best wishes to george best and family

here here

the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

Andrew Sayer wrote: the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

He's made his bed alright...but I still like the guy.Get well soon Besty....

Andrew Sayer wrote: the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

NOT AGAIN!!!

Andrew Sayer wrote: the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

Speaking as an ulsterman, and therefor one who should be rightly proud of bestie as something we exported to the mainland that didn;t explode, and didn;t suck all that bad.

However, fuck him, he's a dick. "stop drinking george or you'll die" is a fairly fucking clear choice, and he seems to have accepted it.

I do feel for his folks tho, it's not easy having a cunt in the family.

May I carefully ask what's the matter here? I don't know this guy (apparently a soccer player or such). His legs look pretty awful...

Commiserations to the family of the person who donated his 2nd liver.

And, get well soon George :)

Steve Campbell wrote:

Speaking as an ulsterman, and therefor one who should be rightly proud of bestie as something we exported to the mainland that didn;t explode, and didn;t suck all that bad.

However, fuck him, he's a dick. "stop drinking george or you'll die" is a fairly fucking clear choice, and he seems to have accepted it.

I do feel for his folks tho, it's not easy having a cunt in the family.

Well his mother died of alcoholism too. Can't imagine that gave him a great role model.

When did we all become 'holier than thou'??? The bloke fucked up big time. He admits it. Give the bloke some peace.

Barney Army wrote:

Andrew Sayer wrote: the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

NOT AGAIN!!!

what do ya mean- angry cos you are a Utd supporter?

Andrew Sayer wrote:

Barney Army wrote:

Andrew Sayer wrote: the guys a knob head if you ask me. Some other more deserving person could have had his transplant, and not wasted it.

NOT AGAIN!!!

what do ya mean- angry cos you are a Utd supporter?

yes, george best ruined his own liver, but alcoholism is an illness. just because it isn't always physically apparent doesn't make it any less real. perhaps i sympathise because i also have an illness that can be life-threatening but is not physically apparent. no, my illness is not alcohol- or drug-related, but i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, just like i wouldn't wish for anyone to become an alcoholic.

i'm sure george best didn't choose this lifestyle--i'm sure he wishes he could get pissed at the pub with his mates then go back to sobriety without getting the DTs--but he couldn't. yes he screwed up, but give the man a break...and a little bit of compassion.

and i support arsenal, in case you're wondering.

What's the conection between his right leg and his drinking problem?

Or is the pic a fake?

Look, I'm not saying to hell with him or anything, I'm just saying he made his choice. He should be happy with it.

He's played some great games and had some classic benders, no point getting all mopey bout him.

BTW, that picture was of him when he was in his prime (when he could play and women went mental for him) , he's considerably less good looking these days.

Rian wrote: What's the conection between his right leg and his drinking problem?

Or is the pic a fake?

Nope, same pic on a great album by a great band.

Alistair wrote:

AgentWood wrote: yes, george best ruined his own liver, but alcoholism is an illness. just because it isn't always physically apparent doesn't make it any less real. perhaps i sympathise because i also have an illness that can be life-threatening but is not physically apparent. no, my illness is not alcohol- or drug-related, but i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, just like i wouldn't wish for anyone to become an alcoholic.

i'm sure george best didn't choose this lifestyle--i'm sure he wishes he could get pissed at the pub with his mates then go back to sobriety without getting the DTs--but he couldn't. yes he screwed up, but give the man a break...and a little bit of compassion.

and i support arsenal, in case you're wondering.

I hear what you're saying Christy and agree alcoholism is a terrible affliction. I know someone myself who has it and it turned their life to shit very quickly. I think the reason alot of people don't have time for Best and his problems is because he was given a second chance and screwed it up very badly and very publicly. Top that off with him being an occasional wife-beater and even more sympathy dries up, at times he just seems like an unlikeable has-been.

Alot of people, including myself, think that new liver could've gone to someone much more deserving. What about the other patients on the transplant list, the non-alcoholics born simply unlucky with defective livers? So Best gets the new liver and the other patients miserably survive on only to die in agony later while he hits the pubs and clubs.

It must stick in the throat of relatives of the other patients who know their loved ones could've had a much better shot at life every time they see a new tabloid article with Best pissing more of his life away in a bar.

I don't think he'll make 2006, I hope he finds some peace before he goes though.

some good points, ally. i think he has made some peace by allowing the news of the world (!) to take pictures of his jaundiced and bruised body (due to his failing liver), to demonstrate the dangers of alcohol abuse and what it can lead to (domestic violence, etc.). perhaps he has now come to terms with the negative side of his life.

regardless, i wish him well and i hope his situation helps open up a dialogue about alcoholism and how serious it truly is.

