Well

I've come to realise over the years that to me, a person's moral character is a great deal more important than their talent.

In various ways, professional and personal, I've known lots and lots of very talented people. People with a claim to be the Maradonas of law. Some very talented finance people. Some very successful artists. And so on.

Obviously I admire their talents. But to me, their talents matter a great deal less than their moral compass, than what they are like as people.

And because of what I do (law) I am repulsed by cheating. I come across it all the time. I see it in the papers I read about deals gone wrong; I see witnesses panic and squirm and lie. Sometimes I see honourable people who do none of those things. People who tried to do the right thing at the time, and who now won't join in a cover up.

They are the people who impress me.

Translate that into a sporting context and I have infinitely more admiration for (say ) Lineker, who never even got a yellow card, than I am by Maradona, who was far far FAR more talented - but was a cheat. Not just Hand of God, but constantly.

If his talent outweighs his character for you, then I can only shake my head in return.

Posted By: Old Git on November 25th 2020 at 18:08:48

Message Thread

Maradona has died... (n/m) (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 16:22:22
- The greatest. His impact at Napoli was huge , doubt a (Other Football) - Mozzer, Nov 25, 19:00:02
  - ^never saw Pele (n/m) (Other Football) - Jumbo1, Nov 25, 19:30:45
    - Brazil in the 70's without Pele were still amazing, Argentina (Other Football) - Mozzer, Nov 25, 19:37:17
- Should have been hanged for releasing American Pie (Other Football) - Jumbo1, Nov 25, 18:36:36
  - he had a chat show in Arg for a while too (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:39:25
    - You’ve ruined my joke! (Other Football) - Jumbo1, Nov 25, 18:56:06
      - oops! you should've used a better known song (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 19:02:56
- Good footballer but not a patch on the greatest, (Other Football) - CB41, Nov 25, 18:00:06
- Sad, despite his failings and the HoG business. Top talent in his day. RIP 🇦🇷😥 (n/m) (Other Football) - Worthing Yellow, Nov 25, 17:19:24
  - George Best died aged 59. Similar genius, similar failings.... (Other Football) - Saucerer, Nov 25, 17:45:29
    - how did cruyff self-destruct? (n/m) (Other Football) - jampersands, Nov 25, 17:56:25
      - Smoked like a chimney dint he (n/m) (Other Football) - emmaroyds, Nov 25, 18:01:02
- Oh dear (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 17:17:51
  - This is very sad and tragic too - another great (Other Football) - CB41, Nov 25, 18:07:08
    - Oh, I missed that. Thanks. (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:10:15
    - Yeah saw that yesterday,very very sad.RIP. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 18:08:12
  - Wow. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 17:50:16
  - jesus wept are you *still* bitter about 86? (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 17:23:22
    - Well (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:08:48
      - ^^^^Spot-fucking-on^^^^ (Other Football) - Captain Bligh, Nov 25, 18:25:55
        
        His character as a sportsman. (Other Football) - Captain Bligh, Nov 25, 19:12:14
        
        Tell me more about this *shitty character* of his. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 18:32:13
        
        what shitty character? you and OG know almost nothing of the man (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:31:34
      - Fucking hypocrisy of some of you. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 18:25:50
      - so a couple of intances of cheating outweighs the character of a man known to be (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:22:24
        
        We're all entitled to weigh up evidence and reach different conclusions (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:31:12
        
        wow, he did some drugs. Big deal. Do you similarly hate nearly all musicians and deride (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:34:13
        
        Never thought about that! (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:46:44
        
        I doubt it was an actual request (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 18:34:08
        
        Pass me the smelling salts! (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 18:33:02
        
        man does drugs, man insults a reporter, man deserves to die in disgrace (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:36:46
        
        Good grief (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:42:15
        
        We're slightly going round in circles here (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:52:12
        
        oh dear (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:45:41
      - Do you think that Gary Lineket never cheated? (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 18:21:44
        
        Great to be lectured on posting style by you, buddy (n/m) (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:31:54
        
        The absolutely 100% unexpected ad hominem! (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 18:34:48
        
        Do flounce off again any time you feel like it (n/m) (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 18:42:51
        
        How very mature of you. Have a nice evening. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 18:45:13
      - Yes it’s the character (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 18:20:56
        
        One of these days. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 18:22:40
      - Wholeheartedly agree.👏👍 (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 18:17:23
      - Marvellous (n/m) (Other Football) - yellowman, Nov 25, 18:12:51
    - Peter Shilton is still crying about it (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 17:25:04
      - looking on twitter it really seems like it's a group of only the very worst people (n/m) (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 17:26:20
        
