ABDULLAH SHAFIQUE BECOMES FIRST PAKISTANI BATTER IN 49 YEARS TO SCORE 150 IN WEST INDIES

Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique has ended a 49-year wait by becoming the first Pakistani batter since 1977 to score more than 150 runs in a Test match in the West Indies.

Shafique struck a commanding 160 in the Port of Spain Test, playing a key role in Pakistan’s eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second Test.

The milestone placed Shafique in distinguished company in Pakistan’s Test history. Before him, Majid Khan was the last Pakistani batter to score 150 or more runs in a Test in the West Indies. He made 167 in Guyana in 1977.

Shafique’s innings also highlighted his growing impact in overseas Test cricket. Three of Pakistan’s last four individual scores of 150 or more in Test matches played outside the country have been recorded by the right-handed batter.

His 160 proved particularly valuable as Pakistan chased down the target comfortably to complete an eight-wicket win in Port of Spain.

The victory also marked another significant overseas Test success for Pakistan. The national side had last won a Test series away from home in 2023, when it defeated Sri Lanka in a two-match series.

Shafique’s latest century-plus performance will therefore be remembered as both a personal milestone and an important contribution to Pakistan’s success in the Caribbean.

- Pakistani Observer 

THE 1977 TANZANIAN NATIONAL BOXING TEAM AND THEIR LEADERS, ALONG WITH SPORTS COUNCIL OFFICIALS

 

It was at Dar es Salaam Airport in 1977, when the Tanzania National Boxing Team was returning from a competition in Ethiopia, having arrived home with honor around their necks.

In the top row stands Titus Simba (fifth from the left at the back), the National Heavyweight Champion, a boxer whose fists were a weapon of the nation. When this photo was taken, it was not known that this would be his last journey representing Tanzania on international stages. The late Simba left us too soon, but he left an indelible mark in the history of our sports.

Kneeling in front from the right are Ahmed Tesha, Emmanuel Mlundwa, Lucas Msomba, Rashid Mohamed, Habib Kinyogoli, and Bakari Kitivu (who did not go on this trip).

Behind them stand the leaders and pillars of boxing in the country: Coach William Majwala, Vice President of the Tanzania Amateur Boxing Association (TABA) Mzee Pazzi, Chairman of TABA and international referee Salim Seif Nkamba, Secretary General of TABA and international referee Narcis Tarimo, Elias Sulus (from BMT), William Lyimo, Alois Nyuti, and Dr. Kisambale.

Nearly 50 years have passed and many of them have gone ahead to the hereafter, but this photo remains evidence that Tanzania was at the top in boxing even back in the day.

- Emmanuel Mlundwa

TED TURNER MANAGES BRAVES I. 1977

 

AMERICA'S CUP | SUNMER | 1977 | TED TURNER

 

TOUR DE FRANCE 2027 ROUTES REVEALED WITH STARTS IN EDINBURGH AND LEEDS

 

The 2027 Tour de France will head through Carlisle, Keswick, Liverpool and Welshpool after starting out in Edinburgh next July before finishing in Cardiff.

And the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Swift, heading to the United Kingdom for the first time, will depart from Leeds later in July and take in Manchester and Sheffield before finishing in London.

Tour organisers announced the Grand Depart start and finish locations for both races in Leeds on Thursday, having revealed in March that Scotland, England and Wales will share six stages of one of the world’s biggest free-to-watch sporting event.

Tour de France 2027 Grand Depart (PA Graphics)

It will be the first time the two races have started in the same country other than France.

The UK will host the men’s event for the fifth time – the first was in Plymouth in 1974 – and will start the race for a third time after London in 2007 and Leeds in 2014.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme said: “The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain.

“Bringing both Grand Departs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”

Crowds totalling 2.5 million lined the route when the first two stages of the Tour were held in Yorkshire in 2014 and organisers are expecting a similarly spectacular turn out next year.

Prudhomme told the Press Association: “There’s going to be double the impact because we also have the women’s race in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and London, as well as the men’s race.

“It will be huge. The previous two grand departs in the UK, in London in 1977 and in Yorkshire in 2014 were unforgettable.”