Alistair wrote:

Alot of people, including myself, think that new liver could've gone to someone much more deserving. What about the other patients on the transplant list, the non-alcoholics born simply unlucky with defective livers? So Best gets the new liver and the other patients miserably survive on only to die in agony later while he hits the pubs and clubs.

This isn't my specialist subject, but I do seem to recall reading that Besty actually waited longer for his transplant because he himself felt that he was not the most deserving case.

This is basically a man that didn't set out to do anyone any harm. He may have hurt people during his life, but I doubt there's ever been any real malicious intent in him. Not like a certain former United star that is sharing todays headlines with him...

Someone was telling me a story (from his biography I think) about George in the penthouse suite of a top London hotel, around the time he left United. The current Miss World was lying naked in the bed and the Room Service lad had just delivered a couple of bottles of Champagne. "Ahh Georgie" said the lad, "where did it all go wrong?"

George surveyed the scene and replied "It all seems to be going quite well, actually".

Is he the one of Best & Marsh ?

Jean-Philippe Ravier wrote: Is he the one of Best & Marsh ?

The one & the same - the other ex-footballer was Rodney Marsh, btw. :)

Al Jarvis wrote: Does anyone know the exact facts regarding George Best's liver? Am sure this can be googled but whenever his name gets mentioned on these forums certain people just love to jump the bandwagon with their hot air and hyperbole.

I'm presuming he waited in line the same amount of time as anyone else has for a transplant? I can't imagine he queue-jumped over someone 'born' with a liver defect, who was a non-alcoholic. And, anyways, what exactly makes someone more deserving of a liver transplant than George?! How do you measure who deserves a tranplant, and who doesn't?

And as for alcoholism, I personally don't understand this. I smoked for 10+ years, then stopped smoking one day, just like that, and never looked back. George Best is an alcoholic. He knows if he drinks, he's gonna die. And yet he still drinks. It's easy just to ask why just because we'd not do it, but it's an illness with George and it doesn't appear to be anything he can control. I presume he genuinely doesn't want to die, he's not trying to kill himself on purpose, so why's he doing it? Seems no-one has the answers.

And for those of you looking on gleefully, circling his dying body like vultures ready to tell us how "he did it to himself" etc. with your smug self-satisfaction, can I just pre-empt your comments by saying what a sad bunch of cnuts you are. George Best is dying, give him a break and show some respect. What the fcuk has he ever done to you?

I grew up with my mum as a pisshead, got taken off her for a coupla years because of it. She sobered up because someone told her "no sober, no kids". And barring a couple of relapses she's been a good girl for nearly 20 yrs. Same problem, but she got over/around it. It can be done, the world is full of recovering boozers. If a dr gives you a choice...."booze or life" it's up to you which you take, and not my place to say if you made the right choice. However you should at least stick by your choice. He chose booze, that's fair enough, that's his right, but his demise cannot be heralded as a shocking tragedy, just an inevitable consequence. Of course I feel for his family ( and for my country, whcih may have to wait 50 years before producing anyone not shit again), but for george himself I feel very little, like "it's how he wanted it, let's not be dicks about it".

Hope George pulls through. Greatest player ever for Northern Ireland.

I am pretty sure that john phillips of the mama's & the papa's ruined his 2nd liver by drinking an i even think a tv film crew found him in a bar drinking and confronted him. i believe he has since passed

Return of the locked thread time!

Alcoholism is an illness rather than a choice.

You can't always stay cured, although you do have to be abstinent prior to a transplant, which George would have been.

Unfortunately his illness returned and the media were only to happy to join in the kick a man when he's down brigade- what he really needed was urgent support and relapse prevention therapy.

The wife beating thing thou', if true, isn't forgivable IMO (drunk or otherwise; he should have punched a wall / door, not his wife).

Not being a terrible one for readin the papers, I must say it hadn't occurred to me that there may be a wider public backlash.

I'm loathe to cut tha man any slack cos he's from here, it's hardcoded into the NI national psyche to hate anyone from here who has the audacity to do well for themselves, especially if they fuck it all up royally.

I was askin me mum, "who come you managed it with a bunch of ungrateful wretches sponging off you and giving you a hard time, but georgie boy with all his money can't"...her reply was very intersting...."my life kept me busy and poor, so I had neither the inclination or money to get pissed. Poor bestie on the other hand, has cash hanging out of his arse and absolutely nothing all to do all day, he's got a much harder time because of that"

fair point really, if I've got plenty to do, I would never think "I'll stop for a drink/smoke/whatever". I was also thinknig to myself that if he was addicted to anything else I'd feel more sympathy, purely because of all the drugs to be addicted to, Alcohol is the one most likely to cause you to be a cock to those around you.

