Phuket Thailand

Setanta · #1 25-11-2005, 12:53

I awoke this morning to the grim news that today is probably the last day in the life of one of the greatest soccer players the world has ever seen the great George (georgie) Best.

Once in a while a sportsperson comes along who captures the imagination of the public to the degree that those who have the pleasure of watching this emense talent are humbled by their ability and those watching know that no matter how hard they try they could never compete competitivly against such brillance. Such a person was George Best.

As one of the the BM who has had the privilage of watching that great talent play in the great Manchester United team of the sixties, I am deeply saddened by his pending demise as I have, since then, never seen, what I consider, to be a better player.

In saying this, I do not seek or wish to demigrate any of the great players, both past and present, whom others might consider to have possessed comparable or even greater talents than georgie, as today is not the day for such arguement.

I think it is better that we accept georgie's unique talents as something that enriched the lives all of us who were priviliged to see him in his heyday and thanks to the miracle of TV to preserve and display his unique talents:sad to later generations of soccer supporters.

He certainitly enriched my life.

George, sleep well my friend and thanks for the memories.

IRISH JONNY · #2 25-11-2005, 14:48

A Footballing Genius.............
According To Lots Of Punddits......probably Second Only To Pele And Some[the Irish] Say He Was Better..............imagine His Value In Todays Out Rageous Terms !!!!!!! Priceless........
It Will Be Sad To See Him Go.........but Life Goes On.........
Ij

steve@thaib · #3 25-11-2005, 15:47

I turned up as a kid to see him during his 'no show' period. I was only 8\9 years old and it was a cup game (Plymouth at Old Trafford in the 3rd round IIRC) and he never turned up. He was in the team, in the programme, but never showed, I think I still have the programme somewhere. So I never got to see the guy play.

I guess as a footballer there are only the obvious three in the same league. As a bloke I lost an awful lot of respect for him when he turned up pissed on Parkinson. And of course when he started knocking his wife around he went down another notch.

We all, I assume, like a drink. But George Best is really what happens to guys that don't take the doc's advice, or grasp at the lifeline of a liver transplant, and stop drinking when it's time. It looks like he succeeded in drinking himself to death, how old is he? 59 I think?

He's still alive just now, so let's not be too quick writing his obituary, but not long to go for him. Shame.

Denver · #4 25-11-2005, 17:03

Don't you think it's ironic that the UK Government is bringing in All Day drinking just as George is on the way out! I know, I know! I did have the pleasure of seeing this man play at Maine Road against the likes of Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Joe Corrigan when Tony Book was the Manager.

Yes, he will be sorely missed and I just hope Manchester United and Ireland do him proud in his passing.

Allybabba22 · #5 25-11-2005, 19:51

Yeah its a very sad thing and a very sad day for football as he was one of the top 4 players ever to grace the game and maybe could of being No1 if he had not of cut his caraer short, But he lived his life to the max and I am sure he enjoyed nearly every minute of it.....

I remember him being interviewed before, And he was talking about how he was out on the piss the night before a match, Came straight into play, At half-time he shagged Miss World, And then went back out and played the second half and scored... When the game was over someone (Cant remember who, Anybody?) who knew about the night before, Shagging Miss world etc..etc.. Asked him "Where Did It All Go Wrong"..55555555..

Another one which is in the paper today, And I also remember him saying on The Late Late Show was about where the money went.... And he said.......

"I Spent My Money On Women And Drink.....................The Rest I WASTED"

A great man who will be sorely missed.....

IRISH JONNY · #6 25-11-2005, 20:15

R.I.P.
HES JUST PASSED AWAY...
IJ

Allybabba22 · #7 25-11-2005, 20:31

Jesus I just wrote that and he died 3mins later..

Poor auld Georgie...