        50th anniversary of his first England appearance (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 17:58:41
        
        Yeah. (Other Football) - Garry Brooke, Nov 25, 17:41:11
        
        Funny isn’t it? I don’t remember any of those fouls (Other Football) - jamesward, Nov 25, 17:49:38
        
        That's what Fenwick was there for. He wasn't there for his passing + movement! (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 18:26:29
- First thing I thought of (Other Football) - Trent_Canary, Nov 25, 17:08:19
  - Context (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 17:10:21
    - Don't ruin it. Next you'll be telling there's no such thing as the Tooth Fairy (n/m) (Other Football) - Trent_Canary, Nov 25, 17:12:34
- The Lance Armstrong of football (n/m) (Other Football) - yellowman, Nov 25, 17:05:15
  - Gattuso would be another,absolutely no way imo that he hasn't juiced during his caree (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 17:23:33
    - Maldini was my absolute hero prothers.... (Other Football) - yellowman, Nov 25, 17:31:17
      - Yep,great player. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 18:04:36
  - thats a weird thing to say (Other Football) - jampersands, Nov 25, 17:08:11
    - I might be wrong but I thought there were rumours he was on abit (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 17:15:11
  - hardly, he was the best ever with or without - Armstrong would've been a nobody (n/m) (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 17:07:01
    - Correct, of course. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 17:48:08
      - 😂 (n/m) (Other Football) - yellowman, Nov 25, 17:48:55
    - Yep (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 17:09:30
      - Haha (n/m) (Other Football) - yellowman, Nov 25, 17:19:49
      - It's banned by all sporting authorities because it has a performance enhancing effect (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 17:17:10
        
        Thought so,fairly sure I've had ephedrine myself,good stuff! (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 17:19:05
- A sad day for Colombia (Other Football) - Ben, Nov 25, 16:58:15
  - A terrible year for them with all the clubs shut (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 17:01:40
- Maragoner. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 16:53:02
- The greatest ever 👏 (n/m) (Other Football) - loz, Nov 25, 16:46:38
  - Depends on your age. For me it was Pele. The generation before me Puskás (n/m) (Other Football) - The Gaffer, Nov 25, 17:24:02
  - him and the messi were the two best I've ever seen (Other Football) - jampersands, Nov 25, 17:07:30
    - I think Messi is better in some ways, but Maradona was capable of doing it all alone (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 17:14:11
      - I think champions league is the top stage, in terms of quality (Other Football) - jampersands, Nov 25, 17:27:29
        
        But by that logic it's easier to dominate teams playing in better sides,with (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 17:32:14
        
        Agreed to a certain extent, but his performances for Arg have been sadly lacking too often (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 17:31:34
  - Mmmm maybe ... maybe not (n/m) (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Nov 25, 16:54:06
    - Close between him and Wes (n/m) (Other Football) - jamesward, Nov 25, 17:01:13
      - Motherfuckers forgot about the Doc (n/m) (Other Football) - Old Git, Nov 25, 17:05:44
        
        And Dre (n/m) (Other Football) - Basil Wrathbone, Nov 25, 17:10:58
- Brilliant Footballer (Other Football) - ghostof barry butler, Nov 25, 16:38:19
  - Generally the case for exceptional footballers. (n/m) (Other Football) - Trent_Canary, Nov 25, 16:56:39
    - Like Buendia flawed genius (n/m) (Other Football) - KevinBond, Nov 25, 17:08:47
  - That's the great insight you get the big bucks for. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Nov 25, 16:53:46
    - :))) (n/m) (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 16:57:17
- Oh no! (Other Football) - Garry Brooke, Nov 25, 16:37:09
  - Epic piece of commentary here (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 16:39:50
    - Tbf Jumbles has scored much better goals against far superior (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 17:04:45
- Who could have predicted an early death for him (Other Football) - Charles21, Nov 25, 16:36:18
- Very sad. Incredible footballer (n/m) (Other Football) - jamesward, Nov 25, 16:32:27
  - Exactly 15 years after Best died (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 16:34:55
    - I suppose it's a heavy burden to bare,that kind of talent. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 25, 16:37:51
- What a player...RIP (n/m) (Other Football) - JoeyDeacon, Nov 25, 16:30:49
- I don't know what i'm more shocked about? The fact that he has died or (Other Football) - Norfolk un Way, Nov 25, 16:29:41
  - it's pretty amazing that he survived back in 2000 (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 16:32:43
- Blimey wasn’t he taken ill after his birthday? (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Nov 25, 16:23:42
  - yeah, he had a blot clot on the brain a couple of weeks ago and just had a heart attack (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 25, 16:26:39

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