I found it kinda odd Al, that were willing to grant Mr Best the title of disease sufferer for his chemical dependence, but were not so charitable about your own kicking of the ciggies. I've seen the DT's in action, and I've seen people comin off fags. While the booze is udoubtedly much worse, we are not really talking orders of magnitude.

Actually, that brings another point to mind.....his mates are a bit shit for not helping him out of it. From experience with me mum, it's a lot easier to get out of the cylce of other people are there, easier to cope with the withdrawls and harder to get any more booze. My ma hit the booze quite by accident about 6 years ago. She'd been going out with this guy, and thought she'd be ok to have a wee drink in the pub now and then, worked ok til christmas and it's related pressures came around, and off she went. I severely dislike being annoyed by pissed people, and when it's me mum it's like a soldering iron up the nose in terms of irritation. As is the way of the alco, she denied even being drunk, and also denied having a booze stash...her mistake, that just meant that the enormous bottle of vodka out the back was claimed as salvage and donated to the slightlynarrow Xmas night pissup. Meanwhile mother was sent to bed armed only with 2L of water and a small joint to help her sleep. Next few days we waited on her hand and foot, made sure she was comfortable and wanted for nothing (cept the obvious). And it didn;t even take the full 3 days, she emerge looking most sorry for herself after 2 days, and withing a week was absolutely normal again. She'd never have managed it without my combination of Nazi ass tactics and bed service. All those people who hang round george and they can't help him, or wont, it's a shame.

Good points Steve; and congrats for helping your Mum out of her hole...

Al was lucky to be able to quit the fags so easily... I and many other people I know have found it to be a living hell; nicotine withdrawal= borderline psychosis for a lot of people.

I'd still love a fag now, but I can feel my lungs / heart giving in at the thought of it and I don't want a return ticket to withdrawal city....

That's a difference between fags and booze, a recovered pisshead doesn't sit and think about drink 24/7, but an ex smoker always likes the looks of fags.....especially after a coupla drinks :)

Al Jarvis wrote:

craig's digitalwaters wrote: The wife beating thing thou', if true, isn't forgivable IMO (drunk or otherwise; he should have punched a wall / door, not his wife).

Indeed, if it's true. Read my comments to Johnny in THIS thread though, and make of it what you will. Am sure the majority of us will remember the incident in Sticky Fingers. It's just whether you want to take it completely out of context, or not.

Missed that thread...

I had no idea that Mr. Best had even had this allegation levelled against him until reading it here, so I doubt it's true...

Think I missed out on the Hooky / Sticky Fingers things 'coz I was on active service (it was during my Army days I think- not sure of the date of the incident)...

A lot of bollocks is always talked about celebrities...

P.S./I.E. What about the ex-Enders laydee having an epeleptic alcohol withdrawal fit in the Jungle yesterday....

Al Jarvis wrote:

Steve Campbell wrote: I found it kinda odd Al, that were willing to grant Mr Best the title of disease sufferer for his chemical dependence, but were not so charitable about your own kicking of the ciggies.

Don't quite get you, Steve. I kicked fags after perhaps 10 or more years, relatively easily. But I can't apply the same logic to George Best, simply because I don't understand the nature of his concerns. It's one thing for me to say, I kicked something, and then assume everyone else can do the same, because patently they cannot. Alcoholism is an illness, so we're told. I'm sure most people here would stop drinking tomorrow if they were told it would kill them, but I don't see why there's a need to deride George Best because he cannot stop drinking for himself. The bloke's got a problem and the best some people can do is point the finger. Charming.

Actually that comment was more from a "more credit for you" rather than a "less credit for george" standpoint, but I see yer logic.

And I aint saying "fook im he's a wanker" as such, more that, if being blitzed and living a shorter time is his gig, then fair play to him, but we shouldn't get over tearful. Maybe he really can't kick it, maybe no fucker will help him (famous and rich people tend to be well specced on hangers-on but a bit short on real friends). But you do have to wonder who the mother of some young kid who needs a liver would feel watchin Bestie havin a ball. then again, as you pointed out, that's a media thing...."look at george, look at george", and I tend to think old bollox's shouldn;t get stuff like that anyway, having had a good innings and so on.

remind me of this if I need something replacing in 10 years :)

