Thursday, August 18, 2005

TV: La vuelta del Diego


Maradona reinvents himself as chatshow host

(The Guardian)
During his turbulent career he has been hailed a footballing god, branded a cheat, and confessed to - and beaten - drug addiction.
This week, Diego Maradona has reinvented himself in a completely different field: as a prime-time chat show host.
The World Cup winner hosted the first edition of a weekly programme, The Night of Number 10 - his shirt number when he was in his football pomp.
Argentina virtually ground to a halt to see his return to the public eye, which follows a brush with death last year caused by a lengthy cocaine addiction.
Accompanying Maradona was soccer legend "King Pele", who flew from Brazil to be interviewed despite the often bitter words that have been exchanged between the two in the past.
Maradona and Pele have been drawn closer by the recent arrest of Pele's son, Edinho, for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
During the show, Pele said Maradona's successful struggle against cocaine addiction "has been a good example for my son".
Other sports luminaries on the show were Argentina tennis idol Gabriela Sabatini, the former world No 3 and winner of the 1990 US Open title, and the country's all-time top goal-scorer, Gabriel Batistuta.
Surrounded by scantily-clad female dancers, Maradona looked as fit as he has in years, a far cry from the bloated figure he was only one year ago.
Now he has recovered from his drug habit, Maradona is being reinstated to his near-god status in the collective consciousness of Argentina.
A teary-eyed Maradona told viewers his return to health "is not a miracle, it is a result of the love of my daughters", Damia and Giannina, who were present.
"If Jesus stumbled," he asked, "then why not I as well?"
Like all good chat-show hosts, Maradona teased his audience about what he has in store next week.
"I'm going to tell the truth about the goal against the English," he said, referring to the "hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.


REPERCUSIONES DE LA NOCHE DEL 10
(En Clarin)
En la prensa británica aseguran que Maradona "se reinventó a sí mismo"
El diario The Guardian no ahorró elogios para Diego. "La Argentina prácticamente se paralizó para verlo después de coquetear con la muerte", afirmó.

El debut de Diego Maradona como conductor de su propio programa de televisión sigue provocando repercusiones en todo el mundo. A tal punto que la prensa de Gran Bretaña no dudó en asegurar que el Diez logró reinventarse a sí mismo.
"La Argentina prácticamente se paralizó para verlo regresar después de coquetear con la muerte el año pasado", escribió The Guardian. "El jugador condujo la primera emisión de un programa semanal, "La noche del 10", que justo lleva el número de su camiseta cuando estaba en plena gloria futbolística", completó el diario.
La nota resaltó el momento actual de Diego. "Parecía en perfecto estado físico, lejos de la figura hinchada que tenía hace apenas un año. Ahora que se recuperó de su adicción, Maradona vuelve a instalarse en su categoría de semidiós en la conciencia colectiva de los argentinos", escribió The Guardian.
La expectiva que desató el Diez en Gran Bretaña es muy grande. Y no es para menos. "Voy a contar la verdad sobre el gol contra los ingleses", anticipó Maradona en referencia a la polémica "mano de Dios" en el Mundial 1986. Un relato imperdible que promete causar tanta conmoción como el encuentro con Pelé.

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