When asked why it has taken so long for the Tour to return, Prudhomme added: “Because thanks to London, thanks to Yorkshire, we have more bids than before.

Director of the Tour de France Christian Prudhomme during the Tour de France 2027 Grand Depart route reveal (Zoe Head-Thomas/PA)

“We have bids from almost everywhere in Europe, for example, the Czech Republic – the guy we saw there was the Prime Minister – and Slovenia. They all want the tour at the start in their country.

“It was not the case before 2014, so thanks to the huge success of Yorkshire we have many more bids and bids presented by the highest level in each country.”

The Tour de France Femmes, brought under the same organisation as the men’s race in 2022, will start outside of France for the third time following the Netherlands in 2024 and Switzerland in 2025.

Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse said: “The UK has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Armitstead-Deignan.

“Starting the Tour de France Femmes in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour.

“These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”

Grand Depart GB 2027 managing director Paul Bush stressed the positive social impact the Tour will have after the announcing of Joy, “the social impact programme that will embed community at the heart of the 2027 Grand Depart.

He told the Press Association: “Bringing the men’s and women’s races together is historic. It’s never happened before.

“We’ve called the social impact programme Joy on purpose because the race will actually bring some joy back into life.

“It’s an opportunity for communities to come out and support not only the riders, but take part in local activities.

“Whether it be through old people’s homes, whether it be through street parties, through schools. Christian Prudhomme has always said the race brings joy to communities.”

- 

WILLIAMS UNVEILS NEW NAME & LOGO FOR 2026

Atlassian Williams Racing will race next year under a new identity that connects the team’s glorious legacy to its bold and ambitious future. From January the team will become Atlassian Williams F1 Team – a name reflecting their sole purpose to race and win in the top echelon of motorsport. Their existing ‘W’ logo will be replaced by a 21st century reimagining of Frank Williams’ famous ‘Forward W’, first introduced in our founding year of 1977 and featured on every one of our nine Constructors’ World Championship-winning cars.

It is the latest evolution for an iconic Formula 1 team that is one of the top three most-successful in the sport’s history – and has set a clear ambition to be a powerhouse again in this modern era of F1.

Throughout almost 50 years in F1 Williams has forged a legacy built on independence, innovation and determination to win, attracting tens of millions of dedicated fans around the world.

Now under the ownership of Dorilton Capital, with James Vowles as Team Principal and world-class drivers in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, the team is driven to usher in a new era of success with the same passion and values at its heart as F1 continues to expand in global popularity.

This transformation is already gathering pace, with the team sitting fifth in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with 111 points – more than the past seven seasons combined. The team recently secured its first Grand Prix podium since 2021 in Baku, and first-ever Sprint podium in Austin.

James Vowles, Team Principal, Atlassian Williams Racing: “I am proud that from next year we will be known as Atlassian Williams F1 Team and carry a logo on our car inspired by our founder Sir Frank Williams and deeply connected with our decades of success.

“As a team we are inspired by our past but excited about our future, and committed to writing a new Championship-winning chapter in Williams’ history.

“This evolved team identity reflects who we are, where we are going, and reintroduces our title-winning legacy to a growing F1 audience that was not following the sport when we were last dominant.”

Marcus Prosser, Marketing Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “With this new name and logo our rich history is being reimagined for the future.

“It is inspired by our past, confident about our future, and clear about our identity – a Championship-winning Formula 1 team with a burning drive to win again.

“We hope our existing and loyal fans will love it. But we also hope it will connect a new generation to our incredible legacy, building the community of Williams fans that will carry us to our next victory.”

- Williams Racing

CHATGPT DEFEATED AT CHESS BY A 1977 ATARI

ChatGPT just lost a chess match to a 1977 Atari console.

Even on beginner mode, it struggled against the decades-old AI engine.

ChatGPT hit a humbling roadblock—losing badly in a game of chess to an Atari 2600 from 1977. 

In a now-viral LinkedIn post, Citrix software engineer Robert Caruso recounted how the modern AI chatbot was "absolutely wrecked" by Atari Chess, a primitive game engine that only thinks one to two moves ahead. 

