(While Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, let's take a tour of Napoli with master photographer John McDermott.) He is from Argentina but claimed Napoli as his spiritual home. Diego Armando Maradona played 259 matches for SSC Napoli and scored 115 goals, the most in franchise history. He lived on a hill in Posillipo, like an ancient prince, and he had the gall to insist Neapolitan fans should root for Argentina against Italy in the 1990 World Cup semifinal because, really, Italians do not consider Napoli to be part of Italy. His successful penalty kick put Argentina ahead to stay in the shootout. Then Argentina sputtered in the final against West Germany, further north in Rome. Eventually, his paranoia and dissolution forced him to leave Napoli, but in a way he has never left. His stubby young figure on paintings and posters resists the heat and humidity and grime in the ancient city. A man of a certain age takes out an ancient clipping that recalls how Maradona declined a transfer to one of the rich clubs up north in Italy. For a mountain of money, he said, “I am Neapolitan and I do not betray my people.” The memories of Maradona leapt out at a recent visitor, John McDermott, who covered eight World Cups, I believe. John played calcio for an Italian social club in North Beach, San Francisco, and now he and his wife Claudia live in a northeast corner of Italy. He and Claudia were on holiday recently; Diego Armando was everywhere. But it wasn't all calcio. While John and Claudia were strolling, they saw this: John McDermott's web site is:
www.mcdfoto.com
bruce
11/21/2017 11:17:25 pm
george,
George
11/22/2017 08:25:48 am
They've got other troubles. G
bruce
11/22/2017 09:49:38 am
george,
Altenir Silva
11/22/2017 10:02:47 am
Dear George,
Altenir Silva
11/22/2017 10:06:00 am
Sorry! I want to correct the sentence to: "Maradona is not a good example..."
George Vecsey
11/22/2017 03:44:48 pm
Dear Altenir: You do extremely well in English.
Brad Smith
11/22/2017 10:03:08 am
So great to see you here, feels like home... Photos by Mr. McDermott only make it that much nicer.
George Vecsey
11/22/2017 03:47:51 pm
Thank you. Are you the Brad Smith who used to work for the NYT? Took one for the team in Athens in 2004? Or do I remember another Brad Smith writing in to my site? Either way, thank you. John is a good friend (we have the same birthday but I am older) and has an amazing portfolio, not just about sports. Best, GV
Brad Smith
11/23/2017 12:37:50 am
I'm the one who loaned you his glove in Beijing!
George Vecsey
11/23/2017 09:14:05 am
Brad, great to hear from you. Yes, the glove. That was the most fun hour in Beijing (tied, maybe, with one free evening on the hill and visiting a Uighur restaurant in some vanishing hutang with Jennifer 8 Lee and Chris Clarey.)
George Vecsey
11/23/2017 01:00:34 pm
Duh. John worked numerous Olympics from 84 on...and I spaced out on the memory of 1994 in Norway when he got us into the Casa Italia up on the mountain -- with the help of a few of my NYT souvenir pins. Good Italian food....and Alberto Tomba going from table to table to check everybody out.
John McDermott
12/11/2017 06:55:31 am
Very kind of you Brad. Thank you! 11/22/2017 11:21:13 pm
Maradonna was a force to be reckoned in any soccer game despite the beatings that his legs usually took. Although admired by his fans, he was certainly was not a role model for anyone.
George Vecsey
11/23/2017 09:21:13 am
Alan, Altenir wrote me a note about how Garrincha set up some of Pele's goals with great fakes and runs through defenses. Comments are closed.
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