Alexis Argüello died early this morning

Over the years Arguello had admitted (sometimes over and over again) that he was addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and various other substances. He later did the same for a claimed sex addiction. He sought treatment on several occasions. Neither his yoga nor hypnotism sessions even began to relieve his problems, he later noted. He attempted suicide on more than one occasion and one morning held a gun to his head about to pull the trigger, in the presence of his young son. Alexis Arguello's father had attempted suicide on more than one occasion. When he failed on one occasion, he tried to use the rescue ropes and rescuers strength to hang himself - all in the presence of his young son, Alexis. Arguello admitted to emotional difficulties through much of the 1980's. He once had what appeared to be a mental lapse or near breakdown while working as a boxing commentator, when he left his post and rushed the ring screaming "stop the fight" at a point when no referee would have done so. The Sandinistas stole his fortune once. These were all lost a second time when his Alexicore monies were apparently embezzled by his surrogate father and manager. The third time they were "lost" courtesy of the IRS. He went through three divorces and countless separations. He suffered physical problems, likely from the many fights. Just prior to his death he was in Puerto Rico where he honored the late Roberto Clemente, who died in an airplane crash while attempting to deliver relief supplies to victims of the 1972 Managua Earthquake. On many occasions Arguello had stated that Clemente was the model for athletes during and after they leave sport; he also expressed his belief that he wasn't living up to that ideal - even though it might be hard to find someone other than him who would say that. He was found shot in the chest, with gunpowder residue on his hands (though that is far from conclusive proof of anything).

I remember several of his fights - he was an outstanding talent !!!!!!!!

Suicides to the heart are usually due to true love failing, a broken heart. Arguello was a national hero, a world champion, loved by near all. He suffered headaches, I understand, related to his boxing career. But if those became more than he could bear (which I doubt, since a successful boxer can deal with pain and come back fighting), he would have fired that shot to his head.

An assassin doesn't even have to be especially skilled to shoot a man at close range, in the heart, and then place the gun in the victim's limp hand. But why? What other business(es) was Alexis in, where being mayor of Managua would make a difference? Did he cross one of the pervasive drug cartels?