Sad News about George Best

[porcy62]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051119/ap_on_...c_best_health_5

[Brad]

That indeed is terrible. I wish him the best.

[J.A.W.]

The BBC is one of the best news sources, of course.

[B. Goren.]

I pray for him.

[B. Goren.]

Doctor: George Best's Hours Are Numbered.

[brownie]

Am I the only one to be disturbed by the fact that its Best's personal doctor who is announcing that Best has only a few more hours to live? I thought this type of medical informations about a sick person were private and confidential!

What a sad end to a great player

[J.A.W.]

Am I the only one to be disturbed by the fact that its Best's personal doctor who is announcing that Best has only a few more hours to live? I thought this type of medical informations about a sick person were private and confidential!

No, you're not, I too think it's a disgrace.

What a sad end to a great player

It certainly is

[sidewinder]

Am I the only one to be disturbed by the fact that its Best's personal doctor who is announcing that Best has only a few more hours to live? I thought this type of medical informations about a sick person were private and confidential!

What a sad end to a great player

From what I gather, the internal bleeding is so bad that there's no hope I'm afraid. I too was shocked at this announcement though.

[J.A.W.]

That indeed is terrible. I wish him the best.

The BBC is one of the best news sources, of course.

I don't know who he is,

but I couldn't help but notice

these unintentional puns...

Anyway, I agree that this down-to-his-last-hours watch is creepy and very unprofessional.

George Best was one of Britain's greatest soccer stars.

[sidewinder]

Yes, remember many times watching him on the TV playing in his heyday for Manchester United. Along with Dennis Law it was an awesome combination.

[J.A.W.]

Yes, remember many times watching him on the TV playing in his heyday for Manchester United. Along with Dennis Law it was an awesome combination.

Man U had a great team way back in the 1960s, with Best, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, more or less teethless Nobby Stiles...

[B. Goren.]

Quotations by Best

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered."

"I used to go missing a lot...Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World..."

On David Beckham: "He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right."

"If I had been born ugly, you would never have heard of Pelé."

[B. Goren.]

George Best with Manchester United, 1968:

[J.A.W.]

According to the BBC George Best has died. He'll be missed.

[7/4]

Am I the only one to be disturbed by the fact that its Best's personal doctor who is announcing that Best has only a few more hours to live? I thought this type of medical informations about a sick person were private and confidential!

What a sad end to a great player

I was wondering about that too.

[B. Goren.]

Football legend George Best dies.

This is a very sad day for me.

[7/4]

George Best dies, aged 59

Mark Oliver, Guardian

Friday November 25, 2005

George Best heads in a goal for Manchester United at the 1970 fifth round FA Cup tie at Northampton

George Best heads in a goal for Manchester United at the 1970 fifth round FA Cup tie at Northampton. Photograph: PA

George Best, one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the history of football, died today after losing his long battle with illnesses linked to alcoholism. He was 59.

Best died at 12.55pm at Cromwell hospital in Chelsea, west London, where he had been receiving treatment since October 1, a hospital spokesman said.

The former Manchester United star had suffered multiple organ failure and had been on a ventilator. The hospital this morning announced that it had stopped giving him treatment to keep him alive. Doctors said he had remained sedated and not suffered pain.

Article continues

In the final hours, his family, including his son, Calum, 24, and his 87-year-old father, Dickie, were at his bedside.

In a statement, Calum paid tribute to the medical staff who had cared for Best, and said: "Not only have I lost my dad, but we have all lost a wonderful man.

"The letters, flowers and emails [from well-wishers] meant so much to all of us, and I have to say thank you very much."

Best's father appealed to reporters to leave his relatives to grieve in peace, while a statement on behalf of the family also thanked those who had sent messages of support, which had been a source of "great comfort ... especially through the long hours".

The former footballer's death had been anticipated today after Professor Roger Williams - the surgeon who replaced his liver three years ago in the hope that he would live beyond the age of 60 - said yesterday that he was unlikely to survive 24 hours.

Early this morning, Prof Williams said he was surprised that Best had not died overnight, describing him as a "very strong man in many ways".

