Christmas with Boris Becker

...and then he floated off in the direction given to him by five million Argentines down on the streets of Buenos Aires around the obelisk: up into the divine heaven of immortality, quite banally by helicopter, because the team bus couldn't get through found. Lionel Messi, a little guy with a sloppy beard, from whose ankles a ball can have a magical effect. He is the hero these days in a country that has one of the highest inflation rates in the world. Every second Argentine lives below the poverty line. And yet there were 40.000 in Qatar, supported by various Argentine football clubs, among others, who for a moment forgot their sometimes brutal rivalry.

Of course, no one envies Messi's wealth. Gods are measured by different standards and besides, he won the World Cup and united the country. Journalist Pola Oloixarac from the daily newspaper “La Nacion” describes the unifying element of the “Albiceleste” with a nice comparison: The national team is what the British crown is to England. It conveys a sense of belonging and allows for tolerance of frustration. But unfortunately this only applies for a short moment, because the fall into reality, into the more than just gray everyday life, can no longer be compensated for by great dribbling and converted penalties.

The World Cup parade in Buenos Aires. © APA/afp / LUIS ROBAYO

Now there will be collective frustration that will divide the country again. This will not affect Messi and his successful colleagues. Almost the entire national team is under contract with clubs in Europe. And the inflation rate is still limited and Christmas presents are still affordable. Definitely for Argentine soccer world champions.

Boris is at home Boris Becker was not given a train station as big as the soccer players from Argentina when he was allowed to leave his adopted home of London - almost secretly - in time to order a few more Christmas presents. The necessary change was donated to him by a private German television station, where he was of course allowed to wipe a few tears from his eyes exclusively for more than half a million euros at the sight of his cell, which was ultimately his home. He praised the community in captivity. Becker said he had never experienced that in freedom. Cakes were baked for him and he then handed them out piece by piece.

Boris Becker is on the loose again. © APA/afp / DANIEL ROLAND

And otherwise? Well, a lot of things have gone wrong in his life so far, which he will now take control of again, together with his new partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, who comes from a family of politicians in Sao Tomé and Principe. Her dad narrowly failed to win the presidential election in 2014 as defense minister. Becker's new sweetheart has immediately founded a company that - surprise - markets Boris Becker because he is normally not allowed to keep his income. In any case, we are happy to have him back because his adopted home of London is taboo for him. Also his living room, the tennis court in Wimbledon, from where he once set out to conquer the world as a 17-year-old from Leimen, which then didn't mean so well to him. Now a new chapter begins for him without backhands and Beckerrolle. Yet again.

Persecuted football players in Iran Qatar again. But this time only geographically, because the country of the World Cup organizer is known to be on the Persian Gulf, as is Iran, where the mullahs, the reactionary religious fanatics, want to continue to consolidate their power in the most brutal way. Freedom is not tolerated and the world, including sports, is still watching. Disbelief spreads. Two years ago I mentioned the death of wrestler Navid Afkari here. Death by hanging because he took part in anti-regime protests that resulted in the death of a so-called security guard.

Now many athletes, and at the moment especially football players, are once again being subjected to brutal reprisals and even death threats. Athletes who use their notoriety to support the people of Iran's fight for a life of freedom. The major sports organizations remain silent. Again they don't want to get involved. Again they point to the sovereignty of their member states. Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Belarus and China have long had to fear for their membership in world sport.

But from Lausanne, the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), there are only vague indications of possible human rights violations. Nobody wants to demand consequences. That's pathetic. Especially now at Christmas, persecuted people need our support and all of us who love sport need a clear signal that warmongering states and countries that enslave and kill their own people have no place in any sporting competition.

With this in mind, combined with the hope that some appeals will be heard, I wish all readers of S+ and of course especially those who read my column a merry Christmas. I won't stop occasionally luring against the sting. Even if it's annoying at times, every voice is important.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich The multi-award-winning sports journalist (including the German Television Prize and the Bavarian Sports Prize), book author and TV commentator, devotes his column “Sigi's Peaks” to the entire diversity of sport and sometimes poaches outside of his profession. There is a smile and a wink as well as serious analysis and provocative topics. After studying sports at the Technical University of Munich, Heinrich was the sports editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung for ten years and has been part of Eurosport's "repertoire" for more than 30 years.

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