Tag Archives: Wilson Pickett

Whereas the fortunes of the team haven’t changed too much really, the perception of Messi certainly has. Argentina went out in the quarters, as always, and though it’s a cheap, somewhat trite line, Messi’s performances mirrored the fate of la Selección – truly scintillating at times but ultimately bullied and scuppered with not a little ignominy. Ne’ertheless, he came out with his reputation enhanced. Pegamequemegusta contends that the delay in appointing Batista was not just due to doubts in the AFA – it was about the consolidation of power, making Batista squirm for a few months as the learned beards down Viamonte way feigned to be overseeing his work, judging it according to their celestial wisdom. Moreover, and especially with the ousting of such a massive media personality as Maradona, the absence of any manager at all meant that there was a vacuum. Now it’s not strange that stories about Messi should fill that vacuum – he’s everywhere, after all – but it has been rather perplexing to see the change in how Messi is represented.

Whereas before Lionel was a soulless waif, a confused but brilliant child, an uncharismatic crack, almost someone who was only to be tolerated as long as he was providing the goods (and pilloried when he wasn’t), these days Messi is presented as a strong man, a man to be listened to, an iron-willed leader, a ruthless prince covered in the blood of his legion victims with his eye trained coldly on the cup of destiny. The years he spent solely triumphing in Catalonia was but his Mío Cid phase – exiled by a confused king he racks up victory after victory routing the Moors in Valencia along the way but always sends back his booty to the king, who doesn’t recognise him, just to prove his love and devotion. It’s like the loser kid in the neighbourhood who no-one ever paid any attention to until he got that SNES and henceforth your destinies were inextricably bound, his opinion now counted when decisions were being made such as whether the ball had gone over the invisible crossbar or not. Continue reading →