Best was admitted to hospital last month suffering flu-like symptoms and a kidney infection after returning to drinking.

His condition deteriorated last week when he also contracted a lung infection. After internal bleeding spread to his lungs on Wednesday evening, Prof Williams said there was no chance of a recovery.

Former team-mates Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton were among those who visited Best in hospital. This morning, Law told reporters that they had been talking to him and that he could hear them, but could not respond. "We talked about all the stuff we did together," he added.

In a statement issued later, he said: "This is an extremely sad day for the Best family. I think it was a matter of when, not if, things would not go right."

The prime minister, Tony Blair, attending a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Malta, said Best was "the most gifted footballer of his generation and one of the best players the UK has ever produced".

Best, a Northern Ireland international whose talents and looks earned him the nickname the "fifth Beatle", made his United debut as a 17-year-old in 1963, going on to enthral crowds in the English league and in Europe with his flair on the wing.

The Portuguese press dubbed him "El Beatle" after an inspirational performance when United thrashed a strong Benfica side in the European Cup in 1966.

He was the outstanding talent in the United side that won the European Cup in 1968, and was named European footballer of the year.

Best made a total of 466 appearances for United, scoring 178 goals, but some argue that his greatness as a player had waned by his mid-20s as he became increasingly distracted by his lifestyle.

Aged just 28, he was sacked by United for excessive drinking and persistent failure to attend training.

Best said he hoped he would be remembered not for his drinking or the women he had dated, but for his football. He often said: "Pele called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life."

Today's newspapers are full of tributes to Best. The Guardian's David Lacey writes: "George Best was the outstanding British footballer of his generation and that, many would argue, is a gross understatement, for he had plausible claims to be considered the greatest of any generation."

Yesterday, the current Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described him as one of the club's greatest players.

A statement on the club's website today said: "George Best was one of the greatest footballers of all time.

"Naturally athletic, tough, confident and blessed with genius, his career was one of the brightest stars of its generation. His gifts were legendary."

This morning, people delivered flowers to Cromwell hospital. Dave Crean, from Luton, laid a bouquet with the message: "Simply the Best."

[brownie]

May he rest in peace

Even Tony Blair had it right this time!

"We all know that George Best was probably the most naturally gifted footballer of his generation, one of the greatest footballers the UK has ever produced," Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

[Stefan Wood]

I listened to NPR this morning, and they mourned the passing of George Best, who was the original 4th Beatle. It's this kind of "in depth" research that prevents me from contibuting to these guys.

[sheldonm]

I listened to NPR this morning, and they mourned the passing of George Best, who was the original 4th Beatle. It's this kind of "in depth" research that prevents me from contibuting to these guys.

...they must have been referring to his "brother" Pete!!!

[brownie]

Not here to defend NPR (I don't listen to it!) but I assume they were refering to the fact that George Best was referred as the FIFTH Beatle in his better days. 'Those were the days' (in the mid-sixties) when Best and the Beatles were the most popular British citizens!

[sidewinder]

I remember those times from mid to late 60s and as a small youngster George Best was (and seemed like) a God. I still remember the shock when he quit Man United at the age of 25 or 26. It caused one heck of a stir in English soccer and Man U were never the same again.

Fast forward to the 1980s and that infamous BBC appearance on 'Wogan', which I also caught live, after the booze had taken its toll.

Edited November 25, 2005 by sidewinder

[Jim R]

I count myself very lucky to have seen him in action several times when he was playing in the NASL. He may have been past his prime, but he still did some wonderful things (some of the most incredible passes I ever saw, and an astounding goal he scored in a playoff game where he went around and through about seven defenders- including the keeper- before calmly walking the ball into the net).

RIP Bestie.

[sidewinder]

There was a tribute programme to Best on the TV tonight and they showed excerpts from some of those NASL games. Past his prime but the old magic was there !

Incidentally, when I was out in LA there was a bar up in Hermosa Beach called 'Besties'. Presumably that was his US business venture? Closed down after a cops raid at the time I was there.

[kinuta]

George will never be forgotten by British football fans, he was very special.