Even on beginner mode, ChatGPT fumbled its way through the match, confusing pieces, misreading moves, and losing track of the board state entirely—blunders that would embarrass even a novice.

The irony? 

While ChatGPT floundered with abstract visuals and insisted it could win with a restart, the Atari’s rudimentary 8-bit system calmly calculated its next moves, delivering a crushing defeat with no frills or fanfare. 

The showdown highlights a striking contrast between brute-force logic and generative language intelligence—suggesting that even cutting-edge AI can be outplayed by decades-old tech when it steps out of its comfort zone. 

Chalk one up for retro resilience.

- Science Explorist

#RetroTech #AI #ChatGPT #ChessFail #Atari2600 #ArtificialIntelligence #OldVsNew #TechIrony #AIHumor #Futurism

HOW VILLANOVA FEELS ABOUT HAVING THE NEW POPE AS AN ALUM

AP

Father Peter Donohue, the president of Villanova University, was having lunch with a few of the school’s alums in a Chicago restaurant on Thursday when word got out that white smoke was billowing from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new Pope. Donohue asked the restaurant staff to turn up the TV sound.

He knew his fellow Villanova alum, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a Chicago native who graduated from the Philadelphia-area school in 1977, two years after Donohue—took part in the Papal conclave. But Donohue, like most other Catholics around the world, was not expecting to see Cardinal Prevost step onto the Vatican balcony, and introduce himself to the world as Pope Francis’ successor. After all, other church officials had more experience than Prevost, who had only been a Cardinal since 2023. And no American had even been elected Pope before.

So when Prevost was in fact announced as the next pope, Donohue was just as stunned as anyone. “I practically fell off the chair,” he tells TIME. “It was such a long shot.”

And in the minutes and hours that followed, he fielded a parade of well-wishes, as Donohue was suddenly the first person in history to lead an American university that counts a Pope among its alumni pool.

“You would think I became the Pope,” says Donohue, “I was getting so many congratulations.”

St. Thomas of Villanova Church at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on Thursday.Credit...Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times

Villanova, a mid-size Catholic institution run by the same Order of St. Augustine that produced the newly-installed Pope Leo XIV, is enjoying one heck of a moment. A strong academic institution with a loyal alumni base, Villanova was probably best-known in the popular imagination—before the ascension of one of its former math majors to the papacy—for its success in college basketball. The Wildcats, under Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, won a pair of recent championships, in 2016 and 2018.

“We already had God: we had Jay Wright,” says Paul DiSenso, a 2000 Villanova alum who lives in the New York City area. “Now we have the Pope too. That’s pretty good.”

What’s more, three of those championship players—Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges—are currently in the starting lineup for the New York Knicks, who just last night completed a second stunning comeback victory against the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, on the road in their second-round playoff series. The Knicks lead the series 2-0, and with two home games at Madison Square Garden coming up on Saturday and Monday, New York’s “Villanova Knicks” have a strong chance to lead the franchise to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century.

Forgive Knicks fans for believing that the surprise selection of Pope Leo XIV is some sign of divine intervention: even Father Donohue has been enjoying some of the Knicks papal memes running rampant around the internet. “Oh, I’ve already seen that one!” he says when I mention that the image floating around of the Pope eating cake with the three Villanova Knicks and Donte DiVincenzo, the former Villanova and Knicks player who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before this season.

And forgive Rosanne Breen for beaming with Villanova love. On a 1-10 scale, she says, “my Villanova pride has always been a 10. And today it’s like 210.” Because today, on her 62nd birthday, Breen, who graduated from the school in 1985—the year the Wildcats upset Georgetown in an epic national championship basketball game to win its first title—found out a fellow math major was elected pope. Breen’s nephew, an engineering alum, texted her: Aunt Rosanne, can you believe the Pope walked the halls of Mendel Hall and had the same teachers you had?

Breen won the school’s math medal as the top student in 1985: Breen’s kids are all wondering if the Pope also nabbed that honor too. If he didn’t, they surely wouldn’t mind mom one-upping the Pope on something. 

“If he did,” says Donohue, “he probably wouldn't have told anybody. That’s the way he is. A very humble guy.”

