My sympathy goes out to the whole Best family.
However I must echo the thoughts of others in this thread regarding Best wasting his talent and his life. I bought his autobiography for my dad a couple of years ago - my dad is a lifelong Man Utd fan. Surprisingly, he hated it and it poisoned him against Best forever. He leant it to me and when I read it I went through the exact same emotions that he did.
Brits may remember a few years ago when he was hawking his book on all the TV Talk shows, interviews on Parkie and the like. He was constantly giving it the "I'm so ill, if I have one more drink it could kill me" line. You read his book and find out that even as he's doing the rounds telling everyone that he has to stay off the booze or he might die, he was still drinking!!!
He constantly refuses to take responsibility for his booze problem. Its his family genes. Or its Matt Busbys fault cos he wasn't strict enough with him. 10 pages later its Matt Busby fault again, only this time its cos he was too strict with him. The book was one big wah-wah I'm poor old George Best, everyone please feel sorry for me.
He was washed-up at 24, bouncing from club to club earning his money based purely on his name and reputation, his career over before he had even reached his peak. He admits, nay boasts, about the fact that he could never be bothered with run of the mill league games, only wanting to play in the big games. Hardly the most ringing endorsement of those eulogising him now with the "he was the greatest British footballer ever".
I wish I had never bought the book and given George Best £15 of my hard earned money to squander on more booze with which to soak his transplanted liver.
If it feels like I'm venting, its cos I am. Now we're going to be subjected to another Diana-esque media love-fest, I won't be able to watch the TV or listen to the radio without hearing another ex-pro/drinking partner telling how Bestie was "the greatest".
Again, my sympathies to the Best family.
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