11/21/24
December 03, 2005
Final farewell to the Belfast Boy: One sign read: Maradona good, Pele' better, George Best. You might want to click on the video link for moving tributes.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY to soccer at 08:35 AM - 10 comments
That article does a good job pulling the heart-strings.
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:59 AM on December 03, 2005
How cool a sendoff is that?
posted by chicobangs at 12:13 PM on December 03, 2005
Man. United.
posted by owlhouse at 01:42 AM on December 04, 2005
Seems to have inspired the team too, winning 3-0 both games since Best passed.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:03 AM on December 04, 2005
He's a bit too old for me to know about him... What was so great about him? I've seen some of the highlights they keep broadcasting, but none of them seem especially special, if you know what i mean...
posted by StarFucker at 08:20 AM on December 05, 2005
Sir Matt Busby used to tell George Best not to bother to turn up to Manchester United team talks. “It was very simple,” the former United manager said. “All I used to say was, whenever possible, give the ball to George.” I'm too young to have seen him either - what I have seen that always impresses me is the control he had on pitches that looked like the Somme. I suppose we're spoilt nowadays and some players are made to look better than they are with the ball at their feet because the pitches are better. Some people in sport do things most other people could never do - he was ranked among the very few in sport who could do things other people couldn't even think of.
posted by JJ at 10:54 AM on December 05, 2005
I saw the videos CNN was putting out the day he died and thought "WTF? Is that the best your crack research team could find?" One of the problems with seeing footage of great players pre-mid 70's is that games that were broadcasted, in the UK at least, were all recorded over to make space for...are you ready???...SOAPS, for fuck sake. There was also nothing like NFL Films to capture players on celluloid and FIFA did a piss-poor job of recording the images. If you were just reading about players and their exploits around the world they became almost mythical, even super-human, to a teenage brain at least, not unlike comic book characters are to some. I was never quite that geeked-out so I never got the comic book thing, but I think the comparison is valid. Anyway... grum put a link in the previous George Best thread. It's hard to see but worth a look. If you're into a good read, here's a worthy recount. This is probably the best 3 and a half minute video compilation I've seen of George, on the pitch and off. You'll have to excuse the emotion that comes with the Duran Duran song accompanying the images; I know it puts a lump in my throat. One thing to watch for in this footage is how well George Best rode tackles...and how opposing players were out to do severe damage to his body. I love the piece towards the end where he takes his boot off before making a pass. Cheeky bastard. That was just his way of letting defenders know they had no chance against him. And remember, he never weighed more than 150 pounds in his playing days. You'll also notice he wore at least four shirt numbers: 7, 11, 10 and 8. Shirt numbers were awarded depending on the position you played in those days...7 for left wing, 11 for right, 10 center forward, 8 inside left in a 5-man forward line, if memory serves. The standard formations in the 60's-early 70's was 3-2-5 or 3-3-4. RIP Georgie, and thanks again.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 01:18 PM on December 05, 2005
Tex, that footage at the third link, damn! Has anyone been better at juking defenders and keepers right out of their socks?
posted by billsaysthis at 04:08 PM on December 05, 2005
He was magic, bill, absolute magic. Like there was a string from his boot to the ball. And I got the wingers bas-akwards in the shirt description above...11 was on the left, 7 on the right, just like United today when Giggs and Ronaldo are both on the pitch. There still are a few clubs today that try to keep with tradition.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 07:50 PM on December 05, 2005
In the sporting context, Bestie was my childhood hero. A flawed genius, today I say "Thanks. I hope to meet you someday." Before the funeral, a poem was given to George's son Calum, written by Julie McClelland of Belfast. Choking back the tears, Calum read: Farewell our friend, but not goodbye, Your time has come, your soul must fly. To dance with angels, find the sun, But how we`ll miss our special one. He walks among us just a while, Weaved your magic, made us smile. Your life was so full of light and tears, We lived it through you, through the years. The golden days, they went so fast, The precious times, why can`t they last? So many loved you, did you know? We were not ready to let you go. The stars from Heaven are only lent, A gift from God, that`s why they`re sent. We won`t forget our Belfast boy, He filled our lives with so much joy. Your star will shine now in the sky, Farewell our friend, but not goodbye.