He was one of the best. Enfant terrible ET prodigue of football.

But - alas - he could not live without alcohol. From recent BBC-news

At the weekend Best allowed the News of the World to print a photograph taken of him in hospital, as a warning about the dangers of alcohol.

He had asked for the picture to be taken before being transferred into intensive care, the paper said.

In it, Best looks gaunt with a yellow pallor due to his malfunctioning liver, with tubes attached to his bruised body

In Europe, Soccer is the sport you refer to as Football right? Because in America we have another sport we call Football which is one of the most complicated sports in the world. Okay, over there you call the game where kick around a white and black ball Football. I'm just trying to get this straight in my head, because in America that's called Soccer.

I remember Bestie at the peak of his fame (possibly not the peak of his powers though) when he was playing for Man U. in the early 70s, and the collapse of his career after his affair with the then Miss World and his large-scale public binging. As a fottballer he was unique, esp back then when he had pace and skill that ran rings round the more staid English style of play. Defenders didnt have a look in, he ran circles round them. He was a joy to watch, truly inspirational with an ability to psotion the ball where he wanted it that was almost unparalled back then, apart from foreign legends like Pele; oh and we all wanted to be just like him (or Gordon Banks) but he was a mercurial talent and his private and non-professional was a shambles as he fell prey to the temptations of the high-life and a victim to his own fame.

He destroyed his career and eventually made another as a drunken figure of fun on chat shows.

Edited by - Tawakalna on 11/25/2005 10:02:14 AM

The greatest shame of all was that he was granted extra life due to a Liver transplant operation. Who knows what other worthy life could have been saved with that liver, as it only lasted a pathetic 2 years in Best's abuse.

His great footballing legacy, for me, was completely overshadowed by that. I remember the turmoil in the media about whether he should receive it, yet within a few months he was back on the booze...

It's sad he died, but everyone dies. What is tragic is that a liver was wasted when it may have saved others.

what Chips said. best spent ten years (less really) as a top-class footballer, 30 years as a drunk. It became de rigeur on UK chat shows in the 80s to bring on Best and Ollie Reed just to laugh at their drunken ramblings and brawlings.

I found 1 interesting fact about him....he played for Dunstable Town under Barry Fry...10 minutes down the road from me!Why couldn't i be older!!!!

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someone else could have had that new liver he wasted
someone who needed it
he was a good footballer but thats all he ever had going for him
he was given a second chance at life and he blew it
wonder if whoever else was waiting for an organ transplant that didnt get it survived ,while he soaked his with yet more booze