Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: _tom_ on November 25, 2005, 09:29:44 PM

Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 25, 2005, 09:29:44 PM
Its really annoying me now, on the news its George Best this, George Best that..I hope I'm not the only one that feels no sympathy? I mean, he got given a second chance and blew it! Those organs couldve gone to someone much more grateful for them  :evil:  Rant over I guess haha
Title: George Best..
Post by: HJM on November 25, 2005, 09:43:05 PM
He managed to get more coverage than the policewoman who was shot last week.....
Title: George Best..
Post by: schmendict on November 25, 2005, 09:45:10 PM
I agree to both.
*takes cover for near-unavoidable total flamage*
Title: George Best..
Post by: dooogz on November 25, 2005, 09:50:26 PM
i agree... maybe he was a great, but it was due to being a great that he got a second liver... ud think ppl would learn from their mistakes!
Title: George Best..
Post by: willo on November 25, 2005, 09:58:21 PM
Quote from: HJM
He managed to get more coverage than the policewoman who was shot last week.....


i had a discussion about this with my friend last night....about how people feel it necessary to have public displays of grief for someone they never knew, yet 30 people die in Iraq and no-one cares. How the idea of grief has almost become voyeuristic...you could see it in the death of Princess Diana too.

And well, I can understand why George Best was headlining - he was/is a legend. And I have sympathy for him, and sympathy for everyone who has had to die...I guess then it becomes empathy?
Title: George Best..
Post by: dave_mc on November 25, 2005, 10:10:04 PM
^just because England never produced a player as good as george best... ;)  :twisted:

anyway, seriously though, i know what you mean
Title: George Best..
Post by: crispsandwich on November 25, 2005, 10:21:51 PM
Yeah, he did 'blow it' but that's the life he chose to lead. He's paid the ultimate price for it, but it was his decision to carry on drinking. At the end of the day, he didn't deserve to die and it's sad (in my opinion of course). I think it's getting a lot of coverage because it's been quite a long, drawn out affair. He's been ill for so long. And also, he's being remembered for the footballing genius he was. He was probably the best football player the world has ever seen, and in my opinion, he deserves the coverage. Regardless of what he's done in his private life, he was a genius on the pitch and that's how he'll be remembered. And his death might also serve as an example of what happens if you take too many chances with your health. No-one is invincible. I bet he's up there now laughing his arse off at these debates, whilst polishing his boots to line up with the Heaven Eleven :D:D.
Title: George Best..
Post by: big steve on November 25, 2005, 11:45:07 PM
you can't really look down at him from your self-righteous moral high ground and say "it's his fault for keeping on drinking" unless you've struggled through alcohol dependency yourself and can empathise with how immensely difficult it was and how his body physically became reliant on alcohol.
Title: George Best..
Post by: Floyd Pepper on November 25, 2005, 11:48:08 PM
I think it was just slow news week so they filled in with George Best.  (Appologies to Police women and Iraq.)

This morning on breakfast telly all the reporters hanging around out side Best's hospital.  In that weather they must have been wanting him to hurry up so they can get they're stuff packed and head off home.
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 25, 2005, 11:51:33 PM
Quote from: big steve
you can't really look down at him from your self-righteous moral high ground and say "it's his fault for keeping on drinking" unless you've struggled through alcohol dependency yourself and can empathise with how immensely difficult it was and how his body physically became reliant on alcohol.


I know I cant but still! I dont have sympathy for deaths due to drugs or alcohol, as it was their choice to get into it in the first place. Thats only if the victim is the person taking drugs/alcohol, if someone is killed due to someone elses misuse then thats totally different. In my opinion anyway..

[old man]Shouldnt have got himself into that mess in the first place[/old man]  :lol:
Title: George Best..
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on November 26, 2005, 12:19:05 AM
You can’t really pass comment on subjects like this unless you have experienced it for your self. Addiction of any kind is not something that is chosen by the user. I don’t think you really understand the situation. Im shure you would feel different if it was a member of your family or a friend.

Show some respect, not because he is famous, because he is a human, and like all of us he had problems. Who here can say that they have never made a mistake in their life that they have regretted, or are at the epitome of good health?