In September of 2022, Breen lost her family’s Long Island home—and too many valuable possessions, including the math medal—in a fire. She told a couple in the neighborhood about losing her cherished award. Unbeknownst to Breen, her friends— who happen to be Jewish and had no connection to Villanova—called the school to inform officials about what happened to Breen. About a year ago, Breen discovered a surprise package in the mail. Villanova remade her math medal. It proudly stands in her rebuilt home.

She was known as Rosanne Puntolillo back then: for the last 35 years, Rosanne has been married to Mike Breen, the NBA lead play-by-announcer for ESPN and—here’s that divine sign—the New York Knicks. “I hope he’s a basketball fan,” says Rosanne Breen of the Pope.

“I'm a little bit speechless,” she says. “Of the million different things somebody could be, a Villanova math major is very much a grain of sand.”

Ryan Mahoney, a 2011 Villanova graduate who worked as an intern at the Vatican, doing web design and planning virtual tours his junior year, hopes Pope Leo XIV's election allows the church to spread the school’s core values—veritas (truth), unitas (unity), and caritas (love), emblazoned on Breen’s medal and all over campus. “It’s exciting for me as an alum, but as a Catholic as well,” Mahoney says. “An American Pope. who has these Augustinian values will be really nice for the global Catholic church.”

Villanova is in uncharted waters: no data exists to forecast whether a papal election increases inbound interest—in the form of more applications and donations, for example—in an American institution of higher education. If sports success is any indicator, however, Villanova could see a Papal boon. Donohue says applications increased after the hoops titles, like they have for many schools. “Certainly the name is out there,” he says. “When we won the basketball championships, people suddenly said, ‘let me look at Villanova. Let me investigate what this place is like.’ And so maybe people look at us and say, ‘Oh, the Pope is from Villanova. Maybe I should look at that.’”

Though Donohue knew Pope Leo XIV during their undergrad days, he won’t speak out of school. “I can't tell stories about him now,” he says with a hearty guffaw. “People would think that's terrible.” Prevost was bright, analytical and friendly, but it’s not like Donohue thought, back in the mid-1970s, he was going to be Pope one day. “Nobody says that about anybody.”

Right before speaking with TIME on Thursday, Donohue sent Pope Leo XIV an email, at his personal address. “It started out, ‘Bob,’” Donohue says. “Then I said, ‘I guess I should say Your Holiness.’” He told Pope Leo that Villanova, and the Pope’s Augustinian brothers in the United States, were praying for him, and wished him the best. “I’m going to try to see if I can get him as the commencement speaker,” says Donohue. Not for this spring though. Villanova already booked someone. Plus, Prevost needs to settle in at the Vatican.

“We’ll give him a year.”  

- Sean Gregory

REGGAE LEGEND BOB MARLEY WITH SOCCER LEGEND PELÉ

Did you know Bob Marley’s life story is as powerful and inspiring as his music? Raised in the poverty-stricken slums of Kingston, Jamaica, Marley faced discrimination and hardship—but he used music as a weapon for change. His blend of reggae, soul, and revolutionary lyrics made him an international icon, but here’s something even more jaw-dropping: Bob Marley’s hit *No Woman, No Cry* was actually inspired by the struggles of his own childhood in Trenchtown, where he watched his mother raise him through poverty. 

Bob didn’t just change music—he changed the world. His fusion of Rastafarian spirituality, social justice, and cultural pride made him a voice for the oppressed. Songs like *Redemption Song* and *Get Up, Stand Up* weren’t just about revolution—they were anthems of hope, resilience, and human rights. And get this—despite being diagnosed with cancer in 1977, Marley continued to tour and perform with relentless energy until his death in 1981 at just **36 years old**.

Even after his passing, Bob Marley’s influence only grew. He became not just a musical legend, but a symbol of unity, peace, and love. To this day, his music continues to inspire millions around the globe, reminding us to *stand up for our rights* and *love one another*. 🌍✌️🎶

HISTORIC! BRUMRAL BREAKS BEDI'S RECORD

IMAGE: Jasprit Bumrah celebrates Marnus Labuschange's wicket -- his 32nd wicket of the series. Photograph: BCCI/X

Jasprit Bumrah etched another record to his name as he created history, picking up the most wickets by an Indian bowler in an away Test series.

