As everyone knows by now, Maradona is gone, gone, gone, either fired or pushed or not renewed, whatever floats your boat. Me, I'm torn about the prospect of a Maradona-free team. You'd have to be a lobster-brained booster or a hook-line-and-sinker sucker to say he was a great coach. But he was an inspiring sideline presence with his multiple watches and rosary and passion. And no one can deny he was a great player. With a strategic-minded assistant behind him, a real x's-and-o's man taking charge of the gritty planning, Maradona could be a great leader. That said, I should applaud AFA Prez Julio Grondona for demanding that El 10 dump his assistants and take a more titular role. But whenever I see, hear or discuss anything to do with Grondona, all I'm left with is the intangible inkling that he's a mafioso figure with vaguely nefarious motives, thus leading me to wonder what's really behind Maradona's departure. Though it should be noted that such conspiratorial imaginings on my part may just mean that I've been in Argentina too long.

On a happer note, I do like Olé's imagining of the perfect Argentine DT.