Don’t start threads having a go about some one's death, its pretty sick.
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 26, 2005, 09:01:16 AM
Ok I'm sorry if I offended anyone but its just my opinion! I'm not trying to have a go at his death, its just the amount of media attention its got which annoys me the most. I think this thread should be deleted before things get ugly  :x I dont wanna get banned for this or anything!
Title: George Best..
Post by: HJM on November 26, 2005, 10:23:43 AM
I'm with you on this Tom - the media coverage was a little extreme. Great footballer as he was is noted, but a special news bulletin??? Wasn't as if we didn't see it coming....
Title: George Best..
Post by: dooogz on November 26, 2005, 11:00:47 AM
Quote from: Steve-Mr Pig 2U
You can’t really pass comment on subjects like this unless you have experienced it for your self. Addiction of any kind is not something that is chosen by the user. I don’t think you really understand the situation. Im shure you would feel different if it was a member of your family or a friend.

Show some respect, not because he is famous, because he is a human, and like all of us he had problems. Who here can say that they have never made a mistake in their life that they have regretted, or are at the epitome of good health?

Don’t start threads having a go about some one's death, its pretty sick.


i dont think _tom_ was taking a perspective of 'hes dead - who cares' because that would just be sick... but i think what tom is referring too is how this subject has blanked out as important news articles such as the police woman who was shot (surely she is human too?)
I have full respect for George Best as a football fan, and wish his family the best...
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 26, 2005, 11:44:49 AM
Quote from: dooogz

i dont think _tom_ was taking a perspective of 'hes dead - who cares' because that would just be sick... but i think what tom is referring too is how this subject has blanked out as important news articles such as the police woman who was shot (surely she is human too?)
I have full respect for George Best as a football fan, and wish his family the best...


Exactly. I guess it can be read the wrong way. I wish I didnt make this thread, this board is great and never has big arguments, way to disturb the peace  :roll:
Title: George Best..
Post by: Ratrod on November 26, 2005, 12:00:32 PM
I don't care much about football. I was like James who?

If I were to die and donate my liver, I wouldn't like it if the person who got it drank it to shreds, tho.

Addiction is a hard thing to beat.

It leeds to a big moral dilemma for both donor and receipiant.
Title: George Best..
Post by: jt on November 26, 2005, 12:50:04 PM
:D One of the real problems with all of this is the "Overkill" of the Media. We have 4 24hour news stations & god no`s how many 24hr radio news stations. This means that when you get a story breaking that they think will have public interest then all of them talk about it non stop on all channels both Radio & TV, it`s totally overwelming & in the end you find yourself thinking "For Gods sake no more on this please"

As for addiction i`m an ex smoker. i havn`t smoked for 3yrs & yet i still find myself dreaming of smoking !!
You never get over your addictions you just learn not to do what ever it is & it`s the hardest thing you`ll ever have to do

So if you`ve never had or you don`t have an addiction [ and i hope non of you ever wil have an addiction ] then don`t be so quick to pass judgments on those of us that do or have had because you really really don`t no what your talking about

 :D  8)
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 26, 2005, 01:02:21 PM
Quote from: jt
:D One of the real problems with all of this is the "Overkill" of the Media. We have 4 24hour news stations & god no`s how many 24hr radio news stations. This means that when you get a story breaking that they think will have public interest then all of them talk about it non stop on all channels both Radio & TV, it`s totally overwelming & in the end you find yourself thinking "For Gods sake no more on this please"

As for addiction i`m an ex smoker. i havn`t smoked for 3yrs & yet i still find myself dreaming of smoking !!
You never get over your addictions you just learn not to do what ever it is & it`s the hardest thing you`ll ever have to do

So if you`ve never had or you don`t have an addiction [ and i hope non of you ever wil have an addiction ] then don`t be so quick to pass judgments on those of us that do or have had because you really really don`t no what your talking about

 :D  8)


Yeah I was eating my dinner and watching the telly yesterday, on both bbc 1 and channel 4  there were extensive news articles on George Best and its probably going to be the same for a few weeks "Fans still remember George" or something like that probably..

 I think what his dad says is the best thing to do "Just leave us alone to let us mourn in peace" or something I think he said..
Title: George Best..
Post by: jt on November 26, 2005, 01:06:31 PM
:D Yep i totally agree with `ya give the family some space. It can`t be fun for them everytime they turn on the TV seeing all of it day after day.