The fast bowler continued his stellar run with the ball in Australia as he overtook spin great Bishan Singh Bedi's all-time record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in an away Test series.

Bumrah dismissed Marnus Labuschagne caught behind to take his wickets tally to 32 in the series before he went off the field for precautionary scans after feeling some discomfort in the post-lunch session.

The India captain has been the standout performer with the ball in the series, claiming 32 wickets at a phenomenal average of 13, including three five-wicket.

This is the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a series away from home. The previous record belonged to Bedi, who took 31 wickets in five Tests at an average of 23 in the 1977-1978 series in Australia.

In that same series, another spin legend Bhagwat Chandrasekhar picked up 28 wickets averaging 28 as Australia defeated India 3-2 in a thrilling series.

Subhas Gupte had bagged 27 wickets during India's tour of West Indies in 1952-1953.

Kapil Dev held the previous record for the most wickets by an Indian pacer away from home when he picked up 25 wickets at an average of 25 during the tour of Australia in 1991-1992.

- REDIFF CRICKET

BRAVES' CHRIS SALE, TIGERS'TARIK SKUBALWIN CY YOUNG AWARDS

 

AP photo by Jason Allen / Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale receives recognition for being the team's Roberto Clemente Award nominee for 2024 before the start of a home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 15 at Truist Park.

Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal have a lot in common: left-handed, pitching Triple Crown winners, former Tommy John surgery patients. And now, first-time Cy Young Award recipients.

Sale's comeback season with the Atlanta Braves ended with the National League honor, as he received 26 of the 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America to finish ahead of Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler, who received the other four, and Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes.

Skubal, the ace for the Detroit Tigers, won the American League award in unanimous fashion, with Kansas City's Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA) finishing a distant second in the voting. Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase (47 saves) was third.

It was only the third time two left-handers won Cy Young honors in the same season, with Steve Carlton and Sparky Lyle winning in 1977 and Randy Johnson and Barry Zito in 2002.

Sale, 35, finished 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts -- leading the NL in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He and Skubal were the first pitchers to win the Triple Crown in a full season since Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander did it in 2011 (Shane Bieber did it in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season).

A pitching Triple Crown has happened 25 times, and a Cy Young Award has followed each time.

Sale's resurgence was a blast from last decade, when he was one of the top starting pitchers in the sport. He had battled a series of injuries since 2019, including Tommy John surgery in March 2020.

"To be able to show my sons the hard work, the dedication, not giving up. My wife having my back the whole time. I'm sure I was real peachy at times during those injuries," Sale said. "I was talking to my dad the other day and whether it did or didn't happen, he was proud of me."

From 2020 to 2023, Sale made only 31 starts, although 20 of those came with the Boston Red Sox last season. The Braves took a chance and acquired him in an offseason trade.

"The biggest thing is health," said Sale, who was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year last week at Major League Baseball's All-MLB Awards Show. "I was healthy earlier in my career and I was able to sustain some success and stay out on the field. Ran into a buzz saw over the past handful of years. Just couldn't stay healthy, couldn't stay on the field, and you're not doing anything when you're not on the field."

He responded with a season that looked like his prime years with the White Sox and Red Sox from 2012 to 2018, when he received Cy Young votes all seven seasons -- finishing second, third, fourth, fifth (twice) and sixth (twice). He had been tied with Mike Mussina and Nolan Ryan for the most top-five finishes (six) without winning.

In 2024, Sale made his most starts and pitched his most innings since 2017, not missing a start until the final week of the season, when he was scratched in a crucial season-ending series against the New York Mets because of back spasms and then sat out the Braves' wild-card series loss to the San Diego Padres.

Along the way, Sale won his final eight decisions as the Braves won a wild-card berth, overcoming a disappointing first half to make a late run and capture a playoff spot on the final day of the season. The Braves went 12-2 over his final 14 starts, with Sale posting a 1.93 ERA.