EDIT: the hooky thing is a damned good example of the media makin stuff worse. I seem to recall some of the reports made a huge deal of the chap being seriously ill at the time, and not so many had any mention of what kicked it off, which accordin to my wee sister who's read every book about everyone (and that's the extent of the reliability of my inf if it's rong, oooops), was that Hooky spotted New BF rowing with Caroline and went into "micro brained male " mode, I would almost certainly have done the same if I'd seen my ex getting grief from my replacement. But isn't he off the sauce because of stuff like that, or did he just pull that out of his arse on Ch4 that tinme? (what with just saying stuff for the hell of it being totally out of character for NO and all)

I'll get her to clarify her source on this. I also heard a version much as alistair tells it. Either way, i think we all know there's nothing to make a man a prick like booze and chicks. Been there, done that :)

Al Jarvis wrote:

I'm presuming he waited in line the same amount of time as anyone else has for a transplant?

He stayed off drink for a while (a year or something) before joining the transplant list. He made something of the fact that he could have queue-jumped by... erm... something... I'd have to Google the rest!

it is sad to see someone who has brought so much joy to so many go before his time. Its very sad to see anyone go before their time.

No Idea if any of this went out national, but it was on the NI news. Seems the family have gathered round and he aint expected to make it thru the night:(

Seems everything's packing up in short order now, I believe it's his lungs are the actual threat at the moment.

As long as he goes quick and doesn't spend days in pain.

Anyway, I know some of yous'uns are nuts about him, so i thought you should know.

Well I just heard on the news, that Georgey boy has finally left us. Dunno if it's on National news yet ( even tho he's in London).

Thought you guys should know.

Rest In Peace

RIP George

A Norn Iron great

Gawd bless yer sir...

And he's also donating his organs; a fitting end and two fingers to the knockers (and yes, yes, I know it's probably only his corneas and lenses that are fit to be donated, but the gift of sight is a pretty major thing donchano).

RIP.

bye besty i know all man u fans will be very sad today

i became interested in football rather late in my life (around 20) and didn't know much about the sport except for who pele was. once i got into the game, perhaps the first name i heard was george best's. i saw some old footage on the telly from the 1960s and, even in my relative ignorance, i knew he was something special and had a real gift for the sport.

folks have said their piece on here about george best's lifestyle, one way or another. now may he rest in peace.

Fuck peace...... Where george is now, the beer don't do you any harm and the bimbos be plentiful. Like any true Norn Iron man, he'll be shitfaced already, with a winged bint on each arm, and wondering WTF the problem with all the miserable ballixes down here is.

AND he'll be able to run around like a kid and play again.

then again if Jonh Denver's right about Heaven, I reckon our boy will already have slugged an angel in a bid to get expelled.

Keep yer downcast thought for those he left behind, don't mope for George.

And if he was already suffering secondary failures in his body, I doubt even his eyes'd be up to much :(

Still a shock - one of those people you thought would be around forever, as bizarre as that sounds given his illness. Can't argue with Jarvo's sentiments, must be absolutely unbearable for his father, especially since his own wife fell victim to the same disease.

Even as a staunch Liverpool fan, I'll be raising a glass in his honour tonight. Might I recommend his biography "Bestie" by Joe Lovejoy - I know I'll be digging out my copy in the next day or two.

RIP

Steve Campbell wrote: Fuck peace...... Where george is now, the beer don't do you any harm and the bimbos be plentiful. Like any true Norn Iron man, he'll be shitfaced already, with a winged bint on each arm, and wondering WTF the problem with all the miserable ballixes down here is.

AND he'll be able to run around like a kid and play again.

with ollie reed and richard harris, right? that's where i always imagined they'd be.

Rest in Peace.

Remember down my way for playing 3 games and scoring two goals for us. Easily our most famous player ever, even though hardly anyone (probably rightly) remembers that he played for.

I can recall an article in Total Sport about 10 years ago about the top 100 British Sportsmen. It said "He never even played in the world cup let alone won the thing." Amazing really.

Got it in one girl :)

And, as often aseerted, possibly even here on these hallowed fora, God is alledgedly a Man U fan. Actually never mind all the pissheads, he'll be able to see all his old heroes that bought it in that plane crash.

PS I want fookin Richard harris back, that bloke Gambon is a terrible Dumbledor.

Steve Campbell wrote: Fuck peace...... Where george is now, the beer don't do you any harm and the bimbos be plentiful. Like any true Norn Iron man, he'll be shitfaced already, with a winged bint on each arm, and wondering WTF the problem with all the miserable ballixes down here is.

AND he'll be able to run around like a kid and play again.

RIP. The legend is used too often in football but no one can deny George was one.

Sad day for all true footy fans.

