Since everyone in the USA has world cup fever I thought I'd do a little post about Bob Marley's love of soccer aka football.
Many people are surprised to hear Bob Marley was a fantastic soccer player and fan. Bob Marley simply loved kicking a ball. About every single day when on tour or in the recording studio. He also loved watching soccer on tv. His favorite team was Santos Futebol Clube ( Brazil ). His favourite player was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, world famous as Pele, who began playing for Santos at age 15.
On a trip to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, 197) Bob Marley joined in on a heated street soccer game with some fellow musicians, people from record label Ariola, Brazilian street kids and Paulo Cesar, member of the 1970 Brazilian World Cup team. Before the game the Brazilians had given him a number 10 Santos shirt ( Pele’s number). Bob Marley had smiled, and, while putting it on, was heard saying that, just like Pele, he too could play in all positions.
Many of his friends claimed that if Marley hadn’t been so dedicated to his music, he could have made it big as a professional soccer player. As a midfielder, Marley was quick and innovative.
“I love music before I love football. If I love football first, maybe that a bit dangerous, because the football very violent. If a man tackle you hard, it brings feelings o’ war!”
Many fans of Marley trace his ultimate death from cancer as a result of an injury he sustained during a soccer game in 1977 at a game in Battersea Park in Great Britain. Danny Baker, a renowned English soccer radio and television announcer at the time, allegedly stepped on Marley’s foot during a game, snapping his big toenail off. Marley later developed a condition akin to gangrene on the injured toe, but refused to have is foot amputated as doctors recommended, saying, “Rasta no abide amputation.”
Bob Marley was buried with his guitar ( Gibson Les Paul ), a bud of marihuana, a bible, a ring and a soccer ball.
Have a groovy vintage retro day!
- Retro Rebirth
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