He not only led the NL in the Triple Crown categories but also led in ERA+, fewest home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5), strikeout rate (32.1%) and most strikeouts per nine (11.4). He led all pitchers in FanGraphs WAR (6.4) while ranking third behind Skubal and Cincinnati's Hunter Greene in Baseball-Reference WAR (6.2).

Sale's ERA was the lowest for a Braves left-hander in the expansion era (since 1961).

It was the eighth Cy Young for the Braves' organization, and the first since Tom Glavine won for the second time in 1998.

With his signature unorthodox sidearm delivery, Sale's stuff hasn't lost anything from his prime, despite all the injuries. He averaged 94.8 mph on his fastball, and batters hit just .171 with one home run in 280 at-bats off his slider.

"It's special and I appreciate it," Sale said. "It wasn't just me rolling out there and throwing the baseball. There were a lot of people who got me here: teammates, family, training staff. For me to go out there and do what I was able to do, I wouldn't have done it without them. The last few years were tough, so to go through what I went through with the support I had, I'm very thankful."

Skubal, who celebrated his 28th birthday Wednesday, had the breakout season that many saw coming after the second half of the 2023 season. He finished 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 2024. He was certainly the team MVP for the surprising Tigers, who had a historic surge over the final seven weeks of the season to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

"It was a ton of fun to be part of," Skubal said. "The last two months of our season and even the postseason was very special. The memories and the experience will obviously help our club going forward, and I'm glad we got to experience it as a team and as a young team."

Skubal, who had Tommy John surgery in college at Seattle University, was a ninth-round pick of the Tigers in 2018, but he climbed quickly through the minors and reached the majors in 2020. After a solid rookie season in 2021, he battled injuries in 2022 and '23, but he posted a 2.80 ERA in 15 starts last season, including 2.15 over his final 10 outings.

That carried over into 2024. Skubal won his first six decisions, posting a 1.80 ERA, and made his first All-Star team. With the Tigers under .500 as the trade deadline approached, Skubal's name was mentioned in trade rumors, but the Tigers kept him -- although they did trade Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

An unlikely run to the postseason followed. The Tigers were 55-63 on Aug. 10 but went 31-13 in their final 44 games. Skubal went 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA over that stretch, including two 2-1 victories.

His ERA was the lowest for a qualified Detroit starter since Mark Fidrych in 1976, and he's the Tigers' first Cy Young winner since Max Scherzer in 2013. Verlander, Willie Hernandez and Denny McLain (twice) also won the award with Detroit.

Skubal has a five-pitch repertoire, and his four-seam fastball averaged 96.8 mph and ranked in the 99th percentile of all pitchers in Statcast run value. He mixes in a changeup, sinker, slider and knuckle-curveball. Overall, batters hit just .201 against him with a .558 OPS.

"It's special," Skubal said. "All the hard work, all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, moments like this make it extremely worth it."

Skenes, the 22-year-old who won the NL Rookie of the Year award Monday, finished third in the NL Cy Young balloting -- just the fifth rookie to finish among the top three. Only Fernando Valenzuela won both awards in the same year, in 1981 with the Dodgers in the NL.

Clase, with a 0.61 ERA in 74⅓ innings over 74 games, is the first reliever to finish among the top three in Cy Young voting since San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman came in second for the NL award in 2006.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer

'I WANT TO PLAY FOR ARSENAL': WHEN DIEGO MARADONA ALMOST MOVED TO HIGHBURY

Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60. Worshipped like a God in Naples, fondly remembered in Barcelona and a hero in his native Argentina, he very nearly lit up Highbury too. Dan Mountney tells the tale of when one of the greatest to ever play the game

The year was 1979, and Arsenal boss Terry Neill was eyeing a teenage Argentine prodigy making waves in his homeland.

Jet black hair, a diminutive stature at just 5ft 5in but with legs built like tree trunks, a 19-year-old Diego Maradona was mesmerising the crowds at Argentinos Juniors with his quick feet, vision, close control and eye for goal.

After making his debut in 1976, the playmaker had netted 19 goals in 1977 Primera Division season, followed by 26 in both 1978 and 1979. Neill very much liked what he saw and made his move.

