Friday, November 25, 2005
Remembering George…
It feels like an unbearably sad day. Whatever time is left to him, George Best is not coming back from this one. He may have been a drunk, endlessly foolish, and unconscionably unkind to his family, but I defy anyone to deny that when he played he made you feel two foot taller, just because you were from Belfast, Northern Ireland or just plain Irish. I don’t want to steal anyone else’s thunder today, so I’ll just ask the other bloggers to make free with their memories, good or bad, of the wee lad from Cregagh who became one of the greatest players in the history of world football.
Mick Fealty @ 11:17 AM
An incredible character, flaws notwithstanding.Who can deny that collectively, our lives have been enriched by his talent?
Here’s to you George, and f*ck the begrudgers (as another Irish alcoholic once said)
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 11:50 AMThe greatest man, bar none, to come out of Belfast. With all the soul destoying flaws of that city too, but none of its presbyterian drabness.
This isn’t the place to debate the division of Irish soccer, but George is never going to get the credit he deserved because of it and what it meant for the ability of either team to make it on the world stage.
I still remember my shock and disappointment when he said he wasn’t going to play for Man U again. People say the Irish - North and South - only support Man U because they are successful, but that’s not true for me. I support them because of George.
At least he did not go gentle into that dark night.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 11:52 AMMick
As an ex Gaelic player I would add
What a wonderful player and what a likeable man. He was an absolute artist and what is often overlooked he was so wholehearted in his play. Sad day for many many people world wide.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 12:32 PMDenis Law who finished his career on the blue side of Manchester put it like this:
“The complete player. He could ride tackles, hit the ball with either foot, send superb long or short passes”.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 12:41 PMI think my greatest memory is his genuine civility when being interviewed. He had a glint in his eye did George and he was so incredibly likeable. In 1970 When I was 7 years old playing cross-community matches at the junction of Seaforde Street and Newtownards Road (seriously!), every single kid there WAS George Best. There was simply NO-ONE else. And there still isnt…
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 01:09 PMA great man indeed. A genius on the pitch and a tormented man off it. There but for the grace of God go...how many of us? Sadly, too many of us don’t have his genius, just his flaws.
Great comments from Adrian...George has the big heart of Belfast and that’s the way he stays in my mind.
Let’s also remember that he’s still here against all the odds. I just hope he’s resting easy.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 01:11 PMIn recent years, I had started feeling pretty pronounced reservations about Best, what with the seemingly endless stream of “Back to the Booze” stories, and associated unpleasantness; for a while I lived in Reigate, just near his place, and quite often saw his car parked outside Cafe Rouge, and on the release of his book, the local ASDA piled them high and trumpeted a book-signing weeks in advance - I duly turned up, and stood in a lengthening queue, until finally after a full hour, the store manager said to us all, upset kids and pissed-off adults, that his agent couldn’t get hold of him - and that very night on the news I discovered that he’d gone on the lash instead..
BUT
despite all of that crap, I couldn’t shake off my awe at his talents, or the charm his character continued to exert - I still love the guy.. and last night I was waiting for a kettle to boil, and flicked on newsnight and came across a special report on him, which wasn’t especially sentimental, but sent me to bed misty-eyed and desperately sad.
He’s still a monumental figure, as the acres of press coverage attest to; I hope he isn’t suffering too much.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 01:57 PMGeorge Best has died. May he rest in peace.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:11 PMHe’s gone…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4380332.stm
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:12 PMFarewell Geordie....you were the greatest!
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:20 PMMay he rest in peace, condolenses to the best family and to the football world on their loss.
Adrian “This isn’t the place to debate the division of Irish soccer, but George is never going to get the credit he deserved because of it and what it meant for the ability of either team to make it on the world stage.”