YNWA

Al Jarvis wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: Remember down my way for playing 3 games and scoring two goals for us. Easily our most famous player ever, even though hardly anyone (probably rightly) remembers that he played for.

Who are we talking about here? Los Angeles Aztecs?! Didn't know you'd gone all Stateside on us, Liam.

He played a one-off for Dunstable Town after leaving ManYoo. Hadn't shown up half an hour before kick-off so someone had to be despatched to the Chiltern Hotel to track down Bestie. They burst into his room to find him knee-deep in two blondes. Still made kick-off in time though.

That boy knew how to live.

The most famous team that he ever played for: Stockport County. He was out most famous player, until Carlton Palmer became player manager.

Uncle Liam wrote: Rest in Peace.

Remember down my way for playing 3 games and scoring two goals for us. Easily our most famous player ever, even though hardly anyone (probably rightly) remembers that he played for.

I can recall an article in Total Sport about 10 years ago about the top 100 British Sportsmen. It said "He never even played in the world cup let alone won the thing." Amazing really.

so, he was stockport county's finest!

edit: see you got in there before me.

RIP George. A true football legend. YNWA.

It's sad news. He was a legendary footballer. There isn't that much footage of him playing because he never played in the WC etc, but from what I have seen he was a true great.

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 gloom, For he stood only Five Feet eight inches, He weighed only eight 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 alone", So a young lad arrived at Old Trafford, Prepared to give his all, But England's a long way from Belfast, And the Emerald Isle did call. It 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 rest, He 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 boot. His playing brought crowds in their thousands, His antics attack from the press, But they still had to bow down in tribute, And acknowledge true genius...George Best!

RIP Bestie. :(

RIP, George, one of the footballing greats...

He's away to the Big Pub in the sky.

R.I.P

RIP Bestie. You were an absolute legend

I was a bit tearful watching Sky News this afternoon. It's a really sad day for football. Bestie was undoubtedly one of the games all time greats, a naturally gifted player who seemed to make it all look so easy, and that's how I hope he'll be most remembered, rather than for his illness.

He may have died prematurely but he probably did more living in his 59 years than most people could do in three lifetimes.

support the 'pool, but all the same, condelences to his family and friends

R I P

R.I.P GEORGE

He added some life to his years instead of some years to his life.

RIP George..may the rivers in Heaven run red like the Gironde

RIP, respect and thanks for the memories, George. Reckon you're looking down on us now, sipping away at a glass Heavenly champagne, and wondering what all the is fuss about. Cheers George and have one on me.

So much courage on the pitch.

So little off it.

End of a an era.

Georgie.....thanks.

I know I've posted his before but....

With a ball at his feet, he wasn’t just neat He was Merlin in disguise When put to the test, he was always the Best And not just in Irish eyes When Eusebio played, they said he was great With Man U he would toy But Eusebio and Benfica met their fate When they met the Belfast boy He showed them how to play the game Many a face was wreathed in smiles As they watched wee Georgie lay his claim To be Best from the British Isles Georgie wasn’t a saintly man He was too fond of the drink When he started goin’ down the pan Some said, “Let him sink”. There are those who think the worst of him still And smirk as they watch him fall But football fans will remember the skill Of the greatest of them all

George. I loved you.

R.I.P. genius....And to those mean spirited people,I ask..What was it about Bestie that irked you?What's not to like about George Best,seriously?If your coming out in judgement then your being a cock...remember it was his life to lead,and his alone.. not yours! And he was cleary loved dearly by his family,which is a key measure of a successful life in my book..The definitive measure of a successful life in my opinion.George was always one me Dad and the old boys call.. THE greatest.Pele himself said Bestie was the best he had ever seen.His family clearly treasured him as a man and loved one,seeing those pictures today..He can't of made that much of a fuck up of his life,despite the media driven perception.His alcoholism never made him a bad person,and he lives on in the only place we can be sure we live on when we die.In our loved ones thoughts..I look at his life and think, What a life!!!!Nice one Bestie,can't fault ye

Shug wrote: RIP Indeed.

Been watching loads of stuff on Sky and BBC celebrating his life, and I've just started reading his autobiography from 2001.

A true footballing genius!

In light of him going back on the booze, it's a harrowing read.

Jumpers for goalposts :) , Silly haircuts and every kid thinking he could play like him. There was a certain joy to discovering footie in the early seventies and it's thank's to this man. A true legend of the noble game.

i think pele summed it up best when hearing of georges demise. he said that he was one of the wolds greatest footballers ect,but the means of his passing was a lesson to younger generations. i hope that its true. god bless besty.

for people that know their footy, he's probably the greatest player of all time.

RIP Georgie boy!