What makes Maradona tick?

By John Cheeran
What makes Diego Maradona tick?
What makes Maradona such a favourite among football fans?
When Fifa conducted a global poll to determine the footballer of the century, Maradona pushed Pele into second place.
Surely despite his cocaine escapades, Maradona remains a huge favourite; a prince of rebellion.
Maradona is not a saint; none of us are. So that is why the Argentine legend can say with a straight face, without batting an eyelid that it was the hand of the God that pushed the ball into the net way past a jumping English goalkeeper Peter Shilton during the Mexico 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
If, as Maradona would have us believe, it indeed was the hand of God, then who must be the football's God?
Pele will not be happy with the most likely answer.
Some of the catchy moments during the live telecasts from Germany have been when the images of Maradona, wearing a replica jersey of the 1986 World Cup winning Argentina team, and cheering his successors from the stands, appeared.
It was not just Maradona in the stands; his first wife Claudia was too with him.
Clearly, Maradona is the cheerleader No.1 for Argentina.
Which other World Cup winner, and one who is still hailed as the greatest ever, would be seen cheering for his nation from the stands while the World Cup is on?
Only Maradona can break the conventions, break the mould and be with the people.
Pele, the most beautiful Black man, sold his soul to commercial interests.
While Pele exhorts for MasterCard, Maradona exhorts for Argentina and in general for Latin America.
Maradona stands for the marginalized; for the dispossessed. At least he seems to be closer to them from the plebeian stands he has chosen to occupy than whom the Fifa favours.
No wonder then Maradona is appropriated by people who have no heroes.
In West Bengal and Kerala, and wherever football is loved in the vast Indian sub-continent, Maradona is loved and worshipped.
Maradona is not just a footballer; he is not just a hero; he is a man just like you and me.
Now he is standing next to you; cheering, cursing and crying.
Celebrate football with him. Live football with him.
Let the scores be settled. Let there be no sudden deaths!