Actually far more to the point, it was the divisions in UK football that denied him the chance to play in the World Cup. Few would argue that he wouldn’t have been in a UK team in the 1966 and being part of a World Cup winning team would have made him an even bigger star.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:21 PMThanks Georgie
One day in the dark streets of Belfast,
A young man was born too soon,
For had he been born today boys,
This game would know no gloomFor he stood only 5 feet 8 inches,
He weighed only 8 stone,
By day he played with his friends there,
By night he played on his own.Then early one morning a letter,
Arrived in the post at his home,
Will your son please board the ferry,
From Ireland to England aloneSo a young man arrived at Old Trafford
Prepared to give his all,
But England’s a long way from Belfast,
And the Emerald Isles did callIt took all of Matt Busby’s persuasion,
To make him come back for the test,
For he knew that he’d found a genius,
Who was so far ahead of the restHe could run at the speed of a greyhound,
Turn on a sixpence and shoot,
Dribble his way through a minefield,
While still only wearing one bootHis playing brought crowds by their thousands,
His antics attack from the press,
But they still had to bow down in tribute,
And acknowledge true genius George BestSo break open a bottle of bubbly,
and look back not with sadness but joy,
Raise a glass to the Genius Georgie
Farewell to the Belfast Boy.George Best RIP
22nd May 1946 – 25th November 2005
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:24 PMRIP
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 02:30 PMIt is a sad day. RIP Georgie Best, the greatest footballer in the world.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 03:10 PMWe used to sing as kids
First the worst, second the best, the third marries Georgie Best.
We thought he was the business and the fact that he came from Belfast too, well you can imagine.
I think that in his prime most women wanted to be with him and so did the men!
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 03:12 PMA fantastically gifted player, what a shame we never saw him play in a World Cup.
He also signed my brother’s copy of The Wedding Present’s ‘George Best’ album at a signing in Eason’s a few years back.
Total legend.Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 03:46 PMWithout wishing to rain on anyone’s parade I would like to raise a point that some may agree with. Apologies if it is not phrased sensitively enough.
I feel great sympathy for all those who had relatives die waiting for liver transplants or those currently waiting in agony as their families watch them fade in pain.
Best wasted his own life, a liver and possibly deprived a more deserving/mature transplant patient of life.
I’m not happy to see such a mentally weak or selfish character lauded merely because he had natural ability with a ball. He frittered everything else away.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 03:48 PMI remember when Terry Wogan exploited George Best’s illness to boost his flagging ratings by bringing him onstage despite knowing his was chronically drunk.
During the interview Wogan blantantly quizzed Best in a manner designed to court controversy. He brought up the subject of Paul Gasgoigne and asked Best what he thought of Gazza’s talents.
“He’s not in my league”, replied Best, to the gasps of the English audience. Wogan milked it and Best stuck to his guns.The tabloids had a go and some called him a swaggering, arrogant drunk, but he was right. The man was extremely good at what he did and nobody since in UK and Irish football has touched his abilities. A sad day indeed.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 05:10 PMAs I tribute to George, I created a nice desktop wallpaper that you can set as your screen background. This is free and you can see it at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50679361@N00/If you like it pass the link on to your friends.
He was the best.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 05:27 PMhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/Xenolithe/godbest.jpg
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 05:29 PMMartin McGuinness 2005 -
“ George Best as a footballer brought immense pleasure to millions of people around the world.I would wish to offer my sympathies to his family and friends at this very sad and difficult time.
All a bit different to when George Best was being given the freedom of Castlereagh and Sinn Fein criticised the Council for doing so as he was “an alcoholic and a former member of the junior Orange Order”.
Could the phrase ‘crocodile tears’ be any more appropriate???
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 05:56 PMGeorge Best had a few verbal spats with the Shinners yerman, that is common knowledge e.g. “Adams shouldn’t be allowed to speak in public, and we shouldn’t give him the oxygen of publicity on TV, radio and in the newspapers.
and,
“Every time he opens his mouth, he is insulting our intelligence.”
Plus much more!
Sinn Fein should have ignored the remarks - instead one of their self-appointed ‘spokespersons’ came out with the following:
“We will not lose any sleep over the meanderings of a drunken wife-beater and former member of the junior Orange Order.
“It wouldn’t unduly worry Gerry. I don’t think he is a soccer fan anyway.”
It just goes to show how much of a liability some of these self-appointed wannabes really are. Thank goodness the culprit was kicked out of Connolly Hse and put back to what he does best - canvassing on the streets.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 06:39 PMYes indeed. But at least the man had the good taste not to proceed to the Senior Orange Order.
Posted by on Nov 25, 2005 @ 07:02 PMReference 21,22 and 23 posts.
It did not take long did it?Posted by on Nov 26, 2005 @ 12:23 AMGeorge did take a lot of criticism from n.i fans for believing in the forming of an all Ireland football team.
http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=4813&b=1&st;=&p;=&#e;ntry;Short memories !!!!
Posted by on Nov 26, 2005 @ 12:48 AM