 :D  8)
Title: George Best..
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on November 26, 2005, 08:57:53 PM
Yes the media coverage is a bit much, that much I agree on, but its the same with every famous person that dies.
Its just when you said you have no sympathy for his death and no sympathy for anyone who dies because of addiction, I found that a bit harsh.
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 26, 2005, 11:03:13 PM
Quote from: Steve-Mr Pig 2U
Yes the media coverage is a bit much, that much I agree on, but its the same with every famous person that dies.
Its just when you said you have no sympathy for his death and no sympathy for anyone who dies because of addiction, I found that a bit harsh.


Fair enough, different opinions I guess. I just think its the persons fault really, if they get themselves into that mess in the first place..At least this "argument" didnt get too bad..

On a sadder note, I hear Richard Burns died this weekend  because of a brain tumour, however I didnt see that on the news, my mate told me instead. I wont bother starting a rant about Best overshadowing that though, done enough damage  :roll:
Title: George Best..
Post by: tewboss on November 27, 2005, 12:29:30 AM
I would have thought that Best would have been able to afford to pay for a decent treatment clinic. I also know that drink and drugs can often to used to block some sort of mental pain. I wouldn't pass judgement on somebody for addiction, but Best did get a liver transplant and he wasted that opportunity of changing his life. It must have been very hard for his family watching somebody they loved slowly kill themself.

The whole public sympathy thing does grate me. When Princess Diana died it totally overshadowed the death of Mother Theresa. It just seemed so fake because the months leading to her death the media had slated her, and this outpooring of fake grief for somebody that most people didn't know.
Title: George Best..
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on November 27, 2005, 12:33:36 AM
I do see your point Tom, and I do agree that his death was self inflicted.

I think the main reason that the news was so heavily covered was the fact that he died from alcohol abouse on the day the 24 hour pub law came into effect!
Title: George Best..
Post by: _tom_ on November 27, 2005, 12:46:00 AM
Hahaa its a sign!! Something really bad will happen now :lol:
Title: George Best..
Post by: March on November 27, 2005, 11:47:24 PM
George Best RIP.

Let's face fact's, he lived life to the full and experienced things that many of us can only dream about.

One of my favourite quotes came when he was asked if it was true that he had bedded 7 Miss Worlds. His reply was "No, It was four actually. The other three I never turned up for....".

He was a great footballer and a great character. It's a shame he never overcame his addiction, but let's thank him for the many amazing memories of footballing skill he gave to us all.
Title: George Best..
Post by: Floyd Pepper on November 28, 2005, 10:38:05 AM
Regarding George Best, I wonder where all the over exposure came from.  Famous people die and you never hear that they were ill until they're dead.  Someone on Best's side must have been issuing press releases every hour.  So either his family was pumping the story or Best wanted people to watch the story unfold.

Either way you wonder why they'd want the story in the news so much.
Title: George Best..
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 28, 2005, 10:59:44 AM
It is just sad that Best gave up on football at the age of 26 - chosing to pursue the playboy lifestyle somewhat for a while. He was a true great at a time when he was competing with Pele and the likes for such accolades.

My only problem this week has been the news coverage
It was as bad as waiting for the pope to die- every hour we heard how he was ill and expected not to live much longer- it is just too much - especially when there is so much other stuff happening in this world.

As for 24 hour drinking.....I don't feel it will have a positive efeect on the nation, it will possibly disrupt the workplace to an extent and some folks will be drinking a lot more than they should just by virtue of having a few extra hours each night to hang with their mates in the pub.

Maybe that is why the two news stories were tied in together
(I'm sure they could have tied in the somewhat botched smoking in public places bill if they had tried as well)
Title: George Best..
Post by: Tellboy on November 29, 2005, 11:03:44 PM
I'm definitely not a football fan, but have always been amazed when I have watched George Best playing and was sad to hear he had died at the age of 59.
Yes - he was responsible for his own demise ( my favourite quote of his - "I spent half my fortune on women and fast cars - I wasted the other half") but alcoholism is just as bad as other addictions. Look at all the great musicians/artists that have sucumbed to (usually drug) addictions(Hendrix..etc,etc,etc). Do you feel the same about these?

I think it fair to criticise the media coverage but not Best himself.