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Former soccer great Diego Maradona who died at 60 on Wednesday will be remembered as one of the game’s greatest all time players (AP News Photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The legendary Argentinian-born soccer player, Diego Armando Maradona is dead at 60 years of age. Maradona was recently rehabbing from a recent surgery for a brain hematoma, a blood clot to the brain. He died of a heart attack after his release from the rehab-center.

He had an addiction to alcohol and drugs for years, often going in and out of rehab facilities.. An icon in Argentina as well as one of the most famous names in sports all over the world. Maradona was so good he made his professional debut at the age of 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the team Argentinos Juniors.

Maradona as well as the legendary Brazilian player Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé are ranked among the best soccer players ever. I had the privilege of interviewing both of them when some of the matches for World Cup ’94 were held in the Bay Area (San José) to be exact, while I was covering sports for Telemundo Bay Area.

The FIFA 1994 World Cup was the only time the United States hosted what it is considered the greatest sporting event in the world. They both came as FIFA Ambassadors.

Maradona who also came to the Bay Area to play a friendly game with the Italian Club Juventus, had a turbulent relationship with the press in his native Argentina as well as around the world, he was not an easy interview. A great international player, he was also a manager and occasionally a soccer commentator. He had great passion for the game, born in a country were Fútbol/Soccer is more than a sport, but like a religion.

Maradona will always be remember for the game against England during World Cup ’86 in Mexico City, a quarterfinals match, were he scored two goals against England. The first called (although protested by the English team) as the goal “Mano de Dios”(God’s Hand) because he used his hands, something that is illegal in this sport.

Maradona himself said after the game “it was part with my head and part with the Hand of God”. Since then the international soccer press baptized the goal as “Mano de Dios”. The second goal was not controversial but was named “Gol del Siglo” (Goal of the Century) as his team Argentina beat England 2-1.

Maradona, at 25-years of age was the captain of that team, who later beat Germany 3-2 in the finals, to win the World Cup. That was the second FIFA World Cup title for Argentina and last one.

Maradona played 490 official club games during his 21-year professional career. Scoring 259 goals. For Argentina he played total of 91 games and scored 34 goals.

An Internet poll conducted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association named Maradona the top player of the 20th century.

Note: The last FIFA World Cup was held in Moscow, Russia in 2018 and France won the title. The next FIFA World Cup will take place in 2022 in the country of Qatar, first time an Arabic country will host the worldwide event.

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez did Soccer coverage on Telemundo TV and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Former Sacramento King Kent Bazemore is re-joining the Golden State Warriors as their key shooting guard. The question is will he be able to compliment the loss of injured Klay Thompson who is out for the rest of the season? (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury after the injury to the Warriors Klay Thompson last week the Warriors need all the help they can get. Rookie James Wiseman can only help and learn from Draymond Green and will Steph Curry’s ankle hold up. Now they pick up shooting guard Kent Bazemore will he be enough to cover for the loss of Thompson?

#2 The Sacramento Kings finally got what they wanted a new deal with D’Aaron Fox who was one of the big keys for the Kings. He signs with the Kings for $135 million for five years and the Kings really rely on his offense coming into this season.

#3 The San Jose Sharks CEO Jonathan Becher update: Becher said he was pretty optimistic from what he heard from Monday’s San Jose City Council planning commission meeting. Becher’s big concerns were keeping Autumn and Santa Clara Streets open and not have development that would shut fans access off from that side of the SAP Center. Also development in the parking lots in front of SAP Center that would cut out the City and the Sharks agreed 4850 parking spaces. Becher said the team would consider moving if the City and Sharks could not come to some sort of agreement and from the sound of Monday’s meeting there might be some happy medium. The San Jose City Council will be holding a meeting concerning street closures for the Dirdon Street area on Dec 3rd.

#4 Former 2011 Tampa Bay Rays prospect Brandon Martin was convicted for life for the 2015 three counts of first degree murder for killing his father, a security technician and his uncle with a baseball bat. Martin had previously had his mother in a a headlock and had scissors in his hands. It was reported that Martin had unspecified psychiatric issues and came to his parents house while the security technician was installing security cameras at the home.

#5 New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman with heavy furry winter jacket and outdoor camping sleeping bag slept outdoors on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium which Cashman does annually for raising awareness for homeless teenagers. Temps have been in the low 40s overnight in New York.

Catch Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com