George Best RIP

[Nigel]

Thanks, Andy. I enjoyed that 5 minute video link, very much. Even if an undue number of those feats of genius seemed to be against the Hammers, with at least one Billy Bonds crashing tackle deftly side-stepped.

The turn from 60s into 70s was a difficult time at Upton Park, when I first started going. Just at the birth of the Brooking years, still too early to offset the long and graceful decline of the great side with Hurst, Peters and Moore (always in that order for me, since I loved goals. I just closed my eyes when the Irons' goal was threatened and so I missed too much of Bobby Moore's skill).

But if I can't remember seeing Georgie play it was for another reason, certainly because my Grandad must have arranged his Saturday shifts so that he never missed Best and Manchester United. I only got to go on those Saturdays when my Grandad was at work, you see.

Best as a flawed hero - yes, he may have been. A lesson to us all - certainly. But we expect so much from genius.

To plod along gamely into undistinguished old age, or to fizzle out before your time in a blaze of unbridled glory with a beautiful model coming back to your bedside to stare dolefully into your eyes and forgive you everything ? Now that is a question.

And if it was a hell of a ride, somehow I don't think George would have traded that for anything.

I've never been a fan of the Reds, but two players always made me glad to see them play - George Best, and a certain Eric Cantona. More flaws, more genius, and I wouldn't have missed either of them for the world.