R.I.P

Dodger · #8 25-11-2005, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

R.I.P.
HES JUST PASSED AWAY...
IJ

There are so many similar stories of people with immense talent in thier chosen field, that burn out quicker than they should, Alex Higgins, Maradona, Mike Tyson. George Best was perhaps the first footballer to receive superstar status and not protected from the media and himself in a way that say a Wayne Rooney is managed now but then I think what sets a Pele, Tiger Woods, Bjorn Borg apart from them, how do they keep their feet on the ground?? and manage to prolong their greateness?

I think everyone will be saddened by this loss but somehow sadness tinged with regret that someone couldn't have sorted George out years ago and looked after him better. I was lucky and old enough to see him play several times even in his final days with Fulham, just awesome.

Denver · #9 25-11-2005, 21:06

I've just heard that he has died! Can anyone confirm!

Sorry Cancel that, I take it that it is true. Thanks

Mav · #10 26-11-2005, 14:27

Will have to get out my "Best of Best" video tonight to pay my respects to a Legend.....RIP

steve@thaib · #11 26-11-2005, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger

I think everyone will be saddened by this loss but somehow sadness tinged with regret that someone couldn't have sorted George out years ago and looked after him better. I was lucky and old enough to see him play several times even in his final days with Fulham, just awesome.

Spot on Dodger, his Dad was on the TV yesterday. Nobody should have to bury their children

Setanta · #12 26-11-2005, 19:30

I think it is important that we celebrate his life in terms of the joy that he gave us as a football player.

The only area in which George failed was deemed to have failed was that he was never given the oipportunity to display his abilities on the world cup stage as Northern Ireland were never then good enought to qualify for the final stages.

It is proof of his great genius that even so he is considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time.

It matters not that his life, (outside of football) was deemed to be flawed, as few amongst us, certainly not me, could claim to have lived lives without fault, I think his main problem was not that he was a flawed genius but that he lived his life in the limelight. Not for him the luxery of a forgiven mistake. His errors were always front page news.

Personally I think he lived and enjoyed a great life, in that his achivements, both on and off the field, must have brought him the most bountiful joys that we can only imagine.

Given the genius of his opportunity would we have lived it otherwise.

Setanta · #13 26-11-2005, 19:52

I think it is important that we celebrate his life in terms of the joy that he gave us as a football player.

The only area in which George was deemed to have failed was that he was never given the opportunity to display his abilities on the world cup stage as Northern Ireland were never then good enought to qualify for the final stages.

It is proof of his great genius that even so he is considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time.

It matters not that his life, (outside of football) was deemed to be flawed, as few amongst us, certainly not me, could claim to have lived lives without fault, I think his main problem was not that he was a flawed genius but that he lived his life in the limelight. Not for him the luxery of a forgiven mistake. His errors were always front page news.

Personally I think he lived and enjoyed a great life, in that his achivements, both on and off the field, must have brought him the most bountiful joys that we can only imagine.

Given the genius of his opportunity would we have lived it otherwise.

Sirgezza · #14 26-11-2005, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allybabba22

... When the game was over someone (Cant remember who, Anybody?) who knew about the night before, Shagging Miss world etc..etc.. Asked him "Where Did It All Go Wrong"..55555555..

:

The story as I remember it, was after he had finished hiw career. He'd been out to the casino and had won about £50k. He was with the then current Miss world and a friend of hers (ex miss world??) in his hotel room. They phoned down to reception for some champagne. When the bell boy brought the drink to his room, Miss world was lying on the bed scantily dressed with £50k in £10 notes all over and her friend was prancing around in skimpy underwear. That's when the bell boy asked ''when exactly did things start going wrong for you Mr. Best?''

Best finished player football when he was 25, a waste of talent IMHO. I'm not sure that his later life was a bed of roses, as some might believe. Hounded by the press, incapable of going through the day without a drink, spending time in prison (including Christmas day once). He was given a second chance with his liver transplant but was unable to kick the drink. For the passed 5 years or so, he looked like death warmed up. A terrible shame, but many others go the same way.