SA2010 Better Off without Maradona?

No question that we prefer to see a World Cup with Argentina in it.

But the bad news here is ... Diego Maradona likely will be in South Africa, too.

Maradona happened to be on the sidelines when Argentina won at Uruguay on Wednesday, clinching a berth in the 2010 World Cup. So, the odds are strong the mercurial (if not goofy, if not barking) coach will be there, too.

That may not be to the good, as the latest controversy surrounding Maradona seems to indicate.

Maradona blasted his critics in the Argentine media, after the 1-0 victory over Uruguay, and at some point was more than a little vulgar, in the process.

A cursory search of the web yields no transcript of Maradona's rant, but it was foul enough that FIFA announced it will investigate his comments.

That's the Maradona we don't really need. The rude and crude and paranoid android who was on display in the interview room Wednesday night.

If only it were possible to Argentina -- without Diego. Alas, it seems as if they are no joined at the hip. And perhaps at the lip. A pity, actually.