think Bush is a murderer. ... I‘m going to head the march against him stepping foot on Argentine soil," Maradona said, appearing on Cuban television with Castro.
"I promised the ‘Comandante‘ that I would do it and I will," the 44-year-old football legend said, referring to Castro.
"For me he is a god," Maradona said of the 79-year-old left-wing Cuban leader, whom he considers a friend and a father figure who helped him kick drugs.
Maradona was in Havana to interview Castro for his weekly television show in Argentina, which has brought the fallen star back to the limelight after years battling cocaine addiction.
He thanked Cuba for giving him a haven for almost four years at a health farm where he still has a house and plans to rest when his television contract ends next year.
Maradona, one of the finest soccer players of all times, captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, but drug abuse undermined his career and health.
Following an operation this year to staple his stomach and cut his ballooning weight, a much slimmer Maradona launched a new career in August as television host. His first guest was Brazilian soccer great Pele.
The Castro interview is "icing on the cake" for his top-rated show, Maradona said.
"I was missing the greatest one, and now I have him."
pinging
At least to corrupt, brainless liberals.
El Moron nuked his brain with 30 tons of cocaine over the years.
At first I thought the headline read "Madonna".....still made perfect sense to me.
You don't see a lot of fat cocaine addicts. What a waste of athletic talent.
"Maradona" is Spanish for "Daryl Strawberry".
Some folks treated Hitler like God too.
I have always disliked him especially after his mysterious action in 1986 World Cup
Yes and no. When they are using they are anorexic. When they stop or become demented, they balloon up to 400 pounds+ (think David Crosby)
I stand corrected... but was David Crosby ever in shape?
Castro must be providing him with cocain and lttle boys.
How sad. Maradonna is one of my all time favorite soccer players.
I can - in a way - find sympathy for folks who turn to drugs to escape a wretched life, but with all he had going for him it just seems senseless.
The drugs must really have fried his brain if he thinks of Castro as a god.
Maradona is a muslim?
"For me he is a god," Maradona said of the veteran communist leader.
Too many hits to the head obviously.
Good heavens.
Greatest footballer since Pele, and arguably Pele's equal, but this current populist campaign is a bit rich given the wealth he accumulated from the capitalistic world of professional football.
Maradona is a cocaine snorting idiot. Argentina should be ashamed of the man.
Regards, Ivan
For me, you are idiot.
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