如果說英格蘭的足球可以稱其為宗教的話，那麽普特尼的硬幣&紙幣酒吧就是它的教會。
There, over warm beer and soggy fries, middle-aged men pontificate on everything from
好了，熱啤酒再加上炸薯條，中年男人就像教皇壹樣詬病越
the inherent sinfulness of the offside trap to the fallibility of Wayne Rooney's left foot. But
位戰術中韋恩?魯尼的那只不可靠的左腳。但是
like church officials confronted with Galileo's telescope, football's high priests can't quite
正如教會官員直面伽利略的望遠鏡壹樣，足球的高級教士很是搞不懂迪迪爾?德羅巴。
make sense of Didier Drogba. "He's a weapon, not a footballer," says one. "A specimen,"
“他是件兇器，而不是足球運動員，”其中壹個這樣說道。“壹個怪人，”另壹個說道。
says another. "The scariest footballer in the world."
“世界上最恐怖的球員。”
Drogba, 32, a striker for England's Chelsea Football Club and the captain of the C?te
德羅巴，32歲，這位英格蘭切爾西足球俱樂部的前鋒，也是科特迪瓦隊的隊長，
d'Ivoire team, has shown the world what's possible when power and grace fuse on the
已然向世界表明綠茵場上力量與紳士風度融合的可能性。
soccer pitch. Imagine the body of an NBA star with feet as nimble as a prima ballerina's.
試想壹下NBA球星壹樣的體格配上兩只有如首席芭蕾舞女演員壹樣靈活的腳。
When the World Cup kicks off in South Africa in June, he will carry the hopes of a
當世界杯的開場哨音響徹在南非的藍天下時，他作為南非最知名的足球運動員承載
continent as Africa's best-known soccer star. (West African fans will toast him with a beer
著壹個大陸的夢想。（西非球迷會用壹種叫作德羅巴的酒杯
glass called the Drogba. It's nearly twice the size of a normal mug.)
開懷暢飲。它幾乎是普通紮啤杯的兩倍大小。）
No one knows the rickety and high-spirited but often heartbreaking touring bus that is
比起德羅巴，沒有人會對那個幾近解散又士氣高
African soccer better than Drogba. At the 2006 World Cup, his homeland ravaged by civil
昂但是總是讓人心碎的旅行巴士，即非洲足球格外感興趣。正值2006年世界杯，他的家鄉
war, he organized a statement from the Elephants, as the Ivorian national team is referred
卻在戰火中掙紮，他用象群作比喻發表了壹份聲明，借指象牙海岸的國家隊，以號召和平。
to, calling for peace. Many credit the ensuing calm for allowing reconciliation to begin. At a
很多人堅信保持鎮靜才會有和解出現。去年三月的壹場比賽，22名來自象牙海岸的居民為
match last March, 22 Ivorians were killed in the crush to see their beloved heroes play.
壹睹他們崇拜的英雄在球場上的風采在擁擠的人群中不幸遇難。
After the game, Drogba resolved to donate every dollar he earns from endorsements to a
比賽過後，德羅巴把他拍公益廣告的報酬全部捐給了壹家慈善機構，
charity he set up to build new hospitals in the country.
他準備為國家建壹所現代化醫院。
Drogba is conflicted about his stardom; the same love of No. 11 that brought Ivorians
人們對德羅巴的明星效應褒貶不壹；出於對11號的愛，2006年把科特迪瓦
together in 2006 also led to the fatal tumult last year. "I'd like the country to ultimately be
人凝聚在了壹起，同樣的愛也導致了去年的流血沖突。“我樂見國家能從根本上自主解決
able to deal with political problems itself," he says in his soft, French-accented English.
政治爭端，”他以壹種柔和，帶著法語口音的英語說道。
"It's not really good to depend on the win or defeat of the national team. That means
“靠國家隊的輸贏決定真的不太好。那也意味著壹定出問題了。”
there is something wrong."
On the pitch, Drogba is known for the strength with which he holds off opposing
在球場上，德羅巴因以力量抗衡對方後衛而成名；
defenders; it's that awesome ability that scares and baffles the high priests at the Slug and
正是這種令人敬畏的能力使得硬幣&紙幣酒館的高級教士很是恐懼與困惑。
Lettuce. But why should it surprise them? This sensitive young man already carries so
但是為什麽這會讓他們吃驚呢？這個感情細膩的年經人那寬闊而結實的肩膀上已經承載了
much of Africa's weight on his wide, sturdy shoulders.
非洲太多的重擔。