It would have been a major transfer coup for the Gunners with a number of clubs already monitoring the highly-rated teenager, but the club were clearly being ambitious having also lined up a move for Glenn Hoddle from rivals Tottenham.

Neither transfer would materialise.

"Hoddle rejected the chance to move to Highbury after having reservations about crossing the north London divide, while a move for Maradona fell through.

"When I was 19 they tried to buy me and another player from Argentinos Juniors – around the time Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles signed for Tottenham," said the Argentine in a 2008 interview.

"But it didn’t happen. I sometimes wonder what might have happened."

Neill wasn't done in his pursuit of the mercurial Maradona, and he would try his luck again three years later.

During the intervening years, Arsenal had hit a bump. 1980 saw the Gunners lose two finals in the space of four days as they lost to West Ham in the FA Cup final and then Valencia in the Cup Winners' Cup showpiece.

They also sold and then failed to replace Franck Stapleton and Liam Brady, with results taking a turn for the worst as Highbury attendances often fell below 20,000.

It was clear they needed a spark, so back they went for Maradona in March 1982.

As for the Argentine, he'd left Argentinos Juniors in 1980 after 116 goals in 166 games to join Boca Juniors, rejecting a host of offers in the process. 28 goals in 40 games followed for Buenos Aires-based giants, and so did attention from Europe.

Former Sheffield United boss Harry Haslam helped broker Arsenal's move. During his time as manager at Bramall Lane, Haslam had tried to sign Maradona as a 17-year-old in 1978 after spotting him on a scouting trip, but the Yorkshire club failed to stump up the £200,000 fee.

A £4m deal was agreed between The Gunners and Boca, but then the problems started.

Argentinos Juniors were still owed the first £1m instalment of Maradona's transfer to Boca. They took them to court to get it too, with a judge ruling Boca couldn't sell the player until the money had been paid.

Then the deal ran into problems in the House of Commons. Tom Lorney, Labour MP for Bradford, demanded Sports Minister Neil MacFarlane open an inquiry into the deal to help curb the 'excessive fees' being paid by football clubs.

Arsenal had found a way around this issue though, and planned to pay the transfer fee using sponsorship - much like they had planned to do in the 1970s when heavily linked with a move for Johan Cruyff.

The final blow to Arsenal's hopes of signing Maradona came from the FA who vowed to block any move.

A newspaper report from March 1982 read: "Diego Maradona, the £4million Argentina superstar admitted last night: 'I want to play for Arsenal'.

"Maradona, who is reported to earn a staggering £7,500 a week with Boca Juniors, broke his silence on a possible move to Highbury which had been set up by former Luton and Sheffield United manager Harry Haslam.

"Haslam has been acting as an Arsenal spy in South America but as he travelled back to London with his report the Football Association vowed to block any move by Arsenal to bring Maradona to England.

"League secretary Graham Kelly confirmed that the Management Committee didn't want foreign players from outside the EEC being granted a work permit for two years."

Sadly for Gooners, the move never happened. Vladimir Petrovic was signed from Red Star Belgrade instead and although he became a cult hero amongst the Highbury faithful, supporters can only dream of what Maradona would have done in the famous red and white.

If Arsenal's move had progressed any further it would have hit a further stumbling block, with the UK and Argentina going to war in the Falklands at the beginning of April 1982, just 11 days after the newspaper reports on his possible arrival.

Instead, Maradona would join Barcelona that summer in a world-record £5m deal and the rest is history. He would go onto to become one of the greatest of all-time, representing the likes of Napoli and Sevilla while also winning the 1986 World Cup with Argentina.

What can be said for certain is that for all his controversies and misdemeanours, Maradona was the star of his generation and will forever be remembered as one of football's greats. For some, he is even the greatest.

The thoughts of everyone at the Gooner Fanzine go out to Diego's family and friends at this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Diego Maradona. A true icon.

DARRYL DAWKINS VS. MAURICE LUCAS FIGHT | 1977 | NBA FINALS | GAME 2

VW SCIROCCO RALLY TEAM | 1977

MUHAMMAD ALI ON PHIL DONAHUE (1977